Armed Train in the Apocalypse

Chapter 121: Chapter 112: Professor Ma’s Ability

”Did my mom go back?”

Su Huan squinted his eyes and looked with interest at Yu Jing, who didn’t even look up, ”You knew?”

”The train is only so big. If she’s not in the kitchen and hasn’t returned to her room, where else could she be?”

Yu Jing said calmly.

”My mom was at your place that night too, right?”

”Didn’t you already know?”

”So that’s it.”

Su Huan’s mind went blank, realizing the kid was trying to trick him.

However, both of them were smart enough not to continue this boring topic.

”How’s the exoskeleton modification going?”

”So far it’s going well. There aren’t too many things that need modifications. It’s just that these exoskeletons are too simple, and their functions are overly singular. I want to try adding a few useful modules without altering the basic framework. Professor Ma has already helped me with the circuitry.”

”By the way, these exoskeletons mostly rely on lithium batteries for power...”

”Issue a task, go find Jiang Rong!”

Using your dad like a power bank.

Su Huan walked towards the rear compartment with a dark expression, huffing, ”If you can’t put these things back...”

Behind him, Yu Jing stretched lazily, a glint of thought passing through her phoenix eyes. Although Su Huan had a bit of a nasty temperament, a strong possessive streak, and petty jealousies, her mother, under his protection, never suffered other losses.

...

As soon as he entered Carriage 11, Su Huan froze.

What appeared before him was a strange scene.

Drones floating in mid-air were not surprising, but the propellers weren’t spinning!

Assorted items, clothes, shoes, tablets, phones... even pliers and flashlights were suspended in the carriage.

The slight weightlessness underfoot made him feel like he had entered a space cabin. A slight lift of his feet caused his clothes to float, assuring him it wasn’t an illusion.

The gravity in this carriage was off.

Suddenly, various objects began to gradually fall as Su Huan entered Carriage 12, where a group of students gathered around an elderly man with graying temples.

The old man opened his eyes and smiled warmly at Su Huan, ”This truly is a wondrous power, it makes me feel ten years younger.”

The students around stepped aside in awe upon seeing Su Huan.

Compared to adults who’ve experienced society, this group of students has a more nuanced attitude towards authority, going from blind obedience to resistance and then to reverence.

In the adult world, the strong don’t need a reason.

Knowing he’s strong is enough; what he says becomes truth until he falls from that position, ignored by all.

But students are always curious, probing why you’re strong, why your truth is valid and theirs isn’t. Through this process of unraveling, they may scorn or admire.

Even if a strong man falls from grace, this belief rooted in youth becomes ever more precious with time, not easily shaken.

And Su Huan, from being a ”strong man” known for his combat skills, gradually became a ”strong figure” with profound knowledge about the apocalypse and evolution.

He possesses knowledge, capability, managerial skills, goals, and a righteous spirit of helping others.

Tough enough to manage such a large train, leading over a thousand people to willingly follow him.

Unbeknownst to Su Huan himself, he had gained the first loyal followers since the apocalypse.

Yes, the first batch.

Yu Yue doesn’t count; her beliefs are too soft and require frequent reinforcement from Su Huan.

Watching Professor Ma’s softened wrinkles and youthful skin, Su Huan extended his hand with a slight chuckle, ”Though I’ve said it many times, I must repeat it: welcome to the world of the Evolver.”

Professor Ma took Su Huan’s hand and solemnly said thank you.

Though he discerned that this young man was not as simple as he seemed, at his age, he no longer paid these things much mind.

He valued what to do now, and what might be done in the future.

”Is Professor Ma’s ability gravity control?”

Su Huan asked curiously.

Upon mentioning abilities, Professor Ma became instantly talkative, starting to describe various sensations and speculations during evolution.

No doubt, a scholar is a scholar.

During his evolution, his mind merely thought ”fighting is great!” and nothing more.

Professor Ma even deduced several evolutionary possibilities through the existence of panenergy.

Like sanguine resonance.

Only, which organ to consume is still uncertain now.

Su Huan wasn’t very knowledgeable about the evolution direction of gravity controllers either, as there were few controllers to begin with. Splitting into various hodgepodge directions didn’t leave much room.

He wasn’t secretive and immediately shared what he knew with Professor Ma, letting him choose.

Among the students, including Xiaozhao, four people had awakened.

Given that this group was all classified as researchers in general, their field didn’t matter much. Even if someone awakened as a defender, Su Huan couldn’t send them to the frontline to wield guns.

”Is there anything you need me to do next?” After talking about evolution, Professor Ma appropriately shifted to business.

Su Huan nodded and said directly, ”Most of the equipment from the digital center has been dismantled. I hope you can lead the students in installing them on the armored train, creating an information terminal.”

Professor Ma was not surprised, as he was the one who led the students in dismantling it, having had some guess upon seeing the train.

”Though it’s a bit bulky, modifying it shouldn’t be a major issue.”

”I have three requirements for the information terminal. First is the information library: it should be stable and immune to panenergy erosion. Second is intelligence: it doesn’t require high standards, just the level of artificial intelligence from decades ago, capable of facilitating my function calls or replacing the driver in operating the train. The third, most crucial point; I want comprehensive monitoring of both inside and outside the train, deploying drones for environmental surveillance.”

Listening to Su Huan’s requests, Professor Ma’s face grew increasingly serious.

If it was only about installing monitoring on the train, it wouldn’t be a major issue, since it’s all about wired communication.

Even making it intelligent would just be a bit troublesome.

The biggest challenge, however, is making the drones fly.

Professor Ma pondered, ”After you told me about panenergy hindering communication last time, the students and I did some research. Electromagnetic waves, infrared, and visible light communication are largely dysfunctional, and sound mechanical waves have yet to be tested. But even if they work normally, their limitations are vast.”

”As for special mediums, we lack the conditions, so restoring normal communication relies solely on panenergy, but that’s not my forte; I’ll do my best to try.”

Professor Ma spoke frankly, and Su Huan didn’t apply undue pressure.

In his previous life, when he defected, the Steel Council mainly relied on Evolvers for communication.

But it’s possible that other major powers had already developed methods for panenergy communication.

His was merely a shot in the dark, hitting or missing was both normal.

Anyway, no one on the armored train should be loafing around.