Armed Train in the Apocalypse

Chapter 306: Chapter 221: Allowed to Bite the Hook, Not to Eat the Bait

As Su Huan was arranging for the survivors, including Li Han, outside the train, he entered car 44, and the next three carriages were all Director Xu’s laboratories.

Due to the strict disinfection procedures required each time, Su Huan generally avoided coming unless necessary.

Even if there was something, he would call Director Xu out.

The first thing he saw was the narrow equipment carriage, not the white and blue sci-fi aesthetic like car 2, but more of a heavy industrial and future technology mix, leaning towards pragmatism.

The year 2035 is a time of rapid development, with new technology and equipment emerging, while old equipment is not yet obsolete. To adapt to the train environment, these pieces of equipment had undergone some anti-collision and balancing modifications, as if patched with mechanical enhancements.

A few thin chairs and a small round table were placed at the very edge, serving as the laboratory’s reception and waiting area.

As soon as he entered, Su Huan saw Lin Xi and Xiaoxi sitting there.

Xiaoxi stood up, ”Conductor.”

Su Huan nodded, ”What are you doing here?”

”Lin Jin has something on, so he asked me to accompany Xiaoxi for a check-up.”

”Xiaolin still doesn’t quite trust me, huh.”

Director Xu pushed open the door from the back carriage, wearing a white coat, hair meticulously combed, and even his gray eyebrows were neatly arranged.

Xiaoxi smiled without speaking, while Lin Xi remained the same, with unfocused pupils, acting oblivious.

Director Xu scrutinized Su Huan with sharp eyes and then smiled, ”Is the aura concealment device working?”

Su Huan raised his wrist, ”Not bad. What’s the situation with the Crown Pear tree?”

Director Xu had Lin Xi and Xiaoxi leave first, then led Su Huan inside.

On the operating platform was a branch of the Crown Pear tree, with researchers busy among various instruments.

Director Xu explained, ”We discovered during our research that although the branches of the Crown Pear tree are separated from the trunk, their life cycle is the same. Regardless of the branch size or fruiting status, as long as the main trunk of the Crown Pear tree begins to wither, other branches also start to weaken.”

Su Huan frowned deeply, ”Will the branches planted in the train car farm wither as well?”

”Yes, I specifically went to verify it, and all life forces have declined.”

They thought transplanting was a done deal, but didn’t expect this to happen.

Fortunately, they didn’t discard the main trunk back then; otherwise, the remaining pears would wither to no avail.

After advancing to Tier Two, the rate of life force consumption is much faster than Tier One. To continue advancing to Tier Three or even Tier Five, resources that replenish life force must be plentiful.

By any means, the Crown Pear tree must be revived.

Calmly, ”What needs to be done to revive this tree?”

Director Xu pointed to the deck, stating carefully, ”Erect the main trunk and provide it with nutrition. The result is not guaranteed, but this is currently the only viable solution.”

Su Huan scratched his head, squinting at the branches on the operating platform.

The Crown Pear tree, a full forty meters tall, erecting it is no small project.

Placing it on the train is out of the question.

A strong wind could overturn the entire train.

They could only make a separate carriage, erect it, and tow it behind the train.

”How much time do we have?”

Director Xu pondered for a moment, ”The life force decline was just discovered. Given the Crown Pear tree’s robust life force, we have at least a month, but there might be acceleration later on, no guarantees...”

Su Huan calmly ordered, ”Shu Wei, send a message to the director and Vice President Deng. Within twenty days, get the Crown Pear tree erected. All train resources and manpower can be mobilized by him.”

The busy secretary looked up and said, ”Vice President Deng is in car 47, and he would like to discuss the details in person.”

”Let’s go.”

After leaving Director Xu’s area, Su Huan immediately headed to the director’s side.

The director and Vice President Deng’s carriage also consisted of three sections, corresponding to Bullet Workshop’s cars 47, 48, and 49.

Thankfully, the carriage area was small, so it was just a matter of entering and exiting doors when moving around.

Vice President Deng and his team primarily handled the train’s daily maintenance, including mechanical arm maintenance, carriage equipment maintenance, and performing upgrades and modifications on the existing train infrastructure by adding functional modules.

This work eased some of Yu Jing’s workload.

Yu Jing was now primarily focused on new material research and exoskeleton manufacturing.

As soon as the door opened, the sound of a saw cutting through material was heard.

Wearing small glasses, Vice President Deng and the director were discussing something with furrowed brows.

When they saw Su Huan, they immediately approached.

Dispensing with formalities, the first thing said was, ”Conductor, I’m confident we can erect the Crown Pear tree within twenty days, but you need to provide me with materials and people.”

Su Huan’s eyes brightened slightly, ”How many do you need?”

Vice President Deng replied earnestly, ”At least three thousand!”

”Three thousand... no problem.”

Su Huan’s eyes flashed, a hint of ferocity in them.

At the side, Shu Wei furrowed his brow while taking notes, realizing the entire train had just over a thousand people, let alone those in special positions that couldn’t be moved. Adding the two hundred survivors on the deck, it was still two thousand short.

Where to find so many people?

...

Li Han was awoken by hunger at dawn.

Feeling the coolness on his face, he pulled his blanket closer and sat up.

On the train deck were survivors sleeping in disarray, with soldiers standing guard in the gaps.

The catastrophe had accustomed them to short sleep. Some were enduring hunger in a feigned sleep, while others whispered quietly.

They survived another day.

Li Han instinctively looked at his hand, incredulous about his newfound status as an Evolver.