Zombie Apocalypse: I Have Safe Zone Superpower

Chapter 230: Chapter 230: Ronak

She lowered her head slowly, deciding not to think too much. Instead, she tapped Silas on the shoulder. It was a quiet signal.

’Let’s go. It’s time to move on.’

Silas’s fury still burned hot in his chest, but her touch calmed him. He took her hand firmly and led her toward the base entrance.

The crowd parted silently. No one dared to block their path.

At the gate, a guard with an expressionless face stepped forward. He spoke plainly.

”To enter Moonjewel Base, you need to pay. Either food or crystals. Do you have any?”

Ivy raised an eyebrow.

’So this base takes crystals, too. Interesting. That means this place values power, not just food. A base like this will last longer than others.’

In her previous life, many bases focused on just collecting food, but what they didn’t know was... they were leading toward weakening their base.

Those who possess only food resources are wealthy people, not fighters. Wealthy people don’t necessarily mean strong. While strong superhumans don’t necessarily have food.

Hence, many of the bases that only accepted food perished fastest as the natural disasters hit.

She nodded and answered calmly. ”We will pay with crystals.”

The guard’s tone was almost robotic as he repeated the words he did most of the time. ”Five thousand crystals per person.”

Silas and Ivy both froze. The number was huge.

’Five thousand crystals... that’s no small amount. Anyone who can kill five thousand zombies is already a powerhouse.’ Ivy understood the reasoning and was filled with admiration for the base leader.

Then her lips curved faintly. With a wave of her hand, a small mountain of crystals appeared at her side.

Ivy smiled at the guard. ”Count them if you wish.”

The guard looked at the glittering mountain, his face stiff.

His eyes closed for a moment as if he were praying for patience.

Then he muttered under his breath.

”This night really couldn’t get any more chaotic.”

..........................

The guard finished counting the crystals with trembling hands.

His tired eyes slowly met with Silas’s and Ivy’s, and his voice came out more respectful than before. ”It’s exactly 10,000 crystals. You may enter.”

The heavy gate creaked open, and Ivy and Silas stepped into Moonjewel Base.

At once, a foul stench greeted them, the smell of human waste.

Ivy wrinkled her nose slightly, her sharp eyes scanning the surroundings.

What she saw reminded her of Twilight Base.

Shabby houses made of scraps stood in crooked lines, patched with whatever materials people could scavenge.

They looked like they might collapse in the next heavy rain.

Children with thin faces ran barefoot in the dirt, their eyes tired yet curious, while adults sat outside fanning themselves with broken pieces of cardboard.

But then something else caught her attention.

Among the wreckage, she noticed something different.

A few houses were being built, not from scraps but from earth.

The walls were thick, molded carefully with mud, giving the structures a sturdier and cooler look.

Her eyes lit up.

’Mud houses... so someone already thought of it. Back in my past life, people only began building with mud after ten months into the apocalypse. But here, only six months have passed, and this base has already started. Whoever leads this place... they are truly forward-thinking.’

Silas also noticed the mud houses.

To say he was impressed was an understatement.

”They are clever. These houses can keep people cool and withstand storms.”

His expression softened, and he thought silently,

’Maybe I should suggest this to the military.’

But then he stopped himself. His eyes grew calm, almost cold.

’No. I will be leaving the military soon. They don’t deserve my loyalty. But... innocent lives should not suffer because of my anger. I will leave this idea as my last gift to them.’

They continued walking until they reached a much larger mud house near the center of the base.

Unlike the other structures, this one looked solid, carefully maintained, and guarded. Clearly, it was the leader’s home.

Before they could approach the door, two guards stepped forward, blocking their way.

”Who are you? State your business.”

Silas stepped forward calmly, his tall frame casting a shadow over the men.

”Tell Ronak that Silas has arrived. He knows me. He will confirm.”

The guards looked at each other, suspicious but cautious. One of them finally nodded and went inside.

Ivy tilted her head, looking at Silas with a curious expression.

”Ronak. Isn’t that the same man you mentioned back in Twilight Base? Why didn’t you just come here directly instead of wandering around?”

Silas replied patiently,

”Austin had the lead on the people you wanted to find. I thought he would respect Ronak enough to pass the news or track them down. But greed clouded his judgment.”

His lips curved in a faint, ironic smile. ”That mistake cost him dearly.”

Ivy nodded softly, understanding.

’So Silas thought of everything, and yet people’s greed still ruined his plan. Humans truly don’t change.’

Was she surprised? Nope. That was how the apocalypse was.

Not long after, the guard returned and bowed slightly. ”Leader Ronak invites you in.”

The tone was respectful now, almost deferential.

Both Silas and Ivy followed behind the guard.

The house was simple, decorated with only the essentials, yet it radiated a strange warmth.

The earthy walls made the room feel a bit stuffy; however, the faint smell of the earth relaxed the incoming guest.

On a wooden sofa, a man sat sipping tea. His skin was a warm brown, his almond-shaped eyes bright, and his smile charming.

When he saw Silas and Ivy, he immediately stood up.

Ivy blinked, a little surprised. ’Why are all the men Silas knows so handsome? Are they secretly competing with each other?’

Silas smiled faintly; his usually cold aura evaporated into thin air.

”Ivy, this is Ronak. We met during my time at the university. We shared the same dream back then, so we stayed in touch. Now, he has built his own base here.”

Ronak chuckled; his deep voice was laced with enthusiasm. ”And now the apocalypse brings us together again.”

Ivy’s curiosity piqued.