TWD: Saving Merle First - Chapter 65: Ryan Observes, Wade Strikes It Rich (Patreon)

Ryan spent two days quietly observing the camp and had more or less figured out how things worked.

The leader was Wade, a young man who looked harmless enough but possessed exceptional mental fortitude and combat ability. He was also currently in a relationship.

Rick handled most of the camp's day-to-day affairs, though his relationship with another crew-cut man named Shane seemed somewhat strained. The two had probably fallen out over something, and both appeared to be trying to mend things.

Those three were the camp's main leaders, with Wade having the final say on most major decisions.

Moving the camp, clearing out the warehouse, planning the farm's defensive lines, even today's weapons training. All of it had been Wade's idea.

For some reason, Ryan remembered a word an old friend had once used.

Scheming.

Yeah, that sounded about right...

Either way, Wade was clearly ambitious. He wanted to accomplish something big.

Why did Wade think on such a grand scale? Saving everyone, building something huge...

Ryan really couldn't understand it...

"Ryan! Stop standing around and come eat! Today's your turn to show us what you've got!"

Ryan snapped out of his thoughts, nodded silently, and walked toward the center of camp. He accepted a plate from Carol and politely thanked her.

Carol gave him a warm smile.

"Go on. Wade's waiting for you."

Ryan nodded again without saying anything.

Wade walked over.

"So? How have the last couple of days been? Getting used to life here?"

Ryan nodded.

"Pretty good. Everyone's been nice."

Wade nodded as well and didn't press him further.

Even while recovering over the past two days, Ryan had been quietly observing and evaluating the camp.

He'd positioned himself carefully. He wasn't actively trying to fit in, but he wasn't deliberately keeping his distance either. He simply remained on the edge of the group.

"I'll be counting on you during training later. Try to get everyone comfortable using their weapons. If you can, teach them how to avoid danger properly when things go wrong too."

"Don't worry. I'll pass on what I've learned about surviving. How much they actually absorb is up to them."

The meaning behind his words was obvious.

He would do what was expected of him, but he wasn't going to involve himself beyond that.

Wade didn't mind.

If Ryan had immediately started acting overly friendly and enthusiastic, that might have been more suspicious.

"Alright. Rick and Shane will help you. If you need anything, talk to them."

Ryan silently nodded.

After breakfast, Ryan began putting the camp members through systematic weapons training.

Wade, meanwhile, decided to take his three top fighters out to continue clearing the surrounding area.

Training consumed ammunition, and they needed to find more of it.

After Wade gave Shane a few instructions, Shane no longer brought up going with him. Instead, his attention shifted toward Ryan, who was teaching everyone how to hold a gun properly.

"I'll keep an eye on him. Don't worry."

Wade had plenty of confidence in Shane's ability to handle things.

Especially now that Lori was pregnant.

Shane's guard was practically at maximum alert.

To put it bluntly, if Ryan's gun so much as started turning toward Lori, he'd probably already have several new holes in him before he could finish raising it.

Wade and the others headed toward the county town to the south.

Compared to the smaller towns nearby, it should have more weapons and ammunition.

Merle drove like a madman the entire way, thrilled because Wade had promised that if they found motorcycles, he and Daryl could each take one.

What else was there to say?

Wade Favor +10.

Debt of Gratitude +1.

Wade also glanced at his Experience Points.

[163/400]

If nothing unexpected happened, he might gain another level within the next couple of days.

For once, he found himself genuinely looking forward to it.

Two hours later, the group arrived at the county town.

The four quickly climbed out of the vehicle and shouldered their backpacks.

Daryl raised his crossbow and fired, pinning a walker with a single bolt.

Wade immediately began his own rapid fire.

Full draw and release.

Instinctive aiming.

His movements were still fast enough to leave afterimages.

After a month of hard labor, Wade had the vague feeling that his physical condition had improved again.

The difference wasn't dramatic, but there was definitely some improvement.

He couldn't explain exactly what had changed.

Whatever.

Right now, only one thing mattered.

Fighting felt damn good!

System notifications sounded one after another.

They'd barely arrived and Wade had already gained more than ten Experience Points.

After clearing out the nearby walkers, they retrieved their arrows and bolts, raised their weapons, and began advancing toward the center of town.

Wade chose the police station as their first destination.

Their previous trip to the King County Police Station had practically stuffed them senseless with loot.

Hopefully, they could repeat that kind of haul here.

There weren't many walkers on the streets, but most had gathered into small groups.

Two or three at a time, they wandered aimlessly along the road.

The police station was easy to find.

After crossing several streets, the four reached their destination.

Wade raised his bow and put an arrow through another walker before his expression gradually turned serious.

The front entrance of the police station was completely intact, and the doors were closed.

Could there still be survivors inside?

"Stay alert from here on. There might be people inside."

Merle raised his Remington and chambered a round with a click.

"Then they'd better know what's good for them and not cause us any trouble."

Wade rolled his eyes.

Anyone listening to this guy would think they were the villains.

The four continued forward.

Through the blood-smeared glass doors, they could see several walkers wandering around inside the station.

That actually made them relax a little.

If walkers were still roaming around inside, there probably weren't any people living there.

Which meant the place was theirs to loot.

Wade quickly stepped forward.

His cut-resistant glove closed around the cold metal handle, and he gave the door a slight push.

It wasn't locked.

Daryl and Merle immediately moved into position and slipped through the opening, quickly engaging the walkers inside.

Daryl fought with precision and efficiency.

Merle, on the other hand, relied almost entirely on brute force.

He stepped forward and smashed the butt of his gun straight into a walker's forehead with a sickening crack.

After knocking it down, he followed with several more blows, violently crushing its skull.

Once Marcus entered, Wade came in last and locked the door behind them.

Then he drew his Bowie knife and went to work.

Step forward.

Drop low.

Extend the arm.

The tip of the blade drove up through a walker's chin and into its skull, destroying the brainstem.

Pull the blade free.

Move to the next one.

The movements weren't particularly graceful, but they were extremely efficient.

Before long, the entire first floor had been cleared.

"Same as usual. You two take the second floor. Marcus and I will search down here. Be careful."

"Yeah, yeah. Quit nagging. What is this, some kind of classroom?" Merle complained as he headed upstairs with Daryl.

Wade ignored him.

Following the same route they'd used during their previous police station raid, he headed directly for the weapons storage room.

The moment he pushed open the door, Wade's brain nearly overloaded.

"Holy shit! We hit the jackpot!"