Armed Train in the Apocalypse

However, due to limitations in strength, new chief officers basically can only watch, and then the crew timely introduced ”newcomer rankings,” ”season rankings,” ”weekly rankings,” etc. Each change in ranking sparks prolonged discussions on the train.

After all, it’s the apocalypse, with not much entertainment available, so a ranking system linked to combat naturally draws public attention.

Xiaoba first looked at the basic missions. During the period of corps warfare, the number of combat tasks skyrocketed, mostly related to the Pale Demon, but the ones available here are high-difficulty tasks where large-scale troop movements aren’t cost-effective.

After a quick browse, Xiaoba shifted his focus to collection tasks.

The first priority is the task of collecting cold-resistant mutant plants, which offers two kilograms of fruit and vegetable credit coupons, in addition to points rewards. Although all tasks are consolidated by the secretarial group before being released, the rewards make it clear that this is a joint task of the carriage farm and cultivation pod.

”Food Collection: Bring back over a hundred kilograms of edible staple foods, reward of a hundred points, and a custom-made garment from the tailor shop.”

”Supplies Collection: Collect household supplies, reward of points...”

”Supplies Collection: Collect electronic product motherboards... ”

Xiaoba has always been fond of these collection tasks, each outing able to garner some novel items with extra rewards like fruit and vegetable coupons, which are practical things to split among everyone upon return—those with families can also share the joy.

Therefore, combat tasks are often his last choice.

Just as he was deliberating which task to choose, the task page changed, transforming from multiple task entries into rankings.

The quarterly ranking hasn’t changed much, being firmly locked by Lin Jin and Qu Hang, the former spends most of his time accompanying his girlfriend but his Tier Three strength allows him to be more efficient than others over three trips; the latter, being one of the few Tier Two snipers on the train, is also highly efficient in kill and sweep tasks, with them firmly taking first and second place.

As for third place, it’s unsurprisingly the farsighted duo again.

These two aren’t passionate about the rankings, but since the rankings appeared, their positions have remained unchanged month after month, season after season.

However, Xiaoba was soon surprised by the newcomer rankings, as the previously dominant Liu Zi squad faced a strong competitor: the Huayang team.

It took Xiaoba a few seconds to match this name to that of the Hua family’s young master.

”This kid performed well in the Western Front war.”

Tong Zizhan suddenly said.

Xiaoba nodded thoughtfully; the Western Front war mentioned by Tong Zizhan is the recently concluded Pale Demon defense war, since they fought from west to east, the ongoing one is called the Eastern Front war.

”Are you going to take up tasks again? I see your points this month are about to surpass Qu Hang’s.”

Xiaoba curiously asked.

”Not taking any more tasks, not taking any more...” Tong Zizhan scratched his head and bitterly smiled, ”I just came off the frontline, haven’t even washed off the bloody smell, was just passing by and saw Master Eight here and came over to see the fun.”

”How’s the frontline? No major impacts, right?”

”Intensity is much greater than before, but nowhere near as strange; it’s more like a monster tide in a game, fixed refresh intervals, once you beat them there’s no problem. Casualties are much fewer than the East Front...”

Xiaoba instinctively wanted to tell him something, but remembering that the person in front of him is the train’s battle veteran who always secures top honors, he swallowed his words.

On the train, there are many who make contributions, but this person is the only one who’s completely unscathed.

Even the train captain can’t manage that.

”By the way, Master Eight, are we going to expand the troops?”

Tong Zizhan glanced around, lowered his voice and asked.

Xiaoba was taken aback, honestly shook his head, ”Was there an order issued? I don’t know.”

Tong Zizhan rubbed the stubble on his chin, ”Not yet, but I saw Lao Er and them moving, I’m guessing they are reopening training camp for new recruits, otherwise what else would they do... They can’t intend to throw us back in for another round of training, can they?”

If the Armed Corps is too idle, it’s not impossible, but with the ongoing war, it should not happen. That’s why he could say this without worry.

Thinking back to the days being tormented by He Jie at the Acid Rain Zone station and the Flood Zone island, Xiaoba was also not keen to reminisce.

Just as he was contemplating whether to say something, a member of the secretarial group was scanning the Armed Hall, her pencil skirt and straight gray stockings catching the gaze of many male soldiers.

Since learning that the train captain wasn’t interested in these secretaries, the whole secretarial group had to face the terrifying swarm of suitors. The six female secretaries received nearly half of the train’s goodwill while the remaining half was divided among the nine male secretaries.

Aside from management posts, members of the secretarial group have the highest priority mating rights on the train.

Envied by others.

The stylishly dressed female secretary observed for a moment before walking towards the direction of the duo, standing before Xiaoba, without speaking immediately, furrowing her well-groomed brows slightly as she looked at the surrounding soldiers with fiery gazes.

Beside her, Tong Zizhan gave a slight shout, ”Everyone—”

Upon hearing his voice, all the soldiers nearby instinctively stood at attention, eyes straight ahead.

”Dismiss!”

Though reluctant in their hearts, once the order was issued, the entire car cleared out swiftly.

The secretary glanced gratefully at Tong Zizhan, who tactfully retreated a step, ”Won’t disturb you, I’m heading back to rest.”

Leaving them in a quiet conversation space.

Xiaoba had been curious, as usually things would be announced over the loudspeakers rather than calling people one by one.

”May I ask what’s the matter?”

The secretary solemnly replied, ”Secretary-General Hu Shuo has summoned everyone for a meeting, the specific content hasn’t been disclosed to me.”

Xiaoba’s expression changed slightly, sighing inwardly, surprised that the controversy surfaced so quickly.

”Let’s go.”

When Xiaoba arrived, half of the people were already seated in the second-floor meeting room of the dining car, including He Jie, who had been camped at the front of the train, smoking one cigarette after another, while Qu Hang emotionlessly blew them into the ventilation fan.

Otherwise, there weren’t many officers present; most were decision-makers from various labs, including Director Xu, Professor Ma, Luo Jingyi, etc.

Even Yu Jing, who hadn’t appeared for ages, sat at the end of the table, surprisingly not wearing the form-fitting White Scale Armor but a set of loose clothes.

Her demeanor even seemed to have changed quite a bit...

Feeling Xiaoba’s questioning gaze, Yu Jing nodded slightly at him, suppressing the odd feeling, Xiaoba found his seat and took a seat.

”Not starting yet?”

He Jie asked hoarsely.

Hu Shuo, across from him, smiled, ”There’s still someone missing.”

He Jie looked slightly odd, glancing at the crowd in the meeting room, just as he was about to speak, Yu Yue pushed the door open and entered, paused for a moment, quickly stubbed his cigarette out, stood up jokingly, half-angrily, ”What happened to even disturb you?”

Yu Yue smiled gently, ”I’m a Tier Two Evolver after all, being pregnant doesn’t reach the level of ’disturbance’.”

Then amidst the surprised or puzzled looks, she took her seat at the empty head position, having slightly adjusted the chair before sitting.

Her expression turned serious, her voice calm, ”Everyone, take your seat.”

Everyone’s expressions remained unchanged, except for Yu Jing who furrowed her brow.

Yu Yue turned her gaze to Hu Shuo beside her, who received the cue, stood respectfully, giving Yu Yue the same respect he’d show the train captain.

He spoke in a deep voice, ”The discussion topic of this meeting is singular: whether to conduct in-depth human research and whether to relax restrictions on human modification. Everyone present has voting rights, so please consider carefully.”

Xiaoba, initially worried, was startled, as were He Jie, with a blank expression.

Others shared similar reactions.