Armed Train in the Apocalypse

Wang Fei seemed oblivious to the bizarre scene, tugged at his soaked shirt, and let out a long breath.

He tremblingly fished out a crumpled cigarette pack, clamping a cigarette into his mouth only after three attempts.

Turning his head to look at the train parked in front of the Gantry Crane, there seemed to be figures moving in the driver’s cab, and the sunlight reflected blindingly off the windshield.

”So what do we do now?”

Ma Baozi asked bleakly, covering his nose.

Wang Fei took a deep drag of his cigarette, and the nicotine temporarily subdued his pounding heart.

He stared at the slowly opening hatch on the side of the train, from which a squad of fully armed elite soldiers emerged one by one.

He didn’t recognize this group of people either.

Until today, he had never seen any member of the armed train.

He merely lived in the shadow cast by the train.

”Did your people mention the protection fee?”

Ma Baozi hesitated for a moment, ”They probably did, they’re just waiting for me to go over.”

Wang Fei’s hand, holding the cigarette, finally stopped shaking.

”Bang bang bang—”

”You fucking hit me again!”

”I’ve got so many brothers here, and you fucking dare to hit me!”

”Didn’t you hit me already?!”

”Can’t we talk this out, in front of so many of my brothers?”

”Brother Wang...”

”Brother Fei, Brother Fei...”

...

This time, Ma Baozi was really beaten senseless.

Amidst a group of oddly-faced subordinates, the two headed toward the train by the Gantry Crane.

Seeing the two’s demeanor, a man wearing a leather apron stood stunned.

Wang Fei glanced at him, ”What did you say to the people on the train just now?”

”Not much, just about collecting a toll.”

”No swearing, right?”

”Nope, we’re civilized about toll collection, no swearing.”

”That’s good.”

”Bang!”

The man in the leather apron fell to the ground with a thud.

Ma Baozi felt a chill in his heart, ”What does this mean?”

”To apologize.”

Wang Fei’s face was calm.

His people didn’t react much, but Ma Baozi’s subordinates wouldn’t let it go, wanting an explanation.

Several of them brandished guns, but were shot dead by Wang Fei’s men before they could raise them.

Five corpses instantly quashed all dissent.

This group had fought their way out of Mojiang with him; they might hesitate to kill zombies, but not when it came to dealing with their own.

No way would they have survived the great zombie tide otherwise.

As they disembarked from the Gantry Crane, guarded by armed personnel, two men approached.

The leading man had a steady, refined demeanor, like a lawyer or diplomat.

The other was burly, equally tough, but clearly less important than the one in front.

Wang Fei’s eyes flickered, vaguely forming a judgment.

”The guy’s dead, so pin it on him later. Show some spine, understand?”

Ma Baozi nodded repeatedly.

Wang Fei figured he didn’t dare try anything and began planning his words for later.

With the train personnel still four or five meters away, Wang Fei was about to step forward.

But Ma Baozi suddenly knelt down with a thump beside him.

Tearfully he confessed, ”He’s the one who forced us to charge road tolls; we’re just a group of ordinary folks trying to band together in these chaotic times, not planning on any robber activity. He came here with people a few days ago; we took him in out of kindness. But if anything displeased him, he’d beat us, and if we didn’t obey, he’d kill us!”

As he spoke, he turned and pointed at the corpses behind him for Juan to see.

Wang Fei stood there slack-jawed, his face twitching furiously.

’When did this idiot become such a sly fox?!’

Even his and Ma Baozi’s subordinates were dumbfounded.

Juan, initially here for preliminary negotiations, didn’t expect such a scene.

Seeing Ma Baozi sobbing like a pitiful wife, he fell into deep thought.

After hesitating for a moment, he said, ”I need to consult the train conductor.”

...

On the train’s second floor, Su Huan was leaning by the window, watching the kneeling and standing pair with interest.

He had listened to their conversation entirely.

He expected a twist, but not such a reversal.

Though, it was within reason.

Su Huan had encountered Wang Fei twice in his past life and had wondered where the Mojiang Mutual Aid Convoy he led had gone, only to find out he accidentally wiped them out along with the Steel Council.

If Juan was a mangy dog, this guy was a cunning wolf.

Sly and ruthless, with a black heart.

Wang Fei had long harbored the intent to kill that pockmarked leader, who likely saw it coming, prompting this turn of events.

Yet Su Huan couldn’t be bothered with it; someone like Wang Fei wasn’t worth his time.

When Juan came to inquire, he simply told him to proceed with the usual transaction.

It took an hour for the train to exchange about a ton of clean water for a large amount of dismantled car parts and some information on the Shun’an black market.

After the transaction, the train, pulled by two engines, proceeded further into Shun’an.

The entire process was handled by the crew, with Su Huan and the core members remaining out of sight.

At this moment, the train conductor was in the carriage planning a new operation.

The dining car’s control screen had become two, mounted on a movable stand, which Su Huan pulled to the table, adjusting the angle, ”Can you see clearly?”

”Yes, we can.”

”No problem.”

”...”

Upon hearing the responses, Su Huan briefly glanced at the sides of the long table. Yu Yue, Xiaoba, Liang Kuan, Lin Jin, He Jie, Qu Hang, Mountain Goat, Lao San along with Lu Xiao, and Jiang Rong, the two moles, all combat personnel on the train were present.