Chapter 89: Party
The remaining squad members removed their face masks and returned to their families, feeling their loved ones' care.
Only Glenn stood alone and isolated.
Caesar smiled and walked toward Glenn, embracing him. The two didn't speak, just hugged for a while.
Caesar released Glenn and patted Glenn's shoulder, looking him up and down: "Glenn, you've gotten quite a bit stronger."
Glenn smiled, embarrassedly shifting left and right. "This period I ate pretty well. Nourished myself well."
Caesar raised his head and swept a glance—the combat squad members who'd gone with Glenn hadn't lost a single one. "You did well. The team members all survived."
Glenn also looked toward his team members. His face finally showed a gratified smile: "This mainly relied on themselves. They're all very capable and have very tenacious survival will. Plus King County didn't have many walkers."
"The harvest was bountiful. The danger also wasn't high."
Caesar nodded with satisfaction. The most important thing from this trip was munitions.
If the munitions quantity met standards, his own armory could become fuller again. He could also bring out quite a few firearms for ranch people to practice shooting.
Practice shooting—in the apocalypse this counted as a luxurious term.
"What about Jacqui and them?" Glenn asked.
At the ranch, those he was familiar with were only those few who'd gone to Atlanta with him to collect supplies.
Caesar tilted his head and said: "Jacqui? She fell in love, plus recently she's been helping me plan the town. She doesn't have much time."
"Morales and T-Dog—those two are now my capable assistants. They're also helping with work."
A trace of loneliness appeared on Glenn's face. Thinking his friends now all had things they wanted to do, a smile rose on his face again.
Caesar put his arm around Glenn's shoulder, smiling meaningfully: "Rest assured, you'll soon have a family of your own."
Caesar's smile was strange. Glenn blinked his eyes puzzled, then immediately figured it out.
What Caesar meant should be forming a big family with everyone at the ranch, right?
Should be, right?
Glenn wasn't very confident about his guess.
To celebrate Glenn's return, and also to welcome the people from Horus's ranch who'd previously joined—
Caesar waved his large hand and arranged for Carol to organize a grand party.
Bringing out various vegetables, fruits, and various meats from the ranch reserves for a bonfire party.
Carol didn't manage supply reserves, but this still gave her a headache. For instance, when she brought the supplies list to find Amy.
Amy helplessly accepted it and retrieved things from the warehouse for Carol.
Not knowing if all warehouse managers had this feeling, Amy managed warehouse expenditures more and more strictly. Some unnecessary expenditures were immediately cut.
You could say Amy's stinginess was famous in the administrative department.
Carol could only push everything onto Caesar, leaning close to Amy's ear and quietly saying something.
Making Amy's face completely red.
Supplies were continuously moved out from the warehouse. Amy watched with a pained expression.
Carol worried Amy would go back on her word and cut some supplies. She quickly had people hurry and move the supplies away, not letting Amy look more.
The supplies were delivered. Carol organized some women skilled at making food.
Carol had them quickly make food and put down the work in their hands.
Under Carol's coordinated arrangements, a huge bonfire pile was erected in the ranch center.
Surrounding it like stars filling the sky, small bonfire piles in circular formation surrounded the large bonfire pile, circle after circle.
Night gradually darkened. Joy began jumping around the ranch.
A torch was thrown into the large bonfire pile. Flames whooshed up and burned. All the bonfire piles were ignited.
It was also like igniting the fire in all ranch people's hearts. Smiles unconsciously appeared on faces. Music played. The festival atmosphere also began brewing.
People put down the work in their hands, went home to tidy up, put on clothes they thought looked good, held their family members' hands, and appeared at the bonfire grounds.
The crowd became dense. It quite had the feeling of truly celebrating a festival.
Flames burned, illuminating everyone's faces—warmly, extremely warm.
The crowd gathered more and more. Almost all ranch people had come.
Caesar held a microphone, standing in front of the large bonfire, saying to all ranch residents: "Today is a joyous day. Glenn, my combat squad captain."
Caesar extended his hand pointing at Glenn. Glenn somewhat unnaturally stood out, facing pairs of burning gazes.
"He led a squad of combat members and earned very large profits for our ranch. Thank Glenn for his contributions to all of us."
Thunderous applause erupted from the crowd, mixed with whistles and cheers.
Facing the crowd's goodwill, Glenn felt a warm current rush straight to his head. His face flushed completely red. His eyes also warmed up. He nodded, thanking everyone for their kindness toward him.
"Also Rip, Jimmy, Rick... thank them for their tireless efforts and contributions to us."
Caesar read all the combat squad members' names who went to King County. Each name welcomed applause from the crowd.
Rip held Beth, looking at her proudly.
Jimmy also felt a kind of sense of responsibility, standing straight. His grandfather beside him had red eyes.
Rick held Carl, Lori standing beside him, thanking everyone for the applause.
Lori looked at Rick awkwardly. Clearly after they reunited today, they'd had another quarrel.
Caesar didn't need to guess to know it must be Lori very resistant to Rick going to King County to participate in missions, demanding he not go in the future.
But at this moment in public, Lori also didn't make trouble, smiling sweetly.
After thanking the King County mission members, Caesar talked about Horus ranch members, telling other people that Horus ranch members joining the ranch wasn't easy.
Afterward, Caesar stopped wasting words and shouted loudly: "Everyone, tonight eat well and drink well. Have fun everyone."
Having said this, Caesar turned off the microphone and sought out Amy.
In the crowd, music played. Caesar put his arm around Amy. The two followed the rhythm, dancing together.
After dancing until tired, Amy pulled Caesar and they ran together toward the table displaying food.
Casually taking two plates, filling them with food he loved, holding the plates they walked to a prairie area and sat down, watching the crowd holding hands dancing around the bonfire.
The two sat on the prairie. Below was green prairie. Looking up was brilliant stars. Before them was the smoke and fire of the human world.
Amy squeezed into Caesar's arms, wanting Caesar to feed her bite by bite.
Caesar looked at Amy's pretty face and fed her a bite of food. Amy's cheeks puffed in and out as she chewed, just like a balloon constantly expanding and shrinking.
Caesar couldn't resist pinching once—soft and bouncy—but it drew Amy's coquettish complaint: "What are you doing?"
Her speech was slurred. Caesar felt it even more and pinched enthusiastically.
Amy struggled to finish the food, then flipped over to straddle Caesar, looking at Caesar beneath her who didn't resist.
The two looked at each other for two seconds. Amy kissed deeply down.