Armed Train in the Apocalypse

Chapter 131: Chapter 121: Data Collector

Xiaozhao didn’t drop the ball either. Not only did he participate in the entire project, but he was also familiar with every process and detail, able to handle any question Su Huan asked.

Such an outstanding young person, he’s willing to give more opportunities.

Thanks to Xiaozhao’s explanation, Su Huan quickly had a complete understanding of the information hub that Professor Ma and others had set up.

They used 5,250 25t hard disks to set up 70 disk cabinets, creating a 100pb database, but a problem arose.

Not counting the monitors, drones, etc., just maintaining this database daily consumes over 5,000 kwh, comparable to a small factory, while the hydrogen train beneath their feet has a total capacity of only 440 kwh.

To run the thing at full power, there was only one option: the conductor would do nothing but stay here as a power bank around the clock.

But that was impossible.

So Professor Ma and his team researched and decided to divide the database into sections, activating them alternately with a student who had awakened as a Power Supplier providing the electricity to ensure normal operation of the database.

Besides, the armored train doesn’t need 100pb storage right now; solutions can be developed later when required.

Subsequent information hub setups were conducted around this database, which was exactly what Su Huan saw in car 11 just now.

However, the information hub’s current functioning capabilities are limited, as both software and hardware are still being built; only a circuit reinstallation was done to achieve internal communication, and some surveillance was added inside and outside the train.

For instance, earlier when Liang Kuan noticed an abnormal noise at the front of the train but had no time to check, it can now be easily inspected through the installed cameras.

Also, inside Wan Xing’s fridge, the quantity of gene drugs is monitored, the connection status of the carriages is checked, and in the storage carriage on the second floor...

In addition, there are various alert measures, like monitoring the status of all the car’s windows, and if any glass suddenly breaks, a warning will be received immediately.

Watching Xiaozhao continuously switch the cameras, Su Huan felt increasingly satisfied.

Though many things were just child’s play before the apocalypse, for someone building from scratch, it was a significant breakthrough.

For things like these, either you have them, or you don’t; impatience won’t help.

If it weren’t for Professor Ma and his team, Su Huan couldn’t have built a database even if it killed him, nor could he have modified drones, or smoothly implemented the train-wide surveillance which had been planned for so long.

Although the functionality is still quite basic now, having this foundation allows for gradual upgrades in the future.

There’s always hope to be seen.

After checking the progress, Su Huan didn’t hold back his praise, ”The current results are satisfactory, I’m very pleased.”

At this moment, the busy students around all collectively sighed of relief, and even their steps became much lighter.

Though Professor Ma wasn’t as tense, hearing this he also showed a contented smile.

”Next, I have another task for you to tackle, which is to make a rail detector; the drone on the train’s front is quite good—it can spot issues two or three hundred meters in advance.”

Su Huan continued.

Xiaozhao straightened up and immediately took out a tablet to record the request, then asked, ”Other than detecting obstacles and broken rails, does this detector have any other requirements? Should it also conduct detailed monitoring of buildings, vehicles, and mountainsides on both sides of the road?”

Su Huan nodded with satisfaction, appreciating this ability to infer and apply broadly, no wonder Professor Ma gave this kid a chance.

”The things you mentioned could be appropriately incorporated, but my most urgent need right now is just one.” Su Huan raised a finger in front of him, with a calm expression, ”Mine sweeping.”

...

Old Liu placed the piece of green steel aside; this was his second piece of the day.

Currently, the train is severely lacking Makers, so nearly all Makers are constantly crafting new materials, even a conductor like him is no exception.

But he only needs to make a standard piece of Tier One Light Armor each day, the rest of the time is spent on vehicle maintenance.

Though time is a bit tight, there’s nothing bad about it, as long as there’s work, there’s food to eat, and having constant work means the train’s development is on track, allowing him to continually have meals.

Work a day, eat a day.

Feels reassuring.

He stood up, packed his satchel, and put in several commonly used tools, then took out his glass cup, poured a little hot water in to wash the tea stains at the bottom, dumped it out, added a small bag of black tea, filled the cup with hot water, screwed on the lid, and hung it at his waist.

The hot water, naturally, is a perk for the crew; as long as he stays on the train for a day, food, drink, and shelter are covered.

They are paid too, though not as much as Lao San, and it’s paid as points, distributed weekly based on completed work, totaling 5 points.

These points can be exchanged for daily necessities.

He traded all of his for tea leaves.

Every day before starting work, he’d brew a cup, not placing it in his bag, just hanging it by his waist, making a jangling sound while passing through the rear carriages.

The whole train’s eyes would be on him.

Even though other passengers could find quite a few good things outside, who wouldn’t envy his cup of tea?

Frankly, although life is a bit tight now, he truly feels it has more flavor than before the apocalypse.

The food is fragrant, the tea is fragrant, even the work seems invigorating.

After making tea, he looked at the desk where a list was already laid out.

This list is usually handwritten by Old Hu, providing their next day’s tasks after supper each night.

Thick fingers sifted through the list.

”Lu Xiao’s squad vehicle maintenance ×1, fire truck routine maintenance ×3...”

’Lu Xiao really conducts missions frequently, wonder how many points he’s earned.’

Although he thought this way, Old Liu did not feel much envy. People are different.

Some people have ambitions and are willing to climb up, but there are many people like him who prefer stability.

Casually stuffing the list into his bag, Old Liu hummed a tune and walked towards the back.

Passing through Carriage 16, he greeted a few familiar workers and walked past under the eyes full of envy and jealousy.

The passengers in the back carriage had just returned and were shaking off their raincoats, checking their supplies. They were soaking wet and exhausted, not having had time to dry off, then queued up to submit their tickets; by the time they finished, their clothes were thoroughly soaked.

”Excuse me, excuse me.”

Old Liu shouted as he squeezed through the crowd.

He didn’t care about the acid rain rubbing off on him. After all, he was an Evolver now. As long as he wasn’t soaked in acid rain for long periods, it wasn’t a big deal for him.

Unlike the workers in the front, the passengers didn’t have the same calm. They either stared coldly at him or came over with flattery, asking questions.

It was like vagrants looking at a landlord’s workers, full of envy and jealousy, with a hint of repressed resentment.

But Old Liu paid even less attention to it. As long as he was on the train, no one dared to touch him.

Right now, space on the train was already tight. Unless forced, no one wanted to be kicked off.

What’s more, with the conductor’s personality, if you caused trouble, no one knew if the legs would leave the train first or the head.

After passing through more than ten carriages, Old Liu saw two familiar faces, not entirely familiar, just people who boarded these past two days.

One was in his twenties, always carrying a backpack, even on the train. The other was in his thirties, scruffy with a beard, wearing a gold ring on his left hand, always covered in a raincoat; Old Liu had never seen him take it off.

However, their behavior wasn’t unusual among the over a thousand people on the train.

The reason Old Liu remembered them was that they paid three days’ fare at once.

Unlike other passengers, they didn’t desperately squeeze to the front carriage.

They just quietly squatted in the back carriage.

After exchanging a few words, their mental state seemed fine, but he had never seen them socialize with the surrounding people.

They didn’t even ask about the train’s condition.

That was quite strange.

Once he walked past, the two exchanged glances. The younger one, more experienced, comforted the man with the ring, ”Don’t worry, just collect data normally.”

The man turned the ring on his finger and smiled wryly, ”I’m just a bit nervous entering another faction’s territory for a mission for the first time.”

”You’ve seen these past days, the armed train barely manages the passengers at the back. The key members and activities are in the front carriages. As long as we don’t show ourselves, not even Evolvers can find us.”

...

”What’s up with those two people, doesn’t the conductor care?”

Jiang Rong leaned against a fire truck, folding her raincoat, and asked curiously.

Although she could dry off the water directly, she still needed to go for a charging task later, so she couldn’t waste energy freely.

Lu Xiao rubbed his stubbly chin thoughtfully, ”I talked to the conductor last time, but he told us not to bother with those two, probably holding back some big plan again.”

The sound of a door opening interrupted their conversation.

Turning around, they saw it was Old Liu, and both relaxed.

Because he was an auto technician whom they often dealt with, they had a bit of rapport.

”Old Liu is here.”

Lu Xiao greeted with a smile.

”I heard you’re fixing cars. What broke today?”

Old Liu circled around his pickup truck, frowning slightly.

Lu Xiao folded his arms, smacked his lips, ”What else could it be, the front of the car again, it crashed again. Please fix it well this time, we’re old friends after all.”

”Nonsense. I don’t earn anything working for you, you think I enjoy fixing it repeatedly!”

Seeing Old Liu getting a bit anxious, Lu Xiao laughed it off.

Old Liu took out his tools muttering, ”If not for the refitting at the front, lacking blue steel everywhere, I’d definitely use that material for you, it’s durable. For now, I’ll have to make do with normal material...”

”Can you add a bull bar and explosion-proof mesh for me? So zombies don’t always climb my windows and gross me out.”

”Sure, sure...”

Old Liu started fixing the car.

After being interrupted this way, neither of them continued the previous topic.

Soon, Xiaoma came over with his brothers.

After a period of experience, the youthful restlessness in Xiaoma had faded a lot, replaced by a steady demeanor.

When Miao Qi wasn’t around, he was the second-in-command in the team.

”Brother Xiao, this time we got a whole three heads of Tier One Evolution Beast. Time to exchange for a sniper rifle for your wife.”