Global Awakening: Apocalypse Ender's Chronicle

At the docks, Vasco stood alone on the deck of the Sea Mule Ship, looking around the ship. He still had a copy of the document he submitted to Fiona, and it was tucked under his arm. It seemed as if he was already imagining how he would start his plan to upgrade this ship...

Well, he had just submitted his improvement proposal to Fiona, but the project hadn’t begun yet. The budget was still under review, and the resources required weren’t easy to obtain, especially since the barrier generators, ballast systems, and weapons weren’t cheap.

For now, the Sea Mule remained as it was...

Vasco leaned against the railing, muttering to himself about hull seams and ballast weights, when footsteps echoed across the dock. He turned and froze.

”Lord Shane...!” Vasco’s eyes widened as he saw Shane from the two Statues in the fountain near the Villa. There was no way he’d miss that.

”Vasco, right?”

”Yes, Lord Shane!”

He hadn’t expected the Clan Leader to appear here so suddenly. He straightened, almost dropping his parchment, before bowing his head slightly. ”You’re back.”

Shane gave a small nod as his gaze swept over the Sea Mule. ”I heard you submitted a proposal. Fiona mentioned it. I wanted to see the ship myself.”

Vasco hesitated, then chuckled nervously. ”Well, it’s not much compared to the Coastal Runner. We have no serious cannons, no heavy plating. Just speed... Spirit Burst Propulsion makes her quick, but...” He tapped the railing with his knuckles.

Tok... Tok...

”She folds if a Sea Zombie King sneezes at her.”

Shane smirked after hearing that...

”I’ll rely on you then... I’m no shipbuilder. Just do your best to make this ship capable of passing through the seas filled with Zombies.”

Vasco blinked, surprised at the honesty. ”You mean... you don’t know ships at all?”

Shane shrugged. ”I probably know how to command them. I know what I need from them. But the details? That’s your craft. I trust you to tell me what’s possible.”

For a moment, Vasco was silent, then he laughed, shaking his head. ”Well, that’s refreshing. Most leaders pretend they know everything. Fine. I’ll keep it simple. The Sea Mule can be improved, but it’ll cost us. Mana coating, barrier generators, ballast adjustments, weapons... it’s a lot of resources. If you want her to survive, we’ll need to invest a lot of money.”

Shane suddenly got an idea about Vasco’s past. The man had probably met stubborn leaders before, or those leaders who wouldn’t easily accept the suggestion of experts.

”It’s fine... We’ll find a way. I’ll review the budget with Fiona. For now, keep refining your plans. I want every ship ready when the expeditions begin.”

Vasco nodded firmly. ”Understood, Clan Leader.”

Satisfied, Shane left the docks and made his way toward the shelter’s plaza.

***

The plaza was still filled with activity. Blue Haven Shelter had grown rapidly, and now more than ten permanent shops lined the square.

There was an aroma of fresh bread drifting from a bakery, while the bitter scent of roasted beans came from a coffee shop nearby.

A restaurant also bustled with survivors sharing hot meals, and a barber’s shop had a line of men waiting for trims. Well, they were small luxuries that kept morale high.

Other businesses had sprung up as well. With Shane’s assistance to some other small business owners, more and more shops are appearing in his shelters.

Shane saw shoemaker’s stall displaying sturdy boots... There was also a tailor’s shop offering normal clothes or uniforms, a general store stacked with tools and lanterns, and even a small apothecary selling herbs and salves could be seen.

Shane walked slowly as he felt satisfied with the cleanliness and the fact that everyone seemed to be in a good mood.

As expected, the appearance of numerous shops could truly give signs of life in this Blue Haven Shelter that was just recently built.

For now, however, Shane focused on the Owl Tale Caravan that had set up their own stalls a few days ago...

They had arranged a total of nine stalls, each marked with colorful banners and guarded crates. Survivors crowded around, curious about the items they were selling...

Shane moved closer, inspecting each stall in turn.

One stall displayed fabrics. They were silks, wool, and sturdy canvas. They were rare luxuries compared to the many shelters’ rough cloth.

Another offered medicinal herbs and tinctures, carefully labeled and priced with gold coins and Zombie Cores.

The third stall sold weapons and tools, from steel knives to crossbow bolts...

A fourth stall showcased ornaments and trinkets, carved wood, polished stones, and jewelry that survivors admired wistfully...

’Jewelry, huh...’ Shane wasn’t sure if that would sell well, but it was quite an interesting change since it should have a small market in this apocalyptic world.

Anyway, the fifth stall was stacked with spices and dried goods, the sixth offered books and scrolls, salvaged knowledge from other shelters. The seventh stall displayed rare ores and crystals...

The eighth stall sold leather goods like belts, satchels, and armor pieces.

And the ninth...

Shane stopped as he looked at the stall carefully...

’This is perfect...’

The ninth stall was actually different. On its table lay a series of glowing stones... There was even a sign above them that made him excited.

[ Recruitment Stones - Normal Grade to Epic Grade. ]

These weren’t ordinary goods. Recruitment Stones were rare items, capable of summoning or binding talented individuals from the Fog. They could change the fate of a shelter overnight, especially the Epic Ones...

However, even if they were precious, there weren’t a lot of Survivors who could purchase them. After all, you’d be responsible for these people as per the rule of the shelter.

Furthermore, the merchant behind the table wasn’t asking for gold coins and Zombie Cores...

Instead, he wanted a specific Sea Zombie King to be eliminated!

”You’re hiring people to kill this Zombie King in exchange for these Recruitment Stones?” Shane asked.

The old merchant finally looked up, and his eyes lit up as soon as he saw Shane. It was as if hope had appeared as he realized Shane’s current level...