The rain had finally ceased, leaving the air thick with humidity and the ground slick with mud.
Thankfully, Shane and Lysandra were able to trek through the mud because of their decent shoes' effects.
At this moment, their eyes were fixed on the imposing structure ahead.
Needless to say, it was the Nightfall Nexus Clan's camp that had appeared before them. It was a small fortress of wood and steel.
From the outside, they could see tall palisades that had encircled the camp, and watchtowers punctuated the perimeter, each manned by people armed with rifles.
'Ohh... They have access to high-caliber guns...' Shane mused as he noticed their weapons. There were three Watchtowers in front, and all six guards were carrying a rifle.
'Did they raid a police station or something?' As he thought of this, Lysandra slowed down her steps and waved her hand.
It was to tell that they were not Walker Zombies but humans instead.
As they approached the gate, two guards were already waiting for them. Soon, these guards stepped forward, blocking their path. The guards were imposing figures clad in mismatched armor from whatever item of clothing they could find in the Survivor Store.
Their eyes were sharp, scanning Shane and Lysandra for any signs of infection.
"Who are you, and have you been bitten by Zombies?" one of the guards demanded, his voice gruff.
Shane met the guard's gaze, his expression was calm as he replied. "We're here to stay for a night and use the bridge," he replied.
"We're not bitten or injured by any Zombies." Lysandra said.
The guard's stern demeanor softened slightly, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Customers, then. Not beggars looking for food. Great..."
The other guard also smiled as their boss was simply too generous that there would be a few people here who would come from time to time to beg for Shelter or food. Some of them were Survivors, but there were also those local inhabitants of this continent.
Makeshift tents and shacks lined the pathways, and the air was filled with the sounds of haggling, laughter, and the occasional argument.
'Over four hundred people, huh...' Shane repeated in his mind as he didn't expect that this Clan could sustain such a huge population.
After all, the place doesn't seem to have a lot of resources around. It means that they were probably doing trade.
'No... Marketplace trade has a 20% transaction fee, while 50% for private trading... It's not possible to survive with trading.' Shane mused.
Anyway, after Cloud completed the scan, he confirmed that there were indeed 439 people in the Shelter. It was a staggering number, given the harshness of the world outside.
He couldn't help but feel impressed with this Clan, although they were charging too much.
The Nightfall Nexus Clan had built a thriving community. Their leaders certainly have the resourcefulness to become a territory lord.
'Do they also have similar Talent?' Shane mused.
Anyway, Lysandra's eyes darted around after entering, taking in the sights and sounds.
"This place is incredible," she murmured. "I didn't expect to see so many people."
Shane nodded, his mind already working on their next steps.
"Let's find a place to stay for the night and see if we can gather any information about the path ahead. We need to be prepared for whatever comes next." Shane said as he was actually hoping to find clues about the Ancient Oak Moss...
Unfortunately, no one in the Chat or World Chat had an interest in this moss, so no one bothered to reply to his message.
Well, it's not surprising since a moss would typically be ignored unless it was similar to the Stone Catcher Moss used by the Ironclad Imperium to repel Zombies.
They made their way through the camp, passing by vendors selling everything from food to weapons. The air was thick with the scent of cooking meat and the odor of metal.
At this time, Shane heard Cloud's report and gently nodded.
'So they're not Survivors from Earth... They're local inhabitants like the wandering merchants or those summoned by recruitment stones... This is interesting.'