Doomsday America.

Chapter 315 Water and Fire!

Gavin walked toward the estate while pondering what items the New Mexico Brotherhood might need to trade with him.

The Brotherhood first came to Gavin's attention in early April. It was a pleasant midday; a light rain had fallen in the morning, and the sun had quickly returned. About ten minutes before lunch, Gavin received a message from ZT—the Brotherhood from New Mexico had contacted them via radio. After that, Gavin spoke with the leader of the New Mexico Brotherhood for about forty minutes, discussing their respective camps, various speculations about the apocalypse, and plans to deal with zombies. However, Gavin knew then that the Brotherhood feared being absorbed by him; they were unwilling to share their exact location and avoided discussing his numerous invitations. In short, their first exchange ended with a simple conversation, with no further cooperation or contact. But today…

Filled with speculation and anticipation, Gavin crossed the hall and corridors, and amidst countless greetings, arrived at ZT's broadcasting room.

zt has clearly only been around for a short time; he's currently only wearing a white T-shirt and SpongeBob SquarePants-sized shorts.

Upon seeing Gavin enter, the eloquent ZT stopped speaking and began to talk on the radio.

"Aha, Connor, my dearest boss is here. Now it's your turn."

"As a friend, I sincerely hope you get a satisfactory answer. However, as the top announcer at Camp Gavin, I unconditionally obey all of the boss's decisions. So, if we can't reach an agreement, don't blame me for not being a good friend!"

As soon as he finished speaking, ZT laughed and stood up, handing the seat and communicator to Gavin.

Gavin nodded, took the intercom, sat down, and turned it on.

"Alright, Connor, don't listen to ZT's jokes. We're all trying to survive in this apocalypse. As long as you're not a cult, we can definitely talk. I just don't know how I can help you!" After saying this, Gavin waited for Connor Knox's reply.

Connor Knox was the leader of the fraternity, or at least the leader who spoke to Gavin on the walkie-talkie.

Gavin's knowledge of the Brotherhood was limited to this. Apart from Connor, he knew nothing about the other members, not even their exact numbers. This was true ambiguity, and Gavin knew why he had been unable to recruit the Brotherhood in the past.

As for now...

After a silence that lasted for nearly seven seconds.

Connor Knox's voice finally came through the radio.

"Ah, Gavin, this is Connor. It's so comforting to hear your voice."

"Haha, alright, let's skip the formalities, Connor. I'm more interested in what kind of trouble you're in and how I can help you." Gavin interrupted Connor's pleasantries, then raised his hand and tapped the table next to him.

He tapped the table rhythmically with one hand, subtly putting pressure on Connor, while continuing to speak into the communicator. "After all, compared to polite formalities, we both know our true feelings for each other. I didn't even know where your camp was until you claimed you wanted to trade with us?" "What an interesting proposal. Trade, tsk tsk, how long has it been since I heard a word like that? After all, trade implies a need, and a need implies a shortage of resources, and the world today is full of resources waiting to be discovered and collected."

"Theoretically speaking, the world is full of goods waiting for us to use, so I really can't think of anything we need to trade with each other!" Gavin said, his fingers tapping the table naturally stopping, and a mischievous expression appeared on his face.

Gavin had never forgotten Connor's wary and vague words during their first contact. Therefore, he was eager to see how this stubborn fellow would discuss the upcoming deal.

And Connor...

After hearing Gavin's words, he remained silent for a good ten seconds before finally replying helplessly over the radio.

"Wow, Gavin, just listening to your tone makes me want to see your expression when you're talking to the media in your fourth season."

"What was the situation like back then? Your team was torn apart by the Cowboys' owner, nearly half of the veteran players were sent to other teams in exchange for the lovable Franklin, and the average age of your team dropped to only twenty-one after accepting just over twenty college players."

"People say your glory days are over, the Cowboys' championship streak will end, and the NFL will return to its former glory, a time of fierce competition and excitement, because of your and the Cowboys' decline." "Back then, wasn't your response to the media just like this? You mocked their shortsightedness, scorned their disdain for you, until I became someone you scorned." At this point, the radio fell silent for a while.

However, Gavin knew that Connor hadn't finished speaking, so he didn't respond, but instead gave Connor enough time to think.

And so, after nearly five seconds...

Connor finally resumed the call, and he began to speak to Gavin.

"I admit, Gavin, I was quite wary of you and your buddies when we first contacted each other."

"But I sincerely hope you can understand my choice. After all, all I know about you is what you've appeared in the media and on the radio, which means I've never truly understood you!" "I can't make a decision about my fate and that of all my men simply by hearing your voice. I need to consider it, I must think it through comprehensively, carefully, and seriously!" "Until now, Mr. Gavin, you can laugh at me all you want, because I'm just that hesitant. I've considered it for three whole weeks, and the situation I face has finally reached a point where I have no choice but to communicate with you a second time!"

At this point, Connor's voice naturally lowered, and Gavin's brows furrowed.

He took a deep breath, then turned on the intercom and whispered to Connor:

"I'm sorry, Connor, my friend, I didn't know you were really in trouble and needed help. I thought we were going to have a normal trade like in the tribal era, where you would sell me some jackals from the desert and I would give you some Texas groundhogs."

"That's normal, isn't it? As we continue to struggle in the apocalypse, we'll always make contact and connect with the earth." "So, forget my less-than-friendly joke from before, my friend, and tell me about your situation."

"As a living and normal person, whatever your request, I will seriously consider and do my best to help. It may not be unconditional, but the conditions will certainly be low enough for you and your companions to accept. And isn't it also our duty as survivors to unite every living person in this apocalypse?"

As he spoke, Gavin put down the communicator.

While the other end of the radio couldn't hear him, Gavin patted ZT's arm and gave him instructions.

"ZT, call Thomas over quickly. The Brotherhood is probably in serious trouble. Oh, and call Edward over too!" "Yes, sir!"

zt nodded quickly and left the room in a hurry.

As ZT left, Connor's voice, now three times deeper, came through the radio.

"My God, I haven't heard such responsible words in so long. I'm so...relieved, Gavin!"

"I admit, we've encountered more than one predicament. When we first made contact, the first problem I faced wasn't too serious, which is why I still held onto hope." "But now, before one problem is solved, new ones have arisen, and they're all mixed together. My men and I are overwhelmed and suffering heavy losses. We...we do need to trade, but not goods; we need...mercenaries. I need your help!"

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, Gavin knew he had guessed correctly.

This is also why he specifically asked ZT to invite Edward along.

Gavin had already made a series of speculations about the various trade options Connor might seek when he received the news.

In the early days of the apocalypse, in this exceptionally abundant environment, what resources could suddenly be so scarce that the Brotherhood of New Mexico would come knocking on his door to find him, the lord of Texas? The only thing that could prompt them to risk such a deep engagement with him is probably the very survival of the Brotherhood of New Mexico as a whole! Life and death are serious questions that no one can escape.

The New Mexico Brotherhood needs mercenaries...

Do they need to hire mercenaries?

Skillful!

We also need more human resources to continue our civilization!

Thinking of this, Gavin smiled with satisfaction, then picked up the walkie-talkie and replied softly.

"Don't worry, Connor, my friend, don't worry, because I will give you the help you need!"

"Yes, even if I don't know the specifics of what you've been through, I don't mind offering help. It's my promise, both out of our friendship and for the survival of humanity." "So, please tell me about your predicament. If you need advice, I will offer it. And if you simply need me to bring enough soldiers to provide you with sufficient assistance, I don't mind taking my men on a cross-county journey!"

"Trust me, Connor, please trust me completely."

"Sizzle..."

This time, as soon as Gavin finished speaking, a crackling sound of electricity came from the other end of the radio.

Even just hearing the crackling of electricity made Gavin's mischievous smile creep down his face; he knew Conana must be frantic.

Urgent? Even if you're in a hurry, time is still an option!

Isn't it vague and unclear?

Isn't it something you're hiding?

Isn't it that you're extremely resistant to yourself?

Hopefully, your tone from now on will reflect your anxious state of mind.

Thinking of this, Gavin's smile widened.

As he flashed that smile, the door to the broadcasting room behind him was suddenly pushed open.

Gavin glanced back and saw Thomas walking into the room.

Seeing this, Gavin pointed to the radio, gesturing for Thomas to sit down next to him. As Thomas walked to his seat, Connor continued speaking to Gavin, "That's wonderful, truly wonderful! That's the most pleasing assurance I've ever heard, Gavin!"

"You know the weather in New Mexico, right? We've experienced droughts lasting for millennia, and it's still not over!" "I admit, when I first contacted you, I was already facing the first problem of the drought: the water levels in small rivers and lakes were starting to drop." "But back then, my two buddies thought the drought would be less severe this year. They believed the emergence of zombie fungus and the growing fungal nests, along with the significant decrease in the human population and the dramatic increase in plant life, would prevent the drought in New Mexico from escalating to a point where I'd be suffocated."

"In short, when I first contacted you, I wanted to ask you for a reasonable solution to the drought problem, but I was too arrogant, my friend. I'm sorry, I couldn't bring myself to ask for an answer and instead kept the problem to myself."

"Until the last two weeks, oh my god, the drought has gotten so bad that I've even led my crew on a relocation, a distance of 140 kilometers!" "But the river I chose... it's a tributary of the Gila River, and its source is the famous Colorado River system." "But even such a river system, which has never dried up in thousands of years, is now less than ten centimeters deep, and it probably won't be long before it disappears completely from the map!" "Damn it, it's only the end of April, there are still days until May, but New Mexico feels like it's June or July!"

"The potatoes my men and I planted hadn't even had a chance to grow before we hastily dug them up. The parched earth of the previous camp not only didn't nourish them, it actually robbed them of moisture!" "Anyway, that's not the main reason I'm asking for your help. I'm seeking your assistance because we've encountered another problem!" "In the past few days, when I decided to lead my men on our second relocation, the campsite we chose—a narrow section of forest in the Pecos River basin—had already been occupied by another organization. After my scouts found a more suitable forest, they were immediately attacked by a group of motorcyclists. Only one and a half of the three scouts escaped." "That's right, only one and a half. Half of one man was still caught in the motorcycle with only his right hand; his body, along with his head, had been thrown from the vehicle by the pursuing motorcyclists." "They captured a survivor, Gavin. My campsite location must have been exposed, it must be!"

"That biker gang is probably quite powerful, and they've come after me. Yesterday afternoon, my buddies found a few motorcycle tracks around the camp. They've got my hands on me!" "So, I had no choice but to ask you for help first thing this morning, my idol!"

"I need your help. I need you to bring us a mercenary force to help me deal with the apocalyptic thugs we're about to face." "In return, I can give you everything I have, whether it's all the resources we've already collected, vehicles and weapons, or even people!" "In short, we need your help because we have less than sixty people, and we've already found traces of more than fifteen motorcycles and four pickup trucks around us!" Connor's tone became increasingly tense as he said this.

Gavin's brow furrowed even more deeply.

Honestly, he hadn't encountered a large-scale doomsday organization in a while, and he hadn't expected the crisis Connor was facing to be of this scale. Even with the Doomsday Youth Team and the North German Steel Legion, Gavin's field missions had only encountered small teams of three.

As for the biker gang Connor mentioned...

This word reminded Gavin of something from a month and a half ago.

During that time, some new survivors also fled to the camp after encountering a biker gang.

It's just unknown whether the biker gang they encountered and the one Connor encountered were the same organization.

Of course, that's not the most important thing.

Most importantly, the sheer number of biker gang members was giving Gavin a bit of trouble.

He'd only encountered small groups recently, so he hadn't expected to face an armed team of at least twenty people... fifteen motorcycles and four pickup trucks. That number of men and vehicles was enough to provide suppressive fire and even allow for the deployment of several heavy machine guns. Although Connor hadn't specified the enemy's weaponry, Gavin always assumed the worst.

So, at this point, Gavin began to consider whether it was worth it.

Because behind an armed team of twenty or thirty men, there are bound to be much larger logistical support forces. This battle will not only involve leading a long distance, but also facing an opponent who could potentially number forty to fifty. How much will he suffer, and will his gains outweigh the losses?

Of course, if he wins, the gains will be even greater, because the team of seventy people Connor mentioned already amounts to a large number. But... could this be a trap set by the Brotherhood and the biker gang?

Another concern is whether significant losses in the field team would negatively impact team morale.

After all, more than one of my field workers has formed a new family in the camp. Before today, were those guys in the camp who had already lost their families once at the beginning of the apocalypse really prepared for the possibility of losing their families on a large scale a second time?

In short, at this moment, Gavin held the intercom, letting his thoughts swirl around in his mind.

At the same time, Edward pushed open the door to the broadcasting studio and spoke to Gavin from a distance.

"Boss, I'm here. What happened? Is the Brotherhood coming to attack?"

"No, but I'd rather they attacked. After all, dealing with war doesn't require us to travel far, nor do we have to worry about potential traps and hidden dangers." Gavin responded to Edward's question while waving to Edward.

"Come and sit down. Connor from the Brotherhood is asking us to send troops. Come and hear the details."

"We'll probably have a lot to talk about at breakfast later. I have a feeling we're about to face a real war, not a small-scale skirmish, but at least a large-scale riot with heavy machine guns and the like." As he finished speaking, Gavin patted the chair next to him, and Edward nodded and sat down.

Gavin picked up the intercom and answered Connor's anxious wait.