Chapter 271: The Strength of Renji and the Powerful Shelter

In the meantime, while Renji was speaking with Marissa and Victor, there were others secretly observing the situation.

Hidden in the shadows of the shelter’s perimeter were Augustine and Russel, the two scouts assigned to New Haven‑45.

They had been the ones to notice Renji’s approach through the surveillance drones they controlled, and now they watched closely, waiting for any sign of hostility.

Of course, the scouts weren’t alone in their vigilance.

Hidden in rooms and behind the walls were five modified Sentinel units. They were X‑02 through X‑06. stood silently in standby mode.

They were monitoring closely, ready to activate at the first sign of trouble.

If Renji made a suspicious move, the Sentinels would strike without hesitation.

Marissa and Victor, meanwhile, led Renji into the lounge of the main building.

Their intent was clear... they wanted him to touch the Status Crystal. It was the only way to confirm whether he was truly a survivor from Earth or something far more dangerous... an android disguised in human skin.

In these times, caution was survival. The A.I. Army had proven it could infiltrate in terrifying ways, and no one could afford to take chances.

Renji seemed aware of the scrutiny.

His eyes even turned toward the corners of the room, as if he could sense the hidden Sentinels and the scouts watching from above.

Yet he didn’t resist. Instead, he stepped forward and placed his hand on the Status Crystal.

"You want to check me with this, right? Here... Have a look." Renji muttered.

Soon, the crystal pulsed with light, and a blue screen hovered above it, revealing Renji’s details:

Code

[ Name: Renji ]

[ Title: Resourceful Survivor, Lone Wanderer, Mechanic’s Hand ]

[ Level: 31 ]

[ Health: 1,250 / 1,250 ]

[ Spirit: 420 / 420 ]

[ Active Skills: Gearshift Dash Lv5, Mettalic Aura Lv5, Overclock Burst Lv4 ]

[ Passive Skills: Metal Body Lv5, Precision Assembly Lv5, Adaptive Reflexes Lv5 ]

The room fell silent as the information appeared.

Victor couldn’t help but have a double look...

"Level 31... not bad. You’ve been fighting hard out there."

Marissa studied the skills carefully before the information vanished in the air...

’Mechanic’s Hand... movement and engineering‑based abilities. He’s not a typical fighter... I wonder how he survived the field outside.’

Augustine whispered to Russel through the comms. "He’s legit. Not an android. But I wonder why he’s hiding those things from us..."

Russel nodded, though his tone remained cautious. "Maybe he has a reason. Let’s just wait until the reinforcements arrive. He’s still a Top 10 survivor... Showing up here unannounced is never just a coincidence."

Meanwhile, Renji withdrew his hand from the crystal, his expression calm.

"Satisfied?" he asked, his voice carrying a faint edge.

"I told you... I’m just here to rest. Or maybe purchase some resources. I’ve been alone too long. Even someone like me needs a roof sometimes."

Victor didn’t lower his guard, but he stepped back slightly. "Alright... You’ll get your rest. But since you’re here, you follow our rules. Do not go to those restricted rooms and buildings and we won’t have a problem. We’re not that cruel to fellow Survivors. You can even join us permanently if you wanted. You just have to complete a few tasks."

Renji gave a faint smile, though it didn’t reach his eyes. "I’m not planning to join any Guild at the moment. In any case, your rules are fine. I’ve lived by harsher ones."

Soon, Renji was given one of the small wooden houses located at the far end of the eastern wall of the shelter.

Needless to say, the materials used to create these wooden houses were from various Material Treasure Chests that had been opened by several Survivors...

They contained not just various ingots and steel plates for crafting but also rolls of various fabrics and wooden planks!

"Interesting..." Renji muttered as he observed the small house.

No one was surveilling him anymore, as if the people of this shelter believed that his privacy mattered.

After sitting down on his bed, he realized that it was actually quite well-made, and was impressed.

It had been some time since he had this comfort.

"It’s a pity I didn’t get to see the Rank 1 Survivor," Renji muttered while thinking of Kai, the man at the top of the Leaderboard.

"He actually went away, huh... It wouldn’t be surprising if he were brave enough to enter the city."

He knew the dangers within Cameron City. He had solid information that an organization there called Cancer Faction was collecting human survivors to be used in experiments.

If such a vile organization was actually in that place without being reprimanded or raided, he believed that Cameron City wasn’t safe.

***

Renji soon drifted into sleep, his body finally surrendering to exhaustion.

Just like that, the night passed quietly until his eyes snapped open.

Instinct guided him... he checked his surroundings, confirming that no one was monitoring his room.

Still, patrols moved across the shelter grounds.

It was necessary. The A.I. Army could strike anywhere, anytime, as long as humans are present...

This time, however, Renji knew an attack was inevitable.

"Sorry..." He muttered.

It was not because of foresight, but because he was being followed.

Of course, it was bad manners to lure A.I. soldiers to a peaceful shelter, but he had reached his limit.

His strength was waning, and he had already sent Android‑9 and Android‑18 into hiding deep within the river, masking their heat signatures.

Sure enough, only minutes after he woke and began preparing, the alarm of the shelter blared.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Sirens wailed, and what seemed like searchlights swept the skies!

Renji rushed outside just in time to see numerous Dragoons streaking across the night sky, each carrying Sentinel riders.

Everything happened so fast, their weapons lit up the darkness, unleashing a storm of bullets and projectiles toward the shelter.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Renji ducked behind cover, readying himself to join the battle once the Sentinels dropped. But then something strange happened.

The bullets and projectiles froze in mid‑air.

"Huh?"

Renji’s eyes widened as the deadly rain of bullets hovered motionless above the shelter. Slowly, the glowing rounds dissolved into harmless sparks.

Finally, he realized what was going on!

"This place... it has a barrier? A force field?" he whispered, stunned.

The ground trembled as the Dragoons circled overhead, searching for a weakness!

This time, Renji’s heart pounded.

"W‑what the..."