Chapter 50
A violent explosion erupted on the horizon—the thermobaric bomb beneath the CDC detonating.
Temperatures surged instantly. The CDC's exterior walls cracked open, revealing molten gold flames like magma inside, gushing forth.
Walkers wandering nearby were instantly incinerated to ash by the thousand-degree heat.
The flames spread like an unfurling carpet, flowing out through the main doors. In an instant, tens of thousands of walkers vanished into nothing.
Then the powerful overpressure rippled outward in waves. Walkers farther from the CDC were instantly blown away, while those closer were reduced to ash.
Torn apart in mid-air. Shattered.
Transformed into a rain of blood and fragmented corpse pieces, falling from the sky.
PATTER PATTER PATTER—
Atlanta welcomed another "rainstorm with hail."
The lead truck drove out of the parking lot, its roof occasionally struck with clattering, clanging sounds.
Daryl and Merle, who loved riding motorcycles, obediently sat in pickup trucks, having loaded their motorcycles into one of the cargo trucks.
The convoy advanced through the rain. After driving some distance from Atlanta, they stopped again.
Combat personnel in the pickups exited first, wielding melee weapons to quickly clear nearby walkers and standing guard with raised firearms.
No one emerged from the family cars or cargo trucks. Caesar didn't plan to linger on the highway.
"Rip, go with Glenn's group. Get the King County business done quickly. I only have one requirement—clean it out!"
Caesar looked into Rip's eyes, holding up one finger, his attitude firm.
Rip extended a fist. "When I handle things, you can rest easy!"
Rip's promises always carried weight. Caesar smiled and extended his fist, bumping it.
Several pickups drove out and stopped before Caesar.
Glenn and Jimmy exited the first vehicle. Glenn raised his head. "Caesar, we're ready."
Glenn's beard hadn't been shaved in ages, making him look considerably more mature.
Caesar smiled and nodded. "Good. Rip will go with you."
"Check everything, then go."
After issuing the order, Glenn dismissed his squad members, letting them say goodbye to their families.
Jimmy also spoke with his grandfather for a while.
Glenn stood alone, just staring blankly at the warm scenes of others bidding farewell to their families.
Rick was also a member of Glenn's squad. He'd already removed his county sheriff's uniform, replacing it with a durable jacket.
At the moment, he pinched the bridge of his nose, eyes tightly closed, listening to Lori's complaints.
"I don't understand why you have to go to King County."
Lori was emotionally agitated, coupling intense body language with expressing her dissatisfaction to Rick.
"Do you want to leave me and Carl again?"
Hearing this, Rick finally opened his eyes and looked at Carl standing to the side.
Carl's mouth twisted down, two streams of little pearls falling down. His adorable little face was full of grievance as he cried and threw himself into Rick's arms.
"Daddy, I don't want you to leave."
Last time they'd separated, Carl had gone a long time before seeing Rick again. He worried this separation would be just as long. He was afraid.
Rick held Carl, his heart softening. But he wasn't a lone wolf wandering outside who could make all his own decisions.
He was part of the team. Enjoying the team's benefits and support meant he had to follow the team's orders.
Rick thought for a moment, trying to slow his speech, explaining: "You know I met a father and son in King County. They're my saviors."
"Yes, they saved your life, but what about me? What about Carl?" Tears rolled down Lori's face. She really couldn't accept Rick leaving again.
Sensing Rick was about to depart, her sense of security plummeted to freezing. Before, when Rick was in the hospital, Shane had been there to accompany her, providing part of the security Rick's absence created.
Now Shane had left, and Rick was leaving too.
How could she accept this?
Rick ignored Lori's cries. He forced himself to finish speaking.
"Out of gratitude for saving my life, I have to go save them."
"As part of the team, I also have to follow orders and go to King County to collect weapons and ammunition."
"Do you understand?"
"It's not that I want to go. It's that I must go."
Even so, Lori still couldn't accept it. The sorrow on her face transformed into anger as she straightened her body.
"No matter what, you'll go, right?"
Rick pressed his lips together. "Yes."
"Then go!" Throwing out those words, Lori pulled Carl away and left.
Watching his family's retreating backs, Rick heaved a long sigh.
Rip was also saying goodbye to Beth. Beth had her hands in her pockets. "Remember to bring me some good liquor back."
Rip lowered his head and chuckled, then raised it to look at Beth. "You're still so different from everyone else."
Beth shrugged. "Look hard. I want the good stuff."
"Alright, alright, alright." Rip nodded repeatedly, reaching out to embrace Beth's fiery figure.
After a few seconds, Rip's body shrank back slightly. He and Beth locked eyes.
A gleam of mischief flashed in Beth's eyes. "Want to do it?"
Rip quickly waved his hands. "When I get back, when I get back."
"Fine." Beth disappointedly released her hands. Only then did Rip retreat two steps.
"Oh, right. Before I leave, let me talk to Caesar about finding you something to do." Rip suddenly spoke.
Beth said, "What kind of work could I find?"
Before the apocalypse, Beth had specialized in helping investment companies acquire other companies' shares—with a ruthless approach.
Rip rubbed his chin. "Though there aren't companies for you to acquire now, there are some camps that have formed."
"You could recruit them, absorb them. That's not much different from acquiring companies before, right?"
Beth's eyes lit up. Thinking it over carefully, it really could work.
So Rip and Beth found Caesar.
Caesar listened to their idea, took a deep breath, and nodded in agreement.
In Black Pine Valley, Caesar's ranch definitely wasn't the only one still surviving. Caesar's goal was the entire Black Pine Valley—he'd definitely need to absorb other factions.
With Beth there, they could avoid using force as much as possible, relying only on intimidation and showing strength to absorb surrounding factions.
This was indeed a very worthwhile deal.
"Good. Beth, you're hired!" Caesar smiled and extended his hand.
"Your wisdom is brilliant, boss!" Beth's face also wore a smile. The two shook hands.
...
On the desolate highway, a convoy sped past.
Caesar drove the truck at the very front of the convoy.
Two motorcycles ahead advanced side by side. Suddenly one motorcycle slowed down, approaching Caesar's pickup.
Merle shouted at the top of his lungs, "Boss, that ranch has people!"
Caesar looked up, following the direction.
His powerful vision could see a farm in the distance.
The farm was surrounded by wooden fencing. He could vaguely see a few scattered people in the farm—very few in number, making it look quite empty.
Combined with that large house, Caesar narrowed his eyes, guessing it might be Hershel's place.
However, right now Caesar's priority was Black Pine Valley. He didn't plan to make contact with Hershel's farm yet. "Don't bother with them."
"If they don't attack, we won't do anything."