Chapter 325: Strength
The entire hall was deathly silent.
Su Huan’s voice was very calm, but the aura faintly emanating from his body made people’s hearts palpitate.
Even the most hot-tempered evolver didn’t dare to fart.
After a long time, Jinfeng President slowly asked, “Does the Train Conductor want to incorporate us?”
Some small force leaders surprisedly raised their heads.
Why did they band together?
Wasn’t it just to live better?
The armed train’s benefits were famously good, and the Battle of Zhijin proved its strength. Not to mention ordinary scavengers, even they these leaders were happy to join.
“Sort of. Stations are peripheral forces of the train, providing production materials to the train. Currently, there are stations in the Acid Rain Area and Flood Zone.”
Su Huan thought for a moment and said.
Jinfeng President’s gaze flickered slightly, “Acid Rain Area?”
As a local force, Jin Feng Chamber of Commerce could at most reach the Flood Zone and Spore Zone, but both were “Heavenly Calamity Areas.” With their strength, they couldn’t go deep, so naturally they didn’t know about changes in the outside world.
“Normally this information would be charged, but this time consider it your welfare.”
Su Huan said with a light smile.
Then Hu Shuo gave everyone a crash course on world changes after the apocalypse, mainly covering District 12, major forces, general energy, military, and other general information.
Although it was all very simple stuff, it still left everyone in the room stunned.
“No wonder my nephew who joined the army didn’t come back. I thought he was left outside…”
“I thought the south was all flooded.”
“And that Black Kite group of bastards, they clearly know everything but pretend to be clueless here!”
But everyone unanimously deepened their awe of the train.
Being incorporated by the train like this wasn’t bad at all. Everyone understood the principle of relying on a big tree for shade.
It was just that big forces like Jin Feng Chamber of Commerce were more conflicted. Originally in this small patch of land, even if not a local tyrant, they were the top dog. Now under someone else’s command, even if the benefits were good, they couldn’t act autonomously.
The construction of the base city would inevitably produce a siphon effect. The thriving Jin Feng Chamber of Commerce could hold on for a bit, but the current situation…
Even Old Xie had lost his blind confidence.
Moreover, they had no choice. Strictly speaking, of the Four Greats, only half of Jin Feng was left. As the largest force present, Su Huan couldn’t let them leave.
After figuring all this out, Jinfeng President raised his hand, looked into Su Huan’s eyes, and asked, “What position does the train hold in the stations?”
“The train is above the stations. Zhijin Station 3 is an affiliated force of the armed train but doesn’t participate in specific management.”
Hu Shuo on the side answered for Su Huan.
Jinfeng President stood up and said solemnly, “I agree to join the armed station plan under the train leadership.”
With Jinfeng taking the lead, there were no more questions next.
Small forces successively submitted.
Among them, some rogue scavengers were still hesitating, like Luo Jingyi.
Everyone present was either a force leader or evolvers with professions like them. Being able to promote to Tier 1 alone in half a year, even if not a dragon or phoenix among men, was considered greatly blessed with luck. Include them all in the station plan.
Next, Hu Shuo appointed positions based on everyone’s performance in the cleanup, according to the just-announced three bureaus and two institutes.
Like Tiejian City leader becoming deputy captain of the city guard army, Jin Feng Chamber of Commerce taking control of the Energy Administration and Defense Corps and other departments, ordinary scavengers becoming civilians filled into the city, with administrative institutions and main violence departments’ leadership naturally handed to Li Xinlong.
Without placing confidants in key positions, how could he manage such a big city well?
Su Huan didn’t need to participate in the following meeting. He just showed up today to suppress this group, lest they get heated heads and do something to make the Train Conductor happy to kill.
After Su Huan left, the hall immediately buzzed with noisy discussions about the appointments.
Giraffe circled around and walked to Li Xinlong at the end who was still pondering, patted his shoulder, and laughed: “A Long, the Train Conductor wants you to come to the vehicle for dinner tonight. Remember to bring your mom.”
……
As soon as Su Huan went out, he saw Shu Wei, in a silver-gray skirt suit, striding over with thunderous efficiency.
Her clean clothes were out of place with the corridor full of claw marks, bullet holes, and dark bloodstains.
“Gunfire has contacted us.”
Shu Wei’s cold voice echoed faintly in the corridor.
Su Huan was slightly stunned. Since letting those three from Gunfire go last time, he had almost forgotten about it. He didn’t expect progress today.
“What did they say?”
“They hope to do a large-scale transaction with us, exchanging evolution potions and munitions for high-level materials. Location in the Gravity Zone.”
“Gravity Zone?”
Shu Wei nodded, “Yes, they can’t carry large amounts of supplies through the Spore Zone, so they plan to trade after we pass through the Spore Zone.”
Su Huan thought thoughtfully. It seemed the Spore Zone was much more dangerous than he imagined.
But that was normal too. The Storm Zone was a Safe Zone, so the Spore Zone was a turbulent “Heavenly Calamity Area,” naturally not easy to pass. But the Spore Zone was very narrow, much smaller than various large zones. On the map, it looked like a line, with a width of only about 100 kilometers.
It was still early to leave the Storm Zone. Deal with future matters later.
“Are the statistics results out?”
“Pretty fast.” Su Huan was surprised.
“Spoils of war statistics will take at least half a month. Train battle damage is out. Personnel-wise, Armed Corps killed 94, 12 seriously injured, over a hundred lightly injured, including 3 Tier 1 from the crew, 7 killed…”
Su Huan frowned. Corps battle damage was normal, but how did the crew die?
Seeing the Train Conductor frown, Shu Wei immediately explained, “Four from the combat group, two from the manufacturing group. They were ambushed by zombies while collecting materials these past few days.”
Su Huan had a bad premonition, “And the last one?”
“It was Old Liu. While dismantling an abandoned vehicle, he was ambushed by a Night Demon and died on the spot, leaving two apprentices, one of whom is a pregnant woman.”
Su Huan was silent for a moment, “No fortune. Cremate him.”
“The pregnant woman is almost three months along. How to arrange?”
“Let her work. Am I supposed to support her?”
“It’ll be hard for a pregnant woman.”
“Who isn’t working hard?”
Shu Wei stopped arguing and just unconsciously followed Su Huan.
Suddenly she noticed the other stop, almost bumping into him, her body swaying lightly before regaining balance.
Su Huan muttered to himself, “Isn’t there a gynecologist? Let him practice. If the fetus is fine with him, if not, he’s gone too.”
“Right, is the infirmary still short on doctors?”
Shu Wei shook her head, “The infirmary is full of wounded soldiers. No amount of doctors is enough. Hu Shuo and I plan to recruit more in the next talent supplement.”
“This time’s supply consumption is more severe than the last big battle, especially firearms and ammunition. Various bullets consumed over two million rounds, reaching two-fifths of the total. 12.7mm is critical, cannonball inventory consumed two-thirds, firearms, gun barrels, grenades, tactical equipment… all have losses, but internal energy can replenish.”
The two walked straight toward the train. The road from the hotel to the train had been cleared, paved with thick new soil covered with iron plates, but the thick bloody smell still lingered.
On both sides were manufacturing groups busy cutting and classifying corpses.
The train still lay across the plaza. The high platform became a temporary factory. As the “main battlefield,” the train had the biggest supply loss: three carriages directly turned to scrap metal, seven carriages severely damaged.
Fortunately, every carriage had partitions, plus the armed train’s all evolvers, so losses weren’t big. Just needed repairs.
With Xiao Ba there, even if turned to a pile of mud, there was room for salvage.
……
That evening in the dining car, they had a big pot of spicy mushroom chicken rice, celebrating the strangulation work coming to an end.
Su Huan didn’t avoid Li Xinlong and explained the main goals ahead: two things, train upgrade and station construction.
This was the train’s biggest upgrade ever. Whether material collection or synthesis, it wasn’t something one or two thousand people could finish. Must borrow Zhijin’s 100,000 people’s power, but even so, it would take at least three months.
And during these three months of train transformation, they would also construct the Zhijin station. The two plans implemented simultaneously.
Various reconstruction work was headache-inducingly numerous, but more troublesome was Zhijin’s internal administrative structure.
Directly controlling a complex force was much harder than building one from scratch.
Like teaching a newborn versus a group of criminals. By the end, Li Xinlong lost appetite. Fortunately, the train was there for the early stage, but he also needed to grow quickly in this time.
Su Huan clearly told him the train wouldn’t stay in Zhijin forever.
The moment repairs were done was the departure time.
That would be the real test.
After dinner, everyone came to the deck. Director Xu had already brought people to prepare the testing equipment.
Su Huan looked at the temporary iron-sheet shelter on the deck and asked puzzledly, “Does it have to be up here?”
Director Xu shook his head, “Flesh-body types need space to unleash, energy types have too much power. Too dangerous inside the vehicle.”
Goat fiddled with the punching bag curiously, “What’s the testing standard? Everyone’s evolution direction is different, right? If it’s target shooting or something, too unfair.”
He Jie sneered, “As long as no written test, I’ll beat you however.”
Goat spat sullenly.
Director Xu explained, “I won’t explain the concept of basic attributes. I’ve designed tests for these ten items, then get data from comprehensive calculation.”
Li Xinlong in the crowd showed an interested look, “Can my people participate?”
Director Xu looked to Su Huan, who smiled lightly, “All can, but only Tier 1 and above. Below Tier 1, don’t waste time.”
“Understood.”
Seeing Li Xinlong go find his subordinates, He Jie stepped forward, “Then I’ll go first. What’s the first item?”
“You’re a Defender. First item is naturally strength.”
He Jie turned his head, looked at a silent mountain-like figure in the crowd, battle intent in his eyes, “Old Liang, want to try together?”
“Good.”
Liang Kuan didn’t waste words and stood right out.
Director Xu stood in front of a special machine. The machine was a bit like a bench press barbell, just more complex, with rough welding seams on the shell, all made of evolution materials, Tier 2 tungsten steel.
“First test might be more complex. First test static strength: bench press, squat, deadlift… Dynamic includes punch power, long jump, etc. You try first.”
He Jie took off his jacket, revealing dense chest hair and a strong build.
Goat laughed and egged on from behind, “Old Da, don’t embarrass yourself too much. If crushed by double, tsk tsk tsk…”
Pangtu and others laughed along.
He Jie’s face darkened, “If your data isn’t two-thirds of mine, wash my socks for a month!”
Goat shut up immediately, but everyone laughed even louder.
He Jie rubbed his hands, gripped the bar, and signaled to Director Xu he was ready.
The latter reminded, “Not testing explosive power. Power up slowly.”
“Got it!”
As He Jie exerted force, numbers immediately appeared on the monitor, ending with kg.
Started at 150kg, then numbers jumped rapidly.
Su Huan was also seeing basic attributes testing for the first time and watched with interest, activating “General Energy Sense” to observe He Jie’s energy fluctuation.
Though He Jie was a “Defender,” there was still general energy in his body.
This general energy strengthened his body, supporting his combat.
With the general energy fluctuation, the data on the panel soon exceeded 500kg, the limit most humans could reach.
Though He Jie wasn’t a pure strength evolver, this data was far from his limit.
He Jie roared, veins bulging all over, muscles swelling, data breaking the 1000kg mark.
Here the data growth had slowed.
“Don’t reach absolute limit. Feel like giving full effort is fine, or it affects data accuracy.”
Director Xu said from the side.
He Jie exhaled, “How much?”
“One thousand four hundred.”
Su Huan glanced at the panel. The number was fixed around 1380kg, far exceeding pre-apocalypse human limits.
But without other data, he couldn’t compare.
He Jie got up, switched to Liang Kuan.
The latter started at 1200kg. When fully bursting, data soared by thousands, finally stopping around 5100kg.
When Liang Kuan exhaled, everyone felt a wave of heat hit their faces.
“How much?”
“Bench press, five tons.”
Goat next to him swallowed and said.
“Holy shit, five tons?!”
Newly arrived Pang Ke, Chen Shan and others heard the number and couldn’t help swearing.
“Quick quick, Old Liang get down, let me try!”
“Me too!”
After the shock, a group of men got fired up.
The original testing plan was interrupted as a group took turns testing, even Yu Yue and others tried.
But this way they quickly got some relatively “standard” static strength data.
Taking Defenders as example, unranked Defenders’ strength generally around 500kg, Tier 1 non-strength profession around 1000kg. Data fluctuated a lot here, influenced by skill level, quantity, whether strength-direction passive, etc.
Like Liang Kuan’s strength attribute seriously exceeded standard. Though Tier 1, his strength reached Tier 2 standard. But without comparison reference, Director Xu wasn’t sure what level Liang Kuan’s strength was among Tier 2 Defenders.
“Then I’ll be the reference.”
Su Huan, who had been watching the fun on the side, suddenly said.
