Armed Train in the Apocalypse

Chapter 391: Chapter 260: Roll Out, Armored Train!

The entire unit of armed soldiers, including officers, slept until the afternoon of the next day, and only then got up to work as the sun leaned westward.

The gunfire on Tide Watching Island lasted all night.

Taking advantage of the dry weather and the favorable night, Han Kexin led a group of survivors to convert the resort hotel in the middle of the crater into a shelter overnight.

She was part of the same crew batch as Hu Shuo, but had never been put to good use because her building skills were too niche.

Hu Shuo became a purser, yet she could only do odd jobs.

Last time, she showcased her skills while constructing the Shun’an Outpost, and that’s how she secured her position.

Now she was a Level 5 Crew, specializing in designing and overseeing construction projects.

”Stewardess Han, we’ve finished over here, please come and inspect it.”

A foreman called out from a distance.

Han Kexin slipped an apple-flavored hard candy under her tongue and turned to say goodbye to Lao San, who was supervising the work, before leaving in a hurry.

Lao San sat at the highest point of the building and waved his hand with a smile, ”Don’t worry, with your Third Brother here, no one dares to slack off.”

”Third Brother, your eyes are all over her.”

A teasing voice came from behind.

Lao San didn’t need to look back to know who it was. On the entire train, he held a middle-tier position, and the only one who could call him Third Brother and joke with him was that kid, Zhang Kai.

Back at the logistics center, the four of them were tormented by He Jie every day, forming deep bonds.

Although the train conductor was nominally ”the fourth,” Zhang Kai was practically the fourth brother.

”Bullshit, should I be looking at you instead of the girls?”

”My mom won’t let me.”

Zhang Kai sat down next to Lao San.

Lao San glanced at him irritably, ”If you’re bored, go rub a tree, why waste your time here with me.”

”Don’t mimic the conductor. The conductor is handsome; his sideways glances are imposing and authoritative. You look like you’re about to burst into my room at night and kill me.”

Being brothers in arms, Lao San could tell there was more to his words after just exchanging a few.

He composed himself, ”What’s up?”

At this moment, the sky was still dark, though no clouds were visible, and the sky had an elegant blue hue, adding a touch of gloominess to the two rugged men.

”...I want to get off the train.”

After hesitating for some time, Zhang Kai spoke.

Lao San was stunned for a moment, then tugged his shoulder to move back, ”You’re not going north to find your mom?”

Without the daylight, Zhang Kai’s expression grew even more shadowed.

He lit a cigarette, the glowing tip flickering.

”Third Brother, it’s been four months.”

”Bullshit, I have—”

”My mom’s so old, she couldn’t possibly hold on this long.”

Zhang Kai’s voice was free from pain, only a peaceful acceptance.

Lao San scratched his head irritably. Although he was the smartest of the three brothers, that was like being a general among dwarfs. Their parents had passed away early, so he was not adept at dealing with emotional issues.

If Boss or Lao Er had any mood swings, a good beating would suffice.

But with Zhang Kai...

”How about giving it another try?”

”It’s just self-deception.”

Lao San’s eyes widened like a bull’s, ”You’re trying to use big words with your Third Brother!”

”It’s just useless.”

Zhang Kai sighed.

”Coward!”

”Scolding me won’t help.”

Lao San grabbed his cigarette and took a couple of deep puffs, his mood shifting unpredictably, ”Have you decided where to go?”

”Go where?”

Zhang Kai turned his head, puzzled.

”Bullshit, for regular passengers it’s whatever, but you, who has made a name for yourself in front of the conductor—to leave the train now is practically running away, isn’t it?”

Lao San said coldly.

Zhang Kai realized, ”That’s not it, you know Wang He, right? The former foreman, he got off the train when we built the Shun’an Base. Now we’re planning to set up a base in Guan Chong City too. I think the conductor might need some of his own people to stay, so can you mention it to the conductor for me and see if it’s possible?”

Lao San’s expression softened.

”If that’s the case, it might be possible, but this place is neither a village nor a town. What are you staying here for?”

”There must be an endpoint, right? Why can’t it be Tide Watching Island...”

”Don’t give me that poetic crap, just speak human language.”

”I’m scared.”

Zhang Kai looked at the distant sky, a touch of red dawn emerging.

First it spread over the water, then quickly swept across the trains by the shore, over the piled logs, flowing into the crater, casting a fiery red glow on the construction site and the mountains behind.

...

”Woo...”

The train whistle sounded, and the armed train left Tide Watching Island under the watchful eyes of a group of people, some happy, some sad.

Aside from Zhang Kai, more than twenty people stayed behind, split evenly between the crew and the Armed Corps.

Many in the Armed Corps initially joined for the good benefits, but He Jie’s brutal training regime mentally crushed some of them.

The weakest among them were Evolvers and capable of killing, with strong spirits.

But He Jie’s methods were truly extreme.

When a person’s physical and mental strength is worn to the extreme, many things cease to matter.

They just wanted to end it all.

They rested one night, fought one night, giving them ample time to make their choices.

Besides this, there were over a thousand survivors, most of them scavenged from Guan Chong City, who initially didn’t even have a place to stay. Having a safe little island now naturally satisfied them.

The people from Iron Mountain Shelter naturally wanted to go home first.

They could also help the train conductor push the workload on board, as there was a significant shortage of materials, ammunition, uniforms, and other supplies recently.

Because of the need to link Tide Watching Island and Iron Mountain Shelter, Iron Old Man left his second son, Qi Zhendong, on the island.

”I didn’t expect you to stay.”

Qi Zhendong turned to look at Ah Duo beside him.

Ah Duo was not particularly pretty, but her beast transformation had given her a wildness and agility that other women generally lacked.

Ah Duo said calmly, ”Your people from Iron Mountain Shelter can stay, so why can’t we from New Eden?”