Armed Train in the Apocalypse

Ge Mian reminisced about the battle in the Plant Zone, saying lightly, ”If he takes a liking to you, then you’ll have leapfrogged the Dragon Gate.”

Ruble frowned slightly.

He couldn’t quite tell if Ge Mian was exaggerating the train conductor’s prowess or just making an objective statement.

But the strength of the Dragon Gate was undeniable; people don’t just spring out of rocks, and supplies don’t fall from the sky. In the impoverished Rust Area, developing a medium-sized force into a major power isn’t much easier than defeating a large one.

It’s all unimaginably complex for ordinary people.

Moreover, he’s over fifty years old and no longer harbors great ambitions.

So he only politely smiled in response to Ge Mian’s praise, planning to watch the forthcoming spectacle from the back.

He thought it would add some novelty to the few remaining times he could share new experiences with his children and grandchildren.

Holding onto this idea, Ruble sat more steadily, watching a few elusive bigwigs chirp away like little wives.

Before they could come up with a plan, the Armed Train arrived.

Ruble snapped at the tense guard, ”Where are we now?”

”Woo—”

The sound of the whistle, like that of a deep-sea whale, echoed overhead. The faded sunset outside was obscured by shadows, plunging the entire city hall building into darkness as the glasses on the table trembled with the growing sound, with precious clear water spilling over the mahogany tabletop.

The guard wiped the sweat from his dazed eyes, hesitated, and said, ”It’s right above...”

But no one paid attention to him; a group of executives stood by the window, looking out.

The owner of the mine rubbed the large gold chain in his hand muttering, ”Putting on such a big show...”

The others cast chilly glances his way.

The owner laughed, ”How grandiose, I like it!”

No one agreed, but neither did anyone voice their ridicule. The darkness hid everyone’s expressions except for the mine owner’s laughter, resembling a broken-down car.

A refined voice spoke first.

”The train conductor has arrived, as hosts we should go out to greet them. Let’s make it clear beforehand, keep your subordinates in check. If anyone messes up at a critical moment, they’ll have to leap the Dragon Gate themselves...”

The door was pushed open, and everyone filed out.

Ruble followed closely behind Ge Mian.

Once outside, the enormity of the Armed Train was even more palpable, resembling a floating city in a fantasy, covering the sky, with hexagonal bright grids flickering underneath the train.

The previously grand city hall seemed like a mere matchbox under the train.

The train’s arrival shook not only the executives but the entire Dragon Gate, stunned by the colossal metal construct hovering in the sky.

There was shock about the train itself and curiosity about why such a huge metal creation appeared in the Rust Area.

As soon as someone planned to gather over here, they were driven back by the guards.

They could only stand on their rooftops, gazing at the train above the city hall.

Ruble craned his neck for ages until his neck ached without witnessing any movement from the train.

Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he saw something jump down from the bottom of the train.

He was startled; it was a thirty-meter drop.

”Retreat!”

Following the shout was the thundering sound of a heavy object hitting the ground.

Ruble felt a tingling at the soles of his feet.

Looking up, the dust was quickly blown away by a gentle breeze, and a soldier covered head to toe in Power Armor landed on the ground, knees slightly bent, holding a two-meter-long Long-handled Axe, with a blue indicator light glowing on his chest, emitting faint Pan Energy fluctuations.

Before he could react, more things jumped down.

The crowd hurriedly retreated.

”Boom boom boom—”

A total of twenty soldiers clad in Power Armor landed on the ground, shattering the hard stone slabs.

The soldiers on the ground aggressively drove away the surrounding guards, forming a circle on the open ground, looking up towards the train in mid-air.

The leaders of several major forces showed no visible signs of emotion, standing by like ordinary people waiting.

The cabin door opened, and the gangway slowly descended.

A Crystal Stone flew out first, only to be snatched back by the hair wrapped around it; a shadowy figure appeared before the cabin door, with broad, relaxed shoulders, posing lazily like a leopard lying on a crooked tree watching the sunset.

At his appearance, even the massive train became a backdrop outside of the field of vision.

Everyone’s gaze involuntarily fell upon this elegant yet wild silhouette.

Even the previous grievance of waiting seemed insignificant.

The gentle breeze stirred their spirits.

However, everyone present was a seasoned player, soon suppressing this strange fondness deep within, calculating their advantage.

With slightly scattered attention, they noticed Huayang babbling next to Su Huan.

A few people simultaneously focused their gaze on the refined middle-aged man in a suit between them, cursing internally, calling him an old fox.

The man had already reached the side of the gangway, ”I’ve long heard that the train conductor is exceptionally impressive, but never expected such a god-like demeanor, leaving me dazzled.”

Su Huan glanced at the man in front of him; time had not only spared his looks but had granted him the charm of a mature man.

He did resemble the kid behind him a bit.

”Is he related to your family?”

Su Huan casually asked.

”Uncle Junyan!” Huayang poked his head out to greet the man, and then whispered playfully in Su Huan’s ear, ”He’s my actual uncle, always bragging at home that he’s the most handsome in the world, saying my sister inherited his genes by sheer luck; my aunt finally chased him out because she got fed up.”

Huayang’s voice wasn’t at all concealed, and besides Su Huan, the few others below heard it clearly.

The mine city owner grinned broadly.