Chapter 86: Banquet
While Caesar's ranch was busy in full swing, the atmosphere at Leon's ranch was relatively gloomy and restless.
After Old Man Leon went missing, they quickly chose a temporary manager—Ford.
Ford was burly with thick fingers. He looked very steady. Although he hadn't made any astonishing contributions at the ranch, he could always complete tasks at the passing line.
He'd wandered for years between Old Man Leon and Phil, but he wasn't willing to be Old Man Leon's dog. He just didn't refuse when Old Man Leon issued orders.
Plus Ford's attitude toward residents wasn't harsh. The compensation he paid after becoming manager was also within reasonable range.
At the ranch, not many people had thoughts of rebellion or leaving.
But today was different. When some cowboys at Leon's ranch learned that Horus's ranch had been completely annexed by Caesar, they realized something was wrong.
Black Pine Valley currently had three major forces. The strongest was Caesar's side. And he'd swallowed Horus's side. Now only their Leon ranch people remained.
Caesar had unhesitatingly gone up when Horus's ranch had a riot, annexing Horus's ranch. From this behavior, Caesar definitely wouldn't limit himself to just Horus's ranch. Next he very likely would move against Leon's ranch.
When Ford took office, he knew this wasn't a good job. But no help for it—he was the only one who could take the blame. Other people had all disappeared together with Old Man Leon.
Ford also learned from subordinates about the situation of Horus's ranch being annexed. His thick eyebrows tightly furrowed. He pressed his brow ridge.
Letting out a long breath, Ford raised his eyes to look at the circle of subordinates around him. "Speak. What views do you have?"
Everyone looked at each other, seeming somewhat deferential, not standing out at the first moment.
After a while, a relatively young burly man said: "I don't want to fight Caesar and them. You haven't seen when Caesar's ranch people go to war—how exaggerated the weapons on each of them are."
"Automatic rifles, bullets fired casually. I'm telling you, you ride horses charging up—before you even get close you'll be shot into sieves."
The young burly man spoke vividly. The expression on his face was extremely fearful. He was a hunter who'd previously deliberately gone to watch the excitement and seen Caesar and others' equipment when going out.
As someone who'd personally experienced it, he was most fearful of opposing Caesar's ranch people.
His thinking won quite a few companions' agreement. They raised hands one after another.
"I agree. We should just surrender."
"Right. Caesar's ranch people are actually very good. At Horus's ranch only those resisting cowboys were killed. Other people had nothing happen."
"Now living itself isn't easy anymore. We don't need to fight humans, right? The valley is so big. Caesar won't make us starve."
"Hey, I heard Caesar's ranch combat personnel all eat extremely well. Their equipment is good, their benefits and treatment are top-tier too. Many people at their ranch want to join combat squads."
"If we surrender, we should be able to directly transfer to combat squad members, right?"
"Heh heh, isn't this just right."
Talking and talking, quite a few people began considering matters after joining Caesar's ranch. Each one spoke spiritedly.
Watching their appearance, Ford's eyebrows lowered slightly.
Mm, Caesar's ranch benefits and treatment are so good. If we proactively surrender, we should still get quite a few benefits, right?
Although I'm only temporary manager, the things given should be the most, right? Becoming a combat squad captain shouldn't be a problem, right?
That's right—Ford just didn't want to fight Caesar. He'd long ago investigated Caesar ranch's situation and felt his own side had no chance of winning whatsoever.
Since that was the case, Ford had been considering how to surrender to get maximum benefits.
Should he first rebel a bit, then get beaten by Caesar for a while, then surrender?
Or go up and do fancy sliding kneeling, directly acknowledge him as father?
Or kill a few rebellious people, then surrender?
Thinking it over, Ford still hadn't figured out a method.
Just then—bang.
A bald man with a full beard, a full one point nine meters tall, roughly pushed open the several people blocking in front of him. He glared fiercely several times at the few who'd just spoken enthusiastically.
He said disdainfully: "Have you all lost your fighting spirit? Aren't you cowboys? As cowboys, do you just keep thinking about surrendering?"
Three consecutive questions stunned the surrounding people.
We're just cowboys hired by Leon's ranch. What are you talking about?
They weren't loyal to Old Man Leon to begin with—just mixing for a living.
Those truly loyal to Old Man Leon had long disappeared.
But at this time, no one refuted the big guy.
The big guy's words came out, and several more fools stood up, saying one after another:
"Why should we be dogs for Caesar? We already have Leon's ranch. Isn't living at Leon's ranch good?"
"Caesar hasn't even said he'd attack us. They're busy accepting Horus ranch people. Plus I heard the reason Caesar went to Horus's ranch to fight was because Horus ranch people invited him to go."
"..."
Several people quite had an air of "everyone else is drunk, only I am sober," speaking more and more enthusiastically.
Ford finally thought clearly how to surrender.
He picked up a cup of alcohol and drank a sip. Slightly raising his eyes, he counted the speaking people and imperceptibly nodded.
"Mm, the number of people should be enough."
After muttering twice, Ford stood up, drank the cup's alcohol in one gulp, and fiercely smashed it.
The sound of the glass cup shattering pressed down the discussion sounds in the room.
Everyone looked toward Ford. Ford said with a cold face: "That's right. We don't need to fear Caesar and those people."
"You cowards, all get out."
"Gordon, you few stay. You're all good ones."
Ford's attitude made several of Ford's trusted subordinates' expressions change. They met Ford's eyes.
Those close to Ford—Ford gave them a look. They immediately reacted, faces full of anger, shouting loudly:
"Ford, you... you be careful you'll bring trouble to the ranch."
"You brutes!"
Having said this, under their lead, most people walked out of the room, leaving only big guy Gordon and a few people in the room.
The cold expression on Ford's face was like accumulated snow meeting early spring, instantly becoming warm. "Sit sit sit, you all sit."
Gordon subconsciously obediently sat on a chair. He'd thought he'd be scolded. Previously Ford's thoughts always differed from his.
He hadn't expected that at this kind of major moment, Ford would actually agree with his view.
The remaining few were also excited.
Ford was different from usual, face full of amiability. While chatting with concern, he praised their thoughts and insights.
Guiding them to continue speaking.
At the same time, Ford invited: "Since we haven't chatted happily enough, how about... tonight, tonight we have a banquet."
"I'll bring out the good alcohol and good meat from my stores. We'll eat a big meal."
A trace of cold light flashed through Ford's eyes.