Armed Train in the Apocalypse

Lin Jin turned the grip around, ”I’m here to invite you.”

”I’ll be there as soon as I help them finish with the clothes.”

Just as she was about to leave, the man pulled her back, and the girl, with a touch of confusion, asked, ”What’s up?”

Lin Jin looked at the girl’s slender eyebrows, his throat moving slightly, ”Your brows and eyes are truly beautiful.”

Little Box’s cheeks flushed slightly, and she lightly pecked his face with a bit of playfulness, ”Such sweet words, I want to hear more tomorrow!”

The interaction between the two naturally didn’t escape the attention of the other women, and smiles spread across everyone’s faces.

Sounds of teasing laughter erupted everywhere, clear and bright.

Lin Jin regretted a little; he should have said it outside.

He went further into the room.

Just as he entered, he heard a mocking clicking of the tongue.

”Tsk tsk tsk...”

”How sweet were those words? Why don’t you teach them to me tomorrow?”

A tall figure stood with arms crossed in the middle, a teasing smile in his narrow eyes.

Hu Shuo, Shu Wei, Yu Jing, Tan Yunxi, and a group of staff were standing nearby. A soldier wearing special equipment was also there, obviously discussing something.

Lord Lian, draped in a large mink coat, sat on the sofa at the side, nonchalantly flipping through the documents on the table like a queen reviewing her memorials. She casually said, ”So who do you plan to say it to?”

The women’s expressions suddenly became a bit subtle.

Women are strange creatures. They may be confused about specific matters, but they have a high sensitivity to the subtle changes in interpersonal relationships.

They had long noticed each other’s presence, but no one had pointed it out.

There was a flicker of emotion in Shu Wei’s eyes, but no trace appeared on her face. Yu Jing didn’t even show the slightest reaction.

Only Tan Yunxi, sneaking glances at the expressions of the two women, clearly looked guilty to anyone.

Su Huan licked his fine teeth; it had been a long time since anyone had put him on the spot like this.

”What are you guys busy with?” Lin Jin quickly mediated, then looked at the soldier’s equipment, asking curiously, ”Is this new equipment?”

”Yes, many officers reported that the old version of the [Guardian-3] was too heavy, affecting combat, so we’ve been researching a new version suitable for officers.”

Hu Shuo interjected to explain.

With just two sentences, everyone’s attention shifted to the new equipment.

The new equipment, classified as battle armor, is made from Tier Three Evolution Beast skin combined with a Fungus Carpet, somewhat similar to the White Scale Armor Yu Jing wore, but with more features, integrating many tactical kits commonly used by soldiers, such as a tactical vest on the chest, helmet, belt, knee and elbow pads, leg mounting platform, and communication devices.

First of all, it’s fully covered to defend against 12.7mm sniper rounds. This means the armor won’t be penetrated, but the person inside could still be injured, though the armor won’t be easily damaged.

For someone like Su Huan, with such energy intensity, any movement could tear the fabric.

Only Tier Three Beast skin could withstand his energy output.

Meanwhile, the Fungus Carpet served multiple functions, such as backup communication, biological monitoring network (monitoring heart rate, blood pressure, blood oxygen, etc.), nutrient injection, toxin and bacteria protection, full oxygen supply, shock absorption, sweat absorption, and more.

One could say the Fungus Carpet provided most of the battle armor’s functions and was key to its rapid development.

However, there’s a downside. The Fungus Carpet needs to return near the main Fungus Carpet every month to maintain life, or it will enter a dormant state, turning the battle armor into just a high-strength combat suit.

Besides, the battle armor has many hardware interfaces, allowing it to be worn with any exoskeleton or Power Armor produced by the train.

Currently, there are three colors: a green close to current military uniforms, a black-blue, and a camouflage color.

This distinction isn’t due to manufacturing differences but because the three battle armors are made from different Tier Three Evolution Beasts, leading to different Energy Solidification effects.

The camouflage color from the White Tiger offers a strong concealment effect in the woods, avoiding mutant plant attacks and guaranteeing user body temperature in extreme environments.

The green from the Black Tortoise promotes life energy, speeds wound recovery, requires little Life Force, and self-repairs upon contact with water.

The blue-black from the Snake offers excellent water resistance and superior shock absorption among the armors.

These materials fit the Four Symbols, so the armors were named the Four Symbols Series: [White Tiger-1], [Cyan Dragon-1], [Black Tortoise-1].

”I plan to distribute it during the rank conferment ceremony later.”

Su Huan said.

Lin Jin looked at the battle armor on the soldier, eyes aglow with eagerness. With its current features, it already far surpassed Power Armor.

”How heavy is this?”

”20 kg.”

Tan Yunxi casually reported the weight.

Lin Jin was taken aback, ”Forty pounds? It doesn’t look that heavy...”

”It’s Tier Three Beast skin, so this weight is quite good, and it’s not oppressive for a Tier One Evolver! Impressive, right?”

Tan Yunxi explained, regaining his usual style.

Lin Jin nodded repeatedly, ”Impressive, very impressive.”

After all, it’s made from materials of Tier Three Evolution Beasts, carrying its imposing aura. Someone under a Tier One Evolver would feel oppressed wearing it. However, Su Huan wasn’t planning to equip the armor widely; it’s made from Tier Three materials, costly to produce.

One set is priceless, worth more than the life of a Tier Two Evolver!

Only for regular officer wear.

To prevent incidents in the Spore Zone.

If they had these armors during the Four Nations War, the train’s casualties would have decreased significantly.

Speaking of which, Yu Yue quietly walked in, reminding Su Huan that it was his turn to appear. After all, today was the conferment event, and as the train’s captain, he had to preside over it personally in any case.

As they exited the backstage area, women in skimpy outfits were dancing enthusiastically on stage, a group of shirtless men shouting deafeningly, the lights, flames, echoes of war... everything stimulated everyone’s nerves.

Despair, loneliness, death, farewells... The sorrows accumulated over a lifetime in peacetime all played out in this year.

They needed an outlet badly.

A skinny man sat in the corner. The train’s provisions had slightly replenished his frail body. Coupled with the dignity reclaimed from the Four Nations War, this battered old soldier gradually exuded a Tier One Evolver’s aura.

He held a cup of beverage in his hand, sipping it slowly. It was supposedly sweet, yet tasted bitter like beer to him.

Zhao Yuan, leading a woman in a leather skirt, came over to sit beside him and, after a pause, finally spoke, ”Old Ding, I’ve decided not to leave.”

”The company only has us two left; I have to guard it in place of the old squad leader.”

”So many brothers have gone, never returning to see their families, so I have to stay on their behalf.”

...

”Do you think I’m stupid, clueless?”

”The old squad leader and Old Dong tricked me to go out...”

”I know, I know it all. It’s as clear as a mirror in my heart, but I had to go, or everyone’s efforts would’ve been in vain.”

”I’m scared, but I’m not cowardly; I’m just afraid my brothers died for nothing...”

Ding Hui couldn’t even speak, leaving it to Zhao Yuan, the young platoon leader, to keep talking.

Ding Hui gulped down his drink, turned, and grabbed Zhao Yuan’s hand, writing some words on it.

”You didn’t let them down, I just came back too late.”

Ding Hui turned to leave, exhaling deeply at the bonfire and crowd ahead. If he hadn’t delayed returning while searching for medicines, maybe many brothers’ injuries wouldn’t have worsened. Now he had returned with medicine, but his brothers were gone.

He didn’t blame Zhao Yuan, just himself for returning too late.

Suppressed sobs came from behind him.

After a long while, the woman in the leather skirt placed her hand gently on his shoulder after the man finished crying.

”I’ll stay and guard here with you from now on.”

Zhao Yuan wiped his tears and stood up, surprised, ”You’re not going to be a Black Bandit anymore?”

The woman sighed, ”What bandit? All my people were wiped out, if I had known I’d have avoided you, who knew it would be the last deal.”