NOVEL WEB Chapter 760: Ships
Just by seeing the price, Shane immediately knew why no one was visiting this place.
At one glance, it seemed like only those wealthy Survivors would dare to spend so much on a decoration.
It was understandable…
As a matter of fact, even with his current points exceeding a million, he wouldn't dare to buy something as useless as this just to use for decoration. It was even more so for the other survivors who had less than 100,000 points…
Just by seeing the prices, they would be immediately scared away.
However, Shane's eye for detail was superb.
It only took him a few moments to guess what kind of secret this store has.
'I can't be sure unless I buy one, huh…' Shane thought for a moment.
But as he considered buying one, a man stepped out from behind the counter. He was tall with hair pulled back into a tight sailor's knot and a coat that looked as though it had weathered more than a few storms.
"You're looking," the clerk said simply and acknowledged Shane's presence.
"I'm wondering," Shane replied, glancing again at the price tags. "Who would spend hundreds of thousands of points for a… toy?"
Although he already had an idea, it was better to hear it from the clerk.
The clerk's mouth curved into a smirk. "That's the first mistake everyone makes." He stepped to one of the shelves and carefully lifted a bottle containing a sleek black-hulled brigantine. "These are not models."
Shane's eyes lit up. "Enlighten me."
The man set the bottle gently on the counter and tapped the glass. "What you see here is a containment vessel. The ships are stored in dimensional stasis—perfectly preserved, ready for use. Break the bottle, and the ship manifests in full size, seaworthy, but not crew-ready, within seconds."
'I knew it!'
Shane blinked, glancing between the man and the ship. "You're telling me that's a real ship in there?"
"I'm telling you," the clerk said calmly, "that if you were to shatter this glass on the nearest shore, you would have a two-masted, seventy-foot warship floating in the water before the shards touched the sand."
Shane took a deep breath as he realized now that it was actually cheap...
Still, he wasn't close to any large body of water, so he didn't really have a use for these.
However, he knew about the regions in the continent that had a shoreline.
Since he may not have a chance to stumble upon this store again, he might have to purchase one or two ships right now for his future expansions.
These weren't just for collectors—they were for anyone who needed a mobile base, a trading vessel, or a war platform at sea. In a world where a land might be filled with only Zombies, there might be a time when they needed to flee to the sea.
"I'm interested. Can you tell me more about them?" Shane said.
The clerk was finally showing some spirit, as this was his first customer.
Just like that, he began walking him through the shelves. "This here—The River Wraith. Base Price is only twenty thousand Points. Fast, light, ideal for river raids or smuggling runs. Only needs a crew of four."
He moved on, gesturing to a wider bottle holding a heavy, triple-masted ship equipped with various armaments. "The Ironwake. Eighty thousand Points. Reinforced hull, twenty-four cannons, capable of Spirit burst propulsion for short combat engagements."
Shane was liking this ship as well, although it looked like it wouldn't be a fast ship.
They stopped before a massive bottle at the end of the room. The ship inside was pale and elegant, with gold-trimmed sails and lanterns along the railings. The plaque read: Azure Sovereign – 300,000 Points.
'That's the most expensive, I guess.'
"Luxury vessel," the clerk said with a hint of reverence.
"Inside… There are staterooms, a banquet hall, built-in barrier generator for weathering storms. I've seen it host a hundred passengers in comfort."
'That's impressive…'
Shane took his time studying each one—cargo haulers with storage holds, some pursuit craft for chasing targets, even an ironclad-like monstrosity with rotating turrets labeled The Leviathan for 250,000 Points.
"Interesting stock," Shane admitted. "But still no customers."
The man's smile turned faintly bitter. "Maybe most people who pass here don't think long-term, or they just think that my products are for decoration. And most Survivors haven't the stomach for the sea…"
Shane smiled as he considered his own forces…
Based on his experience from the previous Apocalypses he had entered, there were indeed other continents out there.
Although it would normally take five to seven years to be able to connect to them, it might be different for this Apocalypse.
Perhaps, there would be a growing need for trade routes between shelters or civilizations…
He could see the potential immediately.
The clerk leaned closer. "But if you're the type who invests in things before others realize they're valuable…" His eyes glinted. "…these can change everything."
Shane's gaze drifted once more to the Azure Sovereign and other ships…
However, he decided not to act rashly and kept scanning the rows…
After considering for a while, he was able to list his requirements.
He wasn't searching for luxury or heavy cannons… He was imagining troop transports, clan members, and supply runs.
"Do you have anything cheaper?" Shane finally asked, turning back to the clerk. "I'm not after a warship. I just need something with a few cannons for defense—nothing flashy—but big enough to carry at least fifty people and their gear. Budget's around twenty-five thousand Points each."
The clerk's brows knit together. "Fifty passengers, seaworthy, with defense, for that price? That's… difficult."
"I'm sure you have something in the back," Shane said with a small, knowing smirk. "Maybe something you can't move because it's not impressive enough for the other Survivors."
The man studied him for a moment, then sighed and motioned toward a lower shelf near the far wall. "Follow me."