hsntnovel Chapter 203 A Difficult Choice
Chapter 203 A Difficult Choice
Chapter 203 A Difficult Choice
Gavin paused at this point.
And they remained silent for quite some time.
He wanted to give Corbyn and his team enough time to think.
Leaving one's homeland is never a simple decision. Although his camp had more people than Corbin's team, he was ultimately neither an official nor an army!
If it were a doomsday force comprised of the two mentioned above that extended an invitation to Corbyn's team, Gavin believes Corbyn might be more likely to make a decision.
But no matter how much his team boasts, they are still just an amateur team. If Corbyn doesn't see them for himself and experience their morale and atmosphere firsthand, he will definitely not make a decision easily.
Or rather, if Corbyn really made such a light decision to lead everyone away from their hometown and across a straight-line distance of 600 kilometers to join him.
Gavin will not only fail to appreciate him, but will actually be disappointed in him!
That approach was far too imprudent!
What does a straight-line distance of 600 kilometers mean? In order to avoid hordes of zombies along the way and various zombie gathering places outside their exploration range, they might have to travel 1,000 kilometers!
This is quite a risk, and Gavin never intended for them to walk from the very beginning!
In short, at this moment, Gavin gave Corbyn's team time to think freely.
I've said enough, especially considering I'm just a stranger to Corbyn's team.
For Gavin, Corbyn's team is a must-have!
That's nearly twenty people!
If we can accommodate these twenty people, the camp's population will reach nearly seventy!
If fifty people are still considered a medium-sized team, then seventy people are definitely on the verge of becoming a large team!
More manpower means more action, better logistical support, and a wider scope of exploration!
In the early stages of the apocalypse, a larger area of exploration also means more survivors that may be encountered and more resources that are bound to be collected!
Step by step, step by step!
Only two weeks have passed since the apocalypse began.
How much time does Gavin have left?
He didn't know how long he could live, but even disregarding the unexpected events and crises of the apocalypse, could he still live for sixty years?
He only regretted that there wasn't enough time, so he still said, "If you're quick in one step, you'll be quick in every step!"
Even if————
At that moment, Gavin's eyes narrowed slightly.
Even if he had to use some methods, some methods he disliked, and even most of the men in the camp disliked—
He also had to bring nearly twenty members of Corbyn's team under his command!
Gavin had some guesses about the patterns of human activity in post-apocalyptic life.
He believed that after the apocalypse lasted for at least a month, the survivors who were still alive would all adapt to life in the apocalypse and develop their own ways of life!
This is not a matter of probability, but an inevitability.
Because anyone who is not suited to living in the apocalypse simply cannot survive to a month after the apocalypse, there is no room for luck to play a role!
Those who cannot survive in the wild, do not know how to treat diseases, and cannot form a reliable team.
Some survivors, like those who are lucky, might be able to survive a week or two.
But luck couldn't help them for more than a month!
Therefore, the survivors in the month before the apocalypse are like naive and ignorant college students, easily attracted by their own team and spirit, and join their camp.
The longer the apocalypse lasts, the less likely teams like Corbin's, which are located far away, will abandon their camps that they have been building for a month and travel a great distance to come to our side, unless they encounter a sudden catastrophic disaster!
Just like the wastelanders in games, movies, and TV series set in the post-apocalyptic world, those veterans who have adapted to post-apocalyptic life are not only wary of everything, but they also only trust themselves!
Once such people have their own teams, they would probably rather wander and hunt in the safe forests and mountains of the wilderness than easily join large survival camps.
After all, not everyone can manage a camp to look like their own.
In the apocalypse, when people come together, what they create is far more than unity; it is also putrid darkness and evil!
Just like those cultists, and Giulio from Edward's camp who almost got Jennifer strong!
Gavin braced his hands on the table, giving Corbyn's team time to think.
Across from the radio station, on the second floor of Warehouse No. 3, Northwest Warehouse Area, Ranch 6666.
After hearing Gavin's words, one of the guys on the Corbin team, who claimed to be a Gavin fan, was wearing only a white T-shirt, revealing his thick, hairy hands, and was holding a shotgun, suddenly couldn't help but shout out!
"Aaaaaaahh ...
"Mazefak, Otto, what the hell are you yelling about?!"
Otto's shout startled Corbin, who quickly looked toward the burly man, fearing that the gun in the man's arms might suddenly go off!
And Otto—
Faced with Corbyn's questioning, he finally stopped shouting, then, his face flushed, continued shouting.
"I don't even know what I'm yelling!"
"Son of the Beach!"
Corbin cursed weakly, for he understood Otto's agitation.
Damn Gavin, damn football star, why did this guy even play football with that mouth of his?
Isn't it good for you to go into politics?
He's wasted his talents if he doesn't become president!
While Corbyn was feeling frustrated, a short man standing about 1.66 meters tall, who was standing next to Otto with no one around him and so much space between them, spoke up.
"Heh, Otto, you definitely have reason to be happy, because your idol really didn't let you down. What he said even got me a little excited!"
At this point, the short man flicked his cowboy hat and turned to Corbin to continue.
"Corbin, Gavin's words are straightforward, simple, and also persuasive."
"But undeniably, if he wasn't lying to us, then the camp he described is something we can really look forward to."
"A population of over fifty, once fully integrated with ours, will approach one hundred. That means we can do a lot more!"
"With only a handful of cats and dogs in our camp right now, we're restricted in what we do. If we couldn't contact them, it would be fine, but after hearing about their progress, we feel a bit pathetic looking at our own camp!"
"Ah—"
Nearby, old lady Anne, upon hearing the short man's words, couldn't help but raise her hand and rub her brow.
"Jonathan, this is the first time my farm has been criticized. Your words really hurt this old lady's feelings."
"Haha, Annie, don't think like that. What I'm complaining about isn't our house, it's our numbers!"
Jonathan chuckled and then his gaze, sharp as a hawk's, shot towards Otto. He took two steps forward, moved closer to Otto, and gently nudged Otto's ribs, saying...
"Otto, isn't that what you think too? Otherwise, why did you shout just now? Didn't you think your idol was right?"
"Hey Jonathan, don't touch me with your skinned hands, you bastard! I feel disgusted just thinking about you, you cruel creature!"
Otto quickly moved away from Jonathan, went to the side to pick up his shotgun, and turned to Corbin to say something.
"But you know, Corbin, Jonathan is right, my idol is absolutely right!"
"This bullshit apocalypse took my mother, my child, and my lover. Damn it, screw Mazefak!"
"Before today, I fucking didn't know why I was alive, or rather, what I was supposed to be living for!"
"Many times, I feel that I would rather be dead, at least then I wouldn't have to hear my wife and children screaming in my dreams!"
"But today, fucking today, right after my idol said those things, I fucking couldn't control my excitement, I don't even know why I'm excited, damn it!"
"Anyway, I think I've found a reason to live. Maybe it's not for myself, maybe my life has other meanings, doesn't it?"
"You didn't remind me of this, Corbin. I know you did a lot, and did it very well. You led us to break down the door, explore for supplies, set up barricades, and disperse the horde of zombies."
"You're a really great boss, but I want more. I don't want to live one day at a time, to endure waking up from nightmares every day, then frantically running around in a daze, only to die on the day I'm destined to leave this world!"
"And my idol, he truly is my idol. Hearing his words made my heart start beating again. Do you understand what I mean?"
"He reminded me that my child may die, but my life can be used to protect future children!"
"They may not be my children, but they are the hope of humanity, and for the first time, I seem to realize how important my human identity is!"
At this point, Otto's excited expression finally subsided slightly. He held his gun and silently looked at Corbin.
Three of his men gradually moved closer to him, while the rest gathered behind Jonathan, keeping a distance to watch Otto's group.
As for Corbyn—
Looking at Otto and his men, Corbin couldn't help but rub his forehead.
Otto wasn't their cowboy, but a firefighter they met during their exploration.
When Corbin found Otto, Otto had already rescued two strangers, and after arriving at the camp, Otto became the leader of the camp's social faction.
As for the leader of the cowboy group, it was Jonathan, who had an eccentric expression.
Despite his short stature, he is a cowboy instructor who came from Wagner Ranch to 6666 Ranch to teach helicopter cattle herding techniques.
Originally, he was the leader of the cowboy faction in the camp, but after he basically became the boss, Jonathan became the spokesperson for the cowboys.
His excellent marksmanship, knife skills, and ruthless attitude towards enemies undoubtedly left a deep impression on the cowboys!
That's right, Jonathan skinned the invading foreigners who attacked the ranch alive!
As Corbin sized up Jonathan, he saw Jonathan with his hands in his pockets, smiling leisurely as he spoke to Otto.
"Yeah, Otto, you muscle-bound idiot, you only listened to Gavin's sweet talk!"
"But I heard about their strength. Damn it, they were numerous, had a clear division of labor, a reasonable plan, and probably more than one lofty slogan."
At this point, Jonathan turned to Corbyn, who spoke softly to him.
"Corbin, let's agree to that guy's request. Since he wants to come and see, let him. Even if we disagree, we can't stop them anyway. After all, we're located at Farm 6666, and many people know where this farm is, right?"
"If they really dare to travel hundreds of kilometers to come, then they deserve our respect."
"And we can indeed go there and take a look at their atmosphere."
"Honestly, if their camp is decent, joining them is a great option, because Gavin is right, the more people, the safer!"
"So what are you waiting for? You're not really going to miss out on your boss position, are you? Bullshit!"
"What's so great about being the leader of a dozen or so people? Don't make me laugh at you, buddy!"
After he finished speaking, Jonathan put his hands in his pockets and waited silently for Corbyn's response.
Corbyn took a deep breath and then chuckled and cursed.
"Don't fucking talk nonsense, and don't think I really enjoy being the boss. You piece of shit, I'm not going to clean up your messes. Whoever wants to be the boss can have it!"
As he said this, Corbyn's expression inevitably darkened slightly.
Does he really not like being the boss?
Stop kidding me. Even though he managed over a thousand cowboys before the apocalypse, it wasn't like that at all!
At that time, he was just an employee, and there were too many people above him, including Mrs. Anne, the head of the Bonnet family!
Now, the former patriarch could only rely on him, and he was all-powerful in the camp. Although the number of his subordinates had decreased, his power was almost limitless.
This feeling—if he really abandoned it, he would be reluctant to part with it!
but----
Corbyn pondered and weighed the options.
He had to admit that Gavin was right!
That is—the sense of security is just too attractive!
Seventy people —
Seventy people!
Just hearing about that number made his heart race!
If all seventy men were my men, that would be so much better! Unlike now, there are only three women in the entire camp, one of whom is over seventy years old, and the other two are quite ordinary-looking!
It made him so uncomfortable that he had nowhere to put his penis every night!
Besides his opinion, Corbyn knew that representatives from his two factions had also clearly taken sides.
Whether it was Otto or Corbyn, whether they had chosen to stay where they were or to join Gavin, they had reached a consensus: welcome Gavin!
Once they reach a consensus, do you still have a choice?
Unlimited power?
Stop joking. There is no such thing as unlimited power in the world, only power that is accepted and permitted by all subordinates!
So, after a brief moment of thought, Corbyn nodded slightly.
"You're right!"
He then spoke to Otto and Jonathan.
"Gavin didn't force us to make a choice right away; he just wanted our two camps to establish a channel for mutual understanding!"
"If he wants to come and see, then let him come, and we'll send someone over to check it out too!"
"If everything is suitable, then sticking together is indeed our best option. But if it's not suitable, we can also voice our objections. At least Gavin didn't deprive us of our right to choose, did he?"
"So, if you all think it's okay, then I'll reply to Gavin and extend the invitation to them!"
"Any questions? Think of them quickly and give me an answer!"
At this point, Corbyn tapped the table, urging his men to hurry up.
His men split into two groups, one looking at Otto and the other at Jonathan.
Otto nodded emphatically immediately.
"Of course I agree! Damn, I've wanted to go see Gavin for ages! I've been watching his football games since he was in college. He's been my idol for seven years, and my son still longs for his autograph!"
"My son is dead, but if possible, I think Gavin's signature might be one of my son's last wishes."
"Although my poor child couldn't tell me his last wishes in person, I want to do as much as I can for him, to give him everything I have!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Otto's expression became much more serious.
While Otto remained silent, Jonathan whistled loudly and sneered from a distance.
"What a fucking great father! I like you for these reasons, I support your ideas, and Gavin is welcome to come and visit!"
"Gavin Ranch, a rising star in Texas's ranching scene, has attracted the interest of many excellent cowboys before the apocalypse, including myself."
"After all, in places like Wagner and 6666, the cowboy ecosystem is so rigid that no matter how capable I am, I can't become the chief cowboy."
"If it weren't for the apocalypse, I guess by the end of next year at the latest, I would be at Gavin Ranch training two batches of cowboys and trying to compete for their chief."
After saying that, Jonathan grinned and looked at the silent Corbyn.
Looking at Jonathan's fierce expression, Corbyn felt a little annoyed; he knew what Jonathan was muttering about.
Unlike Steve, the chief cowboy of Gavin Ranch, Corbin was able to serve as the chief cowboy of 6666 Ranch purely because of his status.
If we consider only the various skills of a cowboy, including cattle training, lassoing, sheep herding, sheep shearing, farming, and, most importantly, marksmanship, knife skills, horsemanship, and so on, then we can take it all together.
In the 6666 farm, Corbyn probably wouldn't even be in the top fifty!
This is also why Jonathan has always looked down on him.
Although he is quite capable, he doesn't have absolute strength; he's practically a crony!
This reality made Corbyn dejected as he took off his hat.
"Alright, I know what you've chosen. You bastards are really impatient!"
"I'll get back to Gavin right away. Damn it, I hope Gavin doesn't jump for joy!"
After speaking, Corbyn turned around, placed his hands on the table where the radio was placed, and silently picked up the communicator.
Annie clearly saw her nephew's sour face.
So she couldn't help but purse her lips in worry, while looking at the two groups of guys beside her with a distressed expression.
Otto's group remained unmoved by Annie's gaze, while many of the cowboys lowered their heads, avoiding Annie's eyes.
To date, they have theoretically betrayed Anne twice.
One instance was obeying Corbyn, not Anne, the patriarch of the Burnett family.
Another option was to simply leave 6666 Ranch, leave Anne's hometown, leave Bonnet's ancestral land, and join the spirited Gavin's camp!
Therefore, their hearts are inevitably filled with guilt.
Anne also sensed the cowboy's guilt.
So, Anne, suppressing the bitterness in her heart, spoke to the cowboys.
"Gavin is truly an excellent wolf, my cubs. With him, I believe you will all be able to achieve great things. And as long as you are still here, as long as 6666 Ranch and the Burnett family are not forgotten, then this old woman has no other desires, my children!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Anne patted Corbin's hand, indicating that Corbin shouldn't keep Gavin waiting too long.
Corbyn took a deep breath, resolutely picked up the intercom, and pressed the call button.
Meanwhile, at Gavin Farm, in the broadcasting room.
After waiting for several minutes, zt was getting impatient.
"Boss!"
He mumbled to Gavin, his thick lips pursed.
"Don't you need to talk to them a little longer? They've been so damn quiet for so long, shouldn't you give them a nudge?"
"Ha, no need, zt~"
In response to ZT's question, Gavin suppressed his anticipation and smiled as he spoke.
"The longer they think about it, the more effective my words will be, and more of those kinds of remarks aren't necessarily better!"
"If I say too much, it might actually dilute the impression I make on them. Even if I speak the truth too much, it might sound like I'm spouting platitudes or lying!"
"Let's give them a little more time. We need to be patient, patient!"
At this point, Gavin rested his elbows on the table, propped his chin up with his palm, and looked expectantly at the radio station.
About half a minute later————
Zizi!
The moment the radio started emitting noise, Gavin jerked his head up and stared intently at the location of the announcer!
The next moment, Corbyn's voice, strained to stay awake, came through the radio. He spoke softly.
"Mr. Gavin, Ranch 6666 warmly welcomes you. If possible, I would love to share a drink with you in my barn!"
"But please be careful on the road. In this apocalypse, life is of utmost importance. Let us cherish each other, my friends!"
"receive!"
As soon as Corbyn finished speaking, Gavin picked up the intercom and replied to Corbyn.
"I'm glad you agreed to my decision, and I look forward to meeting you all."
"I believe our meeting will be an indelible page in human history, and a very important milestone!"
"And in the time before I arrive before you, I wish you all the best, for the continuation of civilization, my friends!"