Chapter 83: Decorative Vase
The magnanimity Caesar deliberately displayed made the residents below involuntarily feel admiration, and also feel guilty for their narrow-minded speculation just moments ago.
"However, El—your respected Mr. El—had Frank come invite me to resist the exploitation and oppression from Connor and these bastards."
Caesar yielded his position, gesturing for Frank to step forward.
Frank strode forward, his voice low and tinged with sadness: "That's right. El had me go find Caesar, to have Caesar come help us."
"And after defeating Connor, Caesar will serve as our leader. El believed Caesar would let us live good lives."
El's cabin had burned down not long ago. His bones weren't yet cold. Everyone maintained high respect for El and trusted Frank very much. Hearing Frank's words, their gazes toward Caesar became much softer.
Caesar swept his eyes over everyone, thinking these people should have already accepted him.
But it wasn't enough yet.
Caesar needed them to worship him, revere him.
Caesar smiled slightly and pointed at the warehouse behind him, saying: "Everyone, this warehouse behind me is full of things Horus stored. He made you provide labor but didn't give you deserved compensation, only leaving you food barely enough to survive."
"While he and his lackey subordinates lavishly enjoyed the fruits of your labor. The remaining food—he'd rather store it in the warehouse than leave it for you."
Caesar's voice was resonant, floating above everyone. They raised their heads. A glimmer appeared in their eyes at some point. In their hearts they vaguely guessed something, but didn't dare believe it could be true.
So they could only look at Caesar hopefully on one hand, while suppressing their inner thoughts on the other.
Caesar deliberately stopped, appreciating everyone's hope-filled gazes. Then he turned sideways and pointed toward the warehouse. "I will open the warehouse and distribute all the food inside to everyone."
"Wow!!!"
"Oh my god!!!"
"Really?!"
The crowd instantly exploded like a boiling oil pot—exceptionally clamorous.
Some people stared with wide eyes at Caesar, murmuring: "Impossible. This is impossible."
Others happily accepted, spreading their arms wide, cheering and jumping—even jumping onto people beside them, waving their arms, as if they'd been reborn.
There were also those whose faces unconsciously showed smiles while their mouths still shouted: "He's lying to us."
Contradiction and joy intertwined, but everyone very quickly all believed Caesar.
Caesar had team members throw the warehouse doors wide open. Food was continuously pushed out the doors.
Corn, wheat, sorghum, barley, oats, and other crops were placed on the ground, piled into small hills less than a person's height. The grain that was ordinary on normal days now appeared exceptionally sacred.
Food continued to be carried out.
Caesar pointed at the food: "One person from each household comes to receive food. Food will be distributed according to population. Households with children and elderly will receive extra food."
"..."
No one was listening to what Caesar said after that.
Everyone's attention was completely on that food. Some people swallowed, took two steps forward, then met the cold eyes of the armed warriors beside the food and immediately sobered up.
They couldn't help thinking of Horus and Connor, then looking at Caesar—truly a world of difference.
Caesar didn't care much about this food. Horus's ranch didn't have much food reserves. Distributing it all out would barely let these people live for a week.
So they'd only gotten something that should have belonged to them, yet they felt grateful to him.
Caesar was very satisfied with his speech.
The food was distributed quickly. No one cut in line, no one made noise, no one took advantage.
For no other reason than worrying that doing these things would anger Caesar. What if he didn't distribute food to them anymore?
After getting the food, plain faces bloomed like flowers.
The crowd brimmed with joyful atmosphere.
Even Frank, in this atmosphere, no longer immersed himself in sorrow over El's death.
After distributing food came the work of relocation.
Caesar said: "Now that food distribution is complete, everyone can freely decide whether to stay or leave. Those who want to stay will follow me to Caesar's ranch."
The entire Black Pine Valley only had a thousand-plus people—extremely low density. Caesar wanted to gather all the people still alive in Black Pine Valley at Caesar's ranch and build a small town.
At that time, he could recruit workers outward, collect supplies—great potential.
Soon, soon this moment would arrive.
The wild ambition in Caesar's heart had never been extinguished for a moment. His gaze swept over every resident. They had no other choice.
All of Black Pine Valley's territory would be his sooner or later. Even if they chose to leave, they couldn't leave for anywhere.
Of course, having just accepted a wave of Caesar's benevolence, not a single person on site stood up to say they chose to leave the ranch.
Caesar nodded with satisfaction and said loudly: "Since no one chooses to leave, then everyone will relocate to Caesar's ranch."
After the speech ended, everyone at Horus's ranch returned home to pack their belongings.
Caesar had Merle take people back to the ranch and have them drive some other empty trucks to load things.
Most ranch residents were hired by the ranch owner, so the houses they lived in at the ranch actually all belonged to the ranch owner. They had no attachment to these houses.
They didn't bring furniture or anything—just brought their own things.
Several heavy trucks went back and forth twice and brought all the things and people to the ranch.
The ranch's population doubled at once. Even the vitality seemed much greater.
Caesar returned to the stone house. Carol, Amy, and Beth had all gone to help arrange the newly arrived residents.
"Caesar, there are too many of them. We don't have enough housing!" Amy ran back to the stone house out of breath, complaining.
Caesar reached out and embraced Amy. Amy naturally lay down, lying in Caesar's arms. She buried her head in Caesar's chest and took a fierce sniff.
Air flowed. Caesar only felt some coolness. He reached out and pinched Amy's soft tender cheek. "Want to eat something with me?"
Amy finally raised her head, smiling and shaking her head. "I don't have time to eat with you, Leader."
Saying this, Amy stood up, putting her hands on her hips and glaring at Caesar: "It's all because so many newcomers came to the ranch. I have to arrange their lodging, food, and work..."
Amy extended her fingers. Each thing she mentioned, she raised one finger. Her words carried faint complaint.
Caesar raised his hand to interrupt Amy, deliberately saying: "Then you don't need to work. I'll have someone replace your work."
"Eh~" Amy froze. Her finger-counting motion immediately stiffened. Her mouth opened slightly, eyes perfectly round—very cute.
"Um... uh... actually, well, that's not necessary, right? I can handle this work."
Amy said coyly. She really didn't want to just stay at home doing nothing—being a useless decorative vase.