Chapter 408 The True Purpose of the Camp
After thinking how many stones he would use today, Shane informed everyone about his plans. He told them to clean the surroundings and repair the broken fence and other buildings before he went to the gate of the camp.
'Mhmm… I hope I get some good ones.' Shane thought to himself.
Soon, he stood at the gate of the Silver Mine Camp. The twenty Normal Recruitment Stones were in his hands.
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He'd decided to start by summoning twenty people with ordinary abilities to help strengthen the foundation of his growing community.
The Normal Recruitment Stones were black, smooth, and cool to the touch. Each one looked the same, and from his experience, it could summon individuals with production or manufacturing skills—people who would be essential to rebuilding this place.
As soon as Shane activated the first set of stones, a dense gray fog swirled around the camp.
'Hmm… No matter which place, this gray fog still feels the same…' Shane mused as he watched the phenomenon unfold before him.
This fog moved like a living thing, creeping just outside the camp and settling in front of the gate…
Of course, this event caught everyone's attention, but because Shane had already informed them of what was going to happen, they didn't panic and just calmly observed.
"So this is how summoning works…"
"I hope we get back our brothers."
"That's not how it works. This summoning can only call those who were saved by the fog."
"I wonder if Lord Shane can also summon a better pickaxe… I can't mine with those poor-quality tools."
"It's not the time for that… Look, they're coming."
The others couldn't help but anticipate what was about to happen as their eyes focused on the event outside the gate.
Thud… Thud…
Then, through the haze, figures began to materialize. Twenty in total.
The new arrivals blinked in confusion as the fog dissipated, taking in their surroundings.
All of them wore simple, rough-hewn clothing: faded tunics, trousers made of coarse cloth, and straw hats shielding their sun-worn faces.
'Farmers?' Shane thought as he saw their appearance.
Their hands were calloused, their skin tanned, probably from years spent toiling under the sun. Well, they all looked like typical peasants straight out of the old history books Shane had read.
Dirt clung to their boots, and a few of them carried crude farming tools slung over their shoulders.
One man, seemingly their leader, stepped forward.
He was tall and had a tough build and deep brown eyes. His face, though weathered, seemed to be calm, and his confusion didn't last for five seconds.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
He removed his straw hat respectfully and bowed slightly to Shane.
"Sir," the man said in a deep, humble voice, "Are you the Foreign Survivor who summoned us?"
As expected, they were also guided by the mysterious gray fog which informed them about the Foreign Survivors.
Shane nodded. "Yes, that would be me. And you are?"
The man straightened up after hearing this.
Although their new home looked pathetic, it was still a good thing to stay alive, breathing fresh air, instead of just being in an inanimate state within the fog.
"I'm Famas…"
As he said this, he looked behind him to confirm the people who were together with him, and before he continued.
"Most of us are farmers and ranchers... As long as you have land for us, we will farm or raise livestock for you, my Lord."
"So you're indeed farmers… Perfect." Shane said with a gentle smile on his face. He was satisfied with this result.
Everyone immediately lightened up after confirming that the Foreign Survivor looked happy after knowing what they could do.
Another one stepped forward and also expressed his gratitude."I'm Jillian… We may not be warriors, but we know how to cultivate crops and tend to livestock. We will do our best to assist you, my lord. Please kill all those Zombies for us!"
Behind them, the other recruits—men and women alike—nodded in agreement. They all looked sturdy and capable. Shane could see the confidence of those who had spent their lives cultivating the earth.
Some carried wooden hoes or sickles, and a few had baskets woven from reeds slung over their backs.
It was quite an interesting side.
Shane then asked them about their past and confirmed similar stories regarding how the Zombies tried to kill all of them, only to be saved by the gray fog. However, they might've been saved but they had all witnessed the deaths of their relatives before that could happen.
This was the reason they would love to work with the Foreign Survivors who had the power to eradicate the Zombies and save this world.
Shane listened to their stories and encouraged them that their work here would surely help him.
'Good…' Shane thought after seeing their satisfied expressions.
He was relieved to have summoned such practical and skilled people.
"We will be needing your skills, Famas, Jillian, and everybody else. This land will be our home, and we'll need to rebuild it from the ground up."
Famas looked back at his companions, then nodded at Shane. "We're at your service, sir."
"Diana," Shane called over.
Diana may have a talent related to smithing, but she was also good at handling people. "Can you show them to their living quarters? They'll be staying in the trailers for now."
Diana gave a nod and motioned for the group to follow her. "Come with me. I'll get you settled in."
As Famas and the others followed Diana, Shane turned his attention back to his inventory. This time, he he retrieved two Special Recruitment Stones from his pack. These stones were far more valuable, guaranteed to summon individuals with unique abilities—people who could become key players in the camp's development.
Shane gripped the stones, activating them simultaneously.
The gray fog returned, swirling around the camp once again, denser this time.
'Someone with defensive skills should be good.' Shane mused.
As the fog cleared, Shane was taken aback by the sight of two small figures standing before him.
"Eh?"
A boy, no more than twelve, and a girl who looked even younger, perhaps ten years old, stood in front of him.
They were simply too young! Shane couldn't help but shake his head but since they came from Special Recruitment Stone, he knew that they must have incredible abilities.
Looking at the carefully, their clothes were simple, though the fabric seemed to be high-quality. The boy wore a faded green tunic, his brown hair was messy, and his bright blue eyes gleamed with intelligence.
'Oh… This boy doesn't look confused at all.' Shane thought.
The girl, with pale skin and dark, braided hair, wore a simple dress and clutched a small wooden box in her hands.
"Ugh… aren't they a little too young?" Sandra, who was standing close to Shane, scratched her head.
She had the same thoughts as Shane. After hearing this, however, the boy seemed to be eager to show how useful he could be.
The boy stepped forward first. His youthful face remained calm and composed before he spoke. "My name is Rylen," he said confidently. "I have the ability to find precious stones and minerals hidden deep within the earth."
Shane's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait… seriously? You can do that?"
It was too perfect with the Silver Mine in this new camp!
After all, he hasn't told the others about this yet, but the main drive that made him really like this camp was the fact that it was able to provide him silver!
Silver may be a good item to make accessories for, but for him, it would obviously be used to create weapons, specifically against the Vampires.
Shane knew very well that Statham was just recovering his strength. Shane knew that this Vampire would soon attack him if he was able to recover and gather enough army to face him.
This camp would become a very important site for him, and aside from needing people to protect this place, he also needed people who could gather silver for him faster.
Rylen nodded with a smile, seeing how Shane reacted.
"Yes. I've never failed to find a vein of ore or gems, no matter how deeply buried. My ability is… precise."
Before Shane could respond, the young girl stepped forward, her gaze was shy but she was also determined.
"And I'm Aria," she said softly, holding up the small wooden box she carried. "I can grow plants much faster than normal."
Shane blinked, stunned by their abilities. "You… can make plants grow faster?"
Aria nodded. Her expression was earnest.
"As long as I have Spiritual Force… I can do it! Ahem… I mean, I've tested it before. With enough spiritual force, I can grow crops and herbs—anything you need. And it doesn't take long."
Shane ran a hand through his hair, still processing what he had just heard.
This was simply too perfect!
With such incredible abilities, he would really have to hire these underage recruits. He simply had no other choice. "You two… your abilities are exactly what we need…"
Rylen and Aria exchanged a glance, both of them clearly excited by the prospect of contributing. They could tell that the man in front of them was the Foreign Survivor of this camp.
They felt glad that even though the place looked delapidated, they seemed to have a good leader.
Shane knelt down slightly to meet them at eye level. "You might be young," he said with a smile, "but you're both incredibly valuable to us. Welcome to the Silver Mine Camp."