Today was a special day, and Ezekiel was feeling truly happy—not only because soone very special was interested in interacting peacefully with his community, but also because apparent benefits could co from it.
After chatting for a while, Ezekiel was surprised to discover that this man nad Jason seed very well inford about the current state of the world and was a versatile leader who could adapt to any situation with little trouble.
On their way to a more suitable place to talk—regardless of the topic—Jason offered many suggestions regarding the structure of the Kingdom's shelter. The details seed simple, but according to Jason, they would prove useful in so way.
Most importantly, the conversation erased much of the awkwardness between the two groups, and Ezekiel gained valuable information about the newcors at his gates. Although he couldn't quite understand why Jason had co all the way from Atlanta, it was clear at a glance that they weren't bad people and had initially been interested in trade.
But Ezekiel wasn't the only one who learned a lot from this encounter. Jason obtained the exact information he was looking for—one of the key reasons for interacting with The Kingdom: to find out whether this community had any knowledge of the Saviors.
All he got from Ezekiel, however, was that he had never heard of a community that oppressed others, no ntion of evil groups or any relationship connecting them to the Saviors.
When Jason posed that general question, he glanced at Richard and saw nothing unusual in his expression. It's important to note that Richard—Ezekiel's most loyal soldier after losing his family—had been one of the few willing to go to war with the Saviors, even joining Rick's group at one point.
This left Jason feeling a little confused. According to his understanding of the events, the Saviors should have appeared shortly after Hilltop was established. Although he hadn't interacted directly with Hilltop yet, the community was already up and running, so the only logical conclusion was that the Saviors' plotline was still to co.
Could it be that his arrival was too early for the Saviors to have erged? If it were due to so other factor, it didn't seem likely, since the only changes Jason had made were in Atlanta. He couldn't be sure.
Daryl and Glenn were the only ones accompanying Jason on the walk. Their eyes were just as curious as anyone else's, carefully observing every little detail along the way.
As the conversation with Ezekiel continued, Jason analyzed the current situation in his mind, as usual.
Ezekiel seed to be in a very good mood. A year had passed since the world ended, and he hadn't had such a pleasant conversation with soone in a long ti—not to ntion that this person seed highly knowledgeable about the world outside.
Just when Ezekiel was starting to think that Jason wasn't a bad person, he looked behind him and had to question that thought. At the very least, Daryl and Glenn—heavily ard and with serious expressions—made him wonder if he was thinking clearly.
Ezekiel looked at the table where several people were gathered and realized that all this ti, he hadn't even offered them a glass of water. Feeling a bit guilty, he turned his head and looked behind him.
"Jerry, why haven't you poured water for our guests? Where is the etiquette in our Kingdom?"
Jerry nodded with a smile, twisted his sturdy yet flexible body, and ran off to fetch so water.
"Jason, now that we understand each other, let's talk about the deal you want to make."
"I agree."
Just as Jason was about to receive a list that Glenn was handing him, Glenn suddenly widened his eyes, looked behind him, and exclaid:
"Holy hell!"
Seeing that the people behind him had already raised their weapons in caution, Jason instantly realized that Shiva must have appeared.
When Jason turned around, he saw a massive tiger slowly erging from a bush, letting out a low growl at the unfamiliar figures. Glenn and Daryl had already pulled back their bolts, ready to fire.
The panic on everyone's faces instantly fed Ezekiel's vanity. He chuckled and patted Shiva's back. The tiger walked over to him and obediently lay down at his side.
Ezekiel then explained with a broad smile, "Everyone, don't be afraid—this is Shiva, my loyal companion."
After speaking, he glanced back at the group, but when his eyes t Jason's face, he realized the man wasn't panicking. Instead, Jason was smiling at Shiva.
"Jason, aren't you afraid?"
Jason shook his head. The undisguised affection in his eyes left Ezekiel slightly puzzled. What was going on with this man?
When Daryl glanced over at Jason, he knew exactly what was on his mind. "That's a big cat, Jason..."
"Cat? You're crazy. That's not a cat..." Glenn turned to Daryl, astonished.
When Shiva was later bitten to death by walkers trying to get to Ezekiel, it left him heartbroken. The animal world is simple. They bond with a person for a reason, and they're even willing to sacrifice themselves out of love for their companion.
Looking back, Jason took the list from Glenn's hands, handed it to Jerry, and then said, "Your Highness, this is the list of what you'll receive and what we request in return."
Ezekiel looked over the list and was imdiately drawn in by the valuable resources. He reviewed everything he wanted and finally focused on the last few lines, which clearly outlined the various elents of the trade—just simple goods and their exchange value.
After studying it for a mont, Ezekiel slowly set the paper down, lowered his head in thought, and said, "Jason, you must know that my people need this exchange. I agree to the trade, but may I ask you a question?"
"Of course, I'm listening."
"What's your real purpose for doing this? This trade doesn't offer much value to you. I believe your organization wouldn't be interested in such a small amount of supplies—stuff you could easily obtain."
Jason nodded and replied, "The main purpose of our visit is sothing very special. First, we want to observe you and see if you're worth supporting. With this trade, I'll decide whether or not it's worth helping you grow stronger."
"We enjoy helping people, especially groups that care for the elderly and children. We, the S.C.T. community, can bring you dicine, soldiers, weapons, food, strategy, and vehicles—everything you need to survive more easily."
"As I said before, I served in the military. This is the least we can do for good people nowadays."
Jason's words not only satisfied Ezekiel but also instantly filled his group with emotion and pride.
"Now that our communities have co to an agreent, we can proceed—and I'd like to have a few words with you alone."
This request puzzled Ezekiel. Just as he was about to ask the reason, Jason added, "Of course, your cat can stay."
"Then that's fine." Ezekiel was curious about what Jason wanted to discuss privately.
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