Chapter 238: Supercomputer
Hu Shuo put this interesting matter to paper.
Although such things may have happened many times in history, this was happening right now, at this very moment, witnessed by him with his own eyes.
“Conductor Hu.”
A hoarse yet steady voice came through.
Hu Shuo capped his pen, hearing a crisp click, then clipped it into the pocket on his chest.
He raised his head and saw Old Man Tie striding over. Compared to the day before yesterday, the old man’s figure was much more upright, with a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old youth beside him, sleeves rolled up, eyes clear.
The two together looked like a grandfather and grandson.
The youth was none other than Xiao Dong. Due to Su Huan’s attention, he was already considered half one of their own in the eyes of the train people.
Moreover, his awakened ability was “Energizer,” which even made Hu Shuo take note.
“So early in the morning, does Master Tie Shan have good news for me?”
Hu Shuo showed a professional smile.
Old Man Tie wasted no words and handed over a cloth bag, from which came the faint clatter of gravel colliding inside.
Opening it, there were roughly five thousand ordinary general energy crystals.
“The quantity is off.”
Hu Shuo frowned.
General energy crystals of each tier didn’t differ much in size, and with his experience handling them, misjudgment was impossible.
Xiao Dong beside him immediately grew anxious. “Impossible, I collected every single one by hand, absolutely none missing.”
Old Man Tie glanced at Hu Shuo and quietly slipped a Tier 1 general energy crystal into his hand.
This wasn’t from yesterday’s extraction, but from the shelter’s accumulated reserves before.
Old Man Tie asked meaningfully.
“All the general energy crystals extracted yesterday are here. Shall we count them again?”
Hu Shuo was stunned for a moment, then flipped his hand to reveal the Tier 1 general energy crystal, chuckling wryly as he put it into the bag.
“That’s not what I meant.”
Old Man Tie looked puzzled.
Hu Shuo asked, “How long did you work yesterday?”
Xiao Dong answered, “Yesterday everyone worked until midnight before going to sleep, and got up again at six this morning.”
“Too little.” Hu Shuo shook his head.
“You’re evolvers now, so don’t hold yourselves to ordinary people’s schedules anymore. Plus, as time passes, more general energy leaks from mutated beasts’ bodies, so fewer crystals can be collected.”
Old Man Tie suddenly understood upon hearing this—it wasn’t about taking a bribe.
But he soon started having a headache.
Everyone had grown accustomed to their original schedule; even if their bodies could handle overtime, mentally they couldn’t.
He’d have to spend more effort persuading them.
“By the way, how’s the sorting of hardware equipment from the information industry park going?”
Hu Shuo asked.
“Follow me.”
Old Man Tie led the way, and they entered one of the buildings. This room was around the tenth floor, with few signs of habitation modifications, looking like an abandoned machine room.
The equipment in the room was all covered with rain cloths.
Old Man Tie said, “I don’t know what these devices are for, but I figured they’d be needed for rebuilding later, so I had them covered. If they weren’t so heavy, I’d have moved them upstairs.”
“Is this all?”
“If we don’t count the waterlogged ones, yes.”
Hu Shuo whispered a few words to the people following behind him, who then left. Soon, they returned with the bespectacled person and several hardware experts who had stayed on the train.
One by one, the rain cloths were lifted, and the group of experts meticulously inspected for half an hour.
The bespectacled person said delightedly, “This is a supercomputer!”
Hu Shuo took out his notebook to record. “Can it meet the goal?”
“More than enough, just short on data storage equipment. Are there any other components?”
Old Man Tie looked back at a youth behind him, who was still wearing work clothes from the information industry park.
The youth shook his head. “The information industry park’s data center handled many tasks and was huge—not here.”
The bespectacled person adjusted his glasses. “Makes sense. A supercomputer like this couldn’t just sit unused. With its computing power, even storing equipment indoors would struggle with heat dissipation. Where’s your data center—underwater outside?”
“Not downstairs, not even in Guan Chong.”
“Huh?”
Everyone was stunned.
Hu Shuo had a faint bad premonition.
“Then where?”
“Jingchao Lake.”
……
“Why sink the equipment in the lake?” Su Huan looked puzzled at the bespectacled person beside him.
The latter explained, “This is a real technical solution that’s been used in various countries for over a decade. Some large internet companies sink their data centers into the sea or lakes—mainly for high cooling efficiency, easy heat dissipation, and much lower failure rates than on land.”
“It’s gradually become a mainstream cooling method. At first we thought the information industry park was just a small data center, but it turns out there’s a supercomputer inside. The matching storage equipment is naturally larger…”
Su Huan narrowed his eyes. “So, to get the complete setup, I not only have to take this supercomputer, but also dig out the equipment from that Jingchao Lake?”
The bespectacled person nodded. “It depends on what the factory director and Professor Ma require. If it’s just partial computing power, we can assemble a small data cabinet with existing equipment.”
Su Huan waved his hand to interrupt.
“I’m worried the flood damaged the data center—I’d make a trip for nothing.”
“No need to worry. It was designed with that in mind: titanium alloy shell plus laser welding, can withstand a level 16 typhoon. The shell has anti-biofouling materials too, and the underwater environment naturally isolates seismic waves. Even if land ones fail, the underwater ones won’t.”
Seeing Su Huan somewhat tempted, Hu Shuo asked quietly.
“Should we prepare to go to Jingchao Lake?”
Su Huan thought for a moment and said, “Who knows how long it’d take there. Load these things first, check progress back home. If not, then go to Jingchao Lake.”
“That one store two store is on Jingchao Lake, right?”
Su Huan changed the subject.
Secretary Shu Wei beside him immediately followed up.
“New Eden, a newly emerged religious organization. Had two clashes with Iron Mountain Shelter. Strength slightly inferior to the shelter.”
“Strength inferior to the shelter? Then no need to worry. Old Hu, speed up progress. Can we get the remaining materials by tomorrow?”
Su Huan turned to look at Hu Shuo.
The latter bowed slightly. “Tomorrow, the 12th in the morning, I’ll have them warehouse all the materials.”
……
Xiao Dong, reeking of water, followed Old Man Tie onto the train deck.
Old San led armed soldiers as escorts, diverting two thousand people into the carriages.
The ample space freed up after the train upgrade was once again packed with crowds.
“Xiao Dong, stay close to me.”
Old Man Tie turned back, grabbed Xiao Dong’s arm, and pulled the youth to his side.
The brothers Qi Zhenbang and Qi Zhendong flanked left and right, squeezing to the front.
The armored train would only take two thousand in the end. Old Man Tie decided to lead the team personally, while Qi Jianguo stayed to guard the shelter with the rest.
Officers with megaphones shouted along both sides of the crowd.
“Everyone move to the middle! Don’t stop unless told to!”
“No personal items allowed on the train!”
“You with the package—out!”
“Backpacks not allowed either!”
“Quit the bullshit. School’s gone—what’re you studying?”
“…”
With the survivors pouring in, the armory hall turned into a noisy market.
Fortunately, as the train’s extended space, there were no partitions or fixed equipment—just a wide straight path forward.
Prepared logistics personnel would divert them into different carriages.
These two thousand evolvers had been busy working since the 11th, but Hu Shuo had long numbered and filed everyone.
Of course, not based on ID cards.
The key info for evolvers was naturally their ability, plus some brief other details, enough to pinpoint identities precisely.
As the line advanced and diverted, the crowd went from initial clamor to silence.
Xiao Dong walked at the front with Old Man Tie, gazing at the tech-filled train carriages on both sides, feeling a surge of awe.
But Old Man Tie and his sons grew increasingly silent.
The Goat at the front stopped and pointed to the carriage on the right. “This is your living carriage.”
Though there were wide car windows for light, the low-color warm white light strips on the carriage ceiling stayed on, shining on the dark gray metal ground, bathing the whole carriage in a soft atmosphere between dusk and dawn.
Energy so precious to Iron Mountain Shelter was utterly commonplace on the armored train.
“So bright.”
Old Man Tie remarked faintly, about to walk forward.
Unexpectedly, Xiao Dong rushed in faster.
Letting out an excited shout.
The sound of rushing water came from the bathroom.
“Holy crap! There’s really water!”
“Drinkable purified water!”
“Does this water cost anything?”
“This is awesome. And this sofa—is it for real? Can I sit? Forget it, my clothes are too dirty…”
“Grandpa Tie Shan, come quick!”
Listening to Xiao Dong’s excited yells, Old Man Tie felt no annoyance.
Instead, a phrase inexplicably came to mind.
‘The world is yours, as well as ours, but in the final analysis, it is yours…’
Old Man Tie smiled, his face creasing like mountain ridges.
He walked in openly.
Though their status on the train now wasn’t exactly honorable, in the future, young people like Xiao Dong would lead Guan Chong’s people to a greater world.
What he had to do was believe.
……
A massive circle thirty-five meters in diameter lay flat on the roof of the generator manufacturing plant.
Covering 962 square meters.
Three circles total, one nested inside another.
A black dot was moving from the outermost circle toward the center.
The heavy exoskeleton soles thudded on the ground, splashing ripples in the pooled water.
Porcelain-white tactical suit wrapped long thighs; if not for the distinct color, the suit would hardly be noticeable.
High elasticity ensured perfect fit—the 0.3-millimeter-thick tactical suit was like the pilot’s second skin.
Faint scale patterns crisscrossed the tactical suit surface like snake belly layers.
As the user lifted a leg, the knee scales slightly curled up like a rattlesnake tail, revealing the honeycomb heat vents underneath.
The factory director and Professor Ma, mid-discussion, turned and greeted with faces upturned.
“Xiao Jing’s here. How’s the material?”
“Click—”
The diamond-shaped helmet of [Engineer-I] popped up, revealing Yu Jing’s indifferent yet beautiful face.
Yu Jing maneuvered the mechanical arms from both sides to the front, each grasping a one-meter piece of material with mortise-and-tenon dents on the back.
“New material lacks strength. Fine for internal framework, but no adjustment reaches Qing Steel level. Using it for large-area armor assembly would shatter easily.”
Round-faced Deputy General Manager Deng saw Yu Jing arrive and hurried over with a group.
Beaming, he said, “Good news. I just coordinated with Director Xu—that kid Li Han has a great ability, effectively delaying the Crown Pear Tree’s withering. Buys us more time. What’re you discussing?”
“Indeed good news.” The factory director nodded. “We’re still on the material issue.”
“We have too few Tier 1 Qing Steel and Tier 1 titanium steel—enough to finish the ‘Floating Giant Wood’ frame, then gone.”
Deputy General Manager Deng frowned tightly. “Just figured out how to boost output of those two, and now raw materials are out!”
As manufacturing group purser, one of Deputy General Manager Deng’s tasks was coordinating the group to supply materials for the plan.
Old Da personally supervised, pitching in as a worker when needed.
“Can we get more of this raw material?”
The factory director asked puzzled.
Yu Jing shook her head. “These raw materials are mostly extracted from land mutated beasts and zombies. Aquatic zombie materials have changed properties—can’t synthesize the same thing.”
“I’ve tried many new materials lately, but all have various flaws.”
Deputy General Manager Deng sighed.
“How about having Captain He take people out to hunt some fresh samples?”
“I’ll go talk to him.”
……
“No.”
Yu Jing furrowed her brows. “Not much needed—even just samples?”
He Jie firmly refused.
“Train Conductor tasked me with guarding the research personnel here, not ensuring the ‘Floating Giant Wood’ plan succeeds.”
“In other words, even if the ‘Floating Giant Wood’ plan fails before my eyes, I won’t leave.”
“That’s trouble.”
Yu Jing crossed her arms, her phoenix eyes sweeping over behind He Jie.
There hung over a dozen people, all battered and bruised, looking wretched.
“Because of these guys?”
He Jie stroked his unkempt stubble. “That’s your trouble. Everyone stick to their duties.”
Yu Jing continued, “If it’s these guys, no need to worry. Not even a Tier 1 evolver—my mechanical puppet could handle them.”
He Jie waved his hand; the soldiers behind knew break time was over.
With a cold laugh, he released the ropes in his hand, and over a dozen plummeted into the atrium with prolonged wails.
Accompanied by splashes, water sprayed high.
Good thing the storm surge these two days had flushed out the plant’s filth.
Otherwise, that sewage alone would punish them enough.
“These small fry naturally can’t stop you, but from my experience, they’re just the prelude.”
He Jie said seriously.
Yu Jing’s eyes narrowed upward sharply, like faint ink strokes on rice paper converging to a sharp hook at the end. “What prelude?”
“Prelude to trouble, so figure something else out. I won’t go out before the Train Conductor returns.”
“Fine then.”
Yu Jing turned and walked out.
The massive exoskeleton vanished into the darkness, leaving only glowing fluorescent orange marker stripes flashing.
He Jie sat on the railing, reached into his chest pocket fumbling, found no cigar, only a pack with two cigarettes left.
Muttering a curse, he drew one out, lit it, and put it to his lips.
Took a deep drag, turned around, feet dangling over the railing, grinned, and spat.
“Pull those sons of bitches up!”
Nearby soldiers immediately hauled the ropes, dragging a dozen drenched figures from the atrium.
Coughs and pleas erupted chaotically.
Some wailed loudly.
“Cough… For fellow Dong Huang people, can you… let us go this once…”
“We didn’t steal anything.”
“Please, please…”
“Spare us, sir—let it pass like a fart.”
“…”
“Still got energy to cry—down you go.”
He Jie said coldly.
Another string of prolonged splashing wails.
Next, He Jie found various excuses to drop them three more times.
Like training troops—excuses didn’t matter.
What mattered was tormenting them today.
Torment alone wasn’t enough—had to make them fear it, submit to it.
The dozen were hoisted up again.
He Jie’s cigarette “just happened” to finish.
He exhaled smoke rings onto the nearest man’s face.
“What store are you from?”
“One Store Two Store?”
“Cough cough, New Eden.”
“Weren’t you gonna save me?”
He Jie laughed creepily, pressing the cigarette butt onto the man’s flushed face.
“No no, I can’t, I’m not worthy. I lost my head then, talking nonsense. I was wrong, don’t aaaah…”
“Now you speak human. Daring to freeload off me is one thing, but spouting lies like a 256—”
Words unfinished, his ears twitched.
He Jie sneered, flicked the butt away, and leaped off the railing.
“Keep greeting them. I’ll check what’s up.”
“Woo…”
A whale-like whistle sounded into the plant.
He Jie paused, then bang—he shot out.
Leaving a cracked footprint on the cement ground.
Pangtu behind the pillar froze, turning to Licking Rabbit. “What’s up? When did Old Da get so eager for the train?”
Licking Rabbit snorted coldly. “Bullshit train—he’s eager for his wife. Didn’t you see him anxious sleepless these two nights?”
“No wonder his eyes are swollen. What about these?”
Pangtu pointed at the dozen hanging New Eden people.
Licking Rabbit licked his teeth. “Kill a few, leave some for the Train Conductor to question.”
“Got it.”
……
Clouds crawled over the sea surface, as if ready to crash down anytime.
Raindrops fell ceaselessly, stitching fine needles on the water, waves softening, fragmenting, white edges trembling faintly.
A unicorn flood dragon-like “vessel” crushed the waves, emerging from the surface.
Whale cry scattered the drizzle; iron gray shell sharp-edged.
Twin headlights lit up He Jie on shore like a waiting husband stone.
Inside the armored train.
Xiao Dong pressed his face tight to the car window.
He discovered something interesting.
No matter how he breathed on this glass, no fog formed.
The waves outside the window seemed no different from the shelter’s, yet far more interesting.
Anything outside was interesting.
“Xiao Dong, time to get off.”
Old Man Tie carefully finished the green noodles from the iron box with sauce, then fetched water from the bathroom to rinse the box and drank it down.
The iron box ended up cleaner than washed.
“Mm!”
Xiao Dong stood, took his iron box to the bathroom to rinse clean, then placed everyone’s boxes by the room door.
They’d have to stay inside the train for now.
Sounded boring, but the train’s complete bedding setup and ever-varying meals were novelty enough.
“Grandpa, these green noodles are for our shelter’s grain?”
Xiao Dong asked.
After two days together, Xiao Dong and Old Man Tie had grown much closer.
Truly like grandfather and grandson.
“Yes. What do you think?”
“Pretty tasty. Better than fish anyway.”
Xiao Dong’s eyes sparkled as he said.
“That’ll do…”
The broadcast announced docking. Compared to Xiao Dong’s eagerness and anticipation, Old Man Tie’s eyes held much hidden worry.
……
“Click…”
The attendant cabin door opened. Han Qin looked at He Zhenzhen outside and chided affectionately, “About to dock, where’d you run off to again?”
He Zhenzhen tugged her jeans skirt hem, smiling coyly to dodge. “Xi Xi wanted to play with me.”
Han Qin tapped her daughter’s forehead. “Nonsense. Xi Xi wouldn’t seek you out—you’re using her as cover again, right?”
“No way. Ask Lin Xi if you don’t believe me.”
Han Qin huffed. Did she not know this girl?
With Lin Xi’s personality, like a gourd with a sawed-off spout, she reacted to nothing. On the whole train, only the Train Conductor, Yu Yue, and a few others could talk normally with her.
Asking her would yield nothing.
“Sis!”
An overly bright, almost shrill voice came from the room.
A small figure ran out.
He Zhenzhen crouched to scoop up her brother, pulling a bullet casing wind chime from her bosom, beaming. “Little one, see what sis brought—a copper wind chime!”
“L-love sis most!”
Little one smooched He Zhenzhen’s fair cheek.
“When did Qu Hang pick up this craft?”
Han Qin asked smilingly beside them.
He Zhenzhen’s back stiffened; she shrank her head. “How’d you know?”
Han Qin sighed. “Put it away. Don’t let your dad see, or he’ll worry.”
He Zhenzhen grumbled a bit. “Hang Ge’s not bad. Why does Dad guard him like a weasel…”
Han Qin said somewhat unnaturally.
“He’s not bad… Mm, but can’t blame your dad. You’re still young. In two years, he won’t stop you.”
“Got it, got it.” He Zhenzhen teased her brother while brushing it off.
“You two act sweeter than newlyweds. Should I take Little one and hide?”
Han Qin’s expression froze, then flushed shyly. “What’re you saying? Your dad and I are old.”
‘If a little brother or sister came, maybe no time to mind her?’
He Zhenzhen gazed at Little one’s innocent face and thought inexplicably.
