Night is always dangerous within the Zone, and it is due to the lack of visibility.
Monster with any sort of intelligence would use the obscuring darkness of the night to their advantage, especially when they can see as well in the dark as in the light.
Therefore, it is a very good idea to find a place defendable and fortifiable to buckle down for the night and to take a much-needed rest after a day of hard work. Unfortunately, there is no place considered to be defendable and fortifiable within walking distance.
Modern buildings and structures are poorly designed to withstand any sort of assault. They also cannot keep anyone or anything out for long due to numerous gaps and openings, such as windows. They are not designed to be airtight, after all. In contrast, old buildings and structures, while also not completely air tight, are still much better places.
Even so, they are still not the best place to camp for the night.
The best places would be something similar to the abandoned Subway Station that Alex and the gang are staying at. It is completely cut off from the rest of the world, and it has only one entrance and exit, allowing for easy defense.
With the Trade Network now available, I can teleport myself and any of my employees directly there for a price, but that would mean leaving the Major and her men and all the civilians behind. I do think they will be able to survive the night somewhere, but it will be one extremely tough night, especially with the Sprite Hounds roaming about.
Those creatures will definitely attack in mass, and it would be a bloodbath if I do not do anything, and I should do something, as that is the right thing to do.
And the correct thing would be making profit out of it. The right thing and the correct does not always have to be exclusive, and a good Merchant would use of any situation.
"We need to secure a building as soon as possible," the Major orders her men as the sun threatens to vanish from the sky completely. She understands the peril of staying in the open in the dark, as this is the third night after all. From her behavior, she must have lost a lot of men the first and second nights.
That is almost a given.
One of the men pulls out a paper map with plenty of markings as well as icons. It seems they are very prepared for any eventuality, but still, being prepared does not guarantee their survivals. "If we hurry, we might be able to reach this position here. It has been fortified the night before by another platoon the day before."
I try to have a look at the map, but the guns are still aiming at my face, telling me to stay put. And that is not cool, especially when there are bigger concerns at the moment.
"If I may, Major," I speak up, gaining her attention. "None of the marked position are reachable before the complete onset of the night, and even if you and your men make haste, you will be too exhausted by the time you reach there."
"Then what do you suggest, Merchant?" the Major questions and gestures her men to stop acting all hostile towards me.
"I suggest we tunnel our way towards there," I point out while looking at the hole I have created.