[ Glen: If Eclipse Domain calls for migration, Iāll pack my Clan immediately. Pride means nothing under a red moon. ]
[ Franco: Same. Better to work under Shane than become corpses under the Red Night. ]
[ Bella: ...But what if he doesnāt accept any more people ]
[ Kian: Then pray. ]
[ Ruel: Forget pray... Start digging, start forging, start stockpiling. Weāve got 72 hours. Use them or die. ]
[ Lina: I heard people in World Chat are offering thousands of cores just to board his Floating Fortress. Is that true? ]
[ Tundra: Shane could probably retire from zombie hunting if he just rents out hammocks. Heād be super rich. ]
[ Glen: Hammocks? You think he has hammocks? He probably has golden beds with silk sheets up there. Anyway, arenāt you part of his Clan? ]
[ Hazel: Stop exaggerating. But seriously... Shane, if youāre reading this, some of us are willing to pay. ]
[ Franco: Forget pay. If I have to scrub toilets up there for 48 hours, Iāll do it. Just let me in. I donāt have much with me. ]
[ Yara: My clan has crystals. If he accepts those, Iāll throw in three right now for my family. ]
[ Noel: Donāt get your hopes up. He doesnāt babysit weaklings. ]
[ Bella: Then he babysits us while we die? No thanks. If thereās even a 1% chance to buy survival, Iāll take it. ]
Everyone was worried since the Red Moon Event details were clear.
The fact that the Zombies would have increased strength and the Zombie Lord would be lurking around, that would certainly be a huge disaster.
Nonetheless, Shane proceeded with the idea he had just read from the chat.
[ Shane: You guys saw the begging, right? 500 cores per person. I could make a fortune just letting people sleep on the deck. ]
This was a message within the Clan Chat, and every member could read it.
As soon as they saw it, they couldnāt help but laugh. Shane was right, this was an opportunity to earn money.
[ Raze: Sleep on the deck? Theyād fight over broom closets if you let them. Charge them as much as you want, Leader. ]
[ Asad: Cores are fine, but think bigger. Ask for Item Upgrade Crystals. Way rarer. Way better. ]
[ Shane: Whoa~ I didnāt know youād be this cruel, Asad. xD ]
[ Asad: Hey, Iām serious. Imagine... 200 crystals or is that too much? Maybe 50 or something? Thatās a lot of gear upgrades. Weād steamroll everything after the Red Night.
[ Raze: Or make it flexible. 300 cores and 30 crystals. Give the poor bastards an option. ]
This time, Tundra, Layla, Max, and other members also added their own suggestions about the payment they could accept.
[ Shane: Whatās next, should I ask for their firstborn? ]
[ Asad: Depends. Can their kid swing a sword? ]
Everyone laughed at this.
[ Raze: Donāt tempt him, Asad. Heāll seriously consider it. ]
[ Shane: ... ]
[ Asad: Youāre considering it, arenāt you? Just ask for Recruitment Stone or something. ]
[ Shane: Maybe. ]
[ Raze: Anyway, cap it. Fortress max is 500 people, right? For outsiders? No more than 200. Otherwise, the toilets explode before the zombies get us. ]
[ Asad: Did you have some toilet issues here before I joined? Maybe the apocalypseās greatest fear is the clogged plumbing. ]
[ Shane: Fine. 200 it is. ]
Just like that, Shane decided to give a chance to the nearby Survivors first. He didnāt send a message to the World Chat. He decided that only if they didnāt fill the 200, that would be the time to send a message in the World Chat.
***
[ Shane: Attention, Regional Survivors. Iāll make this clear. My Floating Fortress can take in 200 outsiders during the Red Night. ]
[ Shane: Entry fee will be 500 Zombie Cores OR 50 Item Upgrade Crystal per person. ]
[ Shane: Those who wish to join, send Me, Raze, or Asad a Message. Then, you will receive a private message from us. If you donāt receive one, youāre not selected. Donāt spam. Donāt beg. ]
[ Shane: Only 200 will be accepted. Thatās final. ]
[ Lina: He really said it! Iām readyātake my crystal! ]
[ Franco: 500 cores... robbery. But Iāll pay. Better broke than dead. ]
[ Yara: Finally! My family has a chance. Shane, Iāll wait for your message. ]
[ Travis: Question. Do we bring our own food or is it an all-inclusive zombie apocalypse package? ]
[ Shane: Travis? Are you serious? Wait, how many Clones do you have? Youāre in world chat and in Sector 17, right? Anyway, bring your own food. Fortress isnāt a hotel. We can give you some coffee and bread but thatās it. ]
[ Glen: Thank you! Our craftsmen would be safe there... ]
[ Bella: Everyone shut up and start grinding. Youāll need every core to pay the ticket. ]
The chat exploded with noise...
Now that they have a chance to enter Shaneās floating fortress, they couldnāt help but feel excited.
Shane only smirked, already imagining 200 people lining up to buy a seat in his fortress.
***
In the meantime, Natalie had several informants within Sector 20 and learned about the Regional Chat logs where Shane had started selling "tickets" to his Floating Fortress.
āDid he actually buy that thing knowing this would happen?ā Natalie mused.
She then shared the information he had just found to the members of the Survivor Pact.
Joy, leader of Dawnspire Order, gave a short laugh.
"That man... ruthless, but brilliant. While others panic, he turns the event into profit."
Sarah of Verdant Vanguard nodded.
"He has the Floating Fortress, but we are also strong, right? Our defensive bunkers could house hundreds more if we clear out the lower levels."
Ilia of the Crimson Wake Clan agreed.
" Oh? So why not follow his example? Nearby survivors will pay anything for safety. Cores, crystals, rare materials... let them. It strengthens us and weakens potential rivals."
Donvar of the Black Iron Pact Clan liked this idea. "My shelterās bunkers are empty. We could easily convert them into barracks. If they pay, they stay. If they donāt, the Red Night decides their fate. Letās copy Shane."
Natalie smiled at their idea.
"If we do this, it must be handled carefully..."