Within the church that was now turned into the main camp of the estate, Shane listened intently as Mr. Wadsworth presented his report.


    The butler''s voice was calm, and each word was carefully chosen to convey the essence of the interrogation.


    "Sir, the three men—Chris, Jake, and Liam—possess talents that are quite extraordinary…" Mr. Wadsworth began, handing over a dossier of notes.


    "Iron Sinew, Ogre''s Constitution, Berserker''s Vigor… such abilities could be invaluable to us."


    Shane leaned back in the makeshiftmand chair, a repurposed pew, and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. This chair was one of the things that the Super Soldiers collected this morning. It was a bit broken, but Harper was able to easily fix it.


    After some time, Shane softly spoke…


    "To turn them into Super Soldiers would be to erase those talents…" He mused aloud. "The serum… they strip away the unique gifts bestowed by the Apocalypse System, leaving nothing but raw physical prowess. It''s a pity if those talents were gone."


    Shane sighed as the Survivor''s Talents and Skills from the System would disappear once they received Project Z2''s serum.


    Mr. Wadsworth nodded, understanding the gravity of the decision. "Indeed, sir. It would be a significant loss to their individual potential. We can use the remaining serums for those with Common or Umon Talents. To use them with those with Rare Talents or even above would be such a waste."


    "We can''t keep them confined indefinitely, either. It''s not sustainable, nor is it just." Shane muttered.


    A heavy silence fell between them, the weight of leadership pressing down on Shane''s shoulders.


    ''What should we do then? Wait until we have another option?''


    Shane''s gaze drifted to the stained ss windows, the light from the bonfire outside casting vibrant patterns on the stone floor.


    After some time, Shane made a decision…


    "Give me five days…" He finally dered it was heard by the others in their sleeping quarters...


    "If we can''t find a way to ensure their loyalty, then we''ll proceed with the transformation."


    Mr. Wadsworth bowed slightly. "Very well, sir. I shall inform Leo to secure them properly."


    They decided to have Leo tighten the ropes binding the three men, ensuring no slip nor give.


    Furthermore, they assigned a Super Soldier, a silent giant of a man, to take a post outside the confinement room of the three.


    They were all confident enough that a single Super Soldier could deal with the three Survivors even if thetter were at their full strength!


    ***


    On the next day, as the first light of dawn filtered through the stained ss windows of the church-turned-living-quarters, Shane stood contemting the fate of Chris, Jake, and Liam.


    He still couldn''t help but hope that these three would be part of his vanguard team. However, for that to happen, he had to find a way to ensure their loyalty.


    To simply erase them seemed like a waste of resources.


    Yet, the risk of leaving them as they were was too great; their previous actions had shown they were not yet allies.


    "Five days…"Shane reiterated to himself.


    It was a deadline, a window of opportunity to find an alternative before giving them the serum.


    Shane''s then checked his Survivor Store. The digital interface greeted him with a list of items and resources.


    "Oh? A set item? How rare…" Shane muttered after seeing the items being sold.


    [ Army Boots: Sturdy and reliable boots designed for the rigors ofbat. The Army Boots provide excellent ankle support, durability, and traction on various terrains. Made of reinforced leather and tough rubber soles, these boots are essential for long marches and swift maneuvers in the field.


    They offer protection against environmental hazards and ensure the Survivor''s footing remains secure during intense engagements.


    Price: 30 Zombie Cores


    Quantity: 2 pairs ]


    [ Army Pants: Durable and functional pants tailored for military operations. The Army Pants feature reinforced stitching, multiple pockets for storage, and adjustable waistbands for afortable fit. Constructed from ripstop fabric, these pants offer resistance to tears and abrasions, making them ideal for rugged terrain and unpredictable encounters.


    Stay agile and prepared with the versatile Army Pants as part of your uniform.


    Price: 25 Zombie Cores


    Quantity: 2/2 ]


    [ Army Vest: A versatile and protective vest designed forbat readiness. The Army Vest provides essential storagepartments, adjustable straps for a customized fit, and integrated ballistic panels for added defense against projectile threats.


    With MOLLE ( Modr Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment ) webbing for attaching additional gear and essories, this vest enhances the Survivor''s tactical capabilities while ensuring vital organs are safeguarded in high-risk situations.


    Price: 30 Zombie Cores


    Quantity: 2/2 ]


    [ Army Helmet:A rugged and impact-resistant helmet engineered for battlefield scenarios. The Army Helmet offers superior head protection with a durable shell, padded interior forfort, and an adjustable chin strap for secure wear.


    Featuring a modr design for attaching night vision devices ormunication equipment, this helmet is essential for safeguarding the Survivor''s most vital asset inbat situations.


    Price: 35 Zombie Cores


    Quantity: 2/2 ]


    "Awesome…" Shane muttered as he saw the four new Items being sold.


    The remaining two were just another Cast Iron Skillet and Backpack.


    [ Cast Iron Skillet: A heavy and durable pan that can be used for cooking or as a weapon. It can be used by a survivor who wants to prepare food or bash zombies, but with a slow speed and a loud noise. It has a +90% chance of causing blunt damage and a +10% chance of causing fire damage.


    Price: 15 Zombie Cores


    Quantity: 2/2 ]


    [ Backpack: Arge and spacious bag that can store more items and materials. It is made of nylon and has zippers and straps. It also provides some resistance to weight-based attacks from Crusher Zombies, reducing the damage and knockdown effect.


    Price: 15 Zombie Cores


    Quantity: 2/2 ]


    These two items are a bit too expensive, considering they''re just extra equipment. So, for now, he decided to skip those two items and consider themter before the end of the day.


    "A set of Army Uniform is worth 120 Zombie Cores if I get each of them… 240 Zombies Cores for 2 sets…" Shane muttered as he confirmed that he had enough Zombie Cores to get them.


    "They''re also clothes… Anna or even Alexa can use them as a change of clothes." Shane muttered as he recalled that they were stillcking some clothes.


    However, he immediately shook his head as he recalled that Super Soldiers found clothes in the Manor!


    "Right… They just smelled bad and needed to be washed… It''s a pity that there''s no detergents being sold in the Survivor. I have to ask the chatter for detergents." Shane muttered as he purchased two of each Army items.


    He didn''t immediately take them out or upgrade them with his Crystals but instead, he decided to check his Reputation Store.


    As he scrolled through the store, his eyes lit up in excitement!


    [ Behavioral Conditioning Chip: A cutting-edge piece of technology designed to modify and enhance the behavior patterns of individuals. The Behavioral Conditioning Chip offers the Survivor the ability to unlock hidden potential and skills through advanced neural programming.


    By imnting this chip, the Survivor can be controlled by the one who imnted the chip, but in exchange, they can also adapt to new challenges more effectively, improve decision-making in high-stress situations, and even gain ess to specialized training programs tailored to their unique ystyle. Upgrade your Survivor''s capabilities with this revolutionary device.


    Price: 15 RP


    Quantity: 1 ]


    [ Prisoner''s Anklet: A sinister device used to restrain and control unruly individuals. The Prisoner''s Anklet binds itself to the Survivor''s leg, imposing limitations and consequences for disobedience. However, for those willing to embrace its dark power, the anklet can also unlock hidden abilities and grant forbidden knowledge if you are willing to be a Prisoner Zombie.


    Will you sumb to its malevolent influence or defy its control to harness its true potential?


    Price: 5 RP


    Quantity: 3 ]


    [ Electric Baton: A versatile weapon favored by enforcers and security personnel for its stunning capabilities. The Electric Baton delivers a non-lethal shock to adversaries, incapacitating them temporarily without causing permanent harm. In the hands of the Survivor, this weapon bes a tool of both defense and subjugation, allowing for strategic takedowns and crowd control.


    Equip yourself with the Electric Baton and wield the power of electricity to assert dominance in the face of danger.


    Price: 7 RP


    Quantity: 2]


    "Amazing…" Shane muttered after seeing three items in the store. Their appearance was certainly timely!


    What impressed him the most was the behavioral conditioning chip! It was such an advanced item!


    ''Now that I think about it, there was also that Drone being sold… I guess the items being sold here can be advanced in terms of technology or in terms of magic…'' Shane muttered.


    Unfortunately, the chip was a bit too expensive… Although it was certainly the best out of the three items, the price was too much. He doesn''t even have that many Reputation Points.


    Nheless, he could still purchase 3 of the Prisoner''s Anklet.