Marvel's Death Merchant

"Where should we go? Just eke out a living? Flee from place to place? Live a life of constant uncertainty?"

"No, we shouldn't do this!"

"Humanity should not sever itself! We should not be defeated by this world! We still have children! We need to continue living! To live better!"

"Because we have wisdom! We have strength! We must unite to protect the good and rebuild our society!" Jie Liang earnestly addressed the crowd. (To be continued...)

Chapter 191 Team

"Because we have wisdom! We have strength! We must unite to protect the good and rebuild our society!"

"We can do it! We will definitely do it!"

"So! We need an army!" Jie Liang glanced at Sean, seemingly casually.

“We need the police!” Jie Liang looked at Rick.

"At the same time, what we need most is unity!"

"And the cornerstone upon which any team depends—the law!"

"We need laws! I need judges!"

We need order!

"I'm not trying to hold a government election here! I'm just stating a fact!"

"Just like today, we were attacked by thugs! We were betrayed by traitors!"

Is this what we should have to endure?

"No!"

"So, what should we do? Just kill them indiscriminately?"

"Then how are we any different from them?"

"Therefore, we need the law to judge them!"

Even if it's just the simplest law, the simplest trial!

"Because that at least shows we follow the rules, and we won't arbitrarily take anyone's life! I feel that only a team like that can make people feel safe!"

"Therefore, the two sinners of today will now face your judgment!"

Carol suddenly burst into tears: "No! Please! Let Ed go! We can leave! We can get away from here! We'll never be a threat to you again! Please, let him go! Don't kill him!"

“Nobody said they wanted to kill him!” Lori frowned as she comforted Carol. “And nobody kicked you out!”

“Ed must die! He put everyone’s lives at risk!” Moore retorted dismissively to Lori. The others remained silent, clearly agreeing with this statement.

"Let's put Ed aside for now, we need to try the gang leader first!" Jie Liang ignored their argument and guided the meeting.

“That thug! He intended to kill!” Akira continued, “I believe the death penalty is entirely warranted! Let’s vote!”

Moore was the first to raise his hand, followed by Sean, Daryl, Glenn, the Morales family, Rick, T-boy, Dale, Jim, Andrea, Amy, Lori, and even several children.

Jie Liang looked at the motionless Kenneth and asked, "Mr. Kenneth, do you think he shouldn't be subjected to this punishment?"

“Oh!” Kenneth replied in surprise. “Do I have the right to vote too?”

“Yes! I believe this is a right that everyone is born with!” Jie Liang said with a serious expression. Kenneth then looked at everyone and raised his hand.

“Dale, you are an elder in the camp, kind, wise, and just. Would you please deliver the verdict?” Jie Liang looked at Dale and asked for his permission.

Dale raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised. But he still stood up firmly: "After everyone's trial and a vote by show of hands, I declare this thug sentenced to death for attempted murder! ...But who will carry out the sentence?"

“Rick, you’re a police officer!” Jie Liang said calmly to Rick.

“No, he’s a policeman, but he’s not an executioner!” Lori objected in surprise.

“Hmm. Too much fuss, I’ll do it!” Moore volunteered. No one objected.

"Don't make any noise, and don't bleed!" Jie Liang instructed.

So Moore found a rope, wrapped it around the gloomy man's neck, and tightened it! The gloomy man struggled desperately until he fell silent! The parents present covered their children's eyes.

A few minutes later. The execution was over, and Daryl helped his brother drag the body away a distance, and the trial continued.

"Next to stand trial is our former comrade, Ed, who betrayed us all and attempted to kill us all," said Jie Liang in a heavy tone. "Given his past, we will consider everyone's opinions regarding Ed's fate—let's start with Dale. Dale, what do you think we should do with Ed?"

Carol cried and looked to Dale for help.

Dale was at a loss and could only tentatively say, "Perhaps we can exile him! Since Carol has made this request!"

“That was just a compromise, giving him a chance to retaliate against us,” Daryl said.

“I think his actions are tantamount to treason!” Sean refused to continue.

"He threatened everyone's safety! He almost killed our loved ones!" Rick was so angry at the thought of his family members being tied up and held at gunpoint that he wanted to tear that person to pieces.

“He should be killed, he’s a bastard,” Andrea said through gritted teeth, clutching her sister. The sisters had almost been violated that day. The others exchanged glances and simply nodded silently.

"Carol! Your opinion!" Akuta's ruthless voice rang out.

"No! Don't kill him! Let him go! We can leave this place together, and I promise I won't cause you any more trouble!" Carol cried sadly, begging Ed to be spared.

“Carol, tell me a reason! A reason not to kill him!” Jie Liang said resolutely.

Carol remained silent, only weeping.

"You're sending yourself to hell!" Jie Liang said calmly. "It's hard to survive without a group. And Ed is a complete villain. The harder life gets, the less power you have to protect yourselves."

“Yes, Ed and Carol are no longer related!” Dale declared definitively.

"Very well, Ed is guilty of betrayal and has seriously threatened the lives of everyone in the camp. I recommend the death penalty. Please raise your hands to vote!" Jie Liang continued, "And after the result is reached, please have our elder, Dale, pronounce the sentence!"

Everyone raised their hands, but a few people did not raise their hands out of sympathy for Carol. However, they did not object either, and Carol cried even more sadly.

"I hereby announce! Ed Pelletia, for seriously threatening the lives of everyone in the camp, shall be executed!" Dale's deep voice was both helpless and firm.

With a sinister grin, Moore dragged Ed away, wrapped the rope around his neck, and tightened it. Ed struggled desperately, but eventually fell silent.

The bodies were left aside, and Daryl pierced their heads with nails to prevent them from becoming zombies, then waited to be buried the next day.

The atmosphere in the camp was heavy with the weight of the day's events. Everyone, whether they had gone out to gather weapons or remained in the camp, was exhausted, and everyone except those on night watch quickly fell into a deep sleep.

A new day is about to begin. Jie Liang has been living in the virtual world for a long time, and his experiences with danger are increasing. One day, Jie Liang will be a great help to Tang Tian. Tang Tian discovered that people he used to know from the Marvel universe have descended into this world, but most of them have lost all their memories. Jie Liang, as his former subordinate, although he no longer has the combat experience he once had, Tang Tian believes that the world will help him grow, which is also preparation for expanding his own strength. (To be continued...)

Chapter 192 Leaving

The next morning, after everyone had eaten, they accompanied the grieving Carol to hold Ed's funeral.

The camp's food supplies were nearly exhausted, and after yesterday's ordeal, everyone felt that the camp was no longer safe.

Rumors began to circulate in the camp. Some people, represented by Lori, believed that if Akira hadn't taken away most of the camp's armed forces, yesterday's events might never have happened.

Carol also blamed her misfortune on Jie Liang. The others dared not face Carol, and intentionally or unintentionally implied to her that if it weren't for Jie Liang's aggressive behavior, they wouldn't have sentenced Ed to death.

Jieliang knew he had gone too far. Although everything he had done was for the sake of the camp, his hasty actions made others feel that their rights were threatened.

In the original film, the lack of rules and a wise, strong leader in the camp led to a series of tragedies. By the end, under the foolish leadership of Rick, few remained in the camp, and its strength steadily declined. Newly added powerful figures also tragically died due to Rick's mistakes, such as Thor.

However, Jie Liang acted too hastily. People had not yet realized the necessity of having a leader; they were still preoccupied with their own self-interest and feared that a powerful group would harm their own interests.

Jie Liang was extremely frustrated. He hadn't built up his prestige, but he had already lost the hearts of the people. Others had become resistant and wary of him, especially given Jie Liang's powerful position.

People gathered together to decide on the camp's next move.

Just like in the original film, Rick urges people to seek refuge at the CDC. He believes there might still be a government there, with ample food, armed protection, and even vaccines. Sean, perhaps because of what Jacqueline taught him, begins to stop contradicting Rick. People start to see Jacqueline as a dictator, and upon hearing that the CDC might have government connections, they are all tempted.

So everyone started packing their bags, without even bothering to ask for Jie Liang's opinion. Only Mo Er expressed his dissatisfaction, as he liked Jie Liang's leadership.

Once everyone was ready, Rick began instructing people on how to stay in touch while the convoy was on its way.

Morales suddenly announces his departure from the team to stay with his relatives. In the original film, it was at this point that Morales' family parted ways with the team and were never seen again. But Akira knows that Morales' departure at this time is for completely different reasons than his departure in the original film.

Yesterday, the camp was attacked. Because their child was being held hostage, the Morales were forced to join Ed in luring Jie Liang and his group into an ambush. Ed was hanged last night. Although no one is pursuing the Morales, they remain deeply uneasy. Therefore, even though the team is stronger than ever before and can provide them with the best protection, they would rather leave the team to avoid being purged someday.

“I’m leaving too,” Jie Liang suddenly said. “I’ve been here too long. I’ve always had my own things to do, and now I feel it’s time to start afresh!”

Rick, who had spent the most time with Jie Liang, knew that Jie Liang was lying. He opened his mouth, but in the end, he didn't say a word. He just glanced at the empty space to the side.

“What I want to say is that a team really needs rules and a leader,” Jie Liang said calmly to the others. “Last night, I felt it was a model. Now, I am about to leave, but I believe that in the future, you can refine this framework; its benefits are immeasurable!”

“No, Jie Liang, you can actually stay!” Old Dale said, frowning. “You’ve done so much for the team! We’re always grateful to you! We can work together to make this world a better place, just like you said!”

"Yes, boss, you should stay. Without you, this team would be in a terrible state! Not to mention yesterday, even on the night of the zombie attack, many people in the camp would have died if it weren't for you!"

The others suddenly remembered everything that Akira had done for them. If Akira had changed his mind and decided to stay, they would still be happy to be with him.

"Now that you have the power, you can protect yourselves, so I also need to do my own thing! Trust me, with my abilities, you will be safe no matter where you are!"

Jieliang refused their offer to stay. If he couldn't integrate the team, the disorganized individuals who went their own way would only become a burden to him.

“Alright, since you insist,” Rick said somewhat sadly, “just tell me what you need.”

“Thank you very much for your generosity. If possible, I would like to have that truck, and it would be even better if you could give me some 9mm bullets as well.” Akira said with a smile.

Rick then gave Jie Liang three hundred rounds of 9mm pistol ammunition and the truck keys. Jie Liang seized the opportunity to sidle up to Rick and shoved two grenades he'd found at the military camp next to the hospital into his hands: "Take these, they might come in handy!"

Then, Jieliang took the key, waved to everyone in the camp, opened the car door, got in, and prepared to leave.

"Can I come along?" Kenneth suddenly asked.

"Why? Isn't it safer to be with a group?" Akira asked curiously.

“I’m really curious about your marksmanship, could you teach me? And I feel like I might be safer with you!” Kenneth said with a smile. “Actually, I feel like I know you better than the others. To them, I’m a complete stranger. And you saved my life, which makes me feel more comfortable with you!”

Jie Liang smiled with some surprise, his mood suddenly improving. "Please get in, my friend! This might be the happiest thing that's happened in days!"

Jie Liang started the car, honked the horn to say goodbye, put down his burdens, and with his friend in tow, Jie Liang stepped on the gas, and the car drove happily forward.

The people in the camp watched Jie Liang walk away with a sense of loss, a strange emotion surging in their hearts. Their faces wore expressions of regret and sorrow as they remained motionless for a long time. They recalled the days they had spent with Jie Liang, everything he had done for them, and suddenly realized that in this end times for humanity, being together was the most precious thing.

"We're all alone!" Akira said to Kenneth with a self-deprecating laugh as he drove the car. "Do you know what we urgently need to do right now?"

"What is it?" Kenneth asked, puzzled.

"We desperately need some bedding!" Jie Liang shouted. "Otherwise, we'll have to sleep on steel plates tonight!"

"You mean, we have nothing to eat?" Kenneth asked Mustard helplessly.

"I mean, that's a different problem! You know, we don't even have water right now!" Jie Liang said helplessly. (To be continued...)