The car immediately alighted beside them. Michael quickly got down from the vehicle and inquired about their current situation.
"What's happening? Why is everyone in a hurry?"
The men ignored him as they were all as Michael said, in a hurry. So Roxy was the one who quickly came before him and gave him a vague answer that only made him more confused.
"We'll talk later. Help them load the goods first." Roxy didn't explain further than that, while her gaze was directed towards the woman sitting inside the car they came here with.
"Alright." Michael didn't inquire further when he noticed the graveness in her tone and turned around and walked back to the car.
Rolling down the window, Rosita looked at Michael. "So the ones you were looking for were soldiers?"
Arriving at the window, he noticed the kids at the back had gone silent and we're eavesdropping on them. "Yeah, finally believe me now? I told you multiple times that we're not bad people."
Rosita let out a scoff. "Corrupt cops and soldiers were already everywhere before this shit show started. Who's to say that those soldiers were any better?"
"Those men are soldiers. She's not, she was a police officer, but believe what you want. One bad apple does make every apple bad. Just stick with us for now and decide for yourself. No one will stop you from leaving later."
Michael did not want to explain anymore than that. So, he turned his gaze to the kids quietly listening at the back. "And you three over there, behave and stay put inside. We'll be done quickly."
"Okay~" Noah replied cheerfully while Jose nodded obediently, though Athena just ignored him and turned her gaze away.
Michael smirked and turned around as he quickly went over and helped the rest load the goods to the back of the truck.
"Hey, Joel! The deal is still in effect, right?" Arriving at the bunker under the tool shed at the back of the mansion, Michael was greeted by the sight of a small row of firearms and finally remembered what prompted him to join them.
"Seems like someone is very fond of their WW2 firearms" Seeing the rows of firearms that range from an old WW2 firearm to the modern ones, Michael was amazed since this is his first time seeing this many guns in one place.
Carrying two sacks of rice over his shoulder, Joel responded. "Yeah, my dad's a gun nut and loves buying guns that caught his eyes. Take what you want and just make sure to leave us some."
"Later, let's finish moving these things first before we move on to this." Michael took one last look at the long gun rack. He went over to the opposite side of the bunker and carried two large boxes of canned goods and left them at the entrance for the others to pick up.
*****
"What the heck? Did he already take them all out?" This was only Hans' third time returning to the bunker since Michael started helping them and he was shocked to see that there were already multiple small hills of groceries in and outside the toolshed.
"Seems like it. Hurry up! We don't have all day!" Carrying two bags of rice, Lucky walked past him and was satisfied to see that he wasn't the only shock to witness this sight.
Tilting his head to the side, Hans went over to pick up a box of canned corn and saw Michael coming up the bunker with two firearms slung over his shoulder and a backpack stuffed full with something metallic based from the sound it was making, and coming up behind him is Joel who was strenuously carrying two duffel bags up the stairs.
"Hans, come help me with this." Spotting Hans standing a couple of meters from them, Joel called out to him and asked for his help with what he's carrying.
Feeling a gaze on him, Joel looked over and saw Michael's eyes full of ridicule.
"What? They're freaking heavy. I'm not fit for this kind of work. I'm more of an administrative officer." Joel responded while panting a little.
Hans hurriedly went over to help him and left a remark. "This is why I repeatedly reminded you to exercise man."
"Shut up man, just help."
Michael on the other hand had already gotten to the road and hastily stored the rifles on the back of the vehicle.
"For your eyes only, alright?"
"Okay~!"
Michael gave the kids a reminder, where Noah responded to him cheerfully.
"Need a hand?" Michael was about to go and resume work when Rosita called out to him.
"Sure, why not. An extra pair of hands is always welcome."
Standing on the back of the truck, Roxy scoffed when she happened to hear them. "Hmmp, you should have done that from the beginning."
With additional help, the crew was almost done loading all the supplies, including the firearms left behind by Joel's father.
"Come on! Hurry up, let's go!" Roxy shouted as she planted her hatchet on a walker's head.
"F*ck, that's a lot of them." Rosita had just unloaded one of the last boxes of supplies and was returning back to their vehicle and saw something that made her realize why these people were in a hurry.
Because on the road ahead of them, a horrifying sight was unfolding before their eyes.
"It's a freaking herd." While the rest of them were horrified to witness the scene of hundreds of undead moving towards them. Michael on the other hand, had his eyes lighting up in glee and the edge of his lips arching upwards into a smile.
Bang! Bang!
"Come on, let's go!" Hans repeatedly smacked the door on the driver's side and yelled at them.
The rest of the crew snapped back to reality and hurriedly boarded the truck while Michael and Rosita quickly got back inside their vehicle and turned the car back towards the direction where they came from while closely following behind the truck.
Everyone left in a hurry, each wore expressions of panic except for one reluctant person who kept hesitating if he should stay behind or stay with the others.
'It's either Rosita or the walker herd.' Michael was conflicted by these two choices. Since the main objective for this trip was finding and securing Rosita, which is already halfway completed. Now, he can either choose to abandon them or choose the more profitable one, dealing with the walker herd and accumulating more EXP and Coins.
Michael took a quick glance at Rosita beside him and quickly came to a decision. 'Yeah, she's more important. I can always encounter more herds in the future, but losing her would deal quite a blow to my plans and for the community.'
He didn't just choose her because she's beautiful, but mostly because Michael had placed more importance on her auxiliary skills and the additional combat prowess she brings to the group.
Even though he does not have an idea on what's currently happening back at the camp right now. Michael was hopeful that Rick still had the brains and the good sense to make use of it, unlike when he had gotten Sophia killed for leaving her behind. So hopefully, he had made good use of that brain and at least formed two supply groups since they are very crucial to the group.
Not only for scouring supplies, but also marking supplies points, locating neighboring survivor communities and most importantly, determining densely walker populated areas.
So, with Rosita's addition, forming a third group around her might be possible, with Andrea possibly assisting her.
'Hmm, If my speculation lands true. Then Rick should be leading the first group, while the second is either led by Daryl or Glenn. Then the third one will either be led by me or Rosita when we return.' While driving, various thoughts raced through his mind.
Unfortunately, Michael was only half right.
Back at the prison, Rick is currently preparing to make another trip outside the prison. He was not the only one, Glenn and Andrea were also preparing to head out with their respective groups.
"Hey kid, make sure everything is tallied, alright? We don't want another situation where we ran out of bullets because we didn't bring enough with us." Carrying two shotguns in each hand, Andrea advised the young man beside her who was unloading two small boxes of bullets on the back of the car.
The young teenager who was coming with them for the first time responded to her with enthusiasm. "Yes ma'am!"
Andrea just smiled and went back inside with the others to get the other things they needed going out for another supply run.
On the other hand, Glenn alongside Cole and Alan will be the first ones to head out.
Maggie came before Glenn and the two shared a kiss. "Be careful out there and make sure to not do anything stupid."
Glenn chuckled and smiled. "Relax, we're just out to check out places"
"Relax my foot, your group is venturing outside our group's range of activity. How can I not worry thinking that you might possibly encounter a herd or hostile groups while on the road." Maggie scoffed.
"We'll be very careful. So stop worrying, it's not good for the baby." Glenn consoled her while touching her belly with a loving look on his face.
Not long after, Glenn's scouting party left the prison in a black SUV.
On the other hand, Rick's group, the largest of three groups with eight people, are also going for a supply run down south and will also be acting as the second scout party aside from Glenn's group and are just finishing up with their preparations.
"Alright! Before we leave, I want everyone to do one more assessment on their equipment and our supplies." Rick commanded before turning his attention to his son who just came over.
"Be careful out there, Dad."
"I will." Rick smiled and ruffled his hair.