Armed Train in the Apocalypse

Chapter 109: Chapter 104: New City Project Begins

Two days later, northwest of Yijin.

An armored train was parked ahead, its steel plating rusted with corrosion, and the explosion-proof netting and car body had dark red dried meat stuck on them. The twin anti-aircraft machine guns on the roof turned, making it look like a terrifying train from a ghost story.

Yet, seeing this train, Lu Xiao felt like he was home, and his constantly tense nerves finally relaxed.

”Back pretty quick today.”

A cheerful voice came from ahead.

Lu Xiao looked up.

A man with a cigarette in his mouth stood beside the train, wearing a bulletproof vest and holding an assault rifle in his arms. His exposed forearms were strong and sturdy, and a few faded ordinary zombies lay under his feet.

The fellow had arrived around the same time as him, but was already in the front carriage.

He had quickly become an Evolver.

What luck.

However, Lu Xiao was quite satisfied with his current situation. Though his benefits weren’t as good as Lao San and his brothers, his freedom was much greater. He could form his own team under the shelter of the train, essentially becoming a small force protected by the armed train.

He was very pleased with this.

Exhaling deeply, Lu Xiao pointed at the zombies under the man’s feet and said, ”Aren’t you taking these zombies back to the carriage?”

Lao San shook his head, ”There are too many Tier One Zombie bodies now, the ones in front can barely be extracted, ordinary zombies are not needed. How was your harvest today?”

Lu Xiao waved, and six subordinates unloaded two bodies in black bags from the vehicle, carrying them onto the train.

In these two days, he had gotten some more manpower, a total of eight people counting him and Miao Qi.

”Killed a little dwarf and a bloodhound. The thing actually wanted to engage in a shootout with me, heh!”

A wry smile appeared on Lu Xiao’s face as he took a cigarette from his pocket and handed it over.

Lao San smiled too, accepting the cigarette, then took out ten 7.62mm standard rounds with links from his pouch and handed them to Lu Xiao. The two men leaned against the side of the train, puffing smoke together.

Such a trade was tacitly approved by Su Huan, and ten rounds a week was considered his benefit.

There were also cigarettes on the train, but they weren’t considered necessities and weren’t given out for free.

To get them, one had to exchange them. According to the new exchange standard by the train conductor, a pack of cigarettes, no matter its price, was uniformly 2 points, equivalent to two ordinary Pan-energy Crystals, four 9mm pistol rounds, about three 5.56mm rounds, and two 7.62mm rounds, with random brands.

His week’s salary could only buy five packs of cigarettes.

And because he was a train guard and couldn’t go out freely, he could only have Lu Xiao bring him some flavors he liked.

Every time, Lu Xiao would bring him a pack, with the same bullets, but Lu Xiao would double the cigarettes.

For Lu Xiao, this was a fantastic channel too, as a carton of cigarettes could be sold for 2 points on the train, giving him a fivefold profit when sold to Lao San.

Watching his subordinates park the new vehicle in the train’s rear garage, Lu Xiao put out the cigarette and climbed onto the train.

As soon as he got on, Miao Qi walked over.

Ever since her evolution, the woman’s dressing style had become increasingly bold. The original knitwear was nowhere to be seen, replaced by a black bustier and a red leather jacket, revealing her toned abs.

She wore high-waisted jeans with a wide belt, creating an astonishing contrast with her slender waist, fiery and sexy.

Miao Qi held a booklet in her hand, her tone joyful, ”We got lucky this time, the purchase price of bloodhounds increased by one point, enough to offset the parking fees of these two days, clear the previous debts for medical and water fees and other miscellaneous expenses, and even allow us to get you some medicine.”

Lu Xiao reached out and wrapped an arm around her waist, ”My leg is almost healed; the remaining points can be used to get you a sniper rifle.”

Miao Qi continued, ”I did some calculations today. Although a Tier One Pan-energy Crystal is only purchased for 10, even a completely absorbed Evolver Beast or Tier One Zombie can sell for 5-6 points, but a complete Tier One body is only priced between 12-14 points, leaving a difference of 1-4 points.”

”I was thinking, if I don’t go out and just collect Pan-energy Crystals and materials in the carriage every day, I could earn at least 10 points a day, which is equivalent to a Tier One Zombie.”

Lu Xiao looked surprised and pecked her on the lips with a smile, ”Does this mean I can live off you now?”

After speaking, he noticed the woman staring intently at him, her eyes sparkling.

”What, planning to kick me out for a better man?”

”I want more!”

”Screw it!”

Lu Xiao, being a hot-blooded man, couldn’t take it anymore and kissed her again.

Lao San just put out his cigarette and walked out, looking up to see the scene, grumbling and cursing the couple before starting to patrol the area, occasionally bending down to check if anything was crawling under the car.

...

Interestingly, although more than a thousand people shared a single train, the atmosphere had drastically changed in a short time.

The people in the rear carriages, under the pressure of life and death, became more extroverted and restless.

The crew became more reserved, more disciplined, even taking the initiative to maintain order.

The front carriage.....strangely, under the leadership of an unorthodox train conductor, the atmosphere there became rather proper, essentially like pre-apocalyptic times, with production, life, and even mental states remaining stable.

The Translator Husou carefully observed everything, recording these observations in his notebook. Though the notes were of no practical use, they provided a sense of fulfillment.