Chapter 382: Night of the Full Moon, Mysterious Little Shop

Chapter 382: Chapter 382: Night of the Full Moon, Mysterious Little Shop

Wesley Moore felt a headache coming on as he listened to Justin Brooks.

He asked, "How is your mother doing?"

"Not great. She’s coughing, has a bit of a fever. She took some medicine."

Justin Brooks said gravely, "Officer Moore, the situation is more serious than we anticipated.

It’s not just that a lot of people are getting sick. The key is... we’re short on medicine, and even more short on people who can treat illnesses."

Wesley Moore rubbed the bridge of his nose, a hint of hope in his weary expression.

"Yeah... I was thinking.

We have so many Players on our team, with all sorts of Talent Abilities. Could it be... that someone has an Ability that can directly treat diseases?

Or at least an Ability that can suppress germs or boost immunity?

Like how Seraphina Sullivan can treat external injuries?"

He looked at Justin Brooks.

"Justin, you’re one of the leaders of the Player team, so you know everyone’s Abilities pretty well.

Have you heard of anyone with that kind of Ability?

Or is it possible that some Abilities that seem to be for combat or support could, with some development, also have the Effect of treating illnesses?"

Hearing this, Justin Brooks also began to quickly recall and sift through the Player information he knew.

’There are those who can provide Healing for external injuries; Seraphina Sullivan is one of them.

But an Ability that directly targets "illness" itself... I don’t think I’ve ever heard of one.’

After the apocalypse began, natural disasters and monsters were the main threats.

Illness, on the other hand, had become less prominent for a time due to the drastic environmental changes and the enhancement of Players’ physiques.

Now, however, this overlooked problem had become a fatal weakness that could bring down the entire convoy.

"I’ll go ask around and conduct a thorough check immediately," Justin Brooks said solemnly.

"At the same time, please have the logistics and medical teams collect any plants and materials with potential medicinal value, and strictly control the sanitation of our water and food supplies, Officer Moore.

If we tackle this from both sides, hopefully we can find a solution."

The night deepened, and the campfires flickered in and out of existence across the wasteland.

The sounds of coughing and suppressed moans drifted through the air, casting another heavy shadow over their already arduous journey.

...

"This problem is getting more and more serious..."

Dexter Luther said, unable to stop himself from covering his mouth and coughing a few times.

His face flushed from the effort.

He rubbed his itchy throat.

His expression was glum. "I thought becoming a Player meant my body would be tough as iron, immune to all poisons.

Turns out, I can still get sick."

A few other Players sitting around the campfire nodded in agreement, their faces showing their helplessness.

Although their physical attributes had improved, they hadn’t reached a transcendent level.

Some of them had combat-oriented Talents, but they seemed to lack any effective resistance to this kind of "internal erosion" from disease.

The exhaustion from the continuous travel, the poor sanitary conditions, and the germs filling the air had caused many Players to fall ill.

Seraphina Sullivan sat by the campfire, a stick in her hand, unconsciously poking at the flames as sparks crackled and popped.

Looking at the weary faces of the others illuminated by the firelight, she murmured, "It seems that even with the natural disasters on a temporary break, we’re a long way from being able to relax."

The challenge of survival was never just about facing external monsters and disasters; internal collapse was just as deadly.

"ACHOO—!"

Dexter Luther let out a huge sneeze.

His body shivered involuntarily, and he pulled his thin clothes tighter around himself.

"Hiss... why does it feel so cold all of a sudden? The temperature’s clearly risen, and we even have a campfire going here..."

He grumbled, subconsciously activating his Ability.

He raised his hand and made a grasping motion in the air toward the campfire in front of him.

An invisible Power pulled a portion of the fire from the blaze.

The Flame detached itself like an obedient sprite.

It swirled and condensed above his palm, forming a small, gently pulsing, palm-sized [Flame Shield].

He cupped the warm source of fire in his hands, bringing it close to his face and body.

He tried to use its heat to drive away the chill and ease his discomfort.

With no proper medicine, the Players could only resort to their own tricks.

They used whatever "physical" methods they could think of to fight the sickness.

Some tried to use a faint amount of Energy to alleviate their symptoms.

Someone tried to use their Ice Element Ability to freeze all the germs around them.

There were quite a few who, like Dexter Luther, controlled Flame to warm themselves.

But these were all temporary fixes, not cures, and their Effects were limited.

Matthew Dawson leaned against a rock, gazing up at the moon in the night sky. It was growing fuller, its clear light spilling down. He murmured, as if in a trance:

"Counting the days... I think tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival..."

His voice wasn’t loud, but it was like a stone tossed into a calm pond, sending ripples through the small circle around the campfire.

Mid-Autumn... the festival of reunion.

In the bygone era of peace, it was a warm and happy holiday for family reunions, moon-gazing, and eating mooncakes.

But now, in this perilous wasteland, among a people migrating to survive, the words felt like a tiny thorn, gently pricking everyone’s heart.

Some people subconsciously lowered their heads, falling silent.

Some thought of relatives with whom they could never reunite, while others worried for the safety of their scattered families.

And some simply felt a strange pang of sorrow and bewilderment at the thought of a festival that symbolized "home" and "completeness."

The fire crackled, and the atmosphere grew somber.

However, when Seraphina heard the words "Mid-Autumn" and "full moon,"...

...her eyes lit up, as if she had remembered something important!

"Mid-Autumn? The night of the full moon!"

She immediately thought of the two special items she had been keeping in her Storage Space, waiting for the right moment to use.

The [Mysterious Store Coupon] and the [Beautiful Dream Stamp]!

According to the description, the [Beautiful Dream Stamp] needed the user to be in a deep Sleep to activate. She could use that later when she went to bed.

But the [Mysterious Store Coupon]... it seemed to require certain special moments or circumstances to trigger the Mystery Shop!

’The night of the full moon... that must be one of the trigger conditions!’ A surge of anticipation rose in Seraphina’s heart.

At this difficult time, when they were short on medicine and doctors, if she could exchange it for some desperately needed supplies from the Mystery Shop, like medicine...

...or obtain some useful information or an Ability, it would be a godsend!

She suppressed her excitement and didn’t say anything right away.

She waited until the group’s conversation shifted to the next day’s travel plans and precautions, and people began to get ready for bed.

Seraphina also returned to her RV.

First, she took out the [Beautiful Dream Stamp] and carefully placed it under her pillow, preparing for it to activate naturally when she fell asleep.

Then, she took out the [Mysterious Store Coupon], which was made of a peculiar material that seemed woven from starlight and night.

The store coupon felt slightly cool in her hand, with a strange texture.

Just as she focused her mind, trying to carefully sense the card...

[Ding! Special environment ’Night of the Full Moon’ detected. Basic trigger conditions met... Special item ’Mysterious Store Coupon’ detected...]

[A temporary entrance to the Mystery Shop has been generated!]

[Would you like to enter the Mystery Shop to trade now?]