Fiona squinted her eyes at the sight of the bat hanging on the roof of the Portal Hall.

At first, she didn’t raise any alarm.

Birds still existed in this world, and bats weren’t unheard of either. Seeing one wasn’t automatically a threat. Still, she couldn’t ignore the possibility.

"Could just be a normal bat... or something worse," she muttered.

She decided to observe it quietly.

If it were truly connected to the Vampire Lord, then rushing in recklessly would be a mistake. For now, she would let her rats continue their search.

Her swarm spread across the shelter, slipping into alleys, rooftops, and storage rooms.

They checked the docks, the marketplace, and even the barracks.

Fiona monitored through her Sense Link, but no suspicious figures appeared.

No one seemed to be responsible for luring the Tentacle King Zombie toward the shelter.

"Nothing..." she whispered.

It was certainly for the better. She also didn’t want to find traitors or saboteurs among the people she knew...

"They’re just tired survivors."

Then, one of her rats squeaked sharply in her mind.

Fiona then focused, sensing its vision. The bat had moved.

It spread its wings and began flying, leaving the roof of the Portal Hall.

Fiona immediately ordered her rats to follow.

"Track it. Don’t lose it."

The rats scurried through the streets, some climbing walls, others even jumping across rooftops. They tried to keep pace, but the bat was fast!

Soon, it soared over the shelter walls, heading toward the sea.

Fiona clenched her fists. "So it’s leaving."

She could only order her swarm to stop... After all, the bat had soon crossed the shoreline and flown out over the waves.

Her rats could go no further.

Just like that, the bat was gone.

Fiona frowned as she considered whether to report this to Shane or not...

"Crossing the sea... I guess that’s not normal behavior. If it were just a bat, it wouldn’t risk flying that far."

She leaned against the wall, thinking carefully.

The Vampire Lord had been defeated by Shane, but if someone else had inherited its power, then this bat could be a scout... a sign of something bigger coming.

For now, she kept the information to herself.

She would continue observing, continue using her swarm, and if it somehow returned and it coincided with another threat, she would have to inform everyone of her suspicion.

***

Meanwhile, as this was all happening, Shane finally arrived at Ruby Gear Shelter...

"Not bad for a hiding place..." Shane muttered.

At this time, his hood was pulled low and a black scarf was covering half his face.

According to Travis’s informants, Alexander and his main officers were hiding here.

After what they had done to Roan, Shane wasn’t about to let them rest.

They probably thought they could lie low.

After all, Shane had already retrieved Roan, and their clan had avoided a massacre at Alexander’s main shelter.

Alexander’s group might have believed that silence would protect them and they could recover after some time... They must be thinking that the Eclipse Revenant Clan wouldn’t pursue them further.

But Shane knew better. The only reason they were still alive was because he and his allies refused to slaughter innocents.

That mercy didn’t extend to Alexander and his officers.

Now, they were on the run, and Ruby Gear Shelter seemed like their safe haven.

It was a neutral shelter in Sector 16, famous for its strength.

According to the chats, it was said to have blocked two Zombie Lords before. That reputation made it one of the most secure places in Sector that survivors could pay to enter.

Outside the gates, Shane saw dozens of survivors waiting.

"What? So expensive?"

The price was steep, it was fifty Zombie Cores for three days of access.

It was far higher than what his own shelter charged, but people still paid for it.

Well, there probably not many shelters around here. Furthermore, the promise of safety against Zombie Lords was worth it.

Shane stepped forward, handed over the cores, and passed inspection.

The guards checked for bite marks and infection...

After looking at him carefully, they didn’t find any and of course, they didn’t recognize him. His face was known among Foreign Survivors, not these locals.

Lastly, he was disguised in simple Zombie Hunter gear instead of his Legendary set, so he blended in easily.

"Mhmm... What a crowded shelter..." Shane muttered.

Inside, Ruby Gear Shelter was bustling.

He couldn’t help but recall his own shelter... It was also quite busy...

However, he noticed that there were many Foreign Survivors who were also lurking around.

Still, he acted like one of the locals as he looked at the merchants shouting prices, scavengers displaying rare loot, and guards patrolling the streets.

As he continued observing the place, he also realized that the walls here had two layers of Barriers.

Furthermore, the walls themselves were reinforced with steel and enchantments...

Shane then walked slowly, familiarizing himself with the layout.

There were food stalls, weapon shops, and even entertainment halls...

It was quite an interesting place overall.

After all, it wasn’t a gloomy place like many other shelters.

Here, survivors laughed and drank, as they were probably trying to forget the horrors outside. To Shane, it almost felt like a normal city. But he wasn’t here to enjoy himself.

He had a mission to complete, and he would not return to his shelter or go on the expedition if he hadn’t killed the guy yet...

Soon, he moved through the streets, and started scanning faces.

Alexander’s officers had to be here somewhere. Travis’s informants had been reliable before, and Shane trusted their word.

Still, he needed to be cautious. Ruby Gear Shelter was neutral, and any reckless move could draw unwanted attention.

Shane stopped at a tavern, pretending to browse the menu.

His eyes had soon turned to the second floor, where a group of men sat together.

Their posture was too rigid or too alert. They weren’t ordinary survivors.

Then, he recognized one of them, a lieutenant who had fought under Alexander.

"They’re here," Shane thought.

"Whoa... I didn’t know I’d be this lucky..."

He was willing to spend a few days searching this place, but not even an hour had passed, and he already found traces of Alexander in this place!

’Amazing... They probably thought that lurking around their branch shelters... If not for Travis, I’d be clueless up until now...’ Shane mused.

Anyway, he didn’t approach immediately. Instead, he circled the area, noting exits, guard positions, and possible escape routes.

Ruby Gear Shelter’s defenses were strong, but its neutrality meant outsiders could blend in easily. Alexander’s group probably thought they were safe here.

Shane smirked under his scarf. "Safe? Not anymore."

He continued exploring, gathering information.

The shelter had a central plaza, a marketplace, and a fortified command post.

The tavern where Alexander’s men stayed was near the east wall, close to a secondary gate. That meant they could try to flee if things went wrong.

’Hmm... Now, bring me Alexander...’ Shane mused as he was still waiting for Alexander to appear. After all, this guy could be a bait. Though they are probably not that smart, it was better to be careful for now.

Soon, he recognized two other people from Alexander’s Phoenix Phalanx Clan...

Shane considered his options. He could strike now, and interrogate them where Alexander was using his special Survivor Skills, but the commotion could alert Alexander and let him escape again.

For now, he decided to wait. He would observe, track their movements, and strike when the opportunity came.

As night fell, Ruby Gear Shelter grew quieter. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Merchants closed their stalls, guards lit lanterns along the walls, and survivors retreated indoors.

Shane remained in the shadows, watching... He didn’t even rent a room and remained outside...

Soon, Alexander’s officers left the tavern, heading toward a rented house near the marketplace.

Shane followed at a distance, careful not to be seen. His disguise remained, and no one suspected him.

Inside the house, the officers gathered.

Shane couldn’t hear their words, as they probably used some kind of skill or barrier generator, but he saw their gestures.

They were tense and arguing.

Perhaps Alexander was inside too.

Shane’s hand tightened around the hilt of his weapon.

He could no longer wait...

Thankfully, as he was about to lose his patience, Alexander finally revealed himself, and Shane saw it through the gap in the window!

A total of six people were inside the room!

Shane stepped back into the shadows and activated his skill. Then, he disappeared!

Shadow Step!

[ Shadow Step Lv10 (Max): A mobility skill that allows the user to blink through shadows, repositioning quickly in combat.

Effects:

Teleport up to 50 meters instantly.

Gain +50% evasion for 2 seconds after reappearing.

Cost: 150 Spirit Points ]

As soon as he reappeared, he was already in the middle of the living room where Alexander and his officers were gathered!

They were all shocked after seeing someone pass through their barriers but before they could react, something heavy pressed them to the ground!

Aura Suppression and Spirit Shackles were activated at the same time!