The "Survival on the Train" game has bugs, it's really laggy!

The Devourer, dragging the half-damaged No. 013 armored carriage, slowly slid into the outer platform of the maintenance station.

The steel cable was taut.

The right track of No. 013 was gone, and the chassis rubbed against the old track of the abyss, with the sparks flying back intermittently.

No one in the carriage said a word.

Having just escaped death from the collapse at the seventh station, everyone's face was covered in grime, blood, and the numbness of not yet recovered.

The old-fashioned radio is still playing.

"The train is about to arrive at the station."

"Please be aware of the platform gap ahead."

"The train is about to arrive at the station."

"Please be aware of the platform gap ahead."

The broken speaker emitted static, making Wang Hu's back tense.

He sat in the passenger seat, his hands wrapped in dirty cloth, the blood in his palms not yet completely stopped.

He looked up at the dim yellow light above the platform.

"This place is really exquisite."

"It's so rotten, and they're still reminding us to watch out for the gaps between the platforms."

Little Fire lay on the control panel, its paws pressing against the hound navigation center.

The screen was completely gray.

Its tail slowly stood up.

"Master, there is no wasteland network echo inside the maintenance station."

Wang Hu was stunned for a moment.

"What do you mean?"

Enlarged image of the small torch probe.

"There are no high-dimensional links, no scavenger recycling markers, and no hound command remnants."

"All the devices here are offline."

"They're not broken."

"They were never connected to the current wasteland network in the first place."

Xu Shen leaned back in the seat, his face ashen, his chest heaving heavily.

He raised his eyelids slightly upon hearing this.

"The early Abyssal Railway of Blue Star".

"Back then, many devices used purely mechanical structures to prevent system contamination."

"Gears, connecting rods, steam, gas, physical locks."

Wang Hu looked at the huge shadow ahead.

"So, that big guy up ahead doesn't rely on the system?"

Xiao Huo whispered, "No way."

The headlights shone on them.

Deep inside the maintenance station, the outline of the giant truck's front end was fully revealed.

It's too big.

It was several stories higher than the Devourer, and so wide that it almost filled both tracks.

Thick armor covers the exterior of the vehicle, its surface covered with scratches and old shell craters.

The front of the car was fitted with multiple layers of rams, the edges of which were rolled up and still weighed down by heavy rust.

Eight sets of huge load-bearing wheels are embedded in rusted rails, and the rim of each set of wheels is taller than a person.

The furnace window was half-open.

Inside, dark red flames were dancing.

The air was filled with the smells of coal, gas, and the dampness from years of being sealed off.

Tang Lan spoke over communication number 013.

Her voice was terribly hoarse.

"That was an early super-heavy boiler tractor of the Blue Star Expeditionary Force."

"The code name should be Zhenshan."

"The records say it can tow twelve fully armored wagons across a fault line."

Wang Hu stared at the huge machine and couldn't help but whistle.

"If this thing can hold us back, we could easily carry ten more 013s without them even breaking a sweat, right?"

Xiao Huo didn't pick up on his joke.

It stared at the screen, its claws moving faster and faster.

"Master, the pressure sensor on the platform has been triggered."

Su Yuan sat in the driver's seat, his left hand on the steering wheel.

The mechanical left eye rotates silently.

"Trigger what?"

Xiao Huo felt a tightness in his throat.

"Mechanical defense."

He had just finished speaking.

The ground at the maintenance station suddenly shook.

It's not a landslide.

It is some kind of mechanical structure that has been dormant for too long, and it has begun to turn under a thick layer of rust.

Click.

Click click.

Click click click.

The old-fashioned warning lights on both sides of the platform lit up one after another.

The red light turned, casting a play of light and shadow on everyone's faces.

A sharp whistle emanated from deep within the cab of that giant boiler.

The whistle trailed off for a long time, carrying high-pressure steam that had been suppressed for many years, directly shaking the dust in the platform and causing it to fall down.

Wang Hu cursed on the spot.

"I knew this kind of big guy wouldn't be a quiet welcome."

The heavy armor plates on both sides of the giant front of the vehicle were slowly pushed open.

Each armor plate is like a gate.

Large pieces of rust fell out from the crack in the board.

Then, two giant cannons slid out from inside.

The cannon barrel is frighteningly thick.

The dark muzzle of the cannon was aimed at the cockpit of the Devourer.

The purely mechanical sights can be quickly adjusted on the gun body.

There is no radar.

There is no electronic lock.

Only the gears drive the sights to gradually bring them into contact with the target.

But that precision is what makes it even more chilling.

Inside cell 013, the survivors who had just sat down all stood up.

The color drained from some people's faces instantly.

"Main gun!"

"That's a defensive cannon on the front of the vehicle!"

"Retreat immediately!"

Tang Lan grabbed the communicator.

"Su Yuan!"

"That cannon's caliber is even larger than the main gun of the Type 013 destroyer; don't try to take it head-on!"

He hadn't finished speaking.

The heavy thud of doors closing came from both the front and back ends of the maintenance station at the same time.

boom.

boom.

A physical explosion-proof door, several meters thick, fell from above.

The front door is sealed off.

The back door is sealed off.

The locking beams popped out one by one and embedded themselves into the ground track grooves.

The entire maintenance station was transformed into a sealed iron box.

The old-fashioned countdown clock lights up.

thirty.

29.

Twenty-eight.

Red numbers are displayed above the front of the car.

The platform announcements have been replaced with cold, mechanical prompts.

"Illegal intrusion into the carriage confirmed."

"Physical erasure process initiated."

"Please evacuate the platform immediately."

Wang Hu looked up at the sealed door and his lips twitched violently.

"Evacuate?"

"I've already closed the door, who are you letting leave?"

Inside number 013, Xu Shen closed his eyes.

He leaned against the car wall, his fingers pressing on the nameplate on his chest.

"The old-fashioned defense process of the boiler head."

"It doesn't distinguish between friend and foe."

"It only judges based on weight, track occupancy, and access permissions."

Tang Lan's face looked very pale.

She stared at the two giant cannons, her jaw clenched.

"We just survived the seventh station, only to be locked down by our own old-fashioned system."

"What incredible luck!"

A young operator sat on the ground, his water bottle rolling to his feet.

He didn't pick it up.

"Captain, what do we do now?"

Tang Lan did not answer.

She knew there was no way.

The No. 013 main gun is now obsolete.

Machine guns are like tickling an itch in front of this kind of armor.

No matter how powerful the Devourer was, it couldn't possibly escape the close-range bombardment of two giant cannons in the confined platform.

Wang Hu gripped the wrench, his knuckles turning white from the force.

He stared at the cannon barrel, leaning forward.

"Old Su, let's get started."

"I rushed up and blocked the cannon muzzle."

The small fire's tail was taut, and its claws had already touched the winch control lever.

"Tiger, you can't get stuck."

"The rifling inside that cannon barrel is thicker than your waist."

Wang Hu glared at it.

"Your way of comforting me is very creative."

Xiao Huo was so anxious that his voice was hoarse.

I wasn't trying to comfort you!

The countdown is still ticking.

Twenty-three.

22.

Twenty-one.

Just when everyone thought Su Yuan would slam on the gas, Su Yuan didn't move.

He sat in the driver's seat, his mechanical left eye rapidly zooming in and out.

Then, he took a deep breath.

Coal and coke.

gas.

Rust.

Old lubricating oil.

There was also the smell of dry, cold air coming from inside the cannon barrel.

Su Yuan's expression remained unchanged.

"Don't panic."

Wang Hu was stunned.

"What?"

Su Yuan pushed open the car door.

"The Empty City Stratagem"

Xiao Huo suddenly looked up.

"Owner?"

Su Yuan got off the train, his military boots stepping onto the platform's metal plate.

He didn't hide.

There was no acceleration.

They didn't find cover.

He walked directly toward the two giant cannons.

Tang Lan pressed herself against the observation window number 013.

"Is he insane?"

The operator's voice was dry.

"The cannon is locked on to him!"

Xu Shen stared at Su Yuan's retreating figure, his lips moving slightly.

He wasn't going to his death.

"He figured out the problem."

Tang Lan turned around abruptly.

Are you sure?

Xu Shen smiled wryly.

"I'm not sure."

"But I've seen him drive."

"He doesn't do stupid things he's not sure he can do."

Wang Hu couldn't sit still in the co-pilot's seat of the Devouring Wasteland.

He got out of the car, picked up a wrench, and followed a couple of steps.

"Old Su."

"Just tell me if you need help."

Su Yuan didn't even turn his head.

"Stand there."

"Don't block my way from hearing the echo."

Wang Hu stopped in his tracks, his expression quite interesting.

"no."

"The cannon barrel is pointed at your head, and you want to hear the echo?"

Su Yuan had already walked to the giant cannon on the left.

The muzzle of the cannon was wider than his entire body.

The old Blue Star serial number is still on the cannon, but it is mostly covered by coal dust.

Countdown.

seventeen.

sixteen.

fifteen.

The crosshair of the giant cannon continued to be fine-tuned.

The mechanical gears made a soft, intermittent rotation.

Su Yuan raised his hand and picked up a discarded drive shaft from the ground.

One end of the drive shaft is bent, while the other end is polished to a shine.

He walked to the side of the cannon barrel and raised his hand to tap the outer wall of the barrel.

when.

The crisp echo reverberated through the platform.

It's very empty.

Su Yuan knocked a second time.

when.

This time he changed positions.

The echo is even more empty.

He raised his mechanical left eye and looked at the back of the breechblock.

There should have been a reciprocating mechanism there to provide back pressure.

But now, the recoil spring is broken, the breechblock is rusted, and there isn't even any primer residue in the ammunition feed chute.

Su Yuan inserted the drive shaft to the edge of the cannon muzzle and pushed it inward.

Dust settled.

There is no projectile.

It was not loaded with any medicine.

Even the breech lock wasn't closed.

He turned around and looked at the Devourer.

"The cannon barrel is empty."

"The reintegration mechanism is rusted and disconnected."

"That was just the mechanical process running idle."

Wang Hu opened his mouth.

"So, it's trying to scare us with two empty tubes?"

Su Yuan nodded.

"She was scared, but she tried her best."

It was quiet inside room 013.

Tang Lan stared at the cannon barrel, her expression shifting from tense to incredulous.

She suddenly looked at the operator beside her.

"Scan the gun barrel."

The operator quickly dragged out an old-fashioned thermal imager and aimed it at the giant cannon.

A few seconds later, his expression froze.

"team leader."

There is no heat source inside.

"There was no reaction from the propellant charge at the breech."

Tang Lan closed her eyes and muttered a curse under her breath.

"It's completely empty."

The young survivor's legs went weak, and he sat back down on the iron plate.

"I almost bumped into it just now."

Wang Hu was delighted.

"Don't kowtow."

"It's out of ammunition right now, so even if you hit it, it might not appreciate it."

Little Fire, however, did not laugh.

It stared at the control panel, the fur on its tail standing on end.

"Owner."

Su Yuan looked at it.

The small fire made a tight sound.

"The boiler pressure is rising."

Wang Hu's smile vanished instantly.

"What's wrong now?"

The little fire claw moved rapidly.

"The defense procedure has just issued the order to fire."

"The cannon can't fire, but the mechanical power supply system doesn't know the cannon is broken."

"It is pressurizing the boiler according to the old process, preparing to provide recoil recovery and turret auxiliary power."

"The underground gas valve is turned on too far."

Xu Shen's expression changed drastically.

"Oh no!"

Tang Lan also realized what was happening.

"The cannon can't be fired, and the boiler can't be depressurized."

"It will burst from suffocation."

Inside the furnace at the front of the locomotive, the dark red flames suddenly brightened.

The smell of gas suddenly became much stronger.

A sharp hissing sound came from inside the boiler.

That's not functioning properly.

It is the mournful cry of metal after the pressure rushes into the danger zone.

An old-fashioned pressure gauge pops out from the side of the front of the vehicle.

The pointer raced through the yellow zone.

Red Zone.

It's still climbing upwards.

The countdown clock started ticking again.

ten.

Nine.

Eight.

The platform announcements started lagging.

"Abnormal boiler pressure."

"Main gun failed to fire."

"Pressure release failed."

"Platform personnel must evacuate immediately."

Wang Hu looked up at the sealed blast door and laughed out loud in anger.

"Another evacuation."

"What good is this lousy radio broadcast besides making us annoyed?"

In carriage 013, the survivors' hearts, which had just settled down, were gripped with anxiety once again.

This time it's even more ruthless.

Empty cannons are scary, but at least they're fake.

The boiler explosion is true.

In a sealed maintenance station, if such a super-heavy boiler were to explode, thousands of tons of armor and steam pressure would turn the place into a steel pressure tank.

No one can escape.

Tang Lan gripped the communicator and spoke urgently.

"Su Yuan, can we break down the blast door?"

Xiao Huo answered for him directly.

"We can't break it open."

"The door is at least 3.7 meters thick."

"There is also a physical locking beam behind the door."

"The Devourer is currently dragging 013 along, so there isn't enough space, and the sprint distance isn't enough either."

Wang Hu looked at the boiler truck.

"Then dismantle the boiler!"

The little fire was so anxious that it wagged its tail wildly.

"There's not enough time."

"The pressure will reach its peak in just a few seconds."

Su Yuan has already made a move.

He discarded the drive shaft, picked up the hydraulic pliers, and climbed directly onto the armored footplate on the side of the giant vehicle's front.

The armor was scorching hot from the furnace.

When he stepped on it with his military boots, a burning smell immediately emanated from the soles.

The hem of her clothes was rolled up by the heat, and the edges turned black.

Wang Hu's pupils contracted.

"Old Su!"

Su Yuan did not turn around.

"Deputy Supervisor of Reizei".

Wang Hu did not ask any further questions.

He turned and sprinted back to the Devourer, tearing open the protective buckle on the side pipeline.

He dragged out that thick military-grade cooling pipe.

The tube was covered in white frost, and as soon as it was removed from the clip, it began to emit white mist due to the high temperature.

Wang Hu braced his shoulder against the tube and charged toward the front of the vehicle.

"Give Way!"

Several survivors from the seventh station instinctively retreated.

Someone tried to help, but Wang Hu yelled at them to shut up.

"Don't touch it!"

"With your tiny arms and legs, you'd be forced to kneel at the slightest touch!"

Xiao Huo frantically adjusted the valves on the control panel.

"The pressure on deputy managers has increased."

"Coolant level has decreased."

"Master, I'll give you a maximum of forty seconds of full pressure."

Su Yuanpan is on the side of the front of the car.

The machine's left eye swept across the boiler's outer shell.

The structure of the old-style Blue Star locomotive quickly unfolded in his mind.

Main combustion chamber.

Gas valve.

Water jacket.

Steam pack.

Safety relief valve.

Emergency water inlet valve.

There is also a hidden main pressure relief channel that was welded shut later.

found it.

Below the right side armor of the front of the vehicle, there is a circular inspection cover covered with coal ash.

Three layers of anti-dismantling steel strips were welded onto the inspection cover.

There was also a warning sign about fading next to it.

High-pressure steam zone.

Unauthorized access is prohibited.

Su Yuan's face was cold.

"Authorization?"

He raised the hydraulic pliers and slammed them down hard on the first welding rod.

bang.

The welding rod cracked.

The second time.

bang.

The crack widened.

The third time.

The entire welding rod was pried off and rolled away after hitting the platform's metal frame.

Wang Hu dragged Leng Quan, the deputy manager, up to the platform below the front of the vehicle.

The heat wave hit him, drying the sweat on his face as soon as it appeared.

He gritted his teeth and cursed, "This locomotive must have graduated with a degree in oven making before it was retired."

"It's ridiculously hot."

Su Yuan broke the second welding rod.

The third welding rod was thicker and rusted onto the edge of the inspection cover.

Countdown.

five.

Four.

The hissing sound inside the boiler grew louder and louder.

The glass of the pressure gauge on the side of the front of the car started to vibrate.

Inside room 013, Tang Lan stared intently at Su Yuan's hand.

She knew it in her heart.

This isn't a question of whether or not we can fix it.

This is a race against pure physical pressure.

If we're even a fraction of a second slower, everyone will be swallowed up by the boiler.

Wang Hu lifted the thick cooling pipe to Su Yuan's feet.

"We've got it under control!"

Su Yuan didn't look at him.

"You've got your arm around my waist."

Wang Hu was taken aback, but then he understood.

He reached out and grabbed Su Yuan's waist strap, while his other hand gripped the front ladder.

"Don't worry about dismantling it."

"If I fall, I'll admit defeat."

Su Yuan swung the hydraulic shears with his left hand.

bang.

The third welding rod broke off.

He kicked open the access cover.

The valves inside are not clean.

It is the main pressure relief valve that is sealed by sintered coal ash and rust.

The valve disc is stuck.

The valve stem is bent.

The clips were welded on later.

This locomotive was not properly sealed off back then.

Someone deliberately sealed off the pressure relief vent.

Little Fire shrieked from the control panel, "Master, the pressure is at its limit!"

"Three seconds left!"

Su Yuan snatched the sledgehammer that Wang Hu handed him.

He made no unnecessary movements.

The mechanical left eye locks the weakest point of the latch.

boom.

The sledgehammer fell.

The welded clip has cracked halfway around.

boom.

The second time.

The clip deformed, and the valve disc bounced violently.

A burst of high-pressure white steam shot out from the crack, grazed Su Yuan's shoulder, and scalded the edge of his shoulder armor black.

Wang Hu's eye twitched.

"Damn, I almost cracked your skull open."

Su Yuan reached out and grabbed the thick pipe of the cold spring.

"Open the valve."

Wang Hu turned around and roared.

"Small fire!"

The small fire claw slammed down on the control lever.

"The deputy manager is under full pressure!"

The military-grade coolant from the Cold Spring Type IV surged through the thick pipe.

Su Yuan forced the pipe opening into the crack of the inlet valve.

The interfaces don't match.

The caliber is incorrect.

The threads are also completely different.

Normal maintenance procedures require adapters, seals, and pressure calibration.

Su Yuan didn't have those things.

He used hydraulic clamps to grip the pipe opening and the outer edge of the valve body, forcibly pressing the two together.

Coolant sprayed wildly from the gap, and white vapor instantly enveloped half of his body.

"Wang Hu".

"Press the tube".

Wang Hu lunged forward, his shoulders bracing against the tube, his legs firmly planted on the armored footplates.

"It's pressed down!"

"If you press me any harder, I'll turn into a pipe fitting!"

Su Yuan freed his left hand and reached directly towards the main pressure relief valve wheel.

The valve wheel was scorched and shiny.

The moment he placed his palm on it, the flesh emitted a burnt smell.

Tang Lan gasped for breath behind the observation window.

"His hand..."

Xu Shen gritted his teeth and remained silent.

Su Yuan seemed not to feel any pain.

He stared at the pressure gauge.

Turn the valve wheel little by little with your left hand.

The valve wheel remained completely still at first.

Subsequently, the rust layer was forcibly twisted and broken.

Click.

The valve stem moved.

High-pressure steam is ejected from the main pressure relief channel.

The first burst of steam blew up several lights above the platform.

White vapor, pressing down on coal ash, swept across half of the maintenance station.

Xiao Huo stared at the data.

"The pressure has stopped rising!"

"It hasn't dropped yet!"

"The gas valve is still on!"

Su Yuan Machinery's left eye turned towards the bottom of the front of the vehicle.

The gas supply linkage is still advancing automatically.

The old-style mechanical controller was stuck in the firing process.

It assumed the main gun was about to fire, so it continued to supply gas to the boiler.

Su Yuan said coldly, "Wang Hu, wrench."

Wang Hu kept pressing down on the pipe with his left hand and swung the large wrench over with his right.

"catch!"

Su Yuan took the wrench, half-squatted on the armored footplate, and aimed it at the exposed joint of the gas linkage.

He did not break the main pole.

If the main rod breaks, the valve may be stuck in the fully open position.

He was looking for adjustable pawls.

One pull.

Didn't move.

Second turn.

The pawl loosened.

On the third strike, he used a large wrench to wrench the pawl and pressed down with his entire body weight.

Click click click.

The gas linkage reverses three positions.

The fire in the furnace immediately died down.

Little Fire flicked its tail.

"Gas injection is decreasing!"

"The pressure is starting to ease!"

"But the speed is not fast enough, and the temperature inside the boiler is too high."

Su Yuan pushed the cooling pipe in another half foot.

Add water.

Xiao Huo's expression changed.

"Master, adding more water will cause a secondary steam burst."

Su Yuan said, "I'll control the pressure release."

Xiao Huo gritted his teeth.

"clear."

It pushes the cooling valve all the way down.

The Cold Spring Type IV secondary pipe bursts with even stronger water pressure.

Coolant is poured into the boiler water jacket and immediately turns into white vapor upon contact with the high-temperature metal.

The main pressure relief valve was manually controlled by Su Yuan.

It is neither fully open nor fully closed.

Instead, it precisely rotates half a division each time the pressure gauge needle jumps.

open.

关。

Reopen.

Close it again.

High-pressure steam is released in stages.

White mist billowed inside the maintenance station.

The platform lights were all swallowed up.

All anyone could see was a black figure kneeling beside a valve on the back of the giant engine, its left hand gripping the valve wheel tightly, its severed right wrist braced against the pipe, its entire body enveloped in white steam and coal dust.

Wang Hu, pressing down on the pipe, gritted his teeth and roared, "Old Su!"

"I can't hold it in any longer!"

Su Yuan replied, "Ten more seconds."

Wang Hu's face turned red from the heat.

"OK."

"Ten seconds it is."

"Whoever gives in first today is a coward!"

No one was sitting in room 013 anymore.

Tang Lan held onto the broken observation window, her eyes fixed on the front of the car.

She wasn't unfamiliar with car repair.

The reason why the seventh station has survived until now is because it knows how to repair, dismantle, and make do.

But she had never seen this kind of cultivation method before.

The boiler is about to explode.

The cannon is out of ammunition.

The door was sealed shut.

Everyone is waiting to die.

Su Yuan climbed up directly and completed the four tasks of depressurization, cooling, gas cut-off, and water replenishment in just over ten seconds.

There is no system assistance.

There were no precision instruments.

It all depends on your eyes, your hands, and your absolute understanding of the machine.

One operator muttered, "Is this really something that can be controlled by hand?"

The other person looked at the pressure gauge curve and swallowed hard.

"He's good at using it as a boiler controller."

Xu Shen leaned against the door, his eyes red.

"Blue Star Racer".

"You're not called a racer just because you drive fast."

"A true driver is one who can pull a machine back from a dead end."

The sharp hissing sound from inside the boiler engine finally subsided.

The pressure gauge pointer has moved out of the extreme red zone.

Red Zone.

Yellow zone.

Finally, stop a little above the safety line.

The fire in the furnace is stable.

The gas smell began to fade.

The giant front of the vehicle no longer shakes violently.

It chugs along slowly, the load-bearing rollers gently pressing against the rusted rails, like a heavy beast whose neck has been held down, finally ceasing its struggle.

The platform announcements paused twice.

"Boiler pressure restored."

"Defense process interrupted."

"Illegal intrusion determination suspended."

The explosion-proof doors at the front and rear of the maintenance station were not opened immediately.

But the red countdown went out.

The two giant cannons also stopped aiming.

The cannon's mechanical sight returned to its original position.

The armor plates slowly closed, covering the two empty gun barrels again.

The white mist slowly dissipated.

Su Yuan stood on the armored platform on the side of the vehicle's front.

The edges of the clothes were charred black.

My left palm was covered in burns and black oil.

The mechanical left eye rotates smoothly.

Beneath his feet, the giant boiler engine emitted a steady, deep rumble.

The entire maintenance station was silent for a few seconds.

Then, an uncontrollable cheer erupted from carriage 013.

"It's under control!"

"The boiler didn't explode!"

"We survived!"

Someone was patting the side of the car.

Someone was supporting the wounded, laughing so hard they almost cried.

The young survivor, who had been so frightened that he sat down on the ground, stood up and raised his fist towards the front of the car.

"Lead vehicle!"

"Lead vehicle!"

More and more people joined in the chant.

"Lead vehicle!"

"Lead vehicle!"

Tang Lan did not shout.

She stood in front of the observation window, her face covered in coal dust, but she slowly couldn't hold back her smile.

She whispered, "I give up."

"I'm truly impressed this time."

Wang Hu was still lying on the pipeline.

He only let go once the boiler was completely stable.

He slid down the armored footboard, raised his hand to wipe his face, only to find it even blacker.

"Oh shit."

"This job is even more tiring than hunting dogs."

Little Fire jumped down from the Devourer and quickly climbed onto the front of the vehicle, first looking at Su Yuan's hand.

"Master, the burn area on your left hand is quite large."

Su Yuan withdrew his hand.

"active."

Little Fire flicked its tail.

Being able to move doesn't mean you're okay.

Wang Hu sat beside him, panting, and chuckled.

"Don't try to persuade me."

"Your master now belongs to the group that values ​​cars more than hands."

Xiao Huo glared at him.

"Tiger, you too."

Wang Hu looked at the cracks in his palms and the reddened arms.

"I'm different."

"I'm the type who'll just coast along if I can."

Xiao Huo ignored him and continued checking the condition of the front of the car.

"The boiler is stable."

"The gas valve mechanical jam has been cleared."

"The main pressure relief valve was forcibly restored by the owner."

"The inlet is damaged, but it can be temporarily sealed."

"This locomotive can be towed again."

Wang Hu immediately perked up.

"active?"

Little Fire's eyes lit up.

"active."

"And the traction is incredibly strong."

"If we attach ourselves to the front of the Devourer, towing No. 013 will be as easy as towing a small cart."

Upon hearing this in communication number 013, Tang Lan's expression became complicated.

"Has '013' become a little stroller in your mouths?"

Wang Hu grinned.

"Don't mind it."

"The main problem is that the boiler locomotive is too big; your carriages are definitely a bit small."

Tang Lan remained silent for half a second.

"Are you always so rude?"

Wang Hu thought about it carefully.

"It depends on the person."

"The more familiar they are, the more they'll be irritating."

Tang Lan did not answer the call again.

At that moment, the old-fashioned mechanical panel at the front of the giant vehicle suddenly sprang to life.

Click.

A heavy panel opens outwards.

There is no screen inside.

There is only one row of purely mechanical latches.

After the latches popped open one by one, a dark metal box slid out from under the front of the vehicle.

The box is printed with the old Blue Star logo.

Physical traction connector for heavy-duty trains.

Wang Hu's eyes widened on the spot.

Holy crap.

"This huge thing even comes with its own dowry?"

Little Fire jumped down and used its claws to pry open the box lid.

Inside is a well-preserved set of ultra-heavy-duty traction connectors.

Main hook.

Secondary hook.

Buffer spring assembly.

Mechanical locking tongue.

Two-way impact-resistant tie rod.

It is entirely a physical structure.

There is absolutely no electronic control.

There is no system interface.

thick.

hard.

fool.

But it is extremely reliable.

Little Fire's tail swished happily.

"Master, this connector is perfect for the Devourer."

"It's much safer than our current winch cables."

"It can tow heavy-duty carriages for extended periods of time."

Wang Hu had already squatted down and touched it.

"This spring assembly is thicker than my waist."

"This is good stuff."

Tang Lan said in the communication: "If the Zhenshan locomotive is willing to release the towing device, it means that it has classified you as a temporarily authorized crew."

"It admitted it."

Wang Hu turned to look at Su Yuan.

"Old Su, did you hear that?"

"You've tamed the boiler ghost."

Su Yuan looked toward the main control room at the front of the vehicle.

"Not taming."

"It's fixed."

Wang Hu laughed even harder.

"They're all the same."

"Wasteland rule: whoever repairs it owns it."

Just as everyone was inspecting the traction device, the sound of machinery turning came from deep within the maintenance station.

This is not an alarm.

The armory doors were open.

On the right side of the platform, a whole rusted wall panel splits apart to both sides.

One by one, the cool white backup lights lit up.

Behind the door, neatly stacked supplies from the old days of Earth were revealed.

Rows of heavy armor plates were placed against the wall.

The hydraulic rod is sealed in an oil-proof cloth.

Large gears, load-bearing shafts, track pins, heavy-duty springs, purely mechanical brakes, old-style boiler tubes, and spare gas regulating valves are all in much better condition than the junk outside.

Wang Hu was speechless with astonishment.

"This is no armory."

"This is the main store of the Wasteland Auto Parts City."

The small fire has already rushed in.

It picked up a hydraulic rod, put it down, turned its head to look at the armor plate, and its tail flicked so fast it became a blur.

"Owner!"

"The armor plates here are not corroded."

"And there are also standard Blue Star heavy-duty gears."

"There are three complete sets of mechanical brakes over there."

"There's also a spare cooling pump casing!"

Upon hearing about the cooling pump, Wang Hu immediately rushed inside.

Where is the cooling pump?

"Arrange for our Devourer Ship."

The survivors of number 013 were also stunned.

They held out at the seventh station for so long, eating only clean water scraps, using recycled parts to repair their vehicles, and considering it a victory if their guns could even fire.

There is now a whole warehouse of uncontaminated Blue Star physical supplies here.

One of the survivors subconsciously took a step forward, then stopped and looked at Tang Lan.

Tang Lan looked at Su Yuan.

"These items were previously considered shared supplies for the Abyss Railway train crews."

"But you opened the door, and you were the one who blocked the front of the car."

"You choose first."

Su Yuan got off the platform at the front of the vehicle.

He glanced at the armory.

"Desolate Devourer takes priority."

Tang Lan nodded.

"Of course."

Wang Hu has already started directing people to move the goods.

"That armor plate, move the locomotive."

"Don't take the thin ones, take the thick ones."

"Yes, the one you have right here."

"Don't look like you don't understand. If you can't move it, two people can carry it."

Xiao Huo added fuel from the side.

"Tiger, don't pile them up haphazardly."

"The owner needs to install the traction connector first, and then modify the rear load-bearing beam."

Wang Hu turned around, carrying a hydraulic rod.

"Understand."

"Strengthen your back first, then you can hang your wife."

Xiao Huo remained silent for two seconds.

"Your analogy is very outdated."

Xu Shen sat by the gate of the Devouring Wasteland, watching this scene with complex emotions in his eyes.

Tang Lan walked to his side.

"Who exactly is this person you picked up?"

Xu Shen looked at Su Yuan.

"I didn't find it."

"He's the one who saved us."

Tang Lan looked down at her hands, which were covered in black ash.

"I've only ever seen that boiler operation in the training files; it's just theory."

"There are very few people in the Blue Star Expeditionary Force who can do it."

Xu Shen said in a low voice, "That's why I said he is 001."

Tang Lan's eyes flickered.

She didn't ask any further questions.

Some of the numbers were not ordinary codes in the old archives of Blue Star.

Su Yuan stood at the rear of the Devourer vehicle, inspecting the existing winches and worn steel cables.

The steel cable is no longer suitable for continued high-load towing.

He pointed to the traction connector at the entrance of the armory.

"Wang Hu".

"Remove the outer frame of the rear winch."

"Change the main hook."

Wang Hu immediately responded.

"We've got a job."

He called over several survivors, number 013, to join him.

Those people didn't complain at all.

They were just pointing guns at the Devourer, but now they're all working with their heads down, moving faster than anyone else.

The small fire then seeped into the main control room of the giant boiler engine.

The control room is very tall.

It climbed up the rusty ladder and swatted away a layer of coal ash with its claws.

It's full of old-fashioned mechanical instruments.

Pressure gauge.

Gas meter.

Boiler water level gauge.

Traction adjustment rod.

Physical brake wheel.

There are no modern screens.

There is no neural interface.

Only the most basic mechanical logic of the old days of Earth.

Little Fire's eyes grew brighter and brighter as he looked.

"Master, the main control structure of this car's front end is very complete."

"If connected to the Devourer's traction control lever, semi-manual operation can be achieved."

"It is not even afraid of the scavenger's interference at the bottom."

Wang Hu shouted from below, "Isn't that the anti-interference old man's car?"

A small fire peeked out of the window.

"Tiger, show some respect."

"It's more useful than you."

Wang Hu looked up and glared at it.

"Hey, little brat, you're getting cocky, aren't you?"

Xiao Huo ignored him and continued searching the control room.

Its claws touched a metal box below the control panel.

The metal box wasn't locked.

There was a yellowed piece of paper pasted on the outside.

Driving log.

Xiao Huo paused for a moment.

It opened the tin box.

It doesn't contain chips.

It is not a data disk.

It is a paper driving logbook with yellowed edges.

The paper was thick, covered in coal dust and oil stains.

The cover reads "Blue Star Expeditionary Force Abyss Railway Maintenance Station," featuring a Zhenshan tractor unit and a driving log.

Xiao Huo turned to the first few pages.

Many of the records are from several years ago.

Boiler maintenance.

Gas supply.

Track breakage.

The seventh stop was the transfer of supplies.

Later on, the records became fewer and fewer.

A dried-up pencil was tucked inside the last page.

When Xiao Huo saw the last record, its tail suddenly froze.

It did not speak immediately.

The boiler instruments in the main control room were still ticking.

Next, Wang Hu was directing the survivors to carry the traction connector toward the Devourer.

Tang Lan is checking the Abyss Track permissions with Xu Shen.

Su Yuan stood at the rear of the vehicle, having just removed half of the old winch frame.

Little Fire's claws pressed down on that page of paper.

Two seconds later, it slowly raised its head.

"Owner."

Su Yuan stopped what he was doing.

"explain."

Xiao Huo's voice was strained.

"This is the last log entry."

It looked down at the pages and read them aloud, word by word.

"The abyss track ahead has been swallowed by non-mechanical matter."

"The train had to reverse and go back."

Wang Hu, carrying the connector's main hook, stopped mid-air.

Tang Lan turned her head.

Xu Shen's expression changed little by little.

Xiao Huo's throat moved, and he continued, "Record the date."

"Just three hours ago."

Inside the maintenance station, the lights in the newly opened armory were steadily on.

The fire inside the furnace of the giant boiler was still burning steadily.

The yellowed paper driving logbook lay open on the console, the last line of pencil writing smudged by coal dust, but still clearly legible.