Reborn Cave Queen of the End Times novel Chapter 115

Chapter 115 Gold for Firepower

“Understood, Mr. Wright. I’ll pass it on to our chief. We’ll be at the meeting on time.” The man nodded. “We don’t have nearly enough flamethrowers for everyone who has to leave the base. Would you be willing to trade us some? Our chief said you can frame your price. You helped us deal with the avalanche, and we haven’t forgotten that.”

Leonel smiled but did not explain.

“I can spare five thousand,” he said. “No more than that.”

“That’s more than enough.” The man visibly relaxed. “We’re soldiers, so we had no idea what would be fair payment. Chief Bauer told us to bring gold. It isn’t very pure, but it’s real.”

As soon as he finished speaking, more than a dozen men came forward carrying several crates.

When they opened them, the gold inside gleamed brightly.

It was rough and full of impurities, clearly processed in a hurry with crude equipment.

Leonel accepted it with a smile.

A lasting business relationship depended on both sides benefiting.

After seeing the men off, Leonel took the gold to Autumn. “Take a look. Can you use this?”

Autumn stared at it in surprise. “Where did you get it? Gold this impure must have been processed with makeshift equipment.”

“That’s exactly what happened. Beckett gave it to us as thanks for dealing with the avalanche and as payment for the flamethrowers. Those flamethrowers aren’t worth much, so whatever remains is yours,” Leonel said. “Keep it if you can use it. If not, I’ll talk to Beckett.”

Autumn nodded. “Alright.”

“I’m going to the shelter tomorrow so the three groups can sit down and discuss how to handle what’s coming. Do you want to come?” Leonel asked.

“Sure. I might as well see how things are going.” Autumn nodded. “It’s been a while since I visited the shelter.”

“Alright. I’ll let you know when we’re leaving.” Leonel stood and left without wasting another moment.

Once he was gone, Autumn stored the gold in her storage space.

The storage space identified it as gold and told her exactly how much Beckett had given them.

Six tons.

It was a staggering amount.

“My apologies. I’m so sorry to have kept you waiting.” The moment Scott entered, he warmly shook hands with Leonel and Beckett and apologized several times. “The shelter has been dealing with one crisis after another lately, while the two officials above me have washed their hands of everything. I’ve been working myself into the ground, but both sides still blame me for every problem. But look at me, complaining. Never mind all that. Please, have a seat.”

Scott ordered his staff to bring them coffee.

Autumn lifted her cup and sniffed it.

It smelled off.

Even Autumn, who wasn’t exactly a coffee connoisseur, could tell it had gone bad. Beckett and Leonel, who had tasted much better coffee, noticed immediately.

Neither of them touched it. Leonel got straight to the point. “You have a lot on your plate, Mr. Marsh. It can’t be easy. We’re all just trying to survive and make life a little more bearable. We’ll have to carry the burden as best we can. We came today because mutated animals and plants have suddenly started appearing. Have you heard anything about that?”

Scott sighed. “Heard about it? We’ve already had several incidents here at the shelter. Every one of them caused widespread panic. A lot of people think the shelter is dangerous because so many people are panked together, so they want to leave and fend for themselves. But none of the people who left ever came back. That only scared everyone even more. What has the world come to? Is it really determined to wipe us all out?

Leonel said. “Then these aren’t isolated incidents. We have no way of knowing whether the same thing is happening elsewhere, but Karthmoor is our home. We need to protect it and make it stronger. Otherwise, if the surrounding areas collapse, the trouble will eventually reach us too.”

Beckett nodded. “I agree. Every region in the country is on its own now. Karthmoor can only depend on its own people.”

“Exactly!” Scott clapped his hands. “That’s exactly what I’ve been saying. When the central shelter sent people here to relocate Karthmoor shelter’s population, I turned them down flat. We fought to preserve these people and resources. Why should we hand them over?”