Chapter 239: White Ticket
“214, 215…”
Mongoose stuck vertically to the wall with her entire body, feet dangling in the air, then relying solely on her hands pressed against the wall, she strained to lift her feet backward, like doing a handstand, but no matter how she struggled, her body wouldn’t fall from the vertical wall.
Seeing that the train was about to dock, Mongoose glanced at the gloomy sky outside the window and flipped down from the wall.
Due to her mutation and evolution biased toward feline animals, her body also possessed some cat-like traits.
But Mongoose wasn’t as exaggerated as Qi Jianguo.
Her most prominent feature was her eyes, which had dynamic vision, faint light vision…
Just these eyes alone gave her tremendous boosts.
Besides that, her nails became harder, with some retractability.
But not as exaggerated as Wolverine’s, only about two centimeters long, sharp and not easily worn down, with exceptionally fast growth speed.
Her palms and skin also became extremely soft, allowing her to climb particularly smooth walls like a gecko.
And all these effects that greatly boosted her combat power were provided solely by a single “beast transformation” skill.
Mongoose currently had only two skills: lv2 “combat factor” and lv1 “beast transformation.”
But with just these two passive-like skills, she could go toe-to-toe with many elite soldiers who hadn’t reached tier 1.
If firearms were excluded, her win rate could reach fifty percent.
In outdoor environments, it could even reach seventy percent.
So in the armed corps, Mongoose’s status was second only to those officers.
However, Mongoose had been training extra hard, because her goal had never been her fellow reserves, but He Jie!
She took off her sweat-soaked tank top, quickly rinsed off, put on her equipment, and all that took only three minutes.
After all, He Jie gave her special attention.
That killer wouldn’t care how much more time women needed than men to tidy their appearance; if a task took male soldiers ten seconds, it took female soldiers ten seconds too—Mongoose had to do it in nine seconds to avoid a scolding, and eight seconds to avoid sarcasm.
The equipment mainly included bulletproof vest, tactical boots, etc., with the only offensive weapon being a handgun.
Main combat firearms including heavy weapons were all in the armory hall, only issued when carrying out combat tasks.
As for the handgun, on the current train, it was somewhat like a ceremonial weapon.
They had long stopped confiscating them.
Facing the mirror, she tied her hair into a ponytail, and Mongoose went out to the armory hall.
More than two thousand survivors had been assigned to their armed corps.
Everyone had to manage a portion during this time, and it would be fine once they disembarked.
At that moment, the cabin door in front of her opened, and a short, stocky man walked out from inside, wearing the combat group’s casual clothes, with a satisfied smile on his face.
“Not bad, wait till I have time next, you twist it good for me.”
The woman following behind had an ugly complexion, lips pursed, reaching out to push and shove the man.
Mongoose was stunned for a moment; this place housed survivors from Iron Mountain Shelter, a total of six women—when did an extra man appear?
Smelling the faint fishy stench on both of them, Mongoose furrowed her brow.
“What are you doing?”
Hearing Mongoose’s cold questioning voice, both of them looked up simultaneously.
Seeing Mongoose, the man’s lecherous smile toned down a bit, then he scanned her up and down with an extremely subtle gaze.
With no intention of greeting, he headed straight to his own room.
Leaving the woman standing in place, pale-faced, her pupils full of fear, not knowing how to explain.
Seeing her like this, Mongoose instantly understood what was going on.
Things like this happened a lot on the train.
If it were other colleagues, Mongoose would at most spit lightly in her mind and walk away.
But these were survivors from Iron Mountain Shelter under her responsibility, and moreover, their expressions seemed a bit off.
Mongoose was the type who couldn’t tolerate sand in her eyes.
Without thinking, she sharply called out to the departing man.
“Stop!”
The latter paused his steps, turned around in place, pointed at his nose in surprise, and said, “You’re talking to me?”
Mongoose’s signature beast pupils gradually narrowed.
“You’re from the combat group?”
The man grinned shamelessly, “Does it concern you?”
By now the train had stopped steadily, survivors were coming out, and soldiers were arriving at the armory hall to maintain order.
Their argument immediately drew the attention of others.
Seeing it was Mongoose, the soldiers all came over.
“Sister Mongoose, what’s up?”
Mongoose ignored her colleague’s greeting and continued asking, “I asked what you were doing.”
By now, more and more people were gathering.
The man, locked by her aura, uncomfortably turned his neck, saw combat group colleagues walking over from the distance, then slightly relaxed, and lowly scolded, “Don’t cause trouble.”
Mongoose stepped forward, her beast pupils staring dead at him, “I asked what you were doing?”
Being questioned in front of so many people, the man’s face turned ugly.
Among the four groups on the train, it might be hard to rank them, but one thing was acknowledged: the armed corps was absolutely at the bottom.
Not in terms of train benefits, but their seniority on the train was too shallow.
Except for senior officers, ordinary reserves were just halfway survivors, without a few days of proper military training.
Whereas their combat group were all bona fide veterans.
They also received the most professional military training in the Steel Council, and since the apocalypse, participated in battles big and small.
Calling them elite soldiers was not an overstatement.
Back when the armed corps was training, the combat group had even been pulled in to act as instructors.
Though the man hadn’t directly interacted with Mongoose, he could be considered half her squad leader.
Now he was actually being scolded by her!
Those shelter refugees were one thing, a bunch of consumables; with the train conductor’s temper, they might not even know where they’d die after the project.
But the gazes from the armed corps soldiers made him extremely embarrassed.
The man opened his mouth and cursed, “Who the hell do you think you are, meddling like a dog catching a rat? Do I have to explain to you?”
Everyone instantly fell silent, and the surrounding soldiers’ gazes turned hostile.
Someone quickly ran outward.
Combat group colleagues hurriedly said, “Old Wu has a hot temper, but what you said was a bit off too; it’s their consensual thing, why meddle so much? Give me face, you two take a step back, otherwise if the purser comes, it’ll be hard to handle.”
The woman sensed something wrong, looked worriedly at Mongoose and said, “You misunderstood, it’s just… we… nothing…”
Mongoose turned back to look at her, her eerie beast pupils making the latter fearfully step back.
Mongoose calmly said, “You can go back first and wait; I’ll handle things here.”
Then she faced the furious man squarely, “This is my task; you’ve overstepped.”
She didn’t say anything about men and women.
Instead, she bluntly pointed out the key.
This survivor was her mission objective, so no matter what happened, she had the right to intervene.
This was the responsibility the train gave her, and also her permissions.
When these words were spoken.
It was no longer a matter between men and women, but a power struggle!
The combat group colleagues who wanted to mediate froze, exchanging glances not knowing what to say.
Although Mongoose was somewhat extending the issue, they really didn’t dare to take it on, in other words, they weren’t willing to take the blame for Old Wu.
The armored train wasn’t a charity; failing tasks could be big or small.
Handling it by the rules was best.
What they feared was alarming the train conductor.
No matter how trivial, bringing it to the train conductor made it serious.
Hearing this, the man became furious.
As a “Defender,” he released his aura without reservation, face ashen as he confronted Mongoose.
“So this can’t end amicably today?”
“The damn road’s blocked, amicable my ass!”
A rough cursing voice boomed, shaking everyone’s ears with a buzz; they vaguely felt the voice familiar but hadn’t reacted who it was.
Then they saw a bear-like figure brutally flying kick into the crowd.
Old Wu’s sturdy body flew straight out, his massive muscles useless, just for show.
“Bang bang bang!”
The spectating soldiers were out of luck, bowled over like bowling pins.
But after seeing the man standing in the center, the soldiers quieted down like quails; even Old Wu, face pale with pain, didn’t dare make a sound.
Instead, he scrambled to stand properly.
“Pa!”
All armed corps soldiers on site, including combat group soldiers, stood at attention and saluted the man in the center.
Not the standard military salute, but right fist to left shoulder instead.
Suddenly, a rapid heavy footsteps came from afar.
Two pursers from the combat group, Old San, Old Er, and officers Goat and Qu Hang came running madly.
Each holding rubber short sticks.
“Don’t you all have nothing to do? Make way!”
Soldiers hurriedly cleared a path.
Old San and the others saw He Jie standing in the center with heavy dark circles, and instantly breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Earlier, when they heard the soldiers’ report, their heads had exploded.
If the train’s two biggest violence departments clashed internally, the consequences were beyond what Old San and they dared imagine.
Good thing Captain He had boarded early.
His prestige far exceeded that of a nominal purser like him; just standing there solved the problem.
“Captain He!”
“Old Da!”
Hearing the voices, He Jie glanced at them coldly and snorted, “Such a small place and it took you half a day to get here; legs gone soft from lack of training?”
Old San shook his head like a rattle, looked around carefully, and asked, “Nothing happened, right?”
He Jie’s eyes bulged, “You don’t know?”
“Didn’t have time to ask.”
Old San said awkwardly.
He Jie’s gaze fell on Qu Hang behind, “I rushed aboard, then saw a bunch of bastards blocking the way and yapping, so I kicked one; I’m heading home first, you handle things and disperse ASAP.”
There was still some time; before the train conductor summoned him, he could go see his wife and child first.
Hearing he was leaving, everyone relaxed.
“Wait.”
At that moment, Mongoose suddenly called out.
He Jie glared hostilely at Mongoose, cracking his knuckles, “I said I’m going home first, you disperse; got a problem?”
Mongoose looked at the fierce He Jie; though she didn’t know why he was so urgent, she decided to resolve the matter.
Even if targeted by He Jie afterward.
Chin raised firmly, she said, “The matter isn’t resolved yet, my task isn’t complete…”
Just then, the broadcast suddenly transmitted from the front of the train command platform.
“Senior Colonel He Jie, if you hear this, come to the dining car; the train conductor wants to see you.”
“If heard, please respond…”
Mongoose was stunned, then noticed He Jie’s face seemed even darker.
He Jie twitched his eye corner, “Received!”
Alright, couldn’t go back now.
He lowered his head to look at the stubborn Mongoose, “Tell it to the train conductor.”
……
Ten minutes later.
Mongoose, Old Wu, the woman, and He Jie along with a group of officers stood before Su Huan.
The woman was bewildered, Old Wu terrified, Mongoose resolute like facing execution.
Seeing their expressions, Su Huan found it amusing.
He had many things to handle, but judging cases like this were rare.
Those who could sit in the dining car were all management; even the dimmest Old San knew not to bother the train conductor.
But the lower levels were different.
Over a thousand people living in a closed environment meant daily frictions big and small, but few reached Su Huan, or even He Jie’s level.
Just today was special; two violence departments actually clashed.
Plus He Jie in a bad mood, bringing it straight to Su Huan.
The matter wasn’t complicated.
Old Wu was a level 2 attendant from the combat group, single, not exactly upright usually, quite the big taxpayer on the train.
Seeing rare newcomers on the train, especially lots of young girls, he itched.
Before becoming an evolver, he had some hope, but now everyone was an evolver, success rate low.
Plus his short stocky build and looks, he hadn’t hooked up.
He didn’t dare use force; on the train, pulling strength to force it meant group pursers would handle it before reaching the train conductor.
So Old Wu resorted to crooked tricks.
After circling around, he landed on this woman, using his status to promise conditions to succeed.
His first promise was a formal identity for the woman, but given his status, it was nonsense.
So-called promise was actually a freebie.
Freebie for two straight days, coincidentally bumped into Mongoose.
Leading to today’s incident.
After hearing the whole story, Su Huan’s lips curled slightly, “I love judging cases; who speaks first?”
Old Wu gritted his teeth and said, “Train conductor, I followed the train’s rules, and I have no wife; neither married nor engaged, not taboo, right?”
“But you lied to me!”
The woman, having heard the full process beside, said hatefully with red eyes.
Su Huan nodded, “Though deception is immoral, it doesn’t violate rules; as for you…”
He turned to the woman looking scammed by scum, and lightly spat two words with a chuckle.
“Serves you right.”
The woman choked, but didn’t dare retort.
“You can go now; someone will assign you a task after you go up.”
Hu Shuo beside made a please gesture.
The woman looked stunned at the surrounding people; not one looked at her, not even with pity.
Clearly she was the one who suffered, but why did it feel like the matter had nothing to do with her?
