Chapter 97: New Items in Store

Within the church that was now turned into the main camp of the estate, Shane listened intently as Mr. Wadsworth presented his report.

The butler's voice was calm, and each word was carefully chosen to convey the essence of the interrogation.

"Sir, the three men—Chris, Jake, and Liam—possess talents that are quite extraordinary..." Mr. Wadsworth began, handing over a dossier of notes.

"Iron Sinew, Ogre's Constitution, Berserker's Vigor... such abilities could be invaluable to us."

Shane leaned back in the makeshift command chair, a repurposed pew, and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. This chair was one of the things that the Super Soldiers collected this morning. It was a bit broken, but Harper was able to easily fix it.

After some time, Shane softly spoke...

"To turn them into Super Soldiers would be to erase those talents..." He mused aloud. "The serum... they strip away the unique gifts bestowed by the Apocalypse System, leaving nothing but raw physical prowess. It's a pity if those talents were gone."

Shane sighed as the Survivor's Talents and Skills from the System would disappear once they received Project Z2's serum.

Mr. Wadsworth nodded, understanding the gravity of the decision. "Indeed, sir. It would be a significant loss to their individual potential. We can use the remaining serums for those with Common or Uncommon Talents. To use them with those with Rare Talents or even above would be such a waste."

"We can't keep them confined indefinitely, either. It's not sustainable, nor is it just." Shane muttered.

A heavy silence fell between them, the weight of leadership pressing down on Shane's shoulders.

'What should we do then? Wait until we have another option?'

Shane's gaze drifted to the stained glass windows, the light from the bonfire outside casting vibrant patterns on the stone floor.

After some time, Shane made a decision...

"Give me five days..." He finally declared it was heard by the others in their sleeping quarters...

"If we can't find a way to ensure their loyalty, then we'll proceed with the transformation."

Mr. Wadsworth bowed slightly. "Very well, sir. I shall inform Leo to secure them properly."

They decided to have Leo tighten the ropes binding the three men, ensuring no slip nor give.

Furthermore, they assigned a Super Soldier, a silent giant of a man, to take a post outside the confinement room of the three.

They were all confident enough that a single Super Soldier could deal with the three Survivors even if the latter were at their full strength!

***

On the next day, as the first light of dawn filtered through the stained glass windows of the church-turned-living-quarters, Shane stood contemplating the fate of Chris, Jake, and Liam.

He still couldn't help but hope that these three would be part of his vanguard team. However, for that to happen, he had to find a way to ensure their loyalty.

To simply erase them seemed like a waste of resources.

Yet, the risk of leaving them as they were was too great; their previous actions had shown they were not yet allies.

Price: 15 Zombie Cores

Quantity: 2/2 ]

These two items are a bit too expensive, considering they're just extra equipment. So, for now, he decided to skip those two items and consider them later before the end of the day.

"A set of Army Uniform is worth 120 Zombie Cores if I get each of them... 240 Zombies Cores for 2 sets..." Shane muttered as he confirmed that he had enough Zombie Cores to get them.

"They're also clothes... Anna or even Alexa can use them as a change of clothes." Shane muttered as he recalled that they were still lacking some clothes.

However, he immediately shook his head as he recalled that Super Soldiers found clothes in the Manor!

"Right... They just smelled bad and needed to be washed... It's a pity that there's no detergents being sold in the Survivor. I have to ask the chat later for detergents." Shane muttered as he purchased two of each Army items.

He didn't immediately take them out or upgrade them with his Crystals but instead, he decided to check his Reputation Store.

As he scrolled through the store, his eyes lit up in excitement!

[ Behavioral Conditioning Chip: A cutting-edge piece of technology designed to modify and enhance the behavior patterns of individuals. The Behavioral Conditioning Chip offers the Survivor the ability to unlock hidden potential and skills through advanced neural programming.

By implanting this chip, the Survivor can be controlled by the one who implanted the chip, but in exchange, they can also adapt to new challenges more effectively, improve decision-making in high-stress situations, and even gain access to specialized training programs tailored to their unique playstyle. Upgrade your Survivor's capabilities with this revolutionary device.

Price: 15 RP

Quantity: 1 ]

[ Prisoner's Anklet: A sinister device used to restrain and control unruly individuals. The Prisoner's Anklet binds itself to the Survivor's leg, imposing limitations and consequences for disobedience. However, for those willing to embrace its dark power, the anklet can also unlock hidden abilities and grant forbidden knowledge if you are willing to become a Prisoner Zombie.

Will you succumb to its malevolent influence or defy its control to harness its true potential?

Price: 5 RP

Quantity: 3 ]

[ Electric Baton: A versatile weapon favored by enforcers and security personnel for its stunning capabilities. The Electric Baton delivers a non-lethal shock to adversaries, incapacitating them temporarily without causing permanent harm. In the hands of the Survivor, this weapon becomes a tool of both defense and subjugation, allowing for strategic takedowns and crowd control.

Equip yourself with the Electric Baton and wield the power of electricity to assert dominance in the face of danger.

Price: 7 RP

Quantity: 2 ]

"Amazing..." Shane muttered after seeing three items in the store. Their appearance was certainly timely!

What impressed him the most was the behavioral conditioning chip! It was such an advanced item!

'Now that I think about it, there was also that Drone being sold... I guess the items being sold here can be advanced in terms of technology or in terms of magic...' Shane muttered.

Unfortunately, the chip was a bit too expensive... Although it was certainly the best out of the three items, the price was too much. He doesn't even have that many Reputation Points.

Nonetheless, he could still purchase 3 of the Prisoner's Anklet.