The Jackal's Warning

In the repair shed, Dale wrestled with a large, rusty jack, his wrench clanging against metal, while Merle cursed as he passed him tools, his face smeared with grease.

Outside the convenience store, Andrea perched on the billboard frame, her rifle muzzle sweeping the fields around the gas station and the distant woods.

Glenn and T-Dog labored to clear the broken glass and wrecked shelving from the convenience store, piling it beside the road.

Beside the jeep, Min-seon unwrapped the bandage on Rick's leg to examine it, while Lori and Carl helped clean the wound.

Carol sat on a rock with Sophia in her arms, her gaze unfocused. Now she could not bear to leave the girl for even a moment.

Shane cradled his shotgun in the shade behind the RV, his eyes sweeping over the busy group, especially Lynn.

Lynn stood in the clearing outside the repair shed, watching Dale work, his attention on the system screen at the edge of his vision.

The side objective, Hershel's Farm, was visible on a hillside a few kilometers away. He considered his route for scouting it that afternoon and how to make contact.

Just then, the radio crackled, and a cold voice spoke:

"Boss! We have a situation.

Two kilometers northeast, a gathering point at an abandoned motel. Approximately twenty people, moderately armed, mainly hunting rifles and machetes. Vehicles: two modified pickups.

Threat assessment: potential raider group. Intentions unclear, but leaning hostile."

The information came from The Jackal, brief and precise.

Lynn's fingers stopped tapping the hood.

It seemed they had been targeted after all. This was an organized group, and a sizable one.

His expression remained unchanged. Without looking southeast, he turned naturally toward the convenience store entrance, speaking loudly enough for those nearby to hear:

"Glenn, T-Dog, Andrea, Davis, Merle, Daryl, Shane, get over here. We have a situation."

Lynn had called out the core combat members.

Everyone stopped, turning wary eyes toward him.

Those he had named put down their work and quickly gathered around him.

"What's up, boss?"

Merle wiped his face with his greasy sleeve.

Davis silently took his place behind Lynn's shoulder.

Lynn swept his gaze over the gathered people, pausing on Rick and Shane, then lowered his voice:

"We're being watched. Eight hundred meters southeast, there's an abandoned barn. Someone's observing us through binoculars. Probably a sentry."

He spoke steadily, trying not to alarm them. Murder, arson, and looting were commonplace in the apocalypse; these people simply had not encountered them yet.

"Their main group is at an abandoned motel two kilometers northeast. Around twenty people. Mainly armed with hunting rifles and machetes, with two modified pickups."

The air went still.

"Twenty people?!"

Glenn exclaimed under his breath, his face paling. T-Dog clenched his fists.

Andrea's finger settled on the trigger guard, and she unconsciously looked southeast.

Merle grinned. "Ha! Prey delivered right to our door!"

Shane's expression darkened, his arms tightening around his gun. He glanced southeast, then scrutinized Lynn-how did he know so much? Was it that guy hiding in the shadows?!

Ever since The Jackal had shown himself, Shane had felt as though a gun was aimed at him. He kept unconsciously searching for any trace of the man.

With Min-seon's support, Rick straightened, frowning. "What do they want? To watch us? Or..."

"The sentry's armed and hiding," Lynn interrupted coldly. "You think he's here to make friends?" He looked at Shane. "Deputy Shane?"

Shane's gaze was vicious. "What else could they want? A rat in hiding, twenty hungry wolves behind him, sizing us up to see how much meat we've got. Once they figure out we have women and children and a broken-down vehicle that won't move...

"They'll pounce. Negotiate? Scum like that only understand bullets."

"Shane!" Rick's voice held restrained anger. "How can you be sure? Maybe they're passing through? Being cautious? We haven't even met them! Attacking means starting a conflict!

"What if they aren't raiders? What if we can talk to them? We're short on supplies, the RV's broken, and we have wounded people and children! We can't afford a conflict! At least... make contact first? Show we mean no harm?"

Although Rick had now accepted the arrival of the apocalypse, he still had not fully accepted killing people.

"Show we mean no harm?" Shane scoffed disdainfully. "Rick, are you still dreaming? Look at the world out there. The survivors either band together and struggle, or they're jackals feeding on those who struggle.

"Talk reason? Save that for when they've got guns against your wife and kid's heads!"

The two stared at each other, Rick resolute, Shane ruthless.

Merle folded his arms, looking from them to Lynn. "Boss, what's the plan? Wait for them to show up for dinner, or... head over and flip their table first?"

His meaning was clear enough: strike first and gain the advantage.

Daryl adjusted his crossbow strap, his eyes fixed on the southeastern barn. His hunter's instincts made him believe Shane. That group definitely had an agenda.

Lynn's gaze swept over the arguing Rick and Shane, then Merle and Daryl, poised to act, then the nervous Glenn, T-Dog, and the others, finally settling on Davis.

Rick had his misgivings and ideals; Shane was ruthless and prone to losing control.

Both men were capable of handling things independently, and both had their flaws. He had to manage them properly to truly bring them under his control.

A zoo base was not his goal. His ambitions went far beyond that.

The Jackal's intelligence, combined with his understanding of the apocalypse: twenty people with weapons and vehicles, occupying a motel and posting sentries... they were certainly no good.

Negotiating and showing weakness would be courting death.

Snuffing out the threat in its cradle was the most effective approach.

"Arguing is useless."

Lynn's voice was quiet, subduing the tense atmosphere.

Everyone looked at him. He was the one who could truly make the final call.

"Their lackey is hiding in the shadows and could strike at any moment." Lynn swept his gaze over them. "Waiting means waiting to die. Showing weakness is practically inviting them to carve us up."

His tone was decisive. "They posted a sentry because they're interested in us, but they haven't figured out our situation yet. That's our opportunity."

He looked at Shane, Merle, and Daryl. "Our chance to take out their eyes and find out what we're dealing with."

The viciousness in Shane's eyes turned to excitement. A leader this decisive about killing might just suit his tastes.

Rick's expression darkened, and he opened his mouth to speak.

Lynn gave him no chance to object, turning to Davis and Andrea. "Davis, stay here and guard this place.

"Andrea, hold your position. Stay alert, and fire a warning shot immediately if anything's wrong."

The orders bypassed the argument and went straight to action, yet no one objected.

"As for the sentry..." Lynn looked toward the barn to the southeast. "Take him out now. Make it clean and quick."

Finally, he looked at Daryl. "Daryl, that's your hunting ground. You take the lead. Shane and Merle will work with you.

"I want the situation at the barn, whatever information the sentry has on him, and confirmation of the group's location and status. No one gets back alive to warn them. Understood?"

"Leave it to me."

Daryl's voice was low and confident as he checked his crossbow string.

"Don't worry, boss. We'll keep it clean."

Merle toyed with his razor, looking intrigued.

Shane grunted but did not object, racking his shotgun.

Rick looked at Lynn's cold eyes, then at the killing intent surrounding Shane and the other two, and could only close his mouth.

The argument was over.

Lynn was the one steering this group's course.

Lynn stopped looking at them, turned toward the jeep, and picked up his rifle to check the magazine.

The system countdown flashed at the edge of his vision.

The Jackal's warning had arrived. The counterattack had begun.