Meanwhile, as Shane and his extensive entourage approached the estate, the murmur of flowing water greeted them—it was the confirmation that Shane needed.
"Mhmm... I wonder how they reacted." Shane muttered as he knew that the residents must've been surprised that their dried-up canal was suddenly followed with water.
The elves also smiled after noticing this change in the state.
With their team's efforts, they indeed cleared up the once-blocked waterway leading to their territory...
Shane glanced at his team once again...
"Good job, everyone..." He said.
The five elves, with their serene demeanor, the stoic warlord, and the contemplative monk, smiled and they could tell that Shane was genuinely happy this time.
Lyra and Jaxon, the members of Eclipse Revenant and newcomers to this sanctuary, felt a surge of excitement as they heard the running water. It confirmed their intuition that Shane's land was filled with resources.
Nonetheless, the surprise wasn't over yet.
Their eyes widened as the estate came into view, its formidable four-meter palisade standing like a sentinel. A couple of sturdy watchtowers loomed ahead, and vigilant guards were scanning the horizon.
"Hey... Is that a machine gun?" Lyra whispered as she saw one of the watchtowers had an arranged machine gun!
"That's true... Not just that... I can tell that the place is filled with traps." Jaxon muttered.
There were traps that could be easily seen, and they were certain that those were for zombies... If there were hidden traps, those were most likely meant for other people.
It was clear that safety here was not left to chance.
As they neared the gate, a signal was sent to the watchtower, and with a creaking of heavy wood and iron, the entrance yawned open.
However, Jaxon didn't, with a higher perception than Lyra, notice something else as he jolted.
"What was that?" He muttered.
"That would be great... We will start doing Clan Missions when that happens." Jaxon replied.
As they entered the estate, they were soon welcomed by a man wearing a familiar uniform of a butler.
Mr. Wadsworth, the epitome of grace and efficiency within the estate, greeted the returning group with a nod and a subtle smile.
"Welcome back, Master Shane, and esteemed guests..." he said, his voice smooth as silk.
Shane, dusting off the remnants of the journey, introduced Lyra and Jaxon.
"This is Lyra and Jaxon... These two are Foreign Survivors like me. Right, we made the Eclipse Revenant Clan, and they'll be staying here..." he explained, gesturing towards them with a welcoming hand.
"Mr. Wadsworth, could you coordinate with Eliot to prepare living quarters?"
Shane asked, but he paused for a moment as he recalled something...
"We'll need space for more, probably about thirty...but let's start with accommodations for these two. Prioritize Lyra and Jaxon for now..." Shane instructed, his mind already racing ahead to the myriad tasks at hand.
"Of course, sir," Mr. Wadsworth replied, his mind cataloging the necessary arrangements. "I shall see to it immediately."
Shane nodded, satisfied.
The reason he was not using the other Recruitment Stones yet was simple—he must ensure their resources could sustain their growth.
Food, shelter, and basic amenities... all must be in place before he expands further...
With the matter settled, Shane excused himself to find Alexa.
He presented her with the Unknown Meat he looted a while ago.
This safe meat that was dropped by the Zombies may be questionable in many ways but as long as it was safe to eat, it was not a big deal for them...
"Please make us a good meal today... If I find something you need in the Survivor Store, I'll give it to you..." Shane said.
Alexa accepted the meat with a gleam in her eye. "I'll make sure this goes to good use... If you find better clothes or maybe a chef's uniform, that would be great..." Alexa replied while already pondering what kind of meal she'd make with the meat.