The argument ended with Shawn dispatching 800 people from the Prison.
Of course, the 800 warriors Shawn dispatched were those loyal to him.
"The Zealots were raised in a free-range manner by that cult leader, and there's nothing better than letting them act freely."
Shawn was alone in the room, using a red pen to circle half of the large circle again.
"Moreover, as my followers, they have an advantage that no one else, not even Rick Sean or Daryl Merle, can compare to."
"—They will never question my abilities."
"On the contrary, the more frequently I display 'miracles,' the more loyal and obedient they become to me."
Shawn did not forget how he subjugated this group of Zealots.
Within a circular range of about 30 kilometers centered on the Prison, Shawn pressed his pen tip hard several times, leaving a few red dot marks.
The prototype of a post-apocalyptic empire gradually unfolded in Shawn's mind.
Time passed minute by minute.
It wasn't until a scent permeating the air came from outside that Shawn noticed it was nearing dusk. He put down his red pen and walked out of the Administrative Building.
When Shawn appeared in the open space, many people were already sitting on the ground.
Carol and everyone else were distributing hot food from large buckets.
The Prison's cafeteria used to be able to support making meals for thousands of people, and it was no exception now.
However, gas resources were limited, so Carol chose to distribute food by combining hot meals with instant food.
Many elderly people voluntarily came forward to help. They couldn't fight Walkers and survivors outside, but they could do some things within their capabilities.
Seeing Shawn's figure, many people actively turned their gaze towards him.
The tall concrete walls gave them a sense of security, but Shawn could also see a hint of confusion in their eyes.
It was as if they were saying: Is this how it's going to be from now on? Are we only going to live behind this wall forever?
Human nature is just like that.
Once their safety is satisfied, they will always have more desires.
And in terms of environment, the Prison indeed couldn't compare to the Alexander Community right now.
Shawn took the food from Carol's hand and, like everyone else, ate his first meal back at the Prison with his head down.
Members of the former Quarry Camp voluntarily came and sat next to Shawn.
They were just a bit emotional, never imagining that the Prison, which initially had only thirty people and an empty patch of grass, would so quickly see a day when it was filled with people.
When people are together, the fear and confusion in their hearts are infinitely diminished.
That's why people tirelessly search for survivor Camps, because just being with their own kind makes it feel as if that last ray of light in their hearts is still there.
Across the entire field, only the sound of spoons clinking against bowls and plates could be heard.
For some reason, Shawn suddenly remembered that night... the night everyone worked together to clean the Administrative Building, the night they all huddled in the cafeteria and shared a meal.
Shawn looked around, his gaze sweeping over every person who had come from the Quarry Camp.
Although food was plentiful now and everyone no longer shared a single meal, the bond they formed back then truly remained.
Gradually, the plates became empty.
Beth thoughtfully asked if he needed another bowl, but Shawn declined.
Shawn got up and walked to the front of the subtly uneasy crowd.
"Before dark, I hope everyone can temporarily stay here."
Shawn's voice spread across the field.
Some people who had already placed their plates down, ready to leave, turned their heads to look.
The moment Shawn became the center of attention, he once again felt the pressure and burden of being a 'leader'.
Shawn knew what to say. Facing these people who had just arrived at an unfamiliar Camp, Shawn certainly knew, Shawn should know.
Beth sat with her clean, pale legs crossed, casting an encouraging gaze from the crowd.
Although the sky was gradually darkening, in her eyes, Shawn always shone brightly.
The entire open space became completely silent at this moment. Even the clinking of bowls and spoons disappeared entirely, and the low growls of Walkers were cut off by the high walls. This place felt like an extraterritorial domain.
Facing countless pairs of eyes, Shawn opened his mouth, but the words he had prepared failed to come out.
Originally, he wanted to say some inspiring words to give everyone confidence in the future of the Prison.
But at this moment, he suddenly realized that this was not just the future of the Prison; it was the future of every single person.
It was the future of children who were not yet aware of things.
It was the future of adults who were soberly aware but powerless to resist their tragic fate.
It was the future of the authorities who had placed everything in the Prison, filled with new hope.
When they accepted Shawn's invitation, they had already placed their future in Shawn's hands.
Shawn looked out and saw many familiar faces.
They, along with those who supported them, stood together behind Shawn.
At this moment, Shawn and they were not in opposition; they stood with Shawn.
Shawn's mind stirred, and several bean-sized seeds appeared in his palm.
He held them up as if facing a rare treasure, and everyone's gaze converged on his palm.
"A few seeds?" A voice came from the crowd.
"That's right, a few seeds!"
Shawn's voice was soaring. Although it was his first time speaking in front of a thousand people, he showed no timidity, and his voice clearly reached everyone's ears.
Even those who were originally on guard in the watchtowers and on high platforms couldn't help but turn their heads when they heard him.
"But in my eyes, they can also be more than just seeds. They are our future, our hope."
Many people stood up from the ground, puzzled and confused, but they couldn't help but crane their necks to look.
"What do you mean?"
The crowd began to stir.
Shawn lowered his head, looking at the seeds in his palm, seemingly recalling something.
"On a journey north, I once passed by a laboratory."
"But when I went inside, the people there had already been bitten by Walkers."
"In his last moments of life, he entrusted these seeds to me. He told me that these seeds were the latest agricultural scientific achievement, a connection between the old era and the new era."
"They came from the old era, and in the new era, they are held in my palm by me."
The Dixon Brothers remained silent upon hearing this; indeed, there were many times during their journey when they were not by Shawn's side.
Shawn looked at everyone and fabricated a legendary story 'about a scientist entrusting the torch at his death, and he being chosen to carry the torch and save everyone'.
Stories always give people strength. People love stories, and rulers need stories.
However, no matter how noisy the crowd became or how people discussed, Shawn chose not to explain this time.
He slowly bent down and, in front of everyone, buried the seeds in his hand into the soil, then personally smoothed the overturned dirt into an inconspicuous small mound.
From then on.
The first seed representing hope would grow and sprout in the southeastern corner of this continent, in this open space surrounded by towering barriers.
As everyone eagerly awaited, it would become the fuel for the torch.
Until the fire burned larger and larger, completely out of control!
Potato seeds
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