Homecoming

Hearing Negan's exclamation, Lucille couldn't help but look in the distance, there was a castle-like building standing abruptly next to the desolate road outside the city. 

This is the central base. 

The biggest change to the prison in all this time is that the surrounding trees have completely disappeared, and in their place was a third wall made by containers and the border is at the edge of the cleared forest. 

There were constructions of what appeared to be buildings inside, and right in the center was a structure that appeared to be beginning its construction. The distance now even Glenn was unaware of it, as it was incredibly gigantic. 

"What is this, a city?" 

Glenn also saw some familiar but unfamiliar structures in the distance, and said with a smile, "That's our home, well, the first base our organization took over." 

Negan looked at the high wall of the safehouse and the numerous walls inside and out seemed to be great protection, so he couldn't help but ask again, "You mean they have more bases? This shit is more protected than the White House, are those turrets pointing to the sky?" 

Glenn smiled and explained, "We haven't been back in several months. It wasn't like this when we left. I didn't expect such a big change in a few months." 

Looking at the large scale base in the distance, Negan was once again full of anticipation for their future life, and knows that they were very fortunate to have met Airon. 

The same exclamation happened from all the cars behind, almost all the people who followed Airon from Washington gathered around the windows of the trucks at this moment, looking at the prison in the distance through the gaps in the armor.

Ezekiel stared and exclaimed, "God, this is the Ideal City!" 

Jerry said jokingly with a smile, "Your Majesty, compared to this place, the Kingdom of God is merely a courtyard." 

Everyone around him looked at this sturdy man speechless, do you have to speak the truth so openly? 

Jesus looked at the towering city wall in the distance with the same excitement, and the Hilltop survivors next to him also looked excited, and several survivors discussed with great interest. 

"We'll definitely have a place there..."

"Oh? Like why do you say something like that?" 

"Think about it, a base that big must have a lot of arable land to operate on, and maybe there's a lot of livestock. Isn't that what we do?" 

"Well, it makes sense..." 

In another car, Arturo, the leader of the group being stuffed into the construction, was discussing something with the people around him. 

"Is it okay to build it like this, look at the city wall for at least a kilometer!" 

"So what do you guys think? As long as they have enough containers, it will be a matter of time before they finish bringing it to the high..." 

"But where do they find so many?" 

"Hehe, that's not what we should consider." 

Arturo interrupted his subordinates' discussion with a wave of his hand and said in an affirmative tone. 

"According to the current scale of this base, we will definitely need to build a lot of interior buildings in the future. We can see in the distance how construction has already begun." 

"You're right, in terms of killing walkers we're not that good, but we all have experience in construction!" 

"So, what I mean is, whatever happens, we should reflect on our own values. As long as we are valuable, there will definitely be a place for us here, got it?" 

"Understood, boss!" 

... 

In one more truck. 

Elen and Abraham's group came together and their performance was no different than the rest. 

Elen hugged Katie and looked at the base in the distance. His expression didn't look too excited, but he held Elen's trembling hand to reveal his mood at the moment, she was incredibly surprised. 

This Commander is really a formidable guy. When others are struggling to survive, he has already built a large organization. 

He even found time to make a trip to Washington, bringing back over 400 people to this place with no apparent problems. 

On the other hand, Abraham's group looked into the distance with complicated eyes, if they did not have the task of escorting Eugene, then they would all choose to stay without hesitation, but the current situation is too complicated. 

There are six people in the group. Of which Abraham is still insisting on going to Washington. Rosita should talk more with Abraham, especially to find out what he wanted to do. 

Including Eugene, yes! The reason he wants to go to Washington is just a guess by Eugene, who believes that there should be a high probability that a laboratory that remained in contact until recently is still active.

It could be true or a lie, right now even that place could be completely destroyed, who can say otherwise? 

But Eugene became more and more uneasy about this lie, and as he got closer and closer to Washington, he also began to have trouble sleeping and eating. 

Especially after witnessing the people Airon brought back from Washington, he naturally asked about the situation there, and the news he asked about was not optimistic. 

Rick and Morgan had also questioned him, and now, except for Abraham, who didn't talk to him alone, the rest have expressed disbelief about the status quo in Washington. 

He even suspects that even his biggest supporter, Abraham, has doubted him, but because of his deep obsession with Washington, he still has reservations about the authenticity of this affair and has not objected. 

But Eugene knew very well, once even Abraham did not trust him, who would protect him? From what he had heard, Airon's people had a laboratory in this place and from the great fortress in the distance, he did not doubt it. 

Eugene looked off into the distance at the base with a grating expression, obviously he would be exposed if he went in, but the sense of security provided by the high wall of the base made him not want to stop moving forward. 

In front of the convoy, there was a modified RV slowly moving forward. 

"In less than half a year, they've made a lot of progress!": 

Airon looked at the base that was getting closer and closer, and the row of containers on the inner wall was particularly striking. There were now three walls, the outermost one was made by pure containers that were filled with sandbags, making them incredibly sturdy. 

It's nothing compared to a city, but security and advancement are getting closer to what he's looking for. 

These were his main ideas before he left the prison, since the central base is the food-producing heart, all the space must be used to increase the crops as much as possible. Build more greenhouses for the winter, and waste absolutely not an ounce of food. 

At this point it is Shane who was driving and he took the moment to introduce him in detail to the renovations at the base. 

Rick has been accompanying his wife in the white RV since he learned she was bitten, everyone saw her mood affected, so no one knows when she will recover from the emotional blow. 

"During this time we have been working with Sam Valdez and our progress has been great. Since the last report, we have spent time clearing the port and moving all the containers either to Atlanta or to home base. The stores as you said were cleared and we moved all the useful things to their respective important locations." 

"When Elias arrived at the growth base to support Sam I went back to help Rick at this location, the outermost wall is still being built in relation to our plans. At this time, we can increase the crops and build temporary houses with extra containers while the buildings are constructed. But considering the time, we must act fast." 

Listening to the explanation, Airon gradually understood the current situation of the base. 

"Well, progress is good. I am glad to hear that the weapons have been strictly used by our people and the authority to bear arms is good. The people I have triaged back once they pass the main check can live in the temporary dorms, we will speed up the building process with the workers we were able to rescue in Washington." 

"I should also visit Atlanta, I haven't seen growth there in a while." 

"You're going out again?" 

Shane's expression was obviously a bit unnatural when he heard this. 

"Yeah, what's up?" 

After a moment of silence, Shane whispered. "It's Rick. This incident should have really affected him. I think you should stay on base for a while and let him adjust again." 

"I'll consider it." 

As soon as the subject turned to Lori, Airon's interest wasn't high, and just echoed some words that everyone wanted to hear right now, and the two were silent again. 

Shane also sensed something was wrong, after all, Airon rarely showed that attitude. 

"Is there something you didn't tell us?" 

Shaking his head, looking at Shane's puzzled look, in the end Airon still couldn't tell the truth. 

"I'm a little tired these months, that's all." 

"Hehe, since you're back, take a few days off first, don't push yourself too hard, you've done a great job." 

"Yeah, Texas was enough..." 

Looking at the approaching base gate, Airon no longer spoke, he just stared straight ahead without knowing what he was thinking