The room got silent after Jake said that. That kind of thing clearly put on check if Rick was trustworthy or not. However, that wasn't what Jake meant by that. After all, he knew that if he wanted, Rick could have wiped out the nearby camps and forced the people to join him. However, that would be counterproductive and probably would come with a price since the other camps, in total, had more than a few hundred members.
"You are right in wondering about that," Rick nodded several times. "While I believe that they would benefit more in joining us, some people think that following their own rules and friends is better for them, even if them don't obtain strength and resources as fast as us. I respect, though. It takes courage to follow the hardest path for a reason like that when there is one easier available."
"Indeed," Jake said.
"I can tell that you group still isn't thinking about joining us, may I ask why?" Rick asked.
