Seeing the somewhat familiar abandoned buildings, she immediately reminded them:
"We’re almost there. Less than a kilometer to go."
Following Zhou Mei’s words, a small settlement appeared before them.
The group gradually slowed down, observing their surroundings.
October Town was the closest settlement to the shelter, a common type of human outpost in the wasteland.
All sorts of people gathered here: merchants, Bounty Hunters, drifters, and even some of the Gifted.
October Town wasn’t large, but it had everything one might need.
It had a marketplace, a crude medical station, and even a few taverns that offered a place to rest for passing drifters and Bounty Hunters.
After Bena and his group arrived in October Town, they didn’t immediately rush to post their recruitment notice.
They first observed the town from the outskirts, and only after confirming nothing was out of the ordinary did they slowly ride inside.
"Let’s check out a tavern first," Bena said to the others. "That’s where information flows most freely. We might find a suitable candidate there."
Zhou Mei nodded in agreement. "October Town has a few taverns. I’ll take you to one I know."
The group rode their motorcycles down the town’s main road, arriving at a tavern in the center of town.
They parked their bikes and walked into the tavern.
The tavern was dimly lit, the air thick with the stench of alcohol and sweat.
Patrons sat in small groups at the tables, some whispering amongst themselves, others raising their cups in hearty toasts. The place was bustling with activity.
Bena scanned the room, found an empty table in a corner, and led Zhou Mei, Lanton, and Zhou Yiming over to it.
As soon as they sat down, they drew the attention of quite a few people in the tavern.
"Hey, look what the cat dragged in." A drunken brute pointed at Bena and his group, bellowing, "We don’t welcome outsiders ’round here."
Bena shot the brute a cold glance. His powerful presence made the man shiver involuntarily, sobering him up a fair bit.
"Don’t start anything," Zhou Mei reminded Bena in a low voice. "We’re here to recruit, not to fight."
Bena withdrew his gaze and nodded.
Just then, the tavern’s bartender walked over.
The bartender was a small, slender middle-aged man, but his eyes were incredibly sharp.
"What can I get for you?" the bartender asked with a smile.
"A few glasses of water, and whatever you have to eat," Bena replied.
The bartender nodded and turned to get their order.
A moment later, he brought over a few glasses of water and some simple roasted meat.
"That’ll be six Silver Coins."
"Thanks. By the way, we’re here to recruit a few new members for the shelter," Bena said. He took the glasses, handed them to Zhou Mei and the others, then slapped six Silver Coins on the table.
"You’re here to recruit?" the bartender asked calmly.
Bena glanced at the bartender and nodded. "That’s right. We’re recruiting new members."
The bartender sized up Bena and his group, as if assessing their strength and purpose.
After a moment, he nodded. "October Town has its share of drifters and Bounty Hunters. What kind of people are you looking for?"
Bena answered, "We need people who are physically fit and have combat experience. If possible, we’d prefer to recruit some of the Gifted."
The bartender mulled it over for a moment, then said:
"There are some capable people in October Town, but recruiting them won’t be easy.
Many of them are used to their freedom and aren’t willing to join any organization."
"We’ll provide plenty of food, a safe place to live, and fair compensation."
Bena said, "I’m sure they’ll find that attractive."
The bartender thought for a moment. "I can help you spread the word, but I can’t guarantee you’ll find anyone."
Bena nodded. "Thank you for your help. We’ll wait here for anyone interested to approach us."
The bartender nodded and went about his business.
Bena and his group ate, keeping a close watch on the activity in the tavern.
They noticed that after hearing the news of recruitment, the people in the tavern began to discuss it in hushed tones.
The atmosphere in the tavern gradually grew tense.
Upon hearing that the shelter was recruiting, some people began to lean in close, whispering to one another.
Bena’s group noticed a few figures quietly slip out of the tavern after hearing the news.
"Looks like some people are already making their move,"
Zhou Mei said in a low voice.
Bena nodded. "That’s a good thing. It means word is getting out."
Meanwhile, Lanton and Zhou Yiming silently observed everyone in the tavern, trying to judge their strength and potential from their expressions and movements.
Just then, a gaunt man walked up to their table.
"Hello. I heard you’re recruiting?"
the man asked.
Bena looked up at him and nodded:
"That’s right. We are."
"My name is Lynch, and I’m a Bounty Hunter," the man introduced himself,
"I’m very confident in my skills. I wonder, are you interested?"
Bena sized him up. He saw a ruthless glint in the man’s eyes, but his frame was rail-thin, like he was malnourished.
"Can you show us what you can do?" Bena asked.
Lynch nodded. He walked to an open space in the center of the tavern and drew a dagger from his belt.
He began to twirl the dagger in a dazzling display, each slash accompanied by a sharp whistle of air.
A novice might find such a display impressive, but an expert sees the method—or lack thereof.
Bena’s brow furrowed slightly.
’This guy is clearly all flash and no substance.’
’His moves looked fierce, but they lacked any real form.’
Bena said nothing, but he nodded at Zhou Mei.
With a flick of her wrist, two green daggers appeared in Zhou Mei’s hands. An instant later, she struck without a sound. CLINK! CLINK! Two crisp sounds rang out.
Lynch stared at his dagger, which was now spinning on the floor. His face was a mask of shock and humiliation.
Zhou Mei had moved as fast as lightning. Almost no one had seen her strike, but Lynch’s dagger had already been knocked from his hand.
The crowd in the tavern let out a collective gasp. Lynch’s expression turned uglier than ever.
"You!" Humiliated, Lynch flew into a rage, his hand reaching for the gun at his waist.
Bena snorted. An invisible pressure radiated from him, washing over Lynch. The man froze instantly, a cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.
"Get lost," Bena said coolly.
Lynch gritted his teeth. Knowing he was no match for them, he picked up his dagger and scurried out of the tavern with his tail between his legs.
After witnessing the group’s strength, the buzz of conversation in the tavern grew louder, but for the moment, no one else dared to step forward and offer their services.
Bena and his group weren’t in a hurry. They sat quietly, waiting for someone with real strength and potential to appear.