Chapter 115: Return
After getting news of the construction site, Caesar immediately set out with his people.
Following the map, they quickly arrived.
Vehicles began circling the construction site, surveying the walker situation inside.
The rumbling of vehicles drew hoarse roars from the walkers. They staggered awake, stood up, and walked toward the perimeter.
The walkers' clothes hung loosely on them. Each walker had sunken eye sockets and sparse hair—the very image of someone starved to death.
Their walking speed was even slower than other walkers, their mobility worse. They were nothing but skin and bones.
The vehicles showed no sign of stopping. They used sound to lure the walkers to chase. When the walkers were about to catch up, they'd drive forward a bit more, until all walkers were controlled and no more emerged from the site.
Caesar opened the car door and strode toward these dozen-plus walkers.
"Go!"
With the boss himself going in, the combat members couldn't just watch. One by one they rushed forward, delivering flying kicks.
The combat members killed walkers fearlessly.
The mere dozen walkers were hacked to pieces by the energetic combat members.
After watching the combat members chop through them like cutting vegetables, Caesar's eyes flickered with contemplation. "The walkers are getting more fragile."
Caesar imagined that based on these dozen walkers' combat ability, an untrained ordinary person could easily eliminate them as long as they maintained proper distance.
Caesar didn't delay further. "Enter the site. Get all your guns ready. Be prepared to respond to emergencies at any time."
"Yes!"
Caesar unclasped the buckle on his waist holster and pulled at his handgun, ensuring he could shoot smoothly if a situation arose.
Then Caesar, carrying his axe, walked into the construction site.
Inside the site was complete chaos. Sand and stone piles were everywhere, along with some bundled rebar. There were also some construction vehicles, like concrete mixer trucks, excavators, bulldozers, and loaders.
As for those super large construction vehicles—they were completely absent. They couldn't possibly appear at a construction site of this scale. They were more likely to appear at large mining sites.
Those building materials and construction vehicles just sat there. Seeing them before the apocalypse, Caesar might have dismissed them with disdain, but in the apocalypse, these materials were Caesar's good helpers for infrastructure construction.
These materials were Caesar's door to reopening a new world.
Without a doubt, seeing these things, Caesar could see through them to the future—smooth, wide roads in the valley, towering majestic walls that could block the millions of walkers outside.
"Woohoo... we finally found it!" One combat member jumped up, raising both hands high, incomparably joyful.
Some members swung their fists forcefully, their mouths almost splitting to their ears. Some members pounded their teammates' shoulders violently, their faces full of excitement and joy—teammates shouting in pain while grinning...
The crowd was like a boiling hotpot, emotions of joy rippling outward.
Caesar turned around and waved his large hand. "Today, all combat members will be rewarded with one carton of cigarettes and two bottles of alcohol."
"Boss is generous!"
"Hahaha, we have alcohol to drink. Wonderful!"
"Yes, yes, cigarettes again!"
"Brother, you don't smoke anyway. How about I trade you alcohol for cigarettes?"
"I still have half a bottle of alcohol left at home. This time I can drink to my heart's content."
"Hey, let's all drink together then..."
"..."
Caesar's promised rewards were like a shot of adrenaline, raising the combat members' efficiency several times over.
Even during the process of moving building materials, everyone moved with smiles.
With the combat members giving it their all, Caesar naturally wouldn't hold back either. After returning to town, he found Amy and requisitioned supplies.
He distributed them directly to each combat squad captain, having the squad leaders hand them down.
Cigarettes and alcohol were different from food. You could say they weren't human survival necessities, but for humans, living couldn't just be about living.
Alcohol and cigarettes were naturally among the few adjustments in this apocalypse—luxury items, as it were.
The return of building materials drastically reduced the pressure on several combat squads. Everyone wore smiles on their faces.
Caesar's smile also couldn't be hidden. Truly, where there's intention to plant flowers they won't bloom, but where there's no intention to plant willows, they'll grow into shade.
Seeing Caesar walking from afar, Amy raised her smiling face with both arms open for a hug. "Mm-hmm, happy now?"
Amy could see Caesar worrying about building materials every day. After returning home, he often drilled into his study to carefully examine maps and reconnaissance information. He was extremely anxious.
Amy naturally felt sorry for her man. Seeing his anxious appearance, she couldn't help but feel distressed. Unable to help with finding building materials, she gave Caesar great help in logistics.
Caesar hugged Amy tightly, lifted her up and spun her around once, then set Amy down. Caesar smiled and said, "Of course I'm happy now. Didn't expect we'd really find it."
Amy's hands wrapped around Caesar's waist. She smiled with her eyes squinting. "Now that you're done being busy, hurry and take a shower. Rest."
After Caesar learned the news from Randall, he rushed with his people to the destination and labored all day bringing things back.
His clothes had gotten wet then dried, dried then wet again. The smell wasn't good either.
Only then did Caesar let go of Amy. He lowered his head to smell his own clothes and showed an embarrassed smile. "Does smell a bit."
Amy didn't mind at all. She touched Caesar's somewhat dirty cheek gently. "Hurry and go."
"Okay." Caesar strode toward the stone house. As if remembering something, he suddenly turned around. "Amy."
"Mm-hmm?" Amy looked at Caesar. "What is it?"
"Have Merle hand Randall over to Maggie and Glenn." Caesar said.
Randall was Maggie's high school classmate and the one who provided information about Greene Farm to his companions. Best to hand him over to the aggrieved parties to handle.
Amy nodded. "I'll go right away."
Amy headed to the prison to find Merle. Caesar returned to the stone house to shower, and also ate the meal Amy had made on the table.
Afterward, Caesar lay on the living room sofa, watching the burning fireplace. Sparks jumped between the firewood like mischievous little sprites.
Quietly watching the sparks leap up and disappear, gradually Caesar closed his eyes and let out even, faint snores.
By the time the house door made sounds, Caesar had fallen into deep sleep.
Amy sensed that Caesar had fallen asleep. When entering the house, she deliberately slowed her footsteps, tiptoed into the living room, and slowly walked up to Caesar.
She crouched down, keeping her face level with Caesar's.
Looking at Caesar's high nose bridge and handsome face, she unknowingly became a bit entranced.
Caesar could feel Amy's breath. He half-opened his eyes and asked vaguely, "Did I tell Merle?"
"Mm-hmm, I told him." Amy smiled. Caesar rarely showed such an unguarded side in front of her.
There was a contrasting charm to it.
"Let's sleep." Caesar closed his eyes again, murmuring.
As he spoke, Caesar lifted the blanket on his body.
Amy slipped into the covers neatly like a little cat. Her whole body was wrapped in Caesar's scent and warmth. She hummed comfortably.
"Not tonight. I want to rest."
Amy's sweet smile on her face instantly transformed into exasperation. She headbutted Caesar's chest.
Hey, it didn't hurt.
Caesar teased a bit, then hugged Amy tightly.
The night gradually deepened.