Armed Train in the Apocalypse

These are survivors who have just joined the train crew. Han Qin originally didn’t need to come, but with her strong insistence, He Jie reluctantly agreed for her to be in charge of a bullet manufacturing process.

After checking the production status, the Boss grabbed a batch of 5.56mm bullets and walked to the back.

In a small compartment at the corner of the end of the carriage, the Boss moved his workbench there.

Although he is a Maker, he isn’t particularly fond of those machines and gears, and the tedious mechanical knowledge gives him a headache. If it weren’t for evolution, he wouldn’t endure it even for a second.

However, he still had quite an interest in firearms.

What man doesn’t like these hard, violent, loud hunks of metal?

On the desk lay a disassembled [Law Enforcer-S1] tactical pistol and a pile of other parts, including some from submachine guns and assault rifles.

He casually tossed a handful of bullets into a metal box nearby, producing a crisp sound of clinks and clangs.

The Boss sat down to check his desk thoroughly, and after ensuring no one had tampered with it, he continued modifying the tactical pistol.

Unlike Manipulators who can openly reshape objects, ”Omniversal Corrosion” users can only slowly alter the properties of objects to achieve some ”transformation” effects.

Initially, it was just a whim to modify a pistol that could use 5.56mm ammunition.

But it backfired.

He couldn’t be bothered to read books, so after consulting He Jie on the basics of firearms, he started his blind experimentation again.

He adjusted the bullet and barrel rifling, then found it better to directly fuse materials to enhance the gun’s strength.

Now all kinds of parts have been fused with direwolf teeth, boosting the strength to a new level.

Since he had manually crafted numerous parts, he quickly and almost instinctively assembled a ”brand-new” Law Enforcer tactical pistol.

The barrel was significantly longer than before, and the magazine was wider.

Manually etching notches into the bullet heads, he inserted them one by one into the magazine.

”Click—”

Holding the weighty pistol in his hand, a sense of accomplishment welled up in him. What delighted him even more was the sudden awakening of a long-dormant skill.

Level 1 ”Mechanical Specialization”

With this, his three skills as a ”Mechanical Apprentice” were now complete: Level 2 ”Omniversal Corrosion,” Level 1 ”Mechanical Specialization,” and Level 1 ”Material Creation.”

Once he reaches the corresponding level, he can begin preparing to advance to a Tier One ”Mechanical Apprentice.”

The advancement for a ”Maker” isn’t as complex or dangerous as other fields.

All it takes is creating a pinnacle work.

He took the [Iron Hawk-Model 3] from his holster and replaced it with the modified new gun.

Intending to find a second level at the front to test the gun.

Upon reaching Carriage 10, he saw the conductor talking with Yu Jing, while Yu Yue was scribbling furiously with pen and paper behind them, this scene puzzled the Boss somewhat.

He stepped forward to greet them, reporting the progress of the bullet production line to Su Huan.

Yu Jing’s gaze, however, fell on his waist.

Her phoenix eyes slightly upturned, with a hint of spotting prey, ”Can I take a look at this gun?”

”No problem.”

The Boss handed over the modified gun.

Yu Jing played with it for a moment, wearing a thoughtful expression before casually passing it to the interested Su Huan beside her.

In contrast to Yu Jing, the conductor’s interest in the modified gun lay in the firearm itself.

This exaggeratedly styled modified gun matched his understanding of firearms, or rather, he was familiar with various dangerous yet practical modifications.

Upon receiving the gun, after a brief inspection, he skillfully disassembled the complete modified gun into a pile of parts.

”A 5.56mm bullet, even with explosive treatment, its power is significantly greater than the enhanced 9mm powder version, Ah Da, you really outdid yourself.”

Su Huan praised with a hint of surprise.

The Boss chuckled, ”It’s just something I tinker with in my spare time, I was just about to test it.”

Su Huan quickly reassembled it, loaded it pointed at his left hand, and ”Bang!”

Blood splattered all over the Boss’s face.

The shocked cry echoed from behind by Yu Yue.

Yu Jing’s gaze merely flickered without any surprise, to be precise, she wouldn’t be too surprised by anything Su Huan did.

Su Huan looked at his mangled hand and shrugged, evaluating, ”The power is indeed quite enhanced, but the recoil also increased. If ordinary people are going to use it, they’d need to add a compensator.”

”What are you doing! It’s a rare injury that just healed...”

Yu Yue’s tone, for once tinged with severity, picked up her pen and paper, then reached into a small bag from her side to find a bandage for Su Huan.

Su Huan shook his hand, activating ”Cell Regeneration,” as tiny granulations noticeably closed together. Within a breath, the previously bloodied hand folded back together.

”Don’t panic, just testing this recovery ability while at it.”

He said nonchalantly.

The Boss mournfully wiped his face, although he has been a long-term passenger, he still couldn’t cope with the conductor’s whims.

Fortunately, the conductor remained in a stable, albeit unpredictable state.

Not pointing a gun at others.

Su Huan considered testing the ”Energy Barrier” but looking at the puffed-up Yu Yue next to him, he abandoned that dangerous thought.

He tossed the modified gun back to the Boss, raising an eyebrow as he asked, ”Are you very interested in modifying firearms?”

Ah Da sighed, ”I wouldn’t say I’m too interested, but it’s certainly more intriguing than just synthesizing materials or repairing machines.”

Su Huan nodded in approval, ”Then focus in that direction, first advance to a Tier One ’Mechanical Apprentice,’ at Tier Two, there’s a branching profession called ’Gunsmith’ which suits you.”

Yu Jing, who was beside them, also became somewhat interested, ”Specifically modifying guns?”

Su Huan wagged his finger, ”It’s a profession specializing in firearm creation, but it’s not limited to guns. In theory, anything that can shoot falls within his domain, whether it’s small caliber firearms or large caliber guns and cannons, given time he could craft it by hand.”

”How many evolution branches are there for the Mechanical Apprentice?”

”There are quite a lot, this is the largest system in the wasteland lineage.”

Yu Jing swung the wrench in her hand, hanging it at her waist, ”Alright then, but the five exoskeletons can’t be modified in a jiffy, it’ll take at least another two days, provided no messy matters need handling.”

Su Huan pondered, ”How many sets are there currently?”

”Two, one is a generic [Scavenger-Type I], and the other with bionic suckers was initially for your backup, is there some other use for it now?”

”Hmm, find two people and take those two sets with me,” he said before turning to the Boss, ”keep testing your gun, remember to coordinate with Yu Jing about the manufacturing group tomorrow morning.”

”Alright.”

The Boss left, while Su Huan led Yu Yue and two crew members carrying two sets of exoskeletons towards the back carriage.

Compared to last time, Carriage 11 had become much more complex.

Professor Ma and others, to prevent the database from being damaged in a large-scale battle, designed a separate physical protection for the database, with a strength more ridiculous than the ammunition depot in his carriage.

Not only was the protection thorough, but they also installed an anti-shock balancing device.

Even if the train flipped over, the database wouldn’t suffer any damage.

Carefully squeezing through the narrow cabinet, Su Huan finally understood how urgent Professor Ma’s desire for expansion experiments was.

Reaching Carriage 12, the congestion increased rather than diminished, various large and small workbenches filled the entire carriage, with monitors and electronic components piling up like mountains, and the overhead luggage racks transformed into crisscross bunks, mixed with individual belongings of over a dozen students.

It presented a messy yet intriguing aesthetic of ingenuity.

Every corner was a blend of space utilization wisdom and the inseparable combination of life.

Like near one student’s bedside, there was a device generating significant heat while running, at that moment sizzling with luncheon meat, and the steam rising was just being extracted by the ventilation equipment overhead.