Chapter 185: Power Struggle
Besides simple physical training, as the first batch of officers of the Armed Corps, the most important thing for them is military theory study and tactical command study.
Usually He Jie lectures personally, with Licking Rabbit supplementing.
If He Jie is not there, then Licking Rabbit gives the main lecture. Don’t let his weird code name fool you; the Deputy Commander title is no joke.
In the Steel Council, his status is equivalent to He Jie’s deputy. If the main Commander dies in battle or leaves, he can take over battlefield command rights in succession, with permissions greater than the other five Captains.
Among the captured prisoners, he has the highest status besides He Jie. Even Su Huan’s old superior, Qu Hang, doesn’t have as high a rank as him.
A full hour, almost all high-density knowledge infusion.
Fortunately, everyone is an Evolver, with comprehension and memory far superior to ordinary people.
Like Lin Jin, who even absorbs a General Energy Crystal while listening to the lecture.
Halfway through the lecture, the Train Conductor walked in with arms folded, sat in the back row with legs crossed, silently listening, occasionally taking a pen to scribble notes on the Notebook.
Licking Rabbit, who was lecturing, saw this and tightened his throat.
Suddenly, noisy footsteps came from outside, disappearing abruptly moments later. He Jie pushed open the door and entered the Room, stunned upon seeing Su Huan in the back row, then pulled out the Chair beside him.
As soon as he sat down, he heard a faint question, “Has the soldier screening inside the Base been completed?”
He Jie wiped the rainwater from his hair, “It’ll take a few more days. These two days are just simple screening of people. Whether they fit needs to be assessed after training with combat tests.”
“Can we supplement to five hundred?”
Su Huan asked.
He Jie hesitated before replying, “Difficult. The Base personnel are generally older, may not screen out that many. Moreover, the soldiers screened at the Station before were temporary; many actually didn’t meet standards.”
“I see.” Su Huan’s eyes reflected the text on the White Screen in front, “Quality over quantity, no need to fear wasting those few Ordinary General Energy Crystals. If not qualified, even if they become Evolvers, they get screened out. Then put the officers in to train together. Whoever drops the ball, hand them to me; I’ll personally drill them.”
Hearing this, He Jie grinned.
This was equivalent to Su Huan personally giving him a Shangfang Baojian.
The Armored Train was Su Huan’s one-man rule, with status even more solid than an ancient emperor.
After all, an emperor didn’t have the ability to, in a fit of anger, wield a knife and chop down traitorous ministers and his entire army under his command.
But the Train Conductor did.
From the Front of the Train to the end, probably without even needing to catch his breath.
Now Su Huan’s pressure on him was increasingly terrifying. If not for asking yesterday, he would suspect the other had already entered Tier 2.
Su Huan circled the soldier training matter on the Notebook.
Now several abilities of his “Energy Storage Core” had all reached lv5, just one step away from Tier 2.
Even to avoid rushing too fast and consuming Vitality, he had to hold back the Progress a bit.
The main skill “Combat Factor” of the second Profession “Fighter” had surged to lv4, while the remaining “Grappling Specialization” and “Super Speed Nerves” had risen to lv3.
Without using internal Energy, he could beat He Jie barehanded.
No need to worry about his own Strength, allowing him to focus more energy on Train upgrades and Force building.
Professor Ma, Director Xu, Yu Jing, Wan Xing, Huang Hai, and other Research Personnel also began arriving in the Room one after another.
Looking around, the entire Armored Train leadership—all Pursers and Armed Corps officers—were gathered together.
This included Wan Hao and Old Yuan, the current and deputy Shun’an Station Station Masters.
The Factory Director, Deputy General Manager Deng, and another old Expert were also among them.
Because next was Su Huan’s lecture on Evolutionary Abilities.
No one wanted to miss the chance to enhance their Strength.
After finishing the last few sentences, Licking Rabbit turned his gaze to Su Huan in the back. Everyone also silently turned their Chairs to face the Train Conductor.
Su Huan quietly scanned the room. Now the entire Armored Train crew were Evolvers, no need to mention that.
But there were only seven Tier 1 Evolvers in total, including Lin Xi.
Ranked by Evolution Progress: Su Huan, Lin Xi, He Jie, Lin Jin, Xiao Ba, Qu Hang, Yu Yue.
Because Yu Yue had too many abilities, plus just evolved, she ranked last.
The others were currently stuck at the Tier 1 threshold.
According to Su Huan’s experience, most wanting to break through Tier 1 would be after one and a half years of the Apocalypse, in the second year of the Apocalypse when “ordinary” Tier 1 Evolvers appeared in large numbers.
Except for major forces like Gunfire, like the Steel Council researching Evolvers of their own system, that was already three years into the Apocalypse.
However, following this trend.
Perhaps outside the Xuanhuang and Gospel systems, there would be an additional Train system.
Su Huan tsked lightly, ending the fantasy, “I don’t know what to lecture on. Do you all have any questions?”
Lu Xiao’s expression moved slightly in the crowd, but after looking at those around, he held back.
Planning to ask after a couple others had.
“Does battle make Evolution faster?”
A clear voice with faint doubt came from the Corner.
Su Huan looked up to see Yu Jing standing in the Corner, wearing very tight high-elasticity Jeans on her lower body, with a large conspicuous Exoskeleton over them, outlining her slender Thighs perfectly.
Upper body in a white sleeveless Shirt, fair arms folded together, brows furrowed.
“What a Tricky Moves question.” Su Huan scratched his chin.
If it were before, he would unhesitatingly answer yes.
But now as Gene Primordium, plus a large amount of battle experience, he had a whole new understanding of Evolution.
“Battle is just one way to promote Evolution—direct, but not the only one. Different fields have different promotion methods. Most suited to battle Evolution is only ‘Defender’. ‘Manufacturer’ must relate to manufacturing something. What skills do you have now?”
“lv3 ‘General Energy Erosion’ + lv2 ‘Mechanical Specialization’ + lv1 ‘Material Manufacturing’.”
Su Huan raised a brow. Mechanical Apprentice’s three skills were complete; logically, just needed a promotion trigger.
But Yu Jing was a thorough workaholic, squatting in the workshop whenever free, researching various New Materials and Exoskeletons, should have met that trigger.
So where was it lacking…
After pondering, he said, “As far as I know, Mechanical Apprentice promotion condition is manufacturing a mechanical work.”
“Must it be a mechanical work? Or are there other conditions, like a complete work, or no assistance allowed?” Yu Jing asked again.
“Uncertain.”
Su Huan shook his head.
He could remember Mechanical Apprentice promotion method was already good; how could he remember that detailed.
If not for the motorcycle guy, he wouldn’t even pay attention to that path.
Thinking, Su Huan’s gaze turned to Director Xu.
The latter had changed into a clean White Coat, silver-white short Hair combed neatly, hairline receded but every strand in place.
Feeling Su Huan’s gaze, he regretfully shook his head, “The Company’s original research leaned toward ‘Defender’ field. Only after Lin Xi did we start researching Collectors and Manipulators. Manufacturer experiments progressed the least.”
Pausing, he continued spilling all the information he knew.
“‘General Energy Erosion’ though short-term effect inferior to the other four fields, its growth Potential second only to abilities like ‘Combat Factor’. Besides changing some Material properties, it can also change oneself, stimulating organ mutation.”
“However, self-erosion paths are very dangerous; no stable skills have emerged yet. Plus ‘Manufacturer’ high Value, so not many related experiments, only as information popularization.”
Sitting beside, Yu Yue’s mind flashed to that bloated inhuman Steel Council Soldier, looking at Yu Jing with worry.
“Evolution can be understood as a Gene Leap, compressing billions of years of gene iteration into extremely short time. So Evolvers have some mutations different from ordinary people, like Pupils color, traits, Hair color, etc., and some hidden ones, like extra Bones in joints, Nerves Blood vessel positions changed, etc.”
“But these changes don’t look abrupt; people are still people, won’t suddenly turn into a scale-armored lizard from Evolution. But changes from ‘General Energy Erosion’ will be enormous!”
“Like breaking free from some shackles, Evolution direction loses control.”
“Grow a third arm?”
Old San scratched his head and asked.
Director Xu thought, then seriously replied, “Theoretically yes, not just arms; even an eye could grow on the forehead.”
Everyone drew a sharp breath.
Slow thinkers found it a bit horrifying.
Quick thinkers subconsciously compared to ancient myths.
Su Huan secretly observed everyone’s reactions. Tong Zizhan and the other were very calm; clearly Deep Blue Data also researched this, probably deeper than Steel Council.
Wan Hao and Old Yuan looked solemn yet excited, like pushing open the gates to a New World.
‘Looks like Wan Hao really was screened out…’
Su Huan thought regretfully, taking over, “Just listen; purely playing with Flesh and Blood dies fast, combat power not much stronger, just bizarre means, like making palm fly out to hit people, Flesh and Blood regeneration, but actual combat power still weak, and turns oneself neither human nor ghost—not worth it.”
Everyone showed understanding.
Though Su Huan said “you all,” it was clear it was for Yu Jing.
The latter didn’t speak, her phoenix eyes calm.
No telling what she was thinking.
Su Huan cleared his throat, “Any more questions?”
Lu Xiao couldn’t hold back, “I want to know which Tier 1 Profession suits me for promotion.”
Su Huan sensed the other’s internal General Energy Fluctuation, “How many skills? Two, three?”
“Three: lv2 ‘Combat Factor’, lv1 ‘Firearm Specialization’, lv1 ‘Grappling Specialization’.”
Su Huan looked at him surprised. Lu Xiao had been injured often lately, so ignored him; unexpectedly, free-range produced two Specialization skills.
Hearing these skills, He Jie lifted an eyelid.
Knew during shared hospitalization this kid was soldier material. So when Su Huan asked about restructuring, this guy popped into his mind, then prioritized promotion channels.
Counted as giving him a lift.
Now with Armored Train restructuring, those benefiting most obviously were squad Captains like Lu Xiao, Jiang Rong, Tong Zizhan.
Though work similar to before, being insiders changed treatment.
Previously, Lu Xiao had no qualification for such small meetings.
“Just the Gunfire Lineage’s ‘Dual-wield Wanderer’. Pure Firearm route or Grappling route would waste it.”
Lu Xiao’s eyes lit up, “Is this Profession strong?”
Su Huan thought, pointing at He Jie, “In gunplay, weaker than his ‘Firepower Specialist’.”
Then pointed at mountain-like Liang Kuan, “In Grappling, weaker than his ‘Soldier’.”
Lu Xiao’s face stiffened, eyes flickering, “So conversely, my close combat exceeds He Jie, ranged Firearms exceed Liang Kuan?”
“Ah, not really.”
Su Huan doused him with cold water again.
He Jie was also stunned, “Then why recommend this Profession to him?”
Su Huan glanced at him, “He just got the second half wrong. ‘Dual-wield Wanderer’ can indeed crush you in Grappling, but not necessarily beat Liang Kuan at range.”
“Eh?!”
He Jie rubbed his hedgehog-like buzz cut, Eyeballs bulging like bull’s eggs.
Clearly unconvinced.
“This doesn’t seem like a Profession issue, right?” Old San asked suspiciously.
“Of course.” Su Huan crossed his legs, calmly said, “It’s Liang Kuan’s issue.”
Everyone looked at the robust Liang Kuan, already believing seventy to eighty percent, especially Wan Hao who saw Liang Kuan’s ferocious battle style, fully convinced.
He Jie asked curiously, “Old Liang, what level are you at now?”
Everyone perked ears.
Liang Kuan shook his head, muffled thunderous voice rumbling from Chest Cavity, “Not yet Tier 1.”
Goat, Licking Rabbit, and other Elite Soldiers immediately drew sharp breaths.
Thought Liang Kuan so fierce because Evolution fast; unexpectedly no Profession yet.
Non-Tier Evolver pressing Tier 1 in fight?
“Can you skip Tiers like this?!”
First to question wasn’t anyone else, but Director Xu, who researched Evolution longest.
The old man frowned tightly, face full of disbelief.
“Skip Tier, not really.”
Su Huan smiled.
He Jie stood solemnly, extending one palm, “Come, Old Liang, give me a hand.”
Liang Kuan didn’t hesitate, fan-like big hand gripping right on.
Two meat palms met, emitting a muffled thud.
Like a firecracker pinched in the palm.
The two men used the most direct arm-wrestling method to compete.
Bodies unmoving, forearm Muscles instantly bulged, then shoulders, even upper body clothes stretched by Muscles, heat waves surging out.
Exposed Skin with bulging veins, Muscles twisting like dragons on arms.
Hands bloodless, Bones creaking.
Making everyone’s teeth ache hearing it.
Carefully observing both Complexions.
Liang Kuan’s face calm, He Jie’s still solemn.
(Fever at nine yesterday, broke at five-plus this morning, only guaranteed 4k, will write more tonight, update before dawn)
