Chapter 27: Safe House and New Skills
Randall's arrival at the farm turned the already tense atmosphere into a powder keg. Shane demanded his execution the moment he saw the injured young man. "He's a threat! His friends might know where we are! We have to kill him!"
Rick and Hershel, however, objected. They would treat his wound first, then decide what to do. Dale, as always, tried to act as the group's moral conscience, arguing that killing a defenseless person would make them no better than monsters. Randall was locked in a storage room next to the barn, becoming the farm's new and unwelcome guest.
Jayden saw these arguments as an opportunity for his own plan. "We'll need more antibiotics and painkillers for Randall's wound," he told the group. "Besides, our supplies are running low. I'll go exploring alone. I'll be faster and less conspicuous."
This plausible excuse ensured that no one objected. But Jayden's real target wasn't the pharmacy in town, but the abandoned house he'd seen on the road.
The next morning, when he set out, he headed straight for it. The house was in better condition than he'd expected. It was a two-story, solidly built stone house. There were a few walkers inside, but Jayden quietly and effortlessly cleared them out.
[Basic Melee (Level 2) Skill +35 EXP gained]
[EXP: 250 / 3500]
After cleaning the house, he began a detailed inspection. Most of the windows needed boarding up. The door lock was weak. He'd need to work on making this place truly "secure." This was his personal project.
In the living room, a dusty bookshelf caught his eye. As he scanned the shelves, one caught his eye: "Home Repair and Carpentry Handbook." The moment he picked up the book, a new notification appeared in the system interface.
[New Skill Book Found: Basic Repair. Read the book to learn (Duration: 1 hour) or spend 500 EXP to learn instantly.]
This new mechanic excited Jayden. He could improve his skills not just by using them, but also by acquiring knowledge. He didn't have an hour, but he didn't want to spend EXP. He tossed the book into his bag. "I'll read it later," he thought. But another book caught his eye: "Lockers as a Hobby." This one was thinner.
[New Skill Book Found: Basic Lockpicking. Read the book to learn (Duration: 30 minutes) or spend 250 EXP to learn instantly.]
"I have time for this." Jayden sat in a corner and carefully studied the book's diagrams and instructions for half an hour. When he finished, a notification appeared.
[New Skill Learned: Basic Lockpicking (Level 1) EXP: 0 / 250]
This was a game-changer. Now he could be not only a warrior, but also a multi-talented survivalist.
As he continued searching the house, he found a small treasure trove in a hidden compartment in the pantry. A few cans of canned meat, a few gallons of water, a large first aid kit, and most importantly, a box of shotgun cartridges. This was his initial stockpile. He carefully stored the supplies.
He couldn't return to the farm empty-handed. He stopped by a small nearby settlement, breaking into a few houses to gather some makeshift supplies: bandages, gauze, a few cans of expired canned goods. "The towns were almost completely looted, but I could find these," he explained upon returning, explaining why he hadn't brought more.
His story was compelling. No one knew that Jayden now had his own hideout and secrets outside the farm.