Chapter 8: The Deal
Several hours later, everyone gathered on the rooftop, each wearing worried expressions.
Only Caesar's group remained calm, as if they weren't the least bit concerned about walkers breaking into the building.
Morales, Andrea, and the others had spent the past few hours constantly trying to figure out how to escape the building.
But whether through the building's drainage system or the connections between high-rises, there was no way out.
There were enough walkers to completely seal off this entire area.
Rick was also exhausted. He'd put on the appearance of a good guy, entering the sewers, following Glenn up to the upper floors—he'd done it all.
Merle, who'd caught his breath, rested his hands on his knees and laughed hoarsely. "Bunch of idiots. Can't escape no matter how you try, can you?"
"I suggest you let me go quickly. Make me captain and I'll take you out."
"Otherwise your little lives aren't guaranteed."
Merle's words were hoarse and unpleasant, making Andrea very irritable. "Got your teeth knocked all over the floor and still won't shut your mouth?"
The woman attracted Merle's attention. Merle smiled evilly, not angry but instead teasing. "Oh, is that so? Beautiful."
"Why don't you come taste what I've got?"
Merle licked his lips and thrust his lower body forward.
Andrea burned with fury and drew her gun, rushing at Merle.
Before Andrea could reach Merle, a heavy punch struck Merle's human sleep switch.
His eyes rolled back and he passed out.
"Remember to learn to shut your mouth, Merle." Rip adjusted his gloves and glanced at Merle with disdain.
After Merle's outburst, the anxious atmosphere grew even more intense.
Morales stood at the edge of the rooftop, looking at the walkers wandering all around, trying to find an escape route.
Jacqui and Andrea stood nearby, also wanting to contribute.
But no matter how they looked, they couldn't find any hope of escape.
Glenn glanced at his companions a few times, then walked over to Caesar in small steps, saying quietly, "You can get us out, right?"
Caesar spread his hands. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Glenn took a deep breath, suppressed his anger, and softened his voice. "What do you want? We can try to meet your demands, just..."
Glenn looked back at his companions, his eyes pleading. "Just don't use us as cannon fodder. Don't treat our lives as worthless."
Caesar didn't speak.
The two looked at each other for a while before Caesar nodded. "Alright. I can get you out, but you have to take us to the quarry."
"The quarry?" Glenn hesitated, then agreed. "Okay."
"Go tell your people to pack up their things."
Caesar watched Glenn walk to his companions. Seconds later, Morales and the others were overjoyed, the gloom on their faces instantly dispelled.
"Notify Tate to prepare the rocket launcher." Caesar ordered Rip.
"Got it." Rip took the walkie-talkie and entered the stairwell.
A few minutes later, Rip returned to Caesar's side and said quietly, "Tate says she'll reach Baker Street in twenty minutes. There's a restaurant on that street."
"It's very suitable for drawing away walkers."
After waiting a moment, Rip continued, "We don't have many rocket launchers left that we picked up from the city outskirts. We need to conserve them."
The corner of Caesar's mouth lifted as he patted Rip's shoulder.
"For safety, we don't need to conserve ammunition for now."
"I guarantee we'll soon have plenty of ammunition—more than we can use."
Rip's mouth twitched. This was nothing short of fantasy.
But who told him Caesar was the boss? Rip didn't deny Caesar's idea.
"You're right about everything."
From Rip's distrustful eyes, Caesar naturally understood his thoughts. However, who was the fool and who was the smart one would only be known later.
Twenty minutes later, at the department store's back door, countless supplies were piled at the entrance.
Energy bars, hardtack and other emergency food, canned food, nuts, jerky and so on, multi-tools, flashlights, radios and other tools, plus tents, sleeping bags and more.
Besides these, there were also cigarettes, alcohol, coffee and other beverages.
These things were piled full to bursting.
Morales, dripping with sweat and panting heavily, set down a large bag of sleeping bags.
Glenn, Andrea, Jacqui and the others nearby weren't doing much better.
Caesar nodded at this. "Good efficiency. In a bit, Rip will drive that big truck at the alley entrance over here."
"You just need to load things into the truck."
Morales spoke up. "So do we get a share of these supplies?"
Originally, he'd just been thinking that he and his companions could carry backpacks with some supplies.
Now with a big truck, they could load a lot of things at once. If they helped out with some hard labor, they should be able to get something, right?
"No."
Caesar shook his head. His face showed no compromise. Instead he said, "That truck will be ours. You helping move things is just part of the price you're paying to escape the department store."
"I'm already being very generous by allowing you to put your own supplies in the backpacks you're carrying."
Caesar was no bleeding heart. These supplies were all his own, and of course they'd be used for his companions. How could he just give them away to outsiders?
Bang—
The cylindrical rocket crashed into the restaurant. Its powerful kinetic energy carried amazing destructive force, instantly leaving the restaurant unrecognizable.
The remaining flammable and explosive gases released tremendous energy. Billowing black smoke spiraled out of the storefront, floating upward along the walls.
Two consecutive explosions shook the ground, creating cracks in the cement.
The walkers moved toward the restaurant like phototactic insects, step by step.
The department store was on Baker Street. The ground tremors also transmitted into the department store.
Caesar's face lit up. He quickly said, "Rip, Jimmy, go drive the truck outside."
"Got it."
Rip clipped his sunglasses to the chain on his chest, grabbed a baseball bat, and rushed out the back door.
Jimmy followed quickly, also holding a baseball bat.
Somehow, two or three walkers had wandered into the back street. Rip stepped forward and swung hard.
One walker took it right in the face. Its jaw dislocated, teeth scattered on the ground as it fell.
Rip was like a charging warrior, easily knocking down every walker in his path.
Jimmy, following behind, nervously raised his baseball bat then lowered it, raised it then lowered it again.
After all that busy work, no one knew what he was actually doing.
The two quickly got into the large truck blocking the alley entrance. The long cargo bed could obviously hold lots and lots of supplies.
The walker on the ground struggled to get up.
Morales rushed out wearing black protective gear, picked up a stick, and frantically smashed at the walkers on the ground.
Perhaps due to insufficient experience facing walkers, the two spent quite a while before laboriously eliminating a few walkers.
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