"Karl, what a rare visitor."
After opening the door, Hershel went back to his desk and sat down.
Carl walked leisurely behind, closed the main door and the study door, strolled in Hershel's study, and looked around.
The study is not big, but except for the balcony, three of the four walls are covered with bookshelves filled with books. Compared with my own study, the collection of books is indeed much larger.
The prison has quite a large collection of books. The prison itself has a library, and More and his friends would bring back some books from time to time.
After all, a thief never leaves empty-handed. Sometimes, if they can't find any useful supplies, they won't come back empty-handed. Whether it's books, clothes, or daily necessities, they will bring back what they can find.
"How have you been lately?"
"Thanks for your concern. I'm fine." Hershel took off his monocle, put it away, sat behind the desk, and looked at Carl. "Beth hasn't been here for a long time."
"Did you have a conflict with Beth? I'm sorry, I didn't notice this aspect." Carl smiled helplessly, "I will persuade her when I go back."
"Well, so Carl, what's up?"
"Maybe I just want to come and see you and chat with you?"
"Then you shouldn't come empty-handed."
"I'm not a guest. We are a family, right?"
"Not yet, at least."
"Okay, then Hershel, what do you think I should have in my hands? I'll get it for you now."
Carl walked to Hershel's desk, supported his hands on the table, and smiled.
"Your hands are dirty, don't dirty my desk." Hershel narrowed his eyes, leaned back in his chair, and exhaled slowly.
"Is there?" Carl raised his right hand in front of him. It was white and tender, with long and neat fingers, except for some thin calluses on the palm from holding guns and knives, but it was undeniable.
Carl's hands were clean, his nails were neatly trimmed, and there was no dirt in the gaps.
"I'm a germaphobe, so my hands shouldn't be too dirty." Carl smiled.
"You know what I mean." Hershel opened his eyes. Although they were a little cloudy, they were particularly bright at this moment.
"Where do you think your mysophobia came from? Have you always had it? No, not at all! It's just because you are too dirty and long for purity. Mysophobia? It's just an excuse to deceive yourself."
Carl was stunned, and the hand raised in front of him also froze.
After a long time, he tilted his head and looked at Hershel, who was sitting upright, from a slanted angle. His eyes were very strange, at least very strange to Hershel.
"I need to tell you something, and I need your support."
…
…
"Glenn, what do you want from me?"
…
"Oh, you discovered it too."
"Carl, this isn't true. You can explain it."
"No, there's nothing to explain, but Glenn, remember, you owe me a lot, does this change anything?"
"I am still myself. I just hide the side of me that you don't want to see. This is not a disguise. What you see is me."
"No! Carl, you can't do this."
"Will you keep it a secret for me?"
"No, this is something both Rick and Sean need to know."
"Maybe you can think about who brought you to your current life and think about it carefully."
…
"Hey Thomas, how are you doing?"
"As idle as ever."
"Have you improved your shooting skills?"
"What do you think?"
"Good, you won't have so much free time soon, and you will miss your leisure time now."
…
"Joseph, we should talk."
"Grims, this is not quite what you said."
"It's pretty good, isn't it?"
"The leisure time is always as short as the afterglow after the climax."
"Nice analogy. Are you ready to pay what you have to pay in exchange for more?"
"That's not in our agreement."
"No, there is. Have you forgotten? I just need your cooperation. Or in other words, I want your loyalty."
"Boy, are you kidding me?"
"You can think I'm joking, but the last person who thought so was dead."
The cold muzzle of a gun was pressed against the back of Joseph's head, accompanied by a helpless voice.
"Oh, don't move, or there will be nothing left of your head. Oh no, maybe there will be some bone fragments, is that what you say? This line is really lame."
"That's right, although it's not accurate. Of course, if you think it's lame, don't blame me, this is his original line." Carl smiled.
"Joseph, maybe I should call you sir at this time, but I don't know your last name yet, so, forget it. You have to admit that this is your only choice. Come on, this choice is not a bad one."
"I understand. Who doesn't want to be the boss, especially a free and powerful person like you? But there can only be one boss. Maybe it's not bad to choose a better boss than to be the boss."
"Damn it, did I ever say I disagree? Can't you wait until I say no before letting this guy threaten me?"
"I don't like second decisions, and you're a smart man, you can understand."
…
"Crowley, Tim, are you still used to the life in prison?"
"I'm still alive thanks to you," Crowley sneered.
"Yes, fortunately I'm still alive, isn't that enough? Of course, if you want more, you can, but you just have to pay a price."
Carl's smile was as warm as ever.
"Where's Sean? Did he ask you to come? Are you going to bring up old scores?"
"No, I just want to give you a chance to change your current situation. You have to admit that you two are not popular in Woodbury, so your life in prison is not easy either."
"Are you here to laugh at us?"
"No, chatting, talking, having a heart-to-heart talk, giving opportunities, or threatening are all more appropriate."
…
"Peter, long time no see."
"Karl?"
Carl responded with a warm hug.
"You've grown a lot taller." Pete looked at Carl and sighed.
"Right. So, I think it's time for something. Remember what I told you before?"
"Karl, I..."
"Please, don't be corrupted by An Ning. I will be very disappointed."
"No, I won't. Maybe I don't have many advantages, but one thing is that I have a good eye and I can always make the right choice."
"Of course, everything in the past has proved this."
…
"By the way, let me ask you, does anyone here know how to drive a tank?"
"I know some, but I can't do it alone."
"Who do you need?"
"Martinez."
"Oh, oh, you really give me a difficult problem."
Carl gave a helpless smile.
"Why? It turns out Martinez is in the same group with us." Crowley didn't think so.
"Because he's different from you, I'll consider it. Don't do anything without your permission, okay?"
"Of course, you have the final say."
"If you say this again when Joseph is not around, I will be very relieved, really." Carl smiled.
"Maybe I should leave and let him talk again?" Joseph smiled and twisted his neck.
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