After some thought, Shawn didn't rush forward. Instead, he turned around and returned to the Farm, calling Daryl and Merle back from the woods.
"What do you want?"
Merle's temper had grown increasingly volatile; just now, in the woods, he had smashed a Zombie's head with his rifle butt right in front of Shawn.
"I found the location of the motorcycles."
"What?!"
Daryl, who had been silent, immediately looked at Shawn, his nostrils flaring, and his breathing becoming a little rougher.
"Then why aren't we going to get the bikes back now? I'm going to smash that son of a bitch's nose and every bone in his body!"
Merle laughed in anger, gnashing his teeth as he spoke, wishing he could flay the person alive.
"Don't rush," Shawn looked at him. "Unless something unexpected happens, there are many people on the other side, perhaps ten times as many as us."
"Are you scared?" Merle frowned, looking at him.
"My point is, we'll act tonight."
A strange smile played on Shawn's lips.
Night was not only a paradise for Zombies, but the darkness could also conceal their movements.
The opposing group had too many people; it might not be possible to take them all out at once. If they weren't opponents, they could also use the cover of night to return to the Farm.
"Alright, I'll listen to you. Who told you to be the boss?" Merle shrugged, then rushed back into the forest with his rifle to vent his frustration.
"Don't mind him, that's just how he is."
Daryl explained for Merle in a low voice, clearly not wanting any animosity to arise between him and Shawn because of this.
On the contrary, he had been observing Shawn's actions.
If before he had shown special consideration to Shawn because of Merle, now, Daryl genuinely wanted to befriend Shawn.
Shawn had the strength, and he was truly one of their own.
"I've never taken it to heart."
Shawn smiled frankly.
Merle and Daryl were like a pack of wolves; one naturally couldn't judge them by conventional standards.
Remember?
From beginning to end, Shawn had intended to gradually subdue the two, to earn their genuine approval.
After sending Daryl to accompany Merle, Shawn turned and went to the Camp.
"We might still need the car for another day; we'll return it after we're done," Shawn told Andrea.
After leaving that remark, under the gaze of the two sisters, Shawn picked a blue tent and went to sleep.
He slept straight until nightfall.
"Hey," Daryl kicked Shawn. "Get up, it's time."
Shawn flipped over with a slight effort, shaking his head, feeling refreshed.
At this moment, Daryl and Merle were already Fully Armed, standing guard beside him, their eyes burning with intensity as they watched him wake up.
"Let's go, I'll drive."
Shawn wasn't sure of the exact time, but the sky had indeed grown dark. Looking from afar, there wasn't a single soul at the Farm.
However, that golden exclamation mark remained, conspicuously visible at night.
The three got into the car.
Shawn drove in the direction indicated by the apocalypse mission, stopping only when they were about 500 meters from their destination.
"Are we there?" Merle licked his lips and asked.
Shawn got out of the car. "500 meters ahead, we'll walk the rest of the way."
The sound of the car moving was too loud, especially on a silent, eerie night in the apocalypse!
If they drove over so brazenly, they would likely be discovered before even arriving.
It was an active gang of at least 30 people; Shawn refused to believe they wouldn't have anyone on watch at night.
And so, the three of them lined up, carefully jogging forward.
They bypassed a thoroughly looted supermarket, behind which stood a well-fortified house.
The house's iron gate was tightly shut, surrounded on all sides by concrete walls with barbed wire strung along the top, and faint lights glowed within the walls.
Shawn looked back, exchanged glances with the two, and gave them a hand signal.
Daryl and Merle nodded silently, came to the base of the wall, and, one on each side, lifted Shawn by his feet, boosting him up.
With only his eyes showing, Shawn looked into the yard.
A row of various types of vehicles was parked inside, and in a corner, Shawn spotted the missing customized motorcycles.
However, at this moment, these two customized motorcycles had been covered in strange graffiti, some vulgar and crude designs, completely changing their style.
Shawn's mouth twitched. He subtly glanced at the two grimacing men below, and couldn't help but feel a moment of silent pity for this group of people.
"I'll go in first, then you two come in," Shawn gestured to them.
Propping his Ma Bone Warhammer under the barbed wire to lift the strands, Shawn used the gap to flip over and jump inside. He landed without making a sound, save for a little dust stirring.
Entering the yard, he cautiously took a few steps forward, intending to turn the corner, but the next second, he froze and retreated, pressing his back tightly against the wall.
Just around the corner, a plump man in a hood was standing, looking drowsy.
Shawn thought for a moment, then went back to the outer wall and gently tapped it.
Soon after, Daryl and Merle slipped through the barbed wire gap and climbed in.
Shawn raised a hand and pointed behind the corner, then pointed to the crossbow in Daryl's hand. The three exchanged glances, confirming their plan.
Nearby, not far away.
Dave's head swayed dizzily.
Seeming to realize he was dozing off, he shivered, suddenly wide awake, and scanned his surroundings a few times before letting out a sigh of relief.
"Next time we go out to scavenge supplies, I want to go too. That way, I won't have to work hard guarding at night when we get back."
"Too bad for you, there won't be a next time."
A low, suppressed voice sounded by Dave's ear. His expression froze, and he immediately hugged the gun in his arms, trying to turn his head.
But in the next second, he felt a chill on his forehead, his mouth was instantly covered, and his entire body uncontrollably fell backward into a strong embrace.
"Shh—it's normal to feel dizzy. You'll be fine soon."
Shawn's right palm was pressed firmly over Dave's mouth and nose, preventing him from making any sound.
Merle smoothly caught the rifle that fell from Dave's arms in mid-air.
Seeing this, Daryl cautiously moved over, stepped on Dave's head, and pulled the crossbow bolt out of his brain.
Having done all this, Daryl and Merle both looked at Shawn, their eyes gleaming with a greenish light, like two hungry wolves.
Shawn silently pointed to the two motorcycles in the corner, disfigured by spray paint, and shrugged helplessly.
The two men moved over, their fingertips trembling as they touched their beloved bikes, caressing them repeatedly.
Merle's expression turned ruthless, and he raised his gun, about to charge into the house, but he was held back by Shawn and Daryl working together.
Merle's eyes were filled with anger, but also confusion, as he looked at Daryl.
Daryl pointed at the bikes, then at the main gate, and shook his head.
Shawn patted both of their shoulders from behind, guiding their gazes to the fuel tank of the car behind them.
The three instantly brightened, a similar curve on their lips; they had all thought of the same thing.