Chapter 79
The Walking Dead?
Caesar believed that there were intelligent people in the two ranches who could see his ambitions for them.
After much thought, Caesar decided there was no need to rush.
It's not a good deal to rush things. I'll wait until their two ranches are really struggling to stay afloat and come to me for help before I start talking to them.
Caesar nodded and said, "I understand. Let's not rush. They can maintain the current situation. Let's wait until their residents' desire to leave the ranch reaches its peak and they confront the higher-ups."
"At that time, in order to avoid being purged, they would definitely seek our help."
"That's the opportunity!"
Caesar's patience was soon rewarded.
A few days later, a riot broke out in Horus.
The night was like a curtain, pitch black, and nothing could be seen clearly.
The ranch was exceptionally dark at night, with only a few buildings showing signs of fire.
Outside the warehouse, Connor sat on a chair, leaning a gun on the ground, his brow furrowed beneath his cowboy hat, his hands clenched tightly.
He glanced around.
Twenty-odd torches were planted nearby, illuminating the area around the warehouse. A dozen or so cowboys, guns at their waists, stared sharply in all directions.
But further away, even though it was still inside the ranch, it was eerily quiet, as if thick ink had been spread out, deep and dark.
Connor stared at the area where light and shadow met, his eyelids twitching.
As a captain under Horus, he was forced to become the temporary leader when most of the high-ranking officers disappeared.
In the past few days, he could deeply feel the resentment and greed in the eyes of the residents below, and he could also feel the strong malice.
But Connor had no choice; was he really going to open the warehouse?!
That would mean that everything would be taken away by these residents. Connor also has a wife and children, and the other combatants also have families.
Connor cannot disregard his companions because of a momentary act of kindness.
In addition, Connor would release a portion of the food every day to the residents below so that they could have enough to eat.
However, what they got in return was the residents' disdain, as if... the food was something they deserved.
Connor didn't understand, but he could sense that the residents' emotions were becoming increasingly pent-up and they were about to lose their temper.
If not today, then tomorrow.
The next moment, an arrow flew out and embedded itself in the wooden planks of the warehouse, making a buzzing sound due to the excessive force.
Connor looked up and immediately shouted, "Enemy attack! Alert!"
At the same time, Connor stood up, raised his gun, aimed at the direction from which the arrows were flying, and fired a shot straight at the head.
A flash of light appeared, a bullet was fired, and a scream echoed through the air.
The cowboys immediately raised their guns and fired in that direction. Amidst the dense barrage of bullets, blood and screams mingled continuously.
In the firelight, Connor saw many familiar faces.
Soon, the gunfire stopped, and the cowboys began to change magazines, their eyes still fixed on the darkness.
Blood meandered out, flowing from the darkness. Connor looked at the glaring red, picked up a torch, and threw it in that direction.
With a whoosh, flames burst into flames.
They just fired a lot of shots, almost using up a whole magazine of bullets for everyone.
They only managed to hit a few people, who lay on the ground with their eyes wide open, staring at the sky.
Connor immediately turned his head and pointed with his big finger: "Don't huddle together, spread out."
Connor sensed something was wrong when he saw the corpses. Those were the most hated and obsequious people on the ranch, but now they were being thrown out to draw fire.
What about the others?
In the darkness, specks of warm light appeared as torches were lit one by one.
Connor looked up into the light and saw that it was all the other ranch residents.
They stood densely packed, forming a circle around the warehouse, their silent faces burning with unquenchable anger.
There were too many people, Connor was stunned.
Almost all the residents came, a total of fifty or sixty people, and they surrounded the warehouse.
It's unlikely that Connor can defeat them.
A path gradually parted in the crowd, and an old man emerged. It was El, who was skilled in making various herbs and had a high reputation.
Looking down at Connor, who stood high above him, Al's aged face showed no mockery or triumph. He simply said, "Connor, you should admit defeat."
"Why not distribute this food to the other residents, so that everyone can survive together?"
Connor lowered his head and met Al's gaze.
After a long pause, Connor finally looked up and laughed wildly, "I finally became a rancher, and you want me to distribute the grain?"
"On what grounds?"
"Do you think you're any different from those cattle and sheep? You're just domesticated livestock, only good for creating value for us, otherwise you'll be killed and eaten."
"You think you can make me submit with that junk you have? No way."
Connor spread his arms wide, his face flushed, and he spoke with spittle flying, as if he were not afraid of these people tearing him apart.
Connor's tone turned questioning as he asked, "Why can't you just work for the ranch willingly and instead demand payment from us? Didn't we keep you alive?"
"And we've guaranteed your safety. Wouldn't it be better to just be a domesticated animal?"
Connor's face was distorted and grotesque in the torchlight.
Looking at this monster that had been twisted by power in just a few days, El had nothing to say.
I just feel that perhaps Connor was originally a pitiful guy who desperately craved power, and now that he has finally gained it, he is about to lose it so soon.
El shook his head and stepped forward: "We will not yield."
El's attitude mirrored that of the other residents, and they stepped forward as well.
The number of cowboys was far outnumbered by the residents, so the cowboys took a few steps back and huddled next to Connor.
They couldn't believe that the residents, who were usually as docile as lambs, were now so tough.
Connor, his face grim, said, "You don't think I'm afraid to shoot, do you?"
He raised his gun and aimed it at Al.
Immediately, a burly man stood in front of El, with neat short hair and a shotgun in hand, completely blocking El's path.
"Frank Castle?" Connor's face was extremely grim.
Frank was a soldier who returned to settle in Black Pine Valley after his discharge. He is a kind and helpful man who helps others in his daily life.
For this reason, after the apocalypse, Frank was beaten up by several groups of people several times in the face of the domineering power of Horus.
Frank's eyes were sharp and undisguised, like those of a hawk. He looked at Connor, wanting to speak.
Several screams pierced through the crowd and echoed throughout the ranch.
Frank's expression changed, and he tried to rush over, but there were too many residents blocking his way.
From his vantage point, Connor could see much more clearly.
Those people who had been shot dead actually stood up and turned into zombies.