Armored train in the apocalypse

Chapter 342 The Trend Has Been Set
"It hasn't shown any aggressive intent, I suggest you stay calm."

Seeing his flustered appearance, Zhongyou frowned.

The accompanying staff, including the driver, were all newly replaced, suggesting that the train conductor had left a much greater psychological scar on Mr. Shu than he had imagined.

But when he thought about what he was going to do, Zhongyou couldn't help but feel a little strange.

"So this is one of those walking trees? Looks like the train has a lot of good stuff."

Mr. Shu said with a smile.

Five heavily armed soldiers walked out from behind. They weren't wearing the train's signature trench coats, but rather a set of iron-gray training uniforms. They were carrying Iron Guard-5 assault rifles. Four of them took up positions on the train, their rifles tilted downwards, safety fully engaged, and they were watching Mr. Shu and the others inside the train warily.

The sergeant walked to the driver's cab and, under Zhong You's complicated gaze, pulled out a Black Kite tactical tablet.

The soldier glanced at the group and asked with practiced ease, "Where did you come from? Have you evolved? What are your abilities? Do you have any powerful connections?"

The driver glanced at Mr. Shu in the rearview mirror and hesitated.

The latter rolled down the car window and smiled, "We heard that a trading market has been opened in Zhijin, and we'd like to come in and take a look."

Seeing Mr. Shu's attire, the soldiers were somewhat unsure. "Then you wait here, I'll go report."

Before leaving, he warned, "You are not allowed to get out of the car or do anything dangerous, otherwise my men will open fire and kill you without hesitation."

The soldiers quickly ran towards the small door behind the open space, while the others stayed where they were. Two small trees also came over, blocked the car door, and inserted branches into the wheel hubs.

A look of disdain crossed the driver's face as he muttered, "Just a common soldier, trying to act all high and mighty."

The soldiers who remained behind had cold expressions, and their gun barrels were slightly raised.

Zhong You, growing impatient, said coldly, "Is the organization in such a difficult position now? A dignified No. 3 director can't even afford a driver."

The driver's face immediately turned red, but he knew he couldn't afford to offend Zhong You, so he could only remain silent.

Mr. Shu was not angry at Zhong You's sarcasm. Instead, he smiled bitterly and said, "The company has suffered consecutive losses, the western front is under pressure, and I don't have many people left. Why don't you come and help me? I'll help you solve the problem on the 1st."

Faced with Mr. Shu's show of weakness, Zhongyou remained silent.

Each director is responsible for a different department. Yanbeiguan was on secondment. Strictly speaking, Mr. Shu did not wrong him, but he would never return to Heiyuan, even though it was an opportunity that Uncle Yong risked his life for.

There's only one way to get back: find the location of Number 1 or headquarters, and storm their door in a fair and square manner!
Seeing that Zhongyou did not answer, Mr. Shu did not try to persuade him further.

Zhongyou may be young, but he is not easily fooled. Everyone who can enter the second tier is a strong person in terms of will, and their decisions cannot be changed by a few words.

The soldier returned with several men. The man in the lead looked fierce and menacing, with grotesque tattoos faintly visible beneath his stubble.

As the first veteran to latch onto the train's coattails, Wen Biao could choose any position in the three bureaus and two academies.

But in the end, he still chose a deputy position in the city guard, specifically the position of guarding the gate.

His former subordinates didn't understand his ideas, but he worked diligently. Every day, besides guarding the gate, he would check the training results of his recruits in the new recruit camp. He would personally pay for the supplies for those who performed well, and he would be severely scolded for those who performed poorly.

Even if they are eliminated, they will still be given a position in the city guard.

This resulted in the gatekeepers being the most elite of the city guards.

Wen Biao walked over and saw Zhong You in the passenger seat. His expression immediately became more serious. Although he didn't recognize the other person, Zhong You's second-level aura was undeniable, and Mr. Shu behind him was also a big shot.

Since the other party doesn't want to tell the truth, Wenbiao won't force them. Once they're in the city, whether it's a cat or a dog is up to the train conductor.

So he asked in a businesslike tone, "Where did you come from?"

"The small caravans that make a living in the west, boss, you probably haven't even heard of them."

Mr. Shu smiled.

Wen Biao turned to his subordinate and asked, "Have you completed the registration?"

The latter nodded.

A kind smile appeared on Wen Biao's fleshy face. "As long as you don't violate the rules of Zhijin during the market's operation, you can enter the city. You're allowed to pass!"

The soldiers stepped aside, but the iron-eating tree did not return the key; instead, it extended a branch into the tree.

"It's trying to bribe you; just give it the metal strips issued for entering the city."

They handed over the metal strip, received the keys, and the car slowly entered the city, followed by the next car in the convoy.

As we approached the iron wall, we could still hear arguing coming from the checkpoint next to us.

"They are slaves, goods I intend to sell in Zhijin. What kind of identification documents do they need?"

Wen Biao's cold and forceful voice rang out, "I'll explain this one last time: everyone entering the city must register and obtain a pass. Everyone, prepare to fire!"

Mr. Shu on the train narrowed his eyes. "It seems the train conductor has some compassion for his compatriots."

A hint of suspicion flashed in Zhong You's eyes. He had met Su Huan several times, and Su Huan was not a person who could be described simply as good or evil. And why was Mr. Shu, that old fox, pretending to be innocent?

Once inside the iron wall, the crowd suddenly increased.

The rumbling sound also had a source.

Various construction vehicles were clearing away the building ruins and loading construction waste into large trucks. People hurried to and fro on both sides of the street, some wearing uniforms, and others wearing leather jackets or trench coats similar to those worn by the two people, covering their mouths and noses.

A little further ahead, the crowd thins out, and the signs of urban redevelopment become more apparent. Two low-rise buildings are connected by shipping containers, or bridges are welded together with steel frames to increase the space inside. A heavy machine gun is mounted on a corner café, and a few soldiers can hold off an entire street.

Ahead was a huge financial building, its glass curtain walls covered with unknown mutated vines. The road ran through the basement of the building, which resembled a giant banana that had been ripped open. Each floor had been transformed into a vertical farm, which also served to shield the sandstorms blowing in from the outside.

As the vehicles passed through the building, the sandstorm indeed subsided considerably.

A train, like a city wall, stretches across the right side of the road, with a factory below that operates 24 hours a day alongside the train.

Compared to the flimsy tin shacks before the apocalypse, all the factories have been equipped with a large number of defensive facilities, looking like ferocious little fortresses. All of these things together bring a grand shock to all outsiders, a sense of rebuilding civilization.

After a long silence, Mr. Shu sighed softly.

Zhong You said calmly, "The armed train strategy is now firmly established."

Only the driver was puzzled by the two men's sentiments. They were just common things, so what was there to be sentimental about?
If forces like Black Kite or Deep Blue Data were to build a city, it would not only be faster, but also more technologically advanced.

Perhaps sensing the driver's skepticism, Mr. Shu calmly said, "The reason you feel it's commonplace is because you've always lived under the shadow of civilization, and you've mostly been carrying out internal tasks. If you don't go out and explore, you simply don't know what these scenarios mean."

Zhongyou didn't speak, but nodded in agreement.

He had been wandering in the wilderness for a while, and he knew all too well what it was like outside.

Let alone individual scavengers, even small convoys are merely clinging to life on the ruins of an old civilization. Without evolution, death is all that awaits them.

Simple jungle law cannot guide complex human societies.

The fact that armed trains can carry out large-scale infrastructure construction in Zhijin without any problems first and foremost demonstrates that they have strong military force and appropriate systems, which are the most fundamental factors.

"Without order, there is no civilization."

Zhongyou gave a definitive assessment.

Mr. Shu was slightly surprised by his growth rate.

The driver, however, was unconvinced. Although the train had defeated Black Kite, the various pre-apocalyptic technologies and systems preserved by Black Kite remained the source of his pride.

He despised armed train thugs from the bottom of his heart.

This is also the opinion of most people in the major factions.

They have fundamentally separated themselves from the scavengers of the post-apocalyptic world. It's like the "Chinese" and "savages" of a thousand years ago, or the "civilized" and "tribal" of a few hundred years ago.

The former can even hunt the latter like wild beasts and livestock without feeling any guilt.

This is the gap between civilizations.

"Wander around the city more; by the time they finish their procedures, they might be gone."

Mr. Shu said.

The driver was unconvinced, but still turned the steering wheel.

Zhongyou, standing to the side, said calmly, "There will be plenty of time to watch later."

Mr. Shu had a strange, bad feeling.

……

When the door was opened, the young man was sitting behind a large desk, the cuffs of his black shirt rolled up to his elbows, revealing his strong forearms. His broad shoulders stretched the fabric, and his long hair was casually tied back, with a few loose strands hanging down his neck, the ends slightly curled.

With his left hand propped on the table and his right hand casually twirling a pen, he didn't even look up when he heard the door open, only wearily lifting his eyelids.

He was stunned for a moment, then his lips curled up into a wide smile.

The entire No. 1 carriage was filled with the train conductor's loud, boastful laughter, which sent shivers down the spines of those who heard it.

Su Huan was worried about the supplies, but when he opened his eyes, he saw the God of Wealth arrive!

Anyone would be unhappy in this situation.
But Mr. Shu was a little uncomfortable. He could only stand there with a stiff face, staring at the two people hanging high next to him with an expression as if he had been pecked in the eye by his own bird.

Zhongyou and Shuwei.

The former felt no remorse whatsoever for selling Mr. Shu.

The latter showed no surprise at seeing his father in this situation.

They look like two ice sculptures.

Su Huan stood up, grinned at Zhong You, and said, "You're here, why bring such an elaborate gift?"

Zhongyou pursed his lips and remained silent; in truth, he hadn't thought about it either...

Su Huan turned to look at Mr. Shu, "It's been a long time, Mr. Shu. Are you here to see your daughter?"

Mr. Shu sighed, "I had a feeling we would meet, but I didn't expect it to be like this."

Su Huan smiled and said, "No problem, no problem, bring some tea."

He doesn't drink tea.

Shu Wei said calmly.

"Then bring some coffee."

"He doesn't like your coffee."

Su Huan's amused gaze swept across the faces of the father and daughter; it seemed they didn't get along very well.

"Let's chat then. Mr. Shu, how do you plan to sponsor us this time?"

……

The driver and his bodyguards were left outside the train to move around freely. As newly promoted Tier 1 special agents, they had never dealt with trains before, so they arrogantly surveyed the crowds coming and going.

"The square in front looks quite lively, shall we go for a walk?"

The captain of the guard suggested.

The driver hesitated for a moment, but Mr. Shu didn't leave any instructions for him, so he simply nodded.

"I've been driving for several days, it'll be good to go for a drive."

……

Morning Light Square.

Although it was getting late, the entire Chenxi Square was still brightly lit. As the largest trading market in the surrounding hundreds of kilometers, it was a gathering place for a large number of people, including residents who had just finished work, scavengers from outside the area, conglomerates hiding their identities, and countless leaders of small convoys.

Every moment brings huge benefits to the train, so stopping is impossible.

All shops that sell goods to the public are open 24 hours a day.

A woman carrying a huge axe walked barefoot down the street, wearing an ill-fitting red knit sweater and black suit pants, looking extremely strange.

But in a crowd, she would only be considered normal.

The streets were full of scavengers carrying guns and knives. Even bullets were sold by the basketful in the shops on the street. Carrying an axe was nothing special.

The only reason she could attract attention was because she was a woman.

Unfortunately, her face was too dirty, like a huge birthmark, and it was impossible to tell whether she was beautiful or ugly just by looking at her.

The woman suddenly stopped in front of a butcher shop, her eyes gleaming as she looked at the bright red strips of lean meat.

"It smells so good."

The female staff member guarding the butcher shop stood up. "Thirty points per pound. Bullets can be used instead. Other supplies can be exchanged for points at the window next to the city hall."

The woman paused for a moment, then rummaged around for a while before pulling off the red sweater and asking earnestly, "Can I exchange this sweater for money?"

The staff member's eyes were involuntarily drawn to the woman, who, despite her unassuming appearance, was quite remarkable. This made the staff member feel somewhat inferior, but she patiently explained, "Clean clothes are acceptable, but their value is very low. You'll need to ask the people over there for details, but..."

Is there enough meat to replace it?

Before the staff could reply, someone behind asked, "What kind of meat is this? How many points does it cost per pound?"

"The mutated beast devoured the pig's flesh, thirty points..."

After the person finished buying the meat and left, the staff member saw that she was still standing there and felt sorry for her. "If you are able, you can go to the city hall and get a job."

The woman's voice was calm: "I will kill."

The staff member frowned. "There are many people in this city who would kill."

The woman took one last look at the strips of meat on the cutting board, then picked up her axe and walked away without even taking her clothes.

He muttered to himself, "Work...making money is such a hassle. I don't want to make money. Should I just kill them all?"

The woman suddenly felt that there were more eyes watching her from around her.

She walked to a peculiar shop. Several half-dead people were hanging on the outer wall. Inside were women, dressed very little, about the same size as herself, some wearing black mesh clothing.

Many men will hand over the items to them with a smile.

She felt like she knew what she was doing, but she couldn't remember it, and her head was starting to hurt.

The woman couldn't help but scratch her head, a hint of red appearing in the whites of her eyes.

"Is this... a place where people kill for money?"

(End of this chapter)