Chapter 108: The 30th Day

[ Participation Rules: ]

Eligibility: Only the top 1000 Survivors, as determined by the system rankings, are eligible to participate.

Currency: The Auction will operate using the system's currency. Ensure your accounts are funded prior to the event.

Bidding: All bids are final. Retracting a bid will result in penalties.

Security: The Grand Auction Hall is monitored by the system to ensure fair play and safety for all participants.

Transportation:

Teleportation: Eligible Survivors will receive a teleportation prompt 15 minutes before the event starts. Accepting the prompt will transport you directly to the Grand Auction Hall.

Return: At the conclusion of the event, Survivors will be teleported back to their original locations.

Additional Notes:

Pre-Event Inspection: This is a reminder for participants to check their equipment and communication tools before the event starts. It's crucial to ensure that all gear is in optimal condition and that devices to be given by the Administrators are working without interference.

Alliances: Participants are allowed to form alliances with other survivors to increase their chances of securing desired items. However, it's important to remember that the Auction is inherently competitive. Alliances may be strategic, but they can also lead to conflicts of interest, as ultimately, each survivor or group aims to outbid others for the items they want.

Confidentiality: The details of the auction items and the bids placed on them are to be kept secret until the event concludes. This means that participants should not disclose information about the items they intend to bid on or the amount they are willing to spend, as this could influence the bidding strategies of other participants and affect the Auction's outcome. ]

[ Prepare to embark on an auction adventure that promises excitement, competition, and the chance to acquire treasures that could change your fate in the apocalypse. May the shrewdest bidder win! ]

"The time has come..." Shane whispered to himself, his eyes scanning the lengthy notifications from the system. The system even gave them additional notes or reminders.

He couldn't help but feel excited about this.

Shane had been preparing for this event and knew that he would qualify to this event. After all, he already some decent idea about the current levels of many Survivors here.

He then readied himself for the upcoming Regional Auction Event.

'I leveled up quite a few times and even collected plenty of Zombies Cores over the past few days... I should have enough money to bid...' He mused.

His heart raced with the thrill of the unknown treasures that awaited, and the strategic plays he would soon have to consider.

'As for the clothes I'll be wearing...' Shane paused for a moment as he recalled the chats he read a while ago. Most of them were planning to actually wear their best sets to attract clans from recruiting them.

Apparently, many Clans had already been established over the past few days. It seemed that they rushed this before the Auction so they could gather more cores together and win more important bids.

At the very least, Shane noticed more than 30 Clans recruiting Survivors above level 10 in the Regional Chat.

After a moment of contemplation, he opted for his Army Set, a collection of gear that was reliable and formidable. Well, it wasn't as great as his Crawler equipment set, but it was definitely quite impressive after upgrading them all to Tier 4!

[ Army Helmet ( Tier 4 ): A rugged and impact-resistant helmet engineered for battlefield scenarios. The Army Helmet offers superior head protection with a durable shell, padded interior for comfort, and an adjustable chin strap for secure wear.

"Not bad..."

Seeing the effects of each of them, Shane believed that the Army Set was more than adequate for the Auction, providing protection without drawing undue attention to his prowess.

As the morning progressed, Shane recalled that the estate would soon welcome a new arrival.

Well, five days had already passed after Lucas' arrival.

Shane Territory Lord Title did not disappoint as the gray fog soon appeared outside the estate and heralded a new inhabitant of their camp.

Only the three prisoners, accompanied by a Super Soldier and about to work at the mining site, were slightly startled at the gathering of the mysterious gray fog.

After some time, the fog coalesced at the edge of the estate, and from its depths, a figure emerged.

Thud!

The man who stepped through the fog was of average height, with a sturdy build that spoke of a life spent working with both mind and hands.

His hair was a dusty blonde, tousled and unkempt, and his eyes, a sharp gray, scanned his surroundings with a mix of confusion and awe.

Gene, the Knight who was already familiar about this setting, immediately asked for the man's name.

"Welcome, Survivor! Tell us your name..." Gene shouted from the watchtower.

The man who was still feeling a bit confused, immediately calmed down after hearing someone else's voice.

"I'm Eliot Mercer, an engineer by trade and a problem-solver by nature." He spoke clearly, introducing himself with a hint of intelligence in his words and gestures.

Before he was taken by the gray fog, Eliot had been a pioneer in sustainable infrastructure, designing systems that were meant to last generations.

However, when society fell because of the zombie outbreak, he had to adapt...

After Mr. Wadsworth allowed Eliot to enter and be investigated, he recounted his last moments before the fog claimed him.

He had been leading a team of survivors, fortifying an old factory into a makeshift fortress. They were scavenging for parts, transforming scraps into barricades when the fog rolled in like a silent tide.

'Perfect... You're finally here!' Shane's eyes lit up after hearing the man's story!

Eliot recalled how he had been working on a generator, his hands coated in grease, when the world around him faded into gray.

"One moment I was tightening bolts, the next, I'm standing in a place filled with gray fog... Then my mind became hazy and I didn't know how much time had passed..."

Well, his story inside the fog was basically the same. He also heard the mysterious voice giving him instructions.

"It's my ability to bring you here. The fog has a way of guiding those who can serve a greater purpose here. Your engineering skills are invaluable, Eliot." Shane explained.

An engineer!

They finally have someone who could help him rebuild the estate! Although he actually had the skills for construction with his woodworking and metalworking skills, he still needed the knowledge of such an expert!