[TWD x Resident Evil] — Chapter 294 - Luring the Walker Horde to Woodbury

Leon switched off the portable speaker, which had been blaring like a demonic earworm.

The small Walker Horde did not disperse just because the "dinner bell" had stopped.

They simply ceased their frenzied ramming, and instead, like a group of the most loyal guards, began to revolve slowly and rhythmically around Murphy.

The scene resembled some kind of cult ritual.

And Murphy was the unlucky bastard standing at the center of the altar, about to be sacrificed to some unspeakable evil god.

"Alright,"

Leon clapped the dust off his hands.

"Since this trick works, we should discuss where to dump this walking biochemical weapon."

"Let's head back first. I need to hear everyone else's opinions."

The prison, meeting room.

"Is there even a question?"

Shawn was the first to speak, his face filled with utter conviction.

"Whoever takes a dump wipes their own ass!"

"Those Military bastards flying around up there—didn't they love blaring sirens over our heads?"

Shawn's spit was practically flying onto Rick's face, and Rick was frantically dodging it.

"Then let's return this grand gift to them, completely unopened!"

"I fucking want to see if they can still take a leisurely joyride in their planes when hundreds of thousands of Walkers are piled up at their doorstep!"

"Damn right!" Merle fanned the flames from the side.

A gloating, vicious grin hung on his ugly face.

"Let's lure these freaks to Fort Benning! Let them get a taste of what it's like to have Walkers standing guard 24/7!"

Merle was already imagining the scene of those usually high-and-mighty soldiers being trapped in their base by a Walker Horde, crying for their mothers.

Damn, just thinking about it felt better than getting high.

The bedraggled Rick also nodded. Though he wasn't as agitated as Shawn and Merle, the agreement in his eyes was unmistakable.

To some extent, this was indeed the most "fair" solution.

Return the trouble to the troublemakers.

The logic was flawless.

But at that moment, a figure pushed through the crowd.

It was Lee.

"No."

He shook his head.

Everyone's gaze focused on him.

"You say no and that's it?" Merle sneered. "Who the hell are you?"

Lee ignored Merle's mockery. He simply looked at Leon, his dark face etched with unease.

"Boss, we can't do that."

"Why not?" Leon looked at him with keen interest.

He liked hearing dissenting voices.

Because the presence of other voices meant people's thinking hadn't fully branched out yet, in simple terms, it meant the planning wasn't thorough enough.

"The army isn't like the other camps we've run into before."

Lee's thinking was very clear.

"They have recon planes. That's an advantage ordinary survivors don't have."

"If we make such a big show of luring the Walker Horde over, they'll definitely investigate the source."

"As soon as they trace back the direction the horde came from, our prison will stand out to them like a lighthouse in the dark."

"We don't know whether they're friend or foe, so I think we should play it conservatively."

Glenn also stepped forward.

He was supposed to be in solitary confinement, but he was still an important member of the prison, so Leon had let him attend.

Glenn added,

"Lee's right."

"I've dealt with those Military people. They seemed like Vincent's backers, and that bunch... they looked like bad news."

He recalled that M2 heavy machine gun, and the grenade that had nearly cost him his life.

"I'm pretty sure they're probably not on our side."

"In their eyes, we might just be a group of armed thugs that need to be cleaned up."

"We have too few people right now, and that piece-of-crap armored vehicle is still being repaired. What do we use to fight their potential tanks and helicopters?"

"Lay low and develop,"

Glenn used that phrase he'd learned from Leon.

"What we need most right now is time."

The meeting room fell silent again.

Glenn and Lee's words had doused the vengeful fire that had just ignited in Shawn and Merle.

Yeah.

Pissing off the army might feel great for a moment, and they'd likely be thrown into chaos too.

But then what?

They'd definitely investigate the source.

Even if you disguised the Walkers perfectly, your prison is right nearby, barely a 30-minute drive away. Wouldn't you be discovered in no time?

They have planes and artillery. Crushing you would be as easy as stepping on an ant.

When that time came, forget revenge—the entire prison would be buried alongside Leon's momentary hotheadedness.

Leon's fingertips tapped lightly on his newly shaved bald head.

Go head-to-head with the army?

He wasn't that stupid.

The time wasn't right yet.

But goddammit, throwing away such a massive free strategic resource would be a damn shame.

Used properly, this thing was more effective than a fucking nuke before the apocalypse.

He looked at the map, his eyes moving back and forth between the places he had circled in red.

The Governor.

Woodbury.

An idea instantly illuminated his chaotic mind.

"No." Leon suddenly smiled.

He smiled like a brat who had just thought of the perfect prank.

"We definitely can't mess with the army."

He jabbed his finger heavily onto the word "Woodbury" on the map.

"How about we deliver this grand gift to our old friend, the Governor."

"Lure the Walker Horde to Woodbury?" Rick froze for a moment, then his eyes lit up too.

Damn, that's a dirty move!

"Now that's what I call recycling!" Merle slapped his thigh in excitement.

"I like this plan!"

The plan instantly won everyone's approval.

It solved the water contamination crisis and conveniently removed Woodbury, that thorn lodged right beside them.

Killing two birds with one stone—absolutely perfect.

However, just as everyone was buzzing with excitement over this brilliant plan, a timid voice rose, like a drop of clear water falling into a pot of scalding oil.

"But..."

It was Beth.

Hershel's kindest youngest daughter.

She had been standing quietly in the corner of the crowd, but now she mustered her courage and stepped forward.

Her clear eyes were filled with inner turmoil.

"Woodbury... there are more than just the Governor's people in Woodbury."

As if afraid Leon might misunderstand, she added,

"Leon said the Governor is a bad man who rules Woodbury through deception. I believe that. Leon wouldn't lie."

"But there must still be many... many ordinary survivors there. Old people, children..."

"If we lure the Walker Horde there, then they... they'll die too."

"I think the Governor can die, but killing everyone else along with him is just too inhumane..."

"Of course, you don't have to listen to my opinion. I also know that being merciful to them might mean our own people die. So I'm just sharing my thoughts. You can ignore them..."

After speaking, Beth retreated back into the crowd.

➤ Next: A Wandering Woman