Chapter 69: Gunshot
Carol didn't know the specific situation, but she could guess roughly.
For Daryl to be this alert, it couldn't be walkers—it could only be living people.
If it were walkers, Daryl could just ride the motorcycle over and run them down.
No need to stop this far away and slowly approach on foot.
After Carol notified the three people, they spread out and flanked around from both sides.
Carol carefully quickened her pace to follow Daryl, staying seven or eight body lengths behind to ensure a safe distance to shoot if someone rushed out.
Daryl's attention focused on his crossbow. The crossbow was already loaded, and his gaze was sharp as a hawk, staring fixedly at a swaying bush.
Just as he was about to approach the bushes, suddenly, a figure rushed out from the bushes on Daryl's left.
Daryl reacted quickly, lunging to the right and turning to fire a bolt.
The bolt stuck straight into the person, but didn't stop his momentum. Roaring, he raised his gun.
Bang—a gunshot rang out.
The shooter wasn't that person, but Carol.
Carol trembled all over as she raised her gun, the muzzle still carrying a sulfur smell.
The person took a bullet to the temple and immediately fell to the ground. His handgun misfired, firing several shots in succession.
Fortunately, the muzzle wasn't pointing toward Daryl and Carol.
Daryl stood up and examined the corpse.
The person wore military body armor. The crossbow bolt had only penetrated a little bit and hadn't hit any vital areas.
The fatal shot was Carol's, which killed him directly.
The person had nothing identifying him on his body—not even car keys or anything.
At this moment, the bushes on both sides began shaking.
Before Daryl could be alert, four people emerged—Daryl's three team members and a stranger.
The team members were also leading two horses.
One team member said, "Captain, we just found this person hiding sneakily in that bush."
Daryl followed his gaze. That was the bush that had initially attracted Daryl's attention—which was why Daryl had been ambushed.
"These horses were found over there. They were tied to tree branches—should be the mounts these two people rode here."
Daryl nodded, indicating he understood.
After Carol calmed down and walked over, she looked at the corpse on the ground, staring blankly.
She heard a somewhat awkward voice. "Uh... thank you."
After speaking, Daryl turned and went to start the motorcycle.
Carol smiled.
After they returned to the ranch, Caesar immediately learned of the situation.
Caesar let out a long breath. This kind of thing was inevitable—the land was vast and sparsely populated, impossible to defend completely.
In the future, as the territory grew larger, such incidents would likely become more frequent.
Ultimately, it was still a lack of people.
Take the CRM, for example—they had so many people and commanders they could blockade an entire city, prevent the city's specific location from spreading out, and prevent anyone from sneaking in.
Caesar raised his head, looking at the man kneeling on the ground, hands bound behind his waist.
He wore a burlap sack over his head, and his body had begun to tremble.
No one around made a sound. The person could only kneel on the ground, straightening his body as if completely unafraid.
"What's your name?" Caesar asked.
The person turned his head toward Caesar, bowing his head and saying, "Hello, my name is Ram."
"I want to speak with your ranch owner, Mr. Caesar."
"I came here for friendly communication with Mr. Caesar and to discuss some important matters. If delayed, you people will definitely be punished."
"Oh, really?" Caesar glanced at Daryl. Seeing him shake his head, Caesar knew this person definitely hadn't been honest outside.
"Then why were you scouting our ranch's situation?"
"Whether you want friendly communication or to gather intelligence, I think I still have the power to make that definition."
Caesar spoke slowly, each sentence like a heavy hammer smashing against Ram's seemingly strong shell.
Ram trembled slightly all over, his chest heaving violently. He seemed to sense his life was threatened, but before long, Ram calmed down.
"Everything I said is true. My companion and I rested outside for a while, just wanting to maintain a good mental state when communicating with your ranch owner. At that time, my companion acted only because an enemy appeared nearby, worried about threats to your ranch."
"We acted righteously, just good intentions gone wrong. You even killed my companion. After I realized you were from Caesar's ranch, I surrendered immediately. I really didn't resist—you can ask!"
Ram spoke extremely quickly and urgently.
He knew this was the moment that would decide his life.
Caesar looked questioningly at Daryl. Daryl hesitated for a moment, then still nodded.
This person had indeed surrendered very quickly, hadn't resisted, completely opposite from his companion.
"You said you came to communicate with Mr. Caesar about some matters. What matters?"
Caesar continued asking. This matter was probably the key point.
Ram suddenly became tough. He straightened his body again and turned his head, as if looking down on everyone around him.
"This matter is truly very important. I must see Ranch Owner Caesar before I can speak of it."
Caesar thought for a moment. Intelligence was most important. Anyway, this person wouldn't live long—it didn't matter.
Thinking this, Caesar raised his head toward Merle.
Merle knowingly removed Ram's hood and stood in front of him. Watching Ram raise his head, he smiled wickedly. "Little brat, I'm Caesar. Tell me what you know."
Ram looked at him, then disdainfully turned his head to look at Caesar. His eyes brightened as he crawled on his knees for several meters. "Mr. Caesar, hello."
Seeing Ram directly bypass him, Merle's eye twitched as he stared dangerously at Ram's back.
Caesar glanced at Merle and looked at Ram. "Which ranch are you from, or are you from inside or outside the valley?"
Caesar wasn't worried this person was from Leon or Horus. He was worried Ram was from outside the valley.
That would mean forces from outside the valley had their eyes on Black Pine Valley.
Internal instability, external crisis.
That would be bad.
Ram looked left and right. When looking at Merle, Daryl, and the others, his eyes were arrogant. When facing Caesar, his eyes appeared very devout and humble.
"Mr. Caesar, can all these people be trusted?"
These words instantly caused public outrage.
Not just Merle—even elderly Lloyd and steady Ryan looked displeased.
But Caesar hadn't spoken, so they could only burn their anger in their hearts.
Caesar was curious where Ram's confidence came from, brazenly provoking the ranch leadership on someone else's territory.
"Of course. Speak." Caesar didn't want to hear any more false, perfunctory words. He needed the truth.
"I am..."