Armed Train in the Apocalypse

The wind was pushed forward by some enormous entity, stirring up dust and gravel, striking the train windows with a dense crackling sound.

’Another train?’

Gazing at the colossal presence outside, Su Huan was somewhat entranced.

However, this thing was much larger than a train, with a shell composed of multiple layers of riveted alloy armor plates, its surface covered with pipes and maintenance corridors of varying sizes. The armor was dotted with impact dents and repair marks, reflecting a dull metallic hue under the midday gray sunlight.

Its bottom was supported by four sets of track systems, each powered by twelve pairs of load-bearing wheels over three meters in diameter, the spokes caked in thick mud, and each track plate was the size of a bulldozer blade, creaking with the sound of metal and frozen soil being compressed as it crossed the wilderness, leaving behind two parallel, half-meter-deep trenches.

Under such terrifying weight, the vehicle crawled along, just slightly faster than a person walking.

And its length was far less than that of a train.

Precisely speaking, this thing should be considered a super ”mobile” vehicle.

Before the soldiers from the combat team moved to intercept, the other side had already stopped, maintaining a safe distance from the train.

Several figures jumped down from the vehicle and approached the train.

”Come on, let’s check it out.” Su Huan withdrew his gaze, his sense of anticipation rising once more.

Though mobile vehicles no longer really provided him with a sense of safety, his heart still raced upon seeing such a giant entity full of metallic mechanical beauty, just like the countless times he modified and anticipated the train.

Just arriving at the dining car, he saw Lord Lian enter the train, followed by a ferret bearing wind and frost.

Upon seeing Su Huan, she said briskly, ”Aren’t you fond of doing business? I’ve brought you a good client.”

Listening to this awful line, Su Huan sat couch-faced expressionless.

No doubt, this woman was doing it on purpose.

Lord Lian flamboyantly sat on the chair beside Su Huan, crossing her long legs and pointing at him, ”Be enthusiastic, we have a big client to entertain.”

”If it was truly rich, you’d have feasted on it yourself, didn’t it give you a toothache?”

Su Huan mercilessly exposed this woman’s shameless true colors.

Lord Lian’s beautiful eyes sparkled, shifting to a more lazy and elegant posture, responding to his question with her actions.

It roughly meant ’Oh, I don’t know, anyway, my body is enchanting.’

During the conversation, two men entered one after the other, at the forefront was a somewhat gaunt man, not dressed in the pretentious suits of big faction bigwigs nor the extreme combat attire of soldiers, rather resembling a bureaucrat from pre-apocalypse Donghuang.

Wearing a plain administrative jacket, holding a folder in his hand, looking very spirited.

And the person behind him also drew considerable attention.

He was a fat man.

This was rare quality fat in the apocalypse.

”Truly a fat sheep.”

Su Huan remarked with interest, his voice unreserved.

The leading man heard Su Huan’s jest, laughed heartily and approached, extending his hand, ”Train Captain, I’ve long admired your reputation, never thought I’d have the chance to meet you in person. Business Alliance, Hua Zonglin.”

The other party’s demeanor was grand, his words pleasing to the ear, and Su Huan felt no aversion, shaking hands with him.

”Indeed, much more handsome than in the records.”

The fat man beside him laughed and concurred, ”Longxi High-speed Rail, Ge Mian.”

Their handshake was firm, without any small tricks, much like two earnest businessmen, albeit two Tier Two businessmen.

Even though Tier Two isn’t quite a challenge for today’s major factions, they’re still not something that can be deployed in batches.

After a brief chat, Su Huan understood their general intention.

The Business Alliance was essentially a coordinator; the true trading partner was their ally, Longxi High-speed Rail.

According to the list given by Lord Lian, there were originally twelve factions that got wind of this news, Longxi High-speed Rail included, but after the apocalypse, resources were invested in mobile vehicles, development lagged behind and they fell out of the major factions.

They hoped the train could open a line through the Plant Zone, establishing a safe passage connecting the Gravity Zone and the Rust Area.

The atmosphere in the room was very calm, Su Huan’s fingers gently tapped the sofa armrest, with the sofa frame emitting muffled thudding sounds.

He glanced at the uninvolved Lord Lian beside him, no wonder this woman willingly let the fat sheep slip away; it turned out to be a tough bone.

Don’t be fooled by these top-tier forces within Donghuang acting so boldly, daring to easily declare war on small neighboring countries, yet powerless in the face of the Celestial Disaster Zone. Perhaps they have small-scale means of passage but cannot establish long-term occupancy.

None of these Celestial Disaster Zones were to be trifled with; he personally experienced the High Temperature Zone and the Flood Zone, and the Spore Zone which swallowed major factions was considered relatively mild.

As a near Tier Four, Donghuang’s number one, he was confident he could lead a team through the Celestial Disaster Zone, but that was entirely different from establishing a safe passage.

In essence, this request was also a hassle for him.

The fat man watched Su Huan nervously; being the only legendary figure who traversed multiple Celestial Disaster Zones with a large group, if even he couldn’t do it, no one could complete this commission in the near future.

Consequently, Longxi High-speed Rail’s development would be significantly hindered.

After a moment of contemplation, Su Huan asked, ”So what are your trading terms?”

Upon hearing this, the pair’s eyes immediately brightened.

To be able to ask about conditions implied Su Huan was confident about breaking through the Plant Zone!

A bigwig of his caliber wouldn’t waste time making idle chatter.