Faced with everyone's dissuasion, Louis didn't back down. Instead, he took a step forward and gave an even more powerful reason:
"But I'm a doctor."
He looked at Rick and said seriously, "According to Randall, those captured companions must be seriously injured or extremely weak."
"What if emergency first aid is needed on-site? What if someone has massive bleeding that needs timely treatment?"
"Hey, kid," Shane countered on the spot, pointing at the house. "You're not the only doctor on this farm."
"Then do you want Dr. Jenner, who can produce the serum, to go and risk his life with you?"
Louis asked back, then continued, "Or do you want Mr. Hershel, who has already been tired all day, to drag his aging body along for such a high-intensity raid?"
"..."
Everyone fell silent.
But Shane still refused to budge.
"Anyway, we can't let you go. If it really doesn't work, then no one goes!"
Shane looked at Louis, trying to persuade him in a gentler way: "If those people are seriously injured, there's a high probability they won't be saved anyway."
"If they're lightly injured, bringing them back for treatment is the same. There's no need to sacrifice yourself to save them."
"But what if there are seriously injured people like Randall who need on-the-spot amputation or hemostasis before they can be moved?"
Louis didn't yield an inch. "Are you going to just watch them die on the way back?"
Shane was momentarily speechless, but he still blocked Louis's path like a wall, refusing to yield.
No one else present spoke.
Because deep down, they actually agreed with Shane's thinking—rather than letting Louis, this 'hope', take risks, they would rather bear the risk of a failed rescue.
Just as the deadlock seemed unbreakable.
"Let him follow."
At that moment, a lazy voice broke the stalemate.
Merle, who had been leaning against a pillar watching the scene, suddenly spoke up.
He picked his ear with his pinky and said nonchalantly, "This kid is a lot smarter than you think. Last time, at that bullshit Believers' factory, he even managed to fish out my idiot brother."
He glanced at Louis, a playful smile curling at the corner of his mouth: "As long as he doesn't charge at the front, survival definitely won't be a problem."
"Besides, with a kid who can stitch wounds following along, if I get shot, I might bleed a little less, right?"
Merle's words reminded everyone.
Louis was indeed no ordinary child; he had already proven many times that his survival skills were stronger than some of the adults present.
And most importantly... "Stop acting like overprotective parents."
Merle leaned against the pillar, his eyes sweeping between Shane and Rick as he sneered, "When this kid really wanted to do something before, did any of you succeed in stopping him? Hmm?"
"In Atlanta, at the factory, when did he not make his own decisions?"
The scene fell into an awkward silence.
Everyone looked at each other. Although they didn't want to admit it, this bastard was telling the truth.
"Alright." Rick looked at Louis and compromised, "You can go."
Shane became anxious and wanted to say more, but he was stopped by a stern look from Rick.
Rick walked up to Louis, crouched down, and warned him extremely seriously, "But you must obey orders unconditionally, and you must stay behind us at all times."
"Once the firing starts, find cover immediately. You must never charge at the front! Understand?"
"Understood!"
Louis immediately agreed, a reassuring smile appearing on his face.
As long as he could go to the scene, anything was fine.
"Very well." Rick nodded and announced the end of the meeting, "Everyone, go get ready."
The crowd dispersed and began checking their weapons and ammunition.
Just as Louis turned to pack his first aid kit, a hand suddenly grabbed his arm.
"Louis, don't leave yet."
Rick's voice sounded behind him, carrying a hint of hidden meaning. "We need to talk."
Louis paused, understanding clearly.
Rick pulled him into the shadows away from the crowd, avoiding the others' gazes.
"Louis," Rick lowered his voice, his tone revealing an unprecedented anxiety, "you know what Dr. Jenner told me."
"You were just using the doctor as a shield, but we both know the truth. If there really is a cure in this world, then you are the source."
"I don't want to say this, but..." He sighed, "You have to know that your life is more important than all of ours."
"Whether it's for yourself or for others," Rick stared intently at him, "you shouldn't take risks."
"That's exactly why I must adapt to this environment as soon as possible, Rick."
Louis didn't avoid his gaze; instead, he took a step further. "Because I'm special, I must have the ability to protect myself. Isn't that right?"
"You can protect me for a while, but you can't protect me for a lifetime. Even if I stay with you, there will always be times when you can't look out for me."
"Don't change the subject." Rick frowned. "Abilities can be practiced slowly. We can teach you shooting or fighting at the farm. But that has nothing to do with you going on an adventure tonight."
"How is it not related?" Louis countered. "Actual combat is the best teacher. And I'm only going to handle the rescue work this time; nothing will happen."
"You know what I'm talking about!"
Rick grew anxious, his voice rising slightly before he forced it back down. "I know you want to help, I know you're kind-hearted and want to save people. But that's an adult's business!"
"You have no obligation to save them. Those are not your responsibility!"
"Responsibility?"
Louis looked at Rick's face, which was full of fatigue and determination, and suddenly asked, "Then why are you going to such great lengths to save those deserters who abandoned us in the first place?"
Rick was stunned for a moment.
"When Ed's group ran away, they didn't think about us."
Louis pointed out calmly, "Going to find them isn't your responsibility either."
It was a long time before Rick finally spoke, his voice somewhat raspy:
"...Because we haven't given up on humanity."
He looked at his companions in the distance who were organizing their gear. "If we stand by and watch people die, if we become Unwinged Angel because others did something wrong..."
"Then we're no different from those Walkers out there, or those thugs."
"Me too."
Louis looked at Rick and said seriously, "If I were a child who knew nothing, it would be one thing, but I know medicine and have the ability."
"If I sit at home and watch them die on the way back because they didn't get timely treatment, I wouldn't be able to live with myself."
"Take me with you, Rick." He looked directly into the other's eyes. "We are the same."
"You..." Rick sighed and gave a helpless, bitter smile. "Sometimes, I really wish you weren't so stubborn."
"Likewise." Louis blinked. "I also wish you wouldn't worry so much."
Rick was amused. He reached out and gave Louis a firm hug.
"Stay close to me." He whispered in Louis's ear, "Don't make me regret this decision."
"Yes, Officer."
After Rick walked away, Louis breathed a sigh of relief, his expression showing that everything had gone according to plan.