Chapter 7: Metal Manipulator
Su Huan put on a perfectly timed bitter smile, “What rescue? We’re just a group of refugees. Who could have thought the world would turn like this all of a sudden? We thought the North would be colder and could freeze those living dead to death.”
“There’s not much food left on the train. Everyone, go down and find some. Do you want to get on?”
The glasses man looked at the silent crowd on both sides and hesitated for a moment.
Su Huan continued to persuade, “There are many people on the train. If something happens, there’s someone to look out for each other.”
In this short time, his family also gathered around. The old woman with a face full of wrinkles said, “Get on, get on! Everyone huddles together for warmth. It’s just this train ticket…”
The old woman’s eyeball turned, with a bit of pitifulness, “Our whole family barely escaped, didn’t bring much money, just a vehicle parked outside. I wonder if it can cover the train ticket money?”
Su Huan cursed old thing in his heart.
Was he blind? Just now in the back, she was hiding jewelry with her daughter-in-law.
But on the surface, he showed no sign, instead squeezed his eyes twice, eyes slightly red, sighed, “You dragging family along really have it tough. I’ll cover the train tickets out of my own pocket, but don’t tell anyone, or the train conductor will penalize me.”
The old woman smiled so much her wrinkles stretched out, “Young man, you’re really a good person. Don’t worry, our whole family knows the rules very well and won’t say anything!”
Su Huan smiled and opened the roster, “Just leave your names and you can board. You’re in carriage 20.”
The glasses man always felt something was off, stayed vigilant, and gave a fake name.
After noting down their names, Su Huan said, “Go inside and walk to the back. There might be a lot of people, but at your age, have them make way for you.”
“Good, good, good young man.”
The old woman praised repeatedly.
The family had no doubts, happily boarded the carriage.
Seeing them go up, Su Huan sneered. This family was no pushover.
That young woman had sought help from him several times before and after, the old woman’s youngest son had a fierce face, hand always in his pocket.
The most hateful was that little brat, who swiped a bag of potato chips from him upon boarding, technique so skilled, obviously not the first time.
Most crucially, it was his favorite flavor.
Even so, Su Huan easily let them board.
He felt a bit expectant instead.
In enclosed and resource-scarce places, the bottom line collapses faster.
Of course, the atmosphere on the train was largely due to Su Huan.
He exacerbated the imbalance of resources.
Su Huan looked at the old passengers with strange complexions, smiled insincerely, “I covered your train tickets too. If there’s anything unsatisfactory, say it.”
Everyone shook their heads repeatedly.
Newcomers board for free, but the next day at the new place, they must repay the train conductor’s favor double.
Otherwise, they’ll be kicked off the train.
By now, the train had traveled who knows how many kilometers away, long left their familiar place. Leaving the train now was basically a dead end.
Supplies handover continued until the sun slanted west.
Su Huan suddenly saw a familiar figure and froze there.
“Eighth Master…”
“Can we board?” a young woman wearing a welfare institute short sleeve asked.
And Su Huan’s eyes were fixed on the figure in front of her.
A youth in a black shirt sat in a wheelchair, his black-and-white eyes still carrying un-faded metal sheen.
The core of building the armored train actually has two parts.
One is Su Huan who provides various energy, the other is Eighth Master who can reconnect broken tracks.
He was the most comprehensive Manipulator Su Huan had seen in his previous life; various types of alloy could be kneaded flat and round in his hands, at his disposal.
Originally planned to find him after finishing up, didn’t expect to meet here.
What wonderful fate.
Su Huan became more confident in his train plan.
Seeing Su Huan not replying, the woman gritted her teeth and asked again.
Su Huan licked his lips, “No problem, board.”
Joy finally appeared on the woman’s face. She pushed the wheelchair to the side of the train, looked at the height difference, bit her teeth, grabbed both sides of the wheelchair.
The heavy wheelchair was directly lifted up.
Everyone was somewhat surprised.
Su Huan watched clearly from the side; the metal color in the youth’s eyes became thicker.
“Go help out.”
Su Huan said to Liang Kuan beside him.
In his previous life, when he met Qi Xiao Ba, the other was already a second-order professional in the Manipulator field.
He only knew the other came from Wen’an City’s welfare institute; Qi Xiao Ba kept other matters deeply secret.
As for this young woman, he hadn’t seen her; she was probably dead.
Qi Xiao Ba was most famous for taking in many apocalypse orphans and often helping others, earning a Saint Mother reputation.
No one understood him, including Su Huan.
In the apocalypse, everyone fended for themselves; who wanted to be a Saint Mother?
But mentioning Qi Xiao Ba, everyone would give a thumbs up and respectfully call him Eighth Master.
Because no one knew when Eighth Master’s Saint Mother glow might shine on them.
And Su Huan was lucky; he was one sheltered twice by Eighth Master’s Saint Mother glow.
Liang Kuan stepped forward and took the wheelchair from the woman’s hands.
By now, there weren’t many people outside. Su Huan planned to close the door after this batch.
Suddenly, a faint muffled sound caught his attention.
He puzzledly raised his head, but the odd sound disappeared again.
But for some reason, he felt uneasy inside and instinctively activated lv1 general energy perception.
There was nothing unusual within one meter range.
“Paranoid…”
Su Huan muttered, just about to call the next one, when a scream came from in front.
Su Huan instinctively looked up, pupils suddenly contracting to pinprick size.
Only to see a medium dog-sized beast flash over his head, directly pouncing on a passenger about to board.
One bite, blood splashed.
The beast had no fur all over, like skinned, bright red flesh and blood exposed in the air, surface blood vessels winding like exposed pipes, a pair of scarlet eyes slightly contracting, scanning the next target.
It directly collided with Su Huan’s line of sight.
‘Mutated beast, blood hound!’
Lucky he was collecting tickets inside the vehicle!
If outside and ambushed by this thing even a touch, he’d be done for!
Su Huan inhaled sharply, low shouted, “Close the door!”
At the same time, he yanked down the window.
“Bang—scratch”
Sharp claws rubbed against the tempered glass, emitting a piercing sound.
Several passengers scrambled up, hurriedly ran back to the rear carriage, propping against the car door, tensely looking at the blood hound outside.
“That thing won’t come for us, right?” an old passenger said tremblingly.
“Shut up! That Su guy is closest to the dog; if it bites, it’ll bite him!”
Someone said viciously.
