Chapter 25

The argument surrounding Randall was full of heated debates, revealing the complexities of human nature.

Randall was locked in a cleared barn, and in any case, most people were still determined not to kill him.

Lina looked at the barn, unsure whether to speak.

Randall was undoubtedly a landmine, and she dared not take the risk.

"Hey, are you alright?" Daryl looked at Lina, who was in a daze, with some concern. She hadn't told Rick about Randall.

"No, I'm fine," Lina forced a smile.

The first release of animals marked the beginning of a major battle between Rick and Shane. After their failed release, the atmosphere on the farm became even more tense, followed by Shane's death and the farm's downfall.

One thing after another made Lina a little nervous. She wanted to make changes, but she didn't know how.

While Lina was feeling frustrated and lost in thought, Rick and Sean had already forced Randall into the car with guns in hand.

"I," Lina said, watching the car drive away from the farm with a somewhat blank expression, "should I have stopped them?"

"Why? Because of that child? He doesn't know the way here, at least that's what Rick says." Daryl said indifferently, killing him would be the end of it, but he didn't care if he let him go.

“…No,” Lina said, somewhat frustrated. She couldn’t tell Daryl.

Here she went again, her inexplicable sadness. Daryl grew irritated. Why couldn't he just tell her? Wasn't he trustworthy?

Daryl put his arm around Lina. "Don't think about it anymore, let them be."

Lina leaned against Daryl, lost in her own thoughts, feeling depressed.

Moor stepped out of the tent and stretched.

Mole.

Lina stared at Mor, her mind racing with calculations.

“I’m going hunting, wanna come along?” Daryl asked, releasing Lina.

“No, I’m a little tired today,” Lina shook Daryl’s hand, seemingly in a better mood. Daryl raised an eyebrow. “Alright, then I’ll go with Mor.”

"Um, I saw Amy..." Lina hesitated.

Daryl rolled his eyes. "Fine, I'll go myself." He turned and glared at Moore, who looked completely bewildered.

Daryl walked into the woods with his crossbow, and Lina watched him disappear from sight before walking over to Mor.

"What?" Moore asked Lina, somewhat surprised and puzzled.

“I need your help,” Lina said.

“Well, well, well, this is really strange,” Moore raised an eyebrow and looked at Lina with a leisurely air. “Why?”

“You will,” Lina said, unmoved by his words. “Come with me.”

Mohr rolled his eyes; he was fed up with this super-strong woman. But just as Lina confidently stated, Mohr followed her.

After Lina and Moore finished their discussion, Rick and Sean returned with Randall, who had failed to be released.

“We need to interrogate him,” Rick and Sean said, glancing at Lina and Moore who were approaching.

“I think I just heard someone say ‘interrogation,’” Moore poked his ear with his little finger.

"Are you willing to go?" Rick glanced at Sean, then looked at Moore with surprise.

“Oh, that’s my job. I know how to deal with these scumbags,” Moore said, staring at Sean.

“Thank you,” Rick said.

Moore chuckled and walked towards the barn. Lina hesitated before following him, "You don't have to..."

"Come on, little girl. If you want to stay, you'll have to find your place. That's how things work, understand? Just like what you asked me to do," Moore mocked.

"I...I'm sorry, I didn't expect that..." Lina paused for a moment.

"Oh, come on, old Moore is best at these dirty jobs," Moore said with a mocking glance at Lina, then walked into the barn and slammed the door shut.

It seems she's done something wrong again.

Just as everyone was anxiously waiting, Moore brought back news, "More than thirty men, heavily armed. Once they arrive, we're doomed, and the women will suffer a fate worse than death." Moore quickly glanced at Amy and then looked at Rick, "Now it's your turn to make a decision, friendly officer."

Moore sauntered toward the tent. "I don't care if he lives or dies. Don't bother me again. Unless you want me to kill him."

Lina looked at Dale's incredulous eyes and started to get a headache again. Oh my god.

Until sunset, this was Rick's final deadline.

Dale spoke with everyone, including Lina and Daryl.

“Dale, I’ve seen him. On the highway, I was shot twice. He and his men did it,” Lena said. Dale looked at Lena in disbelief. “He… he has…”

“That’s not important. His gang assaulted those two girls, and their father was forced to watch. This isn’t the first time. If you give him a chance, who will give those innocent people a chance?” Lina looked at Dale angrily.

"...Do you think I did this just for that child?" Dale seemed much more weathered. "We can't lose our humanity. We can't simply treat killing as something insignificant. No, child, that's not right."

“I’ve killed quite a few people, Dale. If you want to survive in this world, you have to do this, but I have a clear conscience.” Lina finished speaking and pulled Daryl away.

"You think so too, Daryl?" Dale couldn't help but look at Daryl pleadingly.

“You’re making yourself look like a desperate bastard,” Daryl said, and followed Lina away without looking back.

At dusk, everyone gathered in the living room to discuss the final result, except for Moore.

Lena looked at Dale, this poor fighter, and she would not support him; she felt sorry for the utopia that had been lost in his mind.

“Now may not be a good time, but,” Lina looked at the crowd and sighed helplessly, “I’ve seen him, on the highway, with him and his men. I was shot twice.”

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Rick looked at Lina in shock.

Lina shrugged. "Because you guys are already conflicted enough?"

“Then we should kill him,” Carroll said. “I don’t want my children to have that again. It’s too terrible.”

"Did he make a move?" Rick asked.

"Does that matter? He's one of them." Lina looked at Rick with a puzzled expression. "Just because he didn't participate or didn't have time to participate, does that make him different?"

“No, it’s just,” Rick sighed.

He glanced at Dell with a troubled expression.

Dale looked like he was about to cry, staring incredulously at everyone's faces.

"..."

Everyone remained silent. "We have to kill him. There's nothing more to say," Sean said, walking out of the room.

"Sean." Rick glanced at Dale and followed.

Lena caught up with him and stopped Rick. "You should talk to Dale and everyone else properly. I'll be watching Sean until you make a decision."

Rick pondered for a moment, then nodded.

Lena watched Rick leave and breathed a sigh of relief. She jogged to catch up with Sean.

"What, are you planning to stab me in the back again?" Sean said sarcastically, glancing at Lina.

“Yes,” Lina nodded.

"Why? Wouldn't it be better if I killed those things that made you feel unsafe?" Sean stopped, looking at Lina with a sneer. "You're a coward, all of you are, but I, I'm not. I'll do it."

“I knew you would.” Lena looked at Sean, glancing discreetly behind him. “But you’re not doing this for me, not for us. Don’t try to make yourself sound so noble.”

“The fact is, I protected these people, including you,” Sean said angrily.

“I don’t think so. You’ve made things worse,” Lina said calmly. “Look at your face. You fought with Rick? Let me guess, Rick saved you, right? You wanted to kill him?”

Sean paused for a moment, then roared angrily, "You know absolutely nothing! You—"

His eyes glazed over, and he collapsed, stunned. "Again—?"

Lina shrugged innocently. "I told you."

Moore dropped the bucket he was holding, knocked on Sean twice, and then made his retreat.

“The stuff is ready,” Moore kicked Sean. “Carry him over there.”

Lina and Moore tossed Sean into the back seat of the car. "Is that your bag?" Lina paused, then looked at Moore.

“Yes,” Moore nodded.

"What? You're leaving? What about Daryl?" Lina looked at Mor in disbelief.

“Live, I can’t stay here any longer, no,” Moore smiled, “I killed that brat.”

"What?" Lina was stunned. "We didn't agree on this."

“Who cares,” Moore said, getting into the car and slamming the door shut. “Hey, strongwoman, be nice to my brother.”

"You bastard!" Lina reached for the car door but was thrown aside by the car's sudden acceleration. She saw Daryl's motorcycle next to her, the key still on it, with the accelerator on one side and the brake on the other. Okay, Lina, you got it.

Lina twisted the accelerator and sped off.

"Hey! What happened?" Hearing the commotion, the crowd came out and watched in confusion as a car and a motorcycle sped away.

“Barn,” Rick ran to check, and Randall was dead.

"My God!" Glenn exclaimed, "What happened?"

“I’d like to know too,” Rick said, scratching his head in frustration.

“It was Moore who did it,” Daryl said after glancing at it.

“Okay,” Rick licked his chapped lips helplessly, “we have to go find the three of them.”

*

The motorcycle was much faster than Moore's crappy car, perhaps because Lina only knew how to accelerate mindlessly.

Lena sprinted forward, cutting in front of Moore's car. Moore kept honking his horn, trying to drive Lena away, but Lena ignored him and instead honked back defiantly. She accelerated and, after checking the distance in her rearview mirror, gritted her teeth, slammed on the brakes, and suddenly swerved her motorcycle to block the middle of the road.

Moore didn't stop; he kept honking the horn, and the car got closer and closer to the motorcycle. Lina stubbornly blocked the middle of the road.

Seeing the motorcycle parked in front of him, Moore reluctantly stopped his car. "Hey girl, can you leave me alone?" He had already left Daryl behind, what more did she want?

“You have to come back with me. This isn’t what we agreed on. You can’t abandon Daryl.” Lina stopped her motorcycle and angrily grabbed Mor’s collar. “How dare you abandon him again!”

“What can I do?” Moore retorted, not to be outdone. “He’s with me, I can’t be a good person, I…” Moore looked at Lina with some frustration.

“Nobody’s asking you to be a good guy. Just be yourself. We all know you’re a jerk,” Lina said, releasing Moore’s collar. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have made you do the dirty work. I just thought you would help me.” Lina said in a muffled voice.

“Daryl will too,” Moore said, raising an eyebrow.

“No, he’ll ask if you won’t,” Lina said.

That's true. Daryl cares about her, but Moore doesn't. Getting rid of this time bomb will make the camp safe, and his brother will be safe too.

“This is the second time, you two bastards.” Sean pointed his gun at the two men as they got out of the car.

"...This is the second time already, are you even capable?" Lina glared at Mole, annoyed.

"I only have one hand!" Moore innocently raised his hand. Was it his fault for not being strong enough?