Even without proper inspections, Shane could tell the Ironcrest Clanâs ships were a lot more impressive than the one he had purchased at the Auction Site.
Well, the store where he had obtained them was selling ships in bulk, or most of them were used products as well.
Considering their price, it was already impressive. Unfortunately, those ships werenât meant to traverse a sea that could have Zombie Sea Creatures.
Because of that, Vasco and the Mute Builders had to reinforce their ships inside and outside.
"Right... What products are they selling again?" Shane muttered as he opened the chat he had with Fiona before.
He already read them a while ago and could probably ask Cloud about it, but he decided to just check i again.
Through the previous conversation, he learned that Ironcrest Clan was a merchant faction, known for its rare goods and disciplined trade practices.
They had arrived in Blue Havenâs territory a few days ago, bringing with them three valuable items.
The first was the Spirit Grain. It was a rare crop cultivated on their island, infused with faint spiritual energy. It restored stamina faster than ordinary food and was prized among soldiers for long campaigns.
Next was the Ironcrest Timber, a wood harvested and enchanted by their Clan Leader. Stronger than steel when treated properly, it was highly valued by shipbuilders and weapon smiths.
Finally, there was the Crystal Salt. It was mined from their coastal caverns, this salt was edible but also used in alchemy and preservation. It could extend the life of stored food and enhance certain potions.
The Ironcrest Clan only accepted Spirit Stones in trade, and of course, Fiona had already purchased a large amount of their goods, but she had held back, cautious about spending too much until he returned.
âIt should be fine to get a steady supply of these since the Spirit Stone extraction in Blood Talon Shelter is getting faster.â Shane mused as he knew that the expert miners of the Silver Mine Camp were working hard in Blood Talonâs Spirit Stone Mining Site.
***
Soon, the Floating Fortress emerged above Blue Haven, its massive shadow stretching across the port. The Ironcrest delegates, standing on the docks, looked up in shock.
Their eyes widened, and some stumbled backward.
This was their first time seeing such a thing and no one warned them about its existence at all!
The sheer size of the fortress was overwhelming, a flying citadel descending from the skies.
"Alien invasion?!"
"What the heck is that?!"
"Aliens? Wait... this is a Zombie Apocalypse, bro!"
"How is that thing existing in a zombieâthemed apocalypse?!"
"Thatâs too mystical!"
"Idiot... youâre outdated. This isnât impossible to obtain. You just need to be filthy rich and part of the HighâRanking Auction Event."
"Are we supposed to fight that thing? Forget it, Iâm out!"
"Look at the cannons on the side... one shot and our ships are gone!"
"Is it even humanâmade? Maybe itâs some kind of relic from the old world."
"No way... thatâs a fortress in the sky. Who the hell owns something like that?"
"Shut up, donât you see the banners? Thatâs Shaneâs people. The rumors were true!"
"Shane? The Rank 1 Survivor... Damn... if he has this fortress, then the Overlord Alliance is screwed."
"Or maybe weâre screwed if he decides weâre enemies..."
"Stop panicking! Merchants like us donât matter to him. Just donât provoke them."
"Still... I canât believe it. A flying citadel in the middle of a zombie apocalypse. This world keeps getting crazier."
Shane didnât hear their reactions from above, but he could tell that several people were looking worried or scared. They were definitely not his people. They were either the newly summoned recruits, the wandering merchants, or the members of the Ironcrest Clan.
"Theyâre scared shitless," Shane muttered, watching their panicked expressions.
The fortress descended slowly just right outside the Blue Haven Shelter... This floating fortress couldnât dock anyway...
Soon, its engines hummed louder before it hovered just above eastern gates....
The first to go down was, of course, Shane and his generals.
It was then followed by the residents of the Waterfall Shelter, who would soon be part of the Blue Haven.
However, they had to be checked by the experts first before receiving their resident tokens. After all, it would be a serious problem if one of them were carrying the Zombie Virus.
Just like that, the shelterâs gates opened, and the procession began.
While Shane headed to meet the merchants, the first group of new residents or survivors from the Waterfall Shelter, arrived in front of the gate.
Doctors and medics were already waiting near the eastern gates with their kits prepared. Every new arrival had to be checked thoroughly before entry.
The risk of someone carrying the Zombie Virus was too great to ignore.
Gregor was the first to step forward. He was the man Shane had saved, and basically the one whose rescue had led to their connection with the Waterfall Shelter.
Gregor decided to be the first one to show the rest that it was safe. His expression was calm as the doctors examined him. They checked his arms, neck, and torso for bite marks, then scanned him with their detection tools.
"All clear," one of the medics announced.
Gregor exhaled in relief, then glanced back at the others. "Itâs fine. Donât be nervous."
Next came Horace, the Crafting Expert of the Waterfall Shelter. His hands were calloused. He was man who had spent years building and repairing both in Earth and in this continent...
The doctors inspected him quickly, and he passed without issue.
Then Misty stepped forward. She was a young girl, barely in her teens, but her presence carried weight. Misty possessed a rare Fire-related Talent. However, she could also accelerate the growth of herbs and purify them. Without her, the Waterfall Shelterâs medicine supply would have been nothing.
The doctors treated her gently, scanning her carefully.
"Sheâs clean," one of them confirmed...
Misty smiled shyly, clutching the small pouch of herbs she always carried.
One by one, the rest of the thirty survivors were checked. Thankfully, none of them had bite marks or carried the virus. Relief spread through the group as the doctors nodded and waved them forward.
Aside from fatigue, being malnourished, and light injuries, there were all doing fine.
Soon, the officials began issuing tokens.
***
Blue Haven had limited resources, and unfortunately, they only had 20 Resident Tokens available at the moment. That meant ten of the survivors would have to settle for Visitor Tokens temporarily.
The Resident Tokens were far more valuable, granting full privileges within Shaneâs territory.
[ Resident Token: A silver Identification Token issued to permanent residents of the shelter owned by Shane. This token grants full access to housing, markets, and defense systems within Shaneâs territory.
Effects within Lord Shaneâs Territory:
Residential Privileges: Grants the right to live within the shelter, including access to housing and communal facilities.
Market Access: Allows unrestricted buying, selling, and trading within the Eclipse Domain.
Defense Integration: Holders are automatically registered in the fortress defense system, granting protection during assaults.
Permanent Status: Valid indefinitely unless revoked by Lord Shane.
[ Created by Shadow Strider. ]
[ This item could be upgraded through special missions. ]
Meanwhile, the Visitor Tokens were issued to the remaining ten survivors.
[ Visitor Token (Common): A black Identification Token issued to travelers and traders who wish to enter the shelter for a short period. This token allows access to the marketplace, trade zones, and inns but does not grant permanent residential privileges.
Effects within Lord Shaneâs Territory:
Market Access: Grants the ability to buy, sell, and trade within the Eclipse Domain.
Basic Escort Protection: Travelers with this token are under the shelterâs temporary protection while within the settlement walls.
Limited Stay: Valid for ten days.
[ Created by Shadow Strider. ]
[ This item could not be upgraded. ]
"Once we get the resident tokens, you can immediately get them in the main building. For now, you can just stay together with someone who has resident tokens. We just need two or three days anyway." The clerk said.
After all, he had also ensured that the ones with visitor tokens were those who had no special talent or young ones who had to rely on their parents or elders.
Of course, they also briefed these people on how they could obtain food, zombie cores, gold coins, and other items they could use for trade.
Still, they were lucky that they were part of the first 800 residents of the Blue Haven Shelter since Shane planned to give free houses to the first residents to boost its population.
Just like that, the survivors accepted their tokens with gratitude.
Clank...
Gregor bit the Resident Token he just received. Well, he couldnât help but appreciate it. It was truly well-made, and it seemed to be made by a Survivor, not a System Item.
âHow did they even make these things?â
It was quite impressive that the system had clearly recognized its effects. It was as if they could just control the system itself on how to describe the token.
After keeping it in his inner pocket, Gregor finally turned his attention to the Blue Haven Shelter...
"I survived..." He muttered. He still couldnât believe that he was now part of the Rank 1 Survivorâs shelter.