Chapter 126

"He abandoned you and ran away." Lena was stuffing fruit into Negan's room, and Negan didn't stop her. Seeing her eating so unceremoniously, Negan felt a bit conflicted.

“I told you, you have terrible taste in men,” Negan continued.

"...I'm full, bye-bye." After finishing the fruit platter, Lina casually stuffed two apples into her pocket, wiped her mouth, and got up to leave.

"Sit down!" Negan looked at Lina with a headache. "Now, tell me, are you still not going to join me?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Lina slowly raised her eyes and glanced at Negan. "Do you have any canned food? Give me a few cans." Food is more important.

“…No!” Negan said angrily, then sighed after a long pause. “Lina, the world has changed. Isn’t it good that I’m building a new civilization? Everyone can survive, everyone has a job, and everyone can unite…”

"Good heavens, do I look that stupid?" Lina impatiently covered her ears. "You actually believe that nonsense?"

“I’m telling the truth. Those people would have died long ago without me. I protected them and even provided them with jobs,” Negan said seriously.

“I only see oppression, you treat them like slaves,” Lina said. “I don’t like you like this, so I can’t join you. The world is terrible, but that doesn’t mean I have to become a scumbag.”

"Is that how you see me?" Negan was silent for a moment, then sighed helplessly. "What else can I do if I don't do this? Look at those people, they're not good people."

“Stop making excuses,” Lina said, scratching her hair in frustration. “You and I will leave. That’s the only way to resolve this.”

“I can’t,” Negan said. “Lina, haven’t you killed someone before? We’re not the clean people we used to be, and you just have to accept that.”

“I’ve accepted it all,” Lina said, unsure how to continue. “I’ve killed people, I did it to survive, so my family could survive, and I have no regrets. But you, you’re different.” Lina sighed. “You didn’t just do it to survive.”

“For the sake of survival,” Negan shrugged. “Like I said, I can let Alexander go. As if nothing happened, you can take over the collection of supplies there. That’s my bottom line.” He looked at Lina seriously. “Rules are rules. I’ve already made concessions for you, Lina. You can’t make things difficult for me.”

“But why can’t you leave with me?” Lina asked wearily. “Why do we both have to stay in this mess?”

“This is a new world,” Negan said.

“This world is terrible. I’d rather keep company with the walkers outside.” Lina sat down and looked at Negan seriously. “You can’t go on like this. This isn’t you. Lucille doesn’t want to see you like this, and neither do I!”

“No, don’t say that,” Negan looked at Lina with pity. “You’re just too naive and don’t understand.”

Lina covered her face in despair, "Are you going through menopause? Why are you so stubborn?"

"...Are you still in puberty? Why are you so stubborn?" Negan snorted and said, she had the nerve to say that to him.

“I need a reliable right-hand man. I don’t trust any of those guys. You have to help me,” Negan said.

"You actually trust me?" Lina raised an eyebrow, giving Negan a strange look.

“What’s there to be afraid of?” Negan curled his lip. “You’re still incredibly stupid. You think you’re something special just because you killed a few people?”

"Forget it, forget it, neither of us can convince the other, so let's just let nature take its course." Lina decided to give up. Anyway, Negan was bound to lose this war. She had saved Abraham and Glenn, so Sasha wouldn't come to her death. Now she only needed to worry about Karl.

“By the way,” Lena leaned over the table, close to Negan, and stared intently into his eyes, “I don’t actually care that much about Alexander, it’s just because they’re there. If you hurt them, Negan, I’ll be very sad, so sad that I might actually kill you.”

Negan narrowed his eyes. "You really hurt my feelings," he said, his mood instantly soured. So, she meant they were more important than him?

"You're the one who puts me in a dilemma. I don't want to see them die, but do you think I should just watch you die?" Lina slumped back down in despair. "You've really disappointed me. Even with the end of the world, you've become inhuman. You used to be a teacher, after all. Has your moral compass crumbled so quickly?"

“In fact, this is the real me,” Negan said, stroking his chin. “I still can’t understand it. Haven’t I done enough? Everyone loves me.”

"..." Lina's lips twitched. Was he doing this on purpose?

"Anyway, if you don't agree to my request, then you can go back to work," Negan said, watching Lina with amusement. "I also need to ask Little D if my lovely wife has been found yet. It's really making me sad."

“…You scumbag,” Lina spat, then got up and left.

He's done his job, he's off playing games with Eugene.

Eugene is still slowly accepting life here, but he adapts very quickly and feels very comfortable; this place is simply his paradise.

Lina knocked on the door, then pushed it open and went in before anyone could answer. Eugene was taken aback when he saw Lina.

"What are you doing...?" He looked behind Lina, but no one was following her.

"Get out of the way, give me the controller." Lina rudely pushed Eugene aside and started playing with the controller.

“You shouldn’t do that. You need to take down the one on the right first. That way, you can proceed step by step according to the game’s rules. If you just blindly rush forward, you’ll be surrounded from all sides,” Eugene said, looking intently at the game screen.

"Whatever," Lina's strategy was to just go for it.

Eugene, holding a jar of pickles, started eating. Lina glanced at him and said, "Give me one."

Eugene, who didn't dare to resist Lina, took one out of the jar and held it to Lina's mouth. Lina snatched it away and ate it while playing games. Eugene, that kid, is living too carefree a life.

"Do you think I should give the things to them?" Eugene suddenly asked.

Lena knew what he meant; Negan's wives had commissioned Eugene to create a poison.

“…You’re all grown up now, baby,” Lina said, swallowing a pickled cucumber.

“I think so, but did you see that doctor? He’ll kill even the most important person without hesitation,” Eugene said.

"What doctor? Ah, Carter or Carson again?" Lina frantically rubbed the handle.

“I didn’t ask his name. I didn’t want to carry any heavy psychological burden. In short, I shouldn’t take the risk. We, me, I’m not doing anything wrong, am I? I mean, I’ve finally found my place,” Eugene said, shrinking back.

"Do you want me to smash your head in with this game console?" Lina threw down the controller and looked at Eugene. "How come sugar-coated bullets corrupt you so easily?"

"He saw my talent!" Eugene shouted, but then chickened out when he saw Lina's fierce look. "Fine, you saw it first."

"Do you really like it here?" Lina looked at Eugene with a serious expression. She could understand that Eugene didn't hate Negan much since Abraham wasn't dead.

“…I must, and, yes, yes, I think I like it here, I, I fit in very well, it’s wonderful here,” Eugene stammered.

“Don’t make me look down on you,” Lina said seriously, looking at Eugene. “Forget it, you should just enjoy yourself here,” Lina sighed.

"This is strange, why?" Eugene looked at Lina with a puzzled expression. Why did her attitude change so much?

“Eugene, we’re family, at least that’s what we all think. Even though you’re a coward most of the time, we’re still family, that’s undeniable. They must be worried about you and trying everything they can to save you.” Lina looked at Eugene and sighed helplessly. “After all, we all know we can’t expect you to do anything.”

“You’re really offensive,” Eugene said, pouting.

"You've only been here a few days, and you already dare to throw a tantrum at her?" Lina raised an eyebrow. Eugene hugged the glass jar of pickled cucumbers tighter and turned his head away guiltily.

“But I know you know when to do what,” Lina stood up and stretched. “Can I sleep in your bed tonight?”

"..." Just as Lena's words were causing him to be shaken, Eugene heard her impolite request.

"No! Negan won't allow it!" That's my bed! He doesn't want to go outside and squeeze in with a bunch of people!

"Don't worry, don't worry," Lina said, having not even asked Eugene's permission, and had already comfortably lay down on him. Eugene glared at Lina angrily, but dared not do anything; he was afraid! He knew Lina's fighting prowess! And the psychological trauma he had developed from when he first met Lina was truly still fresh in his mind!

“That’s not fair,” Eugene said, shrinking into the sofa, feeling wronged. “Why didn’t you agree to Negan’s request? That way you could have your own room.”

"Do you know what he asked me to do? Just to agree to it." Lina, who was comfortably lying on the bed, rolled her eyes. What a coward.

“No, but perhaps you can tell me, and my brilliant mind will help you analyze whether it’s worth agreeing to,” Eugene said earnestly.

“He wants me to kill you,” Lina said, turning to the side, propping her head up with her arm, and looking at Eugene with a wicked grin.

“…You’re lying to me,” Eugene said.

His expressionless face looked really pathetic.

“He wants me to become a Salvation Army soldier, like them, to hurt others.” Lena lay flat on the bed, looking at the ceiling. “If Rick and the others fail, I will promise Negan that I will exchange my life for everyone's, but one or several people will definitely die.”

Eugene's expression turned fearful as he recalled what had happened before.

Lina hesitated for a long time before asking, "...Who in your family was killed?"

“Spencer and Olivia,” Eugene said.

Lena paused for a moment, her feelings a bit complicated. She had said that Negan's moral standards were dropping quickly, but she herself wasn't much better.

All she knew was that the people she cared about were still doing well, which was despicable, but she was grateful.

Lena's mood turned somber. Rick and his team would defeat Negan, but Eugene would play a more significant role. Despite Eugene's appearance, she trusted him; the bullets he made would never be fired at Alexander's men.

I just hope Rick won't rush things, will be more cautious, and will take his time.

Rick, who was wandering with Michonne in search of supplies, was indeed as anxious as Lena had feared. Although some things couldn't be rushed, the people at the junkyard might change their minds at any time, so he had to hurry.

There are far more living people in this world than one might imagine. He and Aaron had previously found a ship while searching for supplies. The supplies on board dealt with the Salvation Army, but also attracted other people.

A group of people living in a garbage dump, led by a woman named Janet, who was thin and tall.

They infiltrated Alexandria, took Gabriel, and ransacked the food storehouse. Rick didn't believe Gabriel would run away; he wasn't that kind of person. He led his men on a search and finally found the group.

They were numerous, which was exactly what Rick needed.

There was another place, the Kingdom of God that Jesus took them to, but unfortunately, the people there were too naive; otherwise, they would have been a formidable fighting force. The fairytale kingdom of the apocalypse didn't want to participate in this rebellion; they were deceived by the false illusions they had created.

But perhaps, they will realize that compromise is not the best solution.

Morgan and Carol stayed there to try to persuade the King of God's Kingdom. Daryl also stayed there to seek refuge. The Saviors wouldn't enter God's Kingdom, so it was relatively safe. Carol, on the other hand, had previously encountered the Saviors and was injured and almost taken away. Morgan caught up with them and rescued Carol. The two injured people then encountered a patrol from God's Kingdom and received treatment there.

Rick believed that Carol would find a way to persuade the Kingdom of God.

His current task is to find supplies to deal with the Salvation Army and to prepare as many guns as possible for resistance.