Armed Train in the Apocalypse

The enormous stench of plants surged up, nearly knocking Ge Mian over.

He pinched his nose and frowned as he looked at the small mountain before him.

Various severed vines, large trees, flower pistils, weeds, and dense insect and beast carcasses were mixed together, the green plant juices soaking the soil, creating a powerful smell under the sunlight; it was indeed a pile of waste materials.

However, the energy still lingering on top made Ge Mian’s face change drastically.

And several experts had already rushed up eagerly.

Even if their shoe soles were smeared with the mucus from insect carcasses, they didn’t care, rummaging through the pile and then raising a giant leaf stripped of its veins, ”Is this complete Tier One material? Or the most valuable core component, just thrown away like that?”

Xiaozhao glanced up at the leaf in his hand, wanting to speak but hesitating.

This kind of leaf was indeed Tier One material, but the Plant Zone had no shortage of Tier One plants; thousands of leaves of better quality had been stored by him today, and the rest were discarded after collecting some materials.

After all, the train’s space was limited, mutated plants grew tall and large, and their materials could bury the train in layers, so only the most valuable parts could be selected.

”Damn it, this is actually the branch of a Tier Two evolutionary plant!”

”What kind of seed is this?”

”Such wastefulness!”

A group of experts searched through the refuse, occasionally exclaiming in surprise.

It’s not that they hadn’t seen Tier One materials. They were simply terrified of scarcity.

Large forces didn’t lack basic supplies, but evolutionary materials were never enough, with their basic personnel exceeding the train’s capacity tenfold, consuming resources at a hundredfold rate, and every piece of Tier One material required killing a Tier One evolutionary life at the same level to obtain, a result of combat personnel risking their lives.

Like Jiao Ting’s Iron Wolf Corps, facing a Tier One zombie tide, they’d hide for half a month, let alone hunt.

Only large forces led by Tier Two Evolvers with heavy firepower could qualify for large-scale Tier One material hunting.

If Tier Two materials were mixed in, precise collective coordination would be even more necessary.

As for Tier Three, only forces like Donghuang Heavy Industry with the Heavy Armor Brigade dare to set their sights on them.

If it weren’t for Lord Lian biting into Su Huan hard afterward, Donghuang Heavy Industry wouldn’t recover even now.

Massive resources invested into Titan at the Longxi High-speed Rail made them wish they could split every resource into halves.

Xiaozhao did not mock this scene.

If not for the train conductor, they wouldn’t be any better than the experts before them.

No, without the conductor, they would have already died at that logistics center, with the unlucky ones consumed completely on the spot, and the lucky ones turned into zombies, wandering this apocalypse.

According to the conductor’s speculation, becoming a zombie might also count as stepping onto the path of evolution.

But if one’s memory and identity are wiped clean, is it still evolution?

Ge Mian got over his initial shock, turned around, and smiled, ”Exposed, please forgive me. How should I address you?”

The chubby man spoke of exposure without any embarrassment, conversing easily with Xiaozhao.

”Armed Train Logistics Group Purser, Xiaozhao.” Xiaozhao extended his hand and shook the other’s hand courteously, earnestly saying, ”The teacher said survival depends on making the most of every resource; that’s the main task going forward.”

Hearing this prefix, Ge Mian’s eyes glowed with admiration and he said, ”Your teacher is someone of great wisdom.”

The system of the Armed Train was no secret anymore, with core positions and personnel data essential for all major force leaders to understand.

The term logistics group purser sounded ordinary, but in other forces, they preferred the title chief purser.

And Hu Shuo’s importance in the train ranked at least in the top five, with the advisory team unanimously valuing Hu Shuo above Secretary Shu Wei, comparable to Black Kite Directorship and the Deep Blue Data Nine-Member Council level.

Who knew such a crucial position quietly shifted to the young person before him?

Solely this information made Ge Mian feel he’d gained prize insight.

Xiaozhao exchanged pleasantries for a few moments, then anxiously said, ”If you need these materials, feel free to take them all; don’t let them rummage inside. There’s a lot of messy stuff in there, and if anything goes wrong, it’s trouble.”

Ge Mian scratched his head, pretending a troubled look, ”I can’t stop them either. Don’t look at me as a leader; when these people get stubborn, they don’t listen to anyone.”

Thinking of Director Xu and the teacher, Xiaozhao nodded empathetically.

The two found a common topic and started venting about the stubborn temperament of the veteran researchers.

Sharing laughs while coordinating work.

The main task was to discuss the planting and communication methods of the Traveler’s Tree; after all, not everyone had the conductor’s force to discipline such a colossal and peculiar life form like a pet.

Ordinary folks still needed to focus on communication methods.

”That’s the composition of the outpost; we didn’t make many plans, so feel free to add as needed. These are minor details; most importantly, foster a good relationship during the Traveler’s Tree’s newborn stage, as it concerns the outpost’s stability.”

Xiaozhao explained meticulously.

Ge Mian nodded repeatedly from the side. At first, he was surprised by Xiaozhao’s youth, but now he admired Xiaozhao’s mindset; from start to finish, Xiaozhao was earnest, without a hint of arrogance in his demeanor.

If it were him, regardless of age, even with his current shrewdness, he’d find it difficult to remain as calm as Xiaozhao when facing a vastly inferior force.