Armed Train in the Apocalypse

The biggest challenge faced by the armed train in the first month of operation was not the terrifying natural disasters, nor the surging tides of the undead, but rather, the lack of space.

The train itself is a means of transportation, not a living space.

Initially, Su Huan managed to make the front part of the train seem less cramped through extreme space allocation, giving everyone a certain amount of work and rest space. The high-intensity battles along the way didn’t leave much room for discomfort.

But now, with an increase in personnel to improve production efficiency, the space issue has become prominent.

Besides the exciting and stimulating battles and the pleasant, warm work, people need a bit of boring life as a diversion.

Now, the work and living spaces are overlapping and even starting to encroach on each other.

How can this be okay?

People can go without rest, but they cannot go without work.

”How far has the expansion of the second-level carriage reached?”

Su Huan brushed aside the ”jungle of data cables” in front of him and frowned as he asked.

Behind him, Yu Yue frantically flipped through the booklet in her hand, ”It’s still at carriage No. 7 from before the battle, because we’re out of Tier One Armor.”

Su Huan thought for a moment and said, ”Make a note, the main task for the fabrication team is to synthesize enough new materials for the train’s second-phase renovation, then collect Pan-energy Crystals. Modification of the exoskeleton should be the last priority.”

Seeing her jot it down, Su Huan continued walking forward.

After navigating two overlapping vertical desks, Su Huan finally saw the assembled giant screen in the center. Compared to the last time he was here, there were more screens added. Besides the train carriage power supply, a set of UPS equipment and backup power source had been added on the side, although the power source also showed some signs of modification.

But it was clearly from the batch he charged at the time.

”Hello, Train Captain.”

A student who was busy working suddenly looked up and greeted him, her crisp voice like the sound of a blue switch keyboard, clear and decisive.

Su Huan raised an eyebrow and took a glance—it was the same ’Little Box’ who had executed a mission with him last time, a female student possessing the extraordinary skill ”Topological Perception” for finding people. She was wearing a light vertical striped shirt, standing behind a stack of boxes of various sizes.

The boxes were stacked by size, with colors transitioning from light to dark on the floor and desk, resembling a fortress made of bricks.

Su Huan roughly guessed the origin of the name ”Little Box.”

But what really caught his attention was that handsome face next to her, second only to his own on the train.

”Why aren’t you with your sister, and what are you doing here?”

Su Huan gave Lin Jin a playful glance. This guy had taken off his tattered camouflage uniform and changed into a large white T-shirt, his crew cut freshly trimmed by He Jie, giving him a clean male university student look.

Oh, wait, Lin Jin is indeed a university student.

Subconsciously rummaging through decayed memories, wasn’t he also... a university student?

Probably a senior?

Beautiful campus memories seemed like they belonged to a previous life.

After half a life of battles, the Train Captain returned and realized he was still just a university student.

Lin Jin put down the piece of metal he was burning until red hot, and said somewhat awkwardly, ”Lin Xi is in a stable condition right now, nothing much to do staying there, so I came to help. Is there anything you need me for?”

His feelings towards Su Huan were complicated.

Initially, it was gratitude for being saved, but due to the Train Captain’s godforsaken ”joint operation,” his emotions were like a roller coaster ride.

Though somewhat helpless, he was more deeply impacted.

Everyone knows the greatest credit goes to those who rescue, but what if one day, the sovereign himself comes to save you?

After experiencing both the Battle of New City and the Heavy Industry District incident, his gratitude for Su Huan was no longer simple; he saw Su Huan as the goal he aspired to follow.

He wanted to become as strong as Su Huan to protect his sister.

”I asked him to help me.”

Little Box explained somewhat apologetically.

Su Huan curiously glanced at their work, having no idea what they were tinkering with, but he truly couldn’t fathom any research that would need Lin Jin’s flames.

If he unleashed his fire, the whole train could potentially melt into a river of molten iron.

These two seemed up to no good, fooling around because of personal emotions, what if they delayed the Train Captain’s great plans?

No sense of sacrificing the self for the spirit of the train.

Stepping forward, he solemnly knocked on the table with a finger, ”No romance allowed on the train.”

Having stirred things up, Su Huan walked ahead in satisfaction, leaving behind two dumbfounded young people.

As Yu Yue passed, she gave the two a gentle smile, her voice stringing into a line, ”He’s teasing you.”

Their tension was instantly eased by her warm, inclusive demeanor.

As Su Huan navigated past a tangle of screens, he saw two elderly men of similar age in conversation, one with graying temples, elegant in demeanor, and the other with neatly combed gray hair pulled back, looking quite stern with pronounced brow ridges.

Both elders turned their gaze toward Su Huan as he approached.

Professor Ma greeted him with a smile, ”How’s the recovery from your injuries?”

Su Huan shrugged, ”Not bad.”

Compared to their natural conversation, Director Xu’s gaze was far more complex.

He still couldn’t believe that the young man before him had destroyed the Steel Council, and in such a violent manner at that.

But rather than lamenting over the Steel Council, he was more concerned about whether his experiments could continue.

Anyone who glimpses the scenery of the new world would never be content to stand still.

He didn’t have to wait long. After exchanging a few words with Professor Ma, Su Huan turned his gaze to him, ”Do you want to restart the research?”

Director Xu affirmed, ”Yes, I know my experiments seem inhumane, but evolution inevitably comes with bloodshed and death. It’s the pain of transformation, unavoidable...”

Su Huan frowned and interrupted him, ”Don’t lecture me. How many occupational formulas have you developed so far?”

”A total of 140 evolutionary occupation research projects, with 26 Tier One occupations developed, and one skill that has already explored a Tier Two evolution direction. With one more confirmation, it can be fully researched.”

Seeing hope, Director Xu quickly responded.

Su Huan calculated the ratio, which was higher than he anticipated. ”With the current equipment and manpower, how many more researches can you initiate?”

Director Xu hesitated for a moment, ”As long as you give me the Genetic Primordial and enough volunteers, I can guarantee a fifth of the research.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a searing gaze fell upon him.

The temperature inside the train carriage suddenly rose by several degrees.

Su Huan didn’t need to turn around to know that Lin Jin was simmering again.

Director Xu’s scalp tightened as he explained, ”I won’t harm the Genetic Primordial, just take some blood samples.”

Lin Jin took two steps forward, the rage in his eyes blazing, and if Su Huan weren’t there, he would have turned Director Xu into a charred corpse in the next second.

”Then mine will do, right?”

Su Huan asked suddenly.

The flames froze in Lin Jin’s eyes behind him, ”Conductor...”

Su Huan didn’t turn back, waving his hand like shooing away a fly, ”If you’re idle, go to the dining car and help me light the stove; I want to make some barbecue tonight.”

Lin Jin was silent.

Was this the conductor subtly reminding him to hone his skills to help him?

The crisis had just passed, yet he had already relaxed, how foolish.

”I understand.”

’Tonight, I’ll elevate the ”High-Temperature Barrier” to Level 3.’

Lin Jin turned and resolutely walked away.

Su Huan was a bit bewildered, wondering if he had issued some profound order just now.

What the heck did this guy understand?

The little maid beside him worriedly glanced at the dining car. ’That kid won’t burn down the kitchen, will he...’

Professor Ma, observing, noted something and chuckled, ”Everyone seems quite spirited.”

Su Huan shook his head, looking at Director Xu in front of him.

The other party also showed considerable surprise, ”You are also a Genetic Primordial, but in the domains of energy supply and defense. It doesn’t match our previous research, so new projects will have to be initiated.”

Su Huan nodded slightly, his jawline forming a cool, sharp arc, ”Then start new projects. As long as there are results, you’ll have enough blood. However, the carriage is currently tight, and I can’t give you too much, only four sections, next to the bullet carriage. I also need the scientific personnel; they can’t all be dedicated to genetic research. Discuss specific personnel needs with Xiaozhao, the head of the scientific team; for materials, contact Yu Yue. You don’t need to rush for volunteers; there will be plenty in a few days.”

Upon hearing there are four entire carriage sections, even Professor Ma couldn’t help but feel a tinge of jealousy.

Director Xu quickly agreed.

Since he was going to be used, Su Huan wasn’t stingy and had Xiaozhao grant him database access.

The scientific carriage he brought already had the necessary equipment, so it was straightforward to get everything connected and running smoothly.

Just as he was lifting his foot, Xiaozhao hurriedly came in with more good news.

”Conductor, the drone reconnaissance range has been extended to one kilometer!”

Su Huan was momentarily stunned; wasn’t this technological breakthrough a bit too fast?

”What’s the situation? Wasn’t it just a few hundred meters before?”

Xiaozhao explained, ”In the recently seized materials, we found some flexible fiber optics. They replaced the previous temporary wires, extending the drone’s flight range to one kilometer. With further study on weight reduction, this distance could possibly double.”

Su Huan suddenly understood.

It wasn’t a technological breakthrough but an acquisition of new materials.

The drone’s reconnaissance range extending to one kilometer meant the armed train’s field of vision had expanded, and the braking distance also increased.

It was indeed a huge advancement.

But seeing it was getting late, Su Huan didn’t ask more and simply said, ”Come to the dining car for dinner tonight.”

Then he hurriedly moved on with Yu Yue.

Truly, the conductor always has his hands full.

First, they arrived at Carriage 18, where he gave Jiang Rong a [Scavenger-I] bionic modified exoskeleton. This was designed for him without a mounted battery, and apart from him, it was really perfect for Jiang Rong.

It was just right since Jiang Rong had done a good job defending, so giving a simple exoskeleton wasn’t excessive.

”You’ve accumulated quite a bit of merit too; what do you plan to exchange it for?”

Currently, Su Huan was sitting in Jiang Rong’s room with Yu Yue.

Since her team had few members, each could get a private compartment with water, electricity, a toilet, and air conditioning, similar to the core members, in terms of treatment.