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🕑 Added 2025-06-19 05:12:24 +0000 UTCA New Beginning From the End of the World
Chapter 176 – Jason's Love for Cats
Whatever the future might hold, Jason wanted to give his best at all times and make every drop of sweat and blood worth it. Right now, people who chose to join his community were dying every day in pursuit of a single goal.
Everyone was desperate after more than a year with walkers; the few who remained were true survivors, and the strongest often ended up eliminating one another.
Jason felt like he hadn’t had a single moment of peace since the beginning—always searching for weapons and resources, planning every tiny detail to avoid mistakes. Shooting, killing, saving, and making the most of his advantages against others had become second nature.
When would all of this come to an end?
Jason didn’t know the answer, but what he was sure of was that soon, he would start to shift his focus away from minor missions. Once the problems in this place were resolved, all that would remain were the main objectives.
He had worked incredibly hard from the start. At first, he might’ve told himself it was for the people around him, but now he was sure they were his family—and for them, he would do anything.
Therefore, even if he was just another survivor, using everything around him to benefit himself and his people, he had no regrets. In fact, he had never regretted a single thing.
"All right, looks like we can finally have a proper conversation." Jason looked at Ezekiel and then pulled a laptop from the backpack Glenn had left behind before departing.
Under Ezekiel’s astonished gaze, Jason produced a fully functional laptop and queued up a video that only needed the press of a button to start playing.
"Let me introduce myself again..."
As he said this, Jason pointed to his shoulder and said, "My full name is Jason, leader of the S.C.T. community, and to many, a soldier who deserted with his group to help people. Today, thousands of people rely on my choices, and all of them have decided to share in my singular goal for the future."
He needed people—people with leadership potential. He knew that individuals like Carol and Morgan had been somewhat forgotten in his plans, and the only reason he hadn’t done anything about it yet was lack of time.
"I know what the military did. Operation Cobalt authorized a nationwide purge, no exceptions, as a last-ditch attempt to stop the epidemic."
"Why exactly are you telling me this?" Ezekiel asked with a frown. He knew he could think more clearly now, but trusting someone claiming to lead thousands of people was not something he took lightly—for himself or for his community.
He now waited to learn exactly why Jason and his people had come to his community so he could be better prepared in the future.
"We’re working on a cure. In the central base of my community, we have some of the most important scientists in the world, and they’ve shared information with labs in France. But do you know what’s the most ironic part of all this?"
Jason looked at Ezekiel. This was the first time he’d shared something like this so suddenly with someone, so he only hoped for a good reaction from the man in front of him.
"What happened in France? Don’t tell me… did they manage to fight off the virus?" Ezekiel stood up, alarmed; even Shiva at his side stirred slightly.
"Did they win? You could say their situation was worse than ours." Jason pointed to the laptop on the table and pressed the button to play the video. The same footage Deanna had seen was now shown to Ezekiel, as Jason continued: "France developed a more aggressive, deadly virus, with different walker variants."
"Can you imagine turning into a walker within just a few breaths after being bitten? Have you seen walkers climbing fences or opening doors? No, that rarely happens. But recently, I led an elite squad to clear a military camp and found what appears to be a walker variant."
"You mean... runners?"
When Jason said that, he saw Ezekiel’s reaction as he watched the video. The footage showed everything Jason had observed since the mission began: the movements, even the words could be heard.
When they entered the military camp, numerous corpses could be seen on the ground, so Ezekiel wasn’t particularly surprised. However, when Jason entered the cabin where a soldier was lying on what seemed to be a bed, it showed how, seconds after trying to leave the room, the walker stood up.
What kind of walker rises again after death? Resurrection?
"That’s impossible..."
Ezekiel sat back down, not wanting to alarm anyone nearby; his fingers were digging into his own nails with anxiety. As if it wasn’t enough to protect this place and negotiate with a stranger, now he was seeing information only a few people knew.
But when that special walker appeared—and even earlier, when all the walkers in the camp got up—Ezekiel's blood ran cold, and sweat formed on his skin.
"If I may ask, where exactly did that video take place?" Ezekiel looked to Jason for answers; he needed to know where those special walkers were located.
"Don’t worry, they were eliminated, and it seems they aren’t as common as you might think. In fact, my people will be sending that walker’s corpse—remarkably well-preserved—to the central base of my community."
Jason paused, looked around, and said, "I want to protect, expand, and build. If you agree to have your people here join the S.C.T. community, you’ll have nothing to fear. We’ll protect you, and the elderly could be relocated to somewhere much safer than this."
Ezekiel looked at Jason and replied, "This place is safe. It has been ever since it was built for protection."
Hearing this, Jason only laughed and said, "You have nothing to lose by accepting my proposal. We’ll reinforce your base and likely expand it or even move it to a more favorable location."
"Don’t answer me now. We’ll probably meet again sooner than expected. If you accept, I’ll send an elite squad of fifty experienced soldiers. Of course, they’ll also bring medicine, food, and weapons."
Jason stood up and extended his hand: "Our community seeks to rebuild human civilization. We’ll adapt, just as we have to this new world, but it’s your choice whether to be part of it or not."
Jason didn’t want to say much more. He had said and shown everything he wanted Ezekiel and the other community leaders to know. Their numbers might be small compared to his base, but if he could unite all the communities in this region, a super-community could be formed.
Ezekiel looked at Jason’s outstretched hand. To be honest, he couldn’t imagine he was being lied to. Jason was a great actor, and his performance might be one of the best. He had deliberately sent all his subordinates away and spoke of this matter in private—placing it all in Ezekiel’s hands, yet keeping it hidden.
If he accepted, he’d receive help. If not, he would get nothing. Ezekiel hesitated for a moment before extending his hand. Looking at the bigger picture, he needed help, and Jason was someone who could provide it.
"I’ll have to think it over carefully, but for now, I’m trusting your words," Ezekiel said before shaking Jason’s hand.
Everything went smoothly afterward. The Kingdom of God got what it needed in exchange for what it could spare, and the thoughtful Ezekiel and his team were happily holding toilet paper, medicine, and some weapons.
"Jason, my friend, the gates of the Kingdom of God will always be open to you and your people!"
Standing in the plaza, Ezekiel once again shook Jason’s hand and cheerfully told him this transaction was essential for the Kingdom. With this, they restocked their medicines, weapons, and some fuel.
And all they gave in return were a few grains, vegetables, and two pigs—which wasn’t much, considering Richard had caught many wild boars in the area. Although he hadn’t fully trusted these people, both sides had reached the foundation of mutual trust, and Ezekiel knew they weren’t after anything more.
And that’s exactly what Jason needed. Trust is built on a good reputation. In recent days, neither force needed complete trust. A transaction, where each side takes what it needs, also symbolized what both parties wanted.
George’s shout came from the modified RV, and the convoy was ready to depart. Jason and Ezekiel said their final goodbyes. Jason then turned his gaze to Shiva, who was beside him, giving him a questioning look, and then looked back at Ezekiel.
Daryl rubbed his forehead in pain. He knew what Jason wanted to do. Once, he had said he wanted to hug a monkey, and the last time, a giant tiger. But what Daryl feared was Jason getting mauled by this tiger.
"Can I say goodbye to him?"
Shiva had been saved by Ezekiel before the world ended, so he was the only one allowed to touch Shiva in the Kingdom. But he nodded absentmindedly and was about to warn Shiva not to do anything when he saw Jason already reaching out toward the tiger’s head.
Shiva let out a low, disgusted growl, raised her massive head, and opened her mouth to let out a deep roar, but Jason kept petting her as if he hadn’t heard it.
He looked at Glenn, who was petrified, and said, "See? She likes me."
Glenn looked at Daryl, and the latter gripped his weapon tightly, ready to save Jason in case Shiva decided to eat him.
