Armed Train in the Apocalypse

”It’s okay, as long as you act normal enough, no one will pay attention to us.”

Zhang Qiang reassured the members in a low voice.

At this moment, everyone was gathering between the ”layers” at the top of the train, a place with the least surveillance apart from the medical car. There were many blind spots among the equipment, and very few people could come up here.

Once the door of the emergency oxygen chamber closed, not even sound could escape, and the chamber instantly became a small world.

Relying on connections with a certain maintenance member within the Tongzhou Association, the offline meetings within the association would usually be held here.

In this regard, Zhang Qiang still maintained the tradition passed down by Liu Ming, even if there was a risk of exposure, everyone had to gather to create the atmosphere of a secret society and foster a sense of camaraderie.

Another middle-aged man comforted, ”It’s because the high pressure from the train makes you too tense, now you can relax a bit. There’s no work without sleep for over thirty hours here, no one is supervising us, no one knows we’re here, this is the farthest corner of the train.”

As the man spoke, Zhang Qiang glanced nervously behind him.

Though there was nothing behind, he was aware that someone must be watching them.

Indeed, there were blind spots here on the third floor, but as one of the train’s most important pieces of equipment, how could the emergency oxygen chamber not have surveillance? However, this was just a small tacit understanding between him and Hu Shuo.

Besides the train conductor, the train manager was the only person who knew about the existence of the Tongzhou Association.

As the train’s major regulator, he managed all the data on the train, knowing very well even the slightest details. Even with Su Huan’s cover, he was not easily fooled.

Furthermore, Su Huan mostly does not concern himself with the development of the Tongzhou Association; when Zhang Qiang couldn’t clean up the mess, Hu Shuo would handle it.

”Thank you, I feel much better now.”

The comforted person, a weary-faced woman, nodded. Her husband had died in battle, leaving her to raise two children alone on the train without acquaintances. Her husband’s comrades also perished in the Four Nations war, and although they weren’t bullied on the train, their life was not easy.

There were many onboard who suffered and struggled even more than her, so if there was assistance, it wouldn’t come to her first.

The points received after her husband’s death were dwindling, leaving her no choice but to join the Tongzhou Association.

”I say, let’s make a big move, snatch that big tree from the cultivation pod, break off a few branches to take down. That thing is probably worth more than the entire warehouse of evolution materials!”

A young man said coldly.

”There you go boasting again!” The middle-aged man scolded, ”That Crown Pear Tree has soldiers guarding it every day, even during meals someone keeps an eye on it, and a swarm of people surrounds it. It’s not just about snatching; even looking at it longer raises questions...”

”I’m just trying to bring welfare to everyone. With so many people working for such scant rewards, it’s not worth it.”

The scolded young man merely let out a sneer, with no intention of remorse.

The middle-aged man sighed, ”This is already painstakingly exchanged by the chairman, but I’ve got in touch with people outside; if we can get the goods out, we can raise the price by at least twenty percent. Everyone can loosen their belts a bit.”

Upon hearing this, expressions of joy appeared on the faces of the twenty-odd people in the cabin.

What does mutual support mean?

Working together is mutual support, sharing the spoils is mutual aid!

Watching the two playing their roles, Zhang Qiang’s face remained tense, yet he chuckled coldly inside.

He had found out long ago that they were uncle and nephew, masking it upon boarding, pretending to be strangers, with no good intentions, eventually absorbed into the Tongzhou Association.

Now they set their sights on him.

The matters weren’t finished, yet all the talking made it sound like it was all his credit.

That’s good, later he can report his achievements to the train conductor; otherwise, with no reputation, it’d be difficult to bring it up.

Seeing the two almost rallying people’s confidence, Zhang Qiang began to assign tasks, like a foolish chairman who had been undermined.

Utilizing the opportunity to trade materials between the train and Dragon Gate to carry extra supplies.

The original Tongzhou Association couldn’t accomplish this, but ever since personnel from the association spread across the train crew, a tightly woven interconnected chain formed between different positions.

Zhang Qiang suddenly realized the Tongzhou Association could get things done.

But it’s not driven by him.

”For this operation, the manpower must not exceed six, that’s the limit. Too few people are hard to tend to, but too many can arouse suspicion. I hope everyone understands.”

”No problem.”

”I’m responsible for the check; remember my face, gather towards me at that time.”

”Haha, good!”

...

At noon, the train slowly descended, several metal gangways touched the ground.

Over a hundred people were carrying various traded goods down and eventually, a team of forty or so headed towards the city hall, including Zhang Qiang and six others.

With a change in the hand holding the suitcase, Zhang Qiang glanced around discreetly, intuition telling him someone was observing; however, he was not a sensory type Evolver, unable to pinpoint the other’s location.

But thinking it was probably the train conductor’s arrangement, his heart felt assured.

After all, he was on official payroll, different from typical rebels.

At the end of the line, Su Han, wearing an oversized coat pulled from Wan Xing’s wardrobe, pressed the rim of a wide hat with her index finger, watching Zhang Qiang ahead with a complex expression.