Chapter 81: Offering Loyalty
Caesar immediately stood up. "Frank, I'll provide you help, but there's one thing we need to discuss beforehand."
"What?" Frank hadn't expected Caesar would help, and only asked subconsciously.
"That is, what I'll ultimately get from this. Didn't El tell you?"
"Uh..." Frank thought for a moment and said: "El said to make you our leader."
Caesar was secretly delighted. It seemed this El was a formidable character—able to guess what he wanted most right now and proactively hand over the opportunity.
Making a snap decision, Caesar looked at Amy beside him: "Amy, go notify Merle, Daryl, and Morales. Have them assemble."
"Oh, and have Guillermo guard the home well."
Amy turned and hurried out the door.
"To get to Horus's ranch faster, we'll drive!"
Caesar said this to Frank and led him striding outward with large steps.
Watching Caesar's swift and decisive manner, Frank nodded secretly and quickly followed.
By the time Caesar reached the parking area, Merle and Daryl rode over roaring on motorcycles.
Merle stopped beside Caesar, pulled down his sunglasses to reveal his eyes, glanced at Frank, and said: "Boss, how much equipment do we bring?"
Caesar thought about it. Since he was going to his new territory, he definitely needed to flex some muscle to let his people know how powerful their ranch owner's forces were.
Moreover, there was still Connor at Horus's ranch. Quickly crushing him could bring Caesar greater prestige.
Thus, Caesar shouted: "Use the heavy truck for ramming. Today we have unlimited firepower. Eliminate the enemy as quickly as possible. Our ranch is still waiting for our protection."
Merle thought of the scene of bumper cars with heavy trucks. The arc of his mouth split open especially exaggeratedly.
When Caesar's gaze fell on Daryl beside him, Daryl knowingly raised his crossbow: "I know. I'll snipe from the perimeter."
After arranging the two combat squad leaders, Caesar had Morales and the members of his own squad drive pickups, following closely in front and behind the heavy truck.
Caesar put on his equipment right there, instructing each team member to carefully check their bulletproof vests to ensure no problems.
When Caesar glanced at Frank standing awkwardly to the side, whose gaze kept looking at the bulletproof vests on the people around him, Caesar's mouth curved up slightly. Mm, time to win people's hearts.
"Here!"
Caesar tossed a tactical vest to Frank. Frank instinctively caught it, feeling the familiar texture. Looking down, it was actually a tactical vest.
"Hurry and put it on. Your life is most important right now."
Caesar dropped this line and handed Frank a carbine. "Take it. It's better than that shotgun of yours."
Frank stared blankly at the tactical vest and carbine. This was body armor—in this kind of apocalypse, its precious value could be worth who knows how much food.
Plus an automatic rifle. This... was too generous.
Frank took the carbine and looked solemnly at Caesar. "Thank you for giving me these. I'm very grateful."
Caesar smiled and nodded. Of course he knew the value of these things in the valley, and naturally knew Frank would mistakenly think that even at Caesar's ranch, tactical vests and such were very precious.
But Caesar didn't deliberately emphasize how much he'd given, demanding Frank repay so much and so much. Frank himself already knew to be grateful.
Patting Frank's shoulder, Caesar said earnestly: "War is something none of us want. It brings the death of friends and family, so I hope every one of you can survive well."
Having said this, Caesar walked away leisurely.
The remaining Frank pressed his lips together, his mood complicated. He just felt Caesar was truly a good ranch owner, treating him—someone not yet officially joined—so well.
After everyone was equipped, Caesar gave one command and everyone got in their respective vehicles.
The leading ramming heavy truck roared to life, charging out of the ranch first.
Following close behind were pickups like a wolf pack, carrying fully-equipped warriors waiting for the command to surge forward and tear into the enemy.
The convoy quickly reached Horus's ranch.
Looking from afar, rolling black smoke spiraled up toward the sky, connecting the earth and black clouds.
Caesar drove the heavy truck, his expression delighted. Something had happened again.
Sending charcoal in snowy weather was always better than adding flowers to brocade.
Sitting in Caesar's passenger seat was Frank. Frank gripped the carbine, his knuckles white from the force, his heart extremely anxious.
Even though Frank didn't urge Caesar, Caesar could guess Frank's thoughts.
Caesar stomped on the gas. The heavy truck roared and accelerated again.
Frank glanced at Caesar, his eyes carrying gratitude. Caesar looked straight ahead, as if he hadn't seen it.
The heavy truck's acceleration led to the pickups behind also accelerating.
Several vehicles charged forward wildly. The sand and dust from the dirt road rose like rolling thick smoke—an imposing sight.
Inside Horus's ranch, several people carried buckets filled with water, running toward a small cabin, splashing water on it.
The cabin had somehow caught fire. Endless smoke drifted out from the doors and windows.
The crowd ran to fight the fire, but the blaze was fierce. Like ants trying to shake a tree, it was utterly useless.
Not far away, Connor stood with arms crossed, his face full of amusement as he watched this firefighting operation.
At this moment, the ground trembled slightly, as if some huge creature was charging wildly.
Connor's expression changed. He turned to look, his pupils contracting sharply.
His subordinates' faces also looked exceptionally ugly as they watched the convoy wrapped in yellow sand approaching.
The convoy's engines roared. The vehicle speed was extremely fast. At one glance you could tell they came with fierce momentum.
Connor grabbed his gun and roared at the subordinates beside him: "What are you looking at? Watch the main gate! Don't let them charge in!"
Having said this, he rushed toward the gate first. After his subordinates reacted, they quickly followed.
The crowd anxiously fighting the fire also discovered Caesar and the others' convoy. They also shouted, hesitating whether they should fight the fire or go home to save their lives.
Most people gritted their teeth and ran back to their houses, tightly closing doors, burying their heads in blankets like quails, trembling all over with fear.
Those with weapons propped them behind doors, praying the enemy would just kill Connor and the others.
A small portion of people stubbornly carried buckets back and forth fighting the fire.
When the convoy pressed close to the gate, Connor and the others also realized who was coming.
Connor hesitated for a moment, then immediately made his decision. He raised both hands high and shouted loudly: "Caesar, I—"
Bang—
A bullet of enormous power instantly penetrated Connor's head, which exploded like a watermelon. Red and white scattered all over the ground.
Caesar secretly gave praise in his heart.
Of course he couldn't let Connor surrender. If Connor surrendered, who would be the villain? There had to be a villain to prove his arrival was righteous and could bring residents a better life.