章 41: In depth

In the main courtyard of the prison, the silence flooded the surroundings. Today was truly a day full of emotions, everyone really felt the world at its best.

Around a campfire, everyone was immersed in silence. But the next moment, someone clapped their hands. Everyone looked up and saw Rick who apparently had something to say.

"I know we are all very tired, you have worked very hard today. Get a good rest tonight, tomorrow we will advance inside this prison which means we will have a very good shelter in the future."

Rick paused, looked at everyone and remarked, "As long as we renovate the inside of the prison, it will be a very good place to live. From what is planned, there is a large kitchen, an armory and an infirmary, so we should clean this place up very well before we move resources inside."

"Rick's right, setting up here is only the first step of the plan, and it's also the most important!" Airon said quietly, his gaze swept over everyone around the campfire.

Then he withdrew his gaze, looked down at the ground and said, "I think you're all a little confused about our future life and don't know how to deal with it. The only thing I can tell you is that after we settle into this prison, we will strengthen the defenses."

"The goal is to continue absorbing new members, and then I will teach them more knowledge about survival, we will even have our own crops."

"Only when our people are more numerous, we will be able to do many more things!"

After hearing what Airon said, everyone was interested and excited to hear that more survivors would be accepted into their community. Everyone, who was attracted by Airon's words, paid attention to what he was about to say.

"You may think what I say is unrealistic, now it is unrealistic but I am very responsible to tell you that this is the end of the world, survival materials are the most important in the days to come, how can we have infinite resources and not worry about food? Plant, breed and manufacture!"

Airon paused for everyone to direct his words, with a clear voice, he said, "You know? As time goes by, we will only experience many unimaginable things, then we will discover the coldness of human nature! We will witness massacres caused by a single morsel of food..."

"If I could choose, I would truly choose that none of us experience such things, but this is impossible, so we must strengthen our community and defend ourselves against all those who seek our evil."

"Only when we are so strong that others cannot shake us can we make the rules! Believe me when I tell you that I, Airon Darcy, will make those rules in this world where the strongest take advantage of the weakest, I will take courage and justice in the same hand. Because once they become someone else's vassals, your life will not belong to you!"

People who have never wandered in the outside world cannot understand how cruel the outside world is in the last days. Surviving is much harder than imagined. That's why most prefer to travel long distances to a remote place than to go deep into a city.

If anyone has the idea of leaving and going their own way, they will have to face a world compared to the jungle. If they are not strong or intelligent, they will be eaten by the stronger and wiser. Many of the S.C.T community do not know what it is like to be hungry and thirsty, Airon wants everyone to be aware of this problem that many others have.

Then, Airon finally said, "Forever, I hope everyone remembers what I said, if you want to be in the S.C.T community, we have to live as a family! Infighting will not be tolerated, we will not allow the formation of splinter groups. We will not allow the wanton killing of innocent people just as we will not allow anyone outside of our home to intimidate our people."

"Anyone who wants to break our world, our S.C.T. community, must know the face of desolation!

Suddenly, Merle's hoarse voice broke the silence there, "Airon, do you really know how to cultivate? Can you even make tools? I'm afraid we can't have an easy path to that world you want to achieve."

Everyone looked at Merle speechlessly, is this a problem to pay attention to now? Is he really saying it?

Hearing Merle's words, Airon averted his gaze, looked at Merle who had stood up and said, "Well, there are books and manuals in the resources I've gathered for a while, there are also many qualified people with those skills, but even if that wasn't the case, I think I could do it without much trouble."

"Hu..." Airon obviously heard some exclamations from the crowd, he really had confidence in his skills and it was something he didn't want to hide.

Airon from the beginning studied many things that would serve him later on and never really considered having people with those skills, so while he was at the CDC he was studying. He was always improving not only in physical skills, but also in knowledge.

"Internally I think they will need to be made clearer about the division of teamwork and advertise for smaller group leader positions. Of course, after we occupy this place there will be voting considering their opinions."

"So far I have led our S.C.T community, but that can change if you wish, someone else can take the leadership position if they have better capabilities than me." Airon did not want to be an authoritarian leader, he preferred to listen to what others think before taking all authority by force.

"No, I vote for Airon!"

"Me too!"

"I think the same!"

Everyone present raised their hands, expressing that they agreed that Airon should continue to lead the S.C.T community, including Rick and Shane who had nothing to say. 　　

Airon did not refuse either. Even if they all followed his orders before, that kind of obedience would only be as long as the CDC was active, because he offered them food and security.

But after many days, everyone learned to fight and the positions were only subjectively among the people closest to Airon.

Airon stood up and rubbed his hands together as he expressed his gratitude, then remarked, "Thank you for your trust and support. Since you continue to agree that I should lead you, I will not refuse. But just like the CDC, we need some people to manage this place alongside me."

Seeing that everyone agreed with his words, Airon pointed to two people in the group and said, "Rick and Shane, these two great people are police officers with many years of experience. I recommend them two and Sam Valdez along with Mike to be the combat team leaders."

"Then there is Guillermo, who will be the security captain. Guillermo is also involved in all aspects of coordination before the end of the world. I recommend him to take the position of internal leader.

"Finally Merle and Daryl, although these two are not police or security guards, they both have strong field survival skills and are responsible for some training. These two would be the right lessons, what do you think?"

Speaking of which, Airon didn't notice Daryl gave him a complicated look and they all agreed.

"I second that!"

"We have no objections!"

"Of course, these titles are for division of labor and we won't force you to decide anything if you don't agree. We too are trying to survive like you. If one day our orders cause the group to suffer you can all choose not to follow those orders."

Airon's serious attitude was once again supported by everyone present.

...

The next morning, everyone got up early and had something to eat, but when they got up they saw Airon carrying something wooden in his arms.

"Sir, what are you doing with that wood?" Since the voting ended last night, people started calling Airon Sir or Captain, these titles are also for others but Merle made it clear that he doesn't like that nonsense.

When Airon listened to people's questions, he smiled and answered, "I'm trying to do some small things."

With the help of the others, Airon tried to make some kind of shield for those who didn't have one, the plastic shields that were on the ground were not enough for everyone.

After some time, Airon together with the others made a kind of wooden shield and their appearance was strong. These shields were different from the plastic ones but provided everyone with the same function.

To tell the truth, now he was just practicing while the others woke up, he wanted to know if this method could really be considered. 　

Merle stood to the side, looked at the shield and said, "Well, this thing would be functional."

When everyone was ready, Airon mentioned those carrying wooden or plastic riot shields to lead the way and everyone finally entered through the prison door.