It was hard for Zain to figure out the full conversation just by listening through the door since he could hear Shark but not the other side, but there was one thing that was certain. Shark was working with others, and Zain was pretty sure that he was gathering members of the Reborn for another reason.
'Based on his fighting skills and his coordination, he really seems to be part of the military or at least the government. Different factions might be involved in all of this, each trying to do their own thing.'
In the end, it looked like the conversation was ending, and Zain had to make a swift exit out of the place, heading back to the bar area. Just so it didn't look like he was just waiting around, Zain had decided to head over to Kun.
Out of everyone there, Kun seemed to know the most about Shark. Not only that though, but he was also setting out all of the weapons that he had gathered from the shop and had cleared out an area to create a fighting area.
Right now, Kun was just widely swinging two random curved swords with red tassels on the end. At the same time, he was making strange noises as he swung each of them, like he was in some type of kung fu movie.
"Have you found a weapon you liked yet?" Zain asked.
Kun placed the swords down and picked up a single-handed axe.
"Not really, but I mean, there were so many weapons in the place. I think I might go back and bring some more. What about you, you seem to like that sword, do you know how to use that as well?
"Did they teach you how to use swords like they did guns in university?" Kun asked sarcastically.
Zain carefully pulled it out from his belt. He had yet to create or make a proper holder for it. Ideally, he would have liked one on his back. Maybe if they headed back to the shop, there would be the type of thing he was looking for, but it was now nighttime, so there was no leaving the place.
"I've practised swinging a stick before, but it's not really the same thing," Zain replied, but then a certain idea popped into his head. "I wonder."
Looking at Cobra, Zain had given him the order to attack. The next second, Cobra ran from the wall he was looking at and started heading straight across the room. Not just at anyone, it was toward Zain.
The two black daggers were in his hands, and he immediately swung one out to attack, aiming for his throat. Lifting the sword up in time, the two weapons clashed, but Zain was clearly stronger, able to hold the weapon firmly.
Straight after, Zain swung his sword in a vertical fashion, but Cobra leapt back and quickly charged in again, but before he could do any damage to Zain, he had made an order telling him to stop, which he did instantly.
'Now that's really interesting. Unlike Skittle, Cobra seems to also avoid attacks and not just mindlessly attack whatever I tell it to. This has to be due to the intelligence, and why he can use weapons as well.
'If I level up Skittle, then maybe he can do the same, and maybe he might be able to speak one day.'
"Whoa, what was that? Did Cobra get his memories back there for a second?" Kun asked.
"No, I ordered him to attack me," Zain replied. "It's good training. Do you want to have a go?"
Immediately Kun started to shake his head.
"No thanks. I mean, when I saw him the first time, he was a problem, but now he's a zombie. He won't even feel any pain if the two of us fight."
It was true; honestly, Zain wasn't even sure if he could use him as a training partner. Cobra was simply too fast. Looking at his speed, if Cobra had the element of surprise, if Zain's system didn't tell him he had super powers, or Cody didn't shout out, then it would have been a difficult fight for Zain to win.
It was a number of different factors that allowed him to win that fight.
While the two were conversing, Shark was seen crossing the side of the stage and heading into a different room. A door was heard being shut behind him.
"Where is he going? I don't think there was anything in those rooms?" Zain asked.
"There are rehearsal rooms for bands that used to come and play on stage. There is nothing in them, which is why Shark didn't bother showing them to you. However, Shark trains every day with his body, fighting and all sorts in there for an hour.
"After that, he invites us in one on one for some training and to improve our fighting skills. Now that I've cleared the tables though, maybe we will fight out here, or he'll teach us a lesson on weapons." Kun explained. "You might want to prepare yourself because Shark is strong."
"Good idea." Zain said, maybe I'll go rest in one of those rooms myself." Zain said as he walked away and looked at the main floor. Everyone was accounted for apart from Shark, which meant the main office was now open.
Heading inside, the large radio device could be seen. Some headphones were out on the table like they had recently been used. Going to the seat, Zain looked around to see if there were any notes written down.
He was opening draws, but there was nothing apart from one draw that was locked.
'Although I could just pull and break this open, that would make it obvious that I was in here. At the same time, it has to be locked for a reason.'
For a second, Zain wondered if he should try to use the radio transmission device. Honestly, he had no clue what the dials or buttons did. It was too old for him to understand, and without just pressing everything he wouldn't know how to get it started or put it back the way he remembered it.
At the same time, even if he did contact someone, what would he say, what would he do, and how would Shark act? The two of them were already suspicious of each other, and there was no need for the two of them to be fighting each other.
Just in case there was anything that had been missed, Zain had another look around the desk and decided to look around the office, pulling the draws out to the side, and that's when he discovered the crystals that had been placed inside the tray.
There was a tag saying Grade 1, and right next to it, another one that said grade 2, going all the way up to grade 5. There were only crystals in the grade 1 and 2 box and none in the others.
The grade 1 crystal were quite thin in size but still about as large as one's finger, whereas the grade 2 were similar in length but were about as thick as a golf ball.
'I wonder if the grade is just the size of the crystal or if they are linked to the different Zombies as well. If I was to guess, Grade 2 crystals have to be from the stage 2 zombies...wait, but does that mean there are all the way up to stage 5 Zombies, even now.'
Thinking about it, Zain was thinking about how dangerous the Stage 2 zombies were and with a name like stage 2, it was obvious there would be higher stages. Which meant he had to level up.
In the grade 1 tray, there were around 20 small crystals, and in the grade 2 tray, there were 2 larger crystals.
'Why are they even collecting these if they aren't going to be using them? Is whoever is working asking for them, but then why would they need them as well, or is it the answer to the zombie apocalypse that has started.' Zain thought.
In the end, he decided to pick one of the crystals up.
[System has detected a mutated crystal]
[Would you like to absorb the crystal?]
[Reward: 10 exp]
Now Zain's theory has been confirmed, why he wasn't getting crystals when killing the mutated Zombies. Placing the crystal back down, Zain thought 10 exp wasn't worth getting in trouble over.
Even if he did absorb them all, 200 exp wouldn't level him up to the next stage. Picking up the grade 2 crystal, Zain wanted to see what this would say.
[System has detected a stage 2 crystal ]
[Would you like to absorb the crystal?]
[Reward: 1000 exp]
'Now, with this amount, I am a little more tempted.' Zain said with a smile.
****
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