Chapter 24: Potent Drug
Some say the twelve disasters are a potent drug that drives evolution.
Of course, some say it’s sixteen.
The lunatics of the Mechanical God Cult have always proclaimed that general energy is the energy leaked from Pandora’s ink box, evolvers are the chosen ones blessed with divine grace, and machinery is the ark that carries people’s flesh and blood.
Those who play with taboos scold this claim, shouting that steel is corrupt and flesh and blood song.
But for ordinary people like Su Huan in the apocalypse, this is just a shudder-inducing slaughter.
He spent one month escaping the high temperature, but it took three years to barely escape the acid rain.
But before he could catch his breath, he was engulfed by the flood that followed closely behind.
He still clearly remembers the burning sensation of his skin and flesh being eroded by the spreading flood.
Rainwater poured into his nasal cavity, stinging and enveloping every nerve, the despair of nowhere to hide and nowhere to escape.
But compared to most people, he was lucky—he was reborn.
Unfortunately, if the planning is not thorough, he might have to experience it again.
According to Su Huan’s prediction, his armored train only qualifies for barely self-preservation when it reaches the third phase.
First phase: fairly solid physical defense, fresh water circulation, supplies reserves, a small team that obeys like an arm, and a large amount of labor.
Second phase: defense system that withstands multiple natural disasters, dual circulation of fresh water and grain, simple weapon system, evolver squad, clearly stratified train society.
Third phase: dynamic defense system, resource circulation system, energy recovery system, powerful weapon system, initial scientific research capability, evolver team, train society.
He not only needs to survive, but also rely on memories from his previous life to preemptively seize resources and talent in these disasters.
Only then can he create a snowball effect, making the armored train a major apocalyptic force like Deep Blue Data.
So his time is tight; previously, he had always tried his best to avoid the train appearing in the city.
He just didn’t want to waste time with these people who were about to be eliminated.
But the current conflict seems inevitable.
The sun set, darkness engulfed the carriage, only Su Huan’s position where he sat had a pair of eyes faintly glowing.
“I hope they can be smart and accept my transaction.”
He took out his personal logbook, then drew a black pen from the pen holder on the table, first wrote a calendar on the logbook, then crossed off the numbers one by one.
The scratching sound of the pen was like a sharp blade, fierce and decisive.
……
04:15 a.m.
Su Huan slowly opened his eyes without turning on the light, waiting until his eyes adjusted to the darkness before quietly sitting up from the bed.
He lifted a corner of the curtain, solemnly staring outside the car window.
Faint water vapor wafted in from the gaps in the car window, invisible raindrops threading through the explosion-proof net, hitting the inner steel plate.
Last time, the window by his bed was shattered, but with nothing to replace it, he simply left it empty and welded an openable steel plate inside.
The steel plate has two modes: fully open, or pulling the handle to turn it into a shutter-like form, convenient for those inside to observe the outside.
With the steel plate and explosion-proof net, nothing much can get in.
Later, when he has the capability, he can just add a piece of tempered glass.
After observing for a long time, Su Huan didn’t smell any pungent odor or hear any strange sounds.
Only then did he cautiously open the steel plate and stretch his hand out.
Damp, sultry air instantly surged into the carriage, even the rainwater carrying a trace of warmth.
Feeling the wetness on his palm, Su Huan brought it to his nose to smell, confirming it was ordinary rainwater before relaxing.
High temperature surged in his hand, instantly evaporating the raindrops clean.
Standing by the car window for ten minutes, Su Huan finally closed the steel plate, as if this boundless black night held infinite allure for him.
He silently opened the door, An Jing walked quietly down the corridor, from the front of the train to carriage 7, stopping in each carriage for about five minutes, letting general energy perception cover every corner.
Including the private rooms of Qi Xiao Ba and others.
Of course, this wasn’t checking their sleep quality; it was just his way of ruling out potential crises.
He didn’t like having unknown things on his train.
Suddenly, some subtle changes outside the train caught his attention.
Time reached exactly 05:00, and he decided to write the logbook first.
“December 20, early winter, 29°C—”
“The train conductor always has endless worries”
—”Train Conductor Logbook”
……
The train lay quietly on the track; from the direction of the water plant, several electric cars stopped on the road.
A group of people got out holding long sabers and clubs, nervously stepping in the muddy ground, approaching the train.
If not for the clouds blocking the moonlight, one could still make out the security uniforms on these people.
“Damn it, it’s actually raining.” The leader was a man with drooping eyes, high nose, looking somewhat sinister.
“If we can take down this train, we won’t have to get wet in the rain anymore.”
Said a rugged-looking man beside him.
It was none other than Dog Brother, who luckily survived last night!
“If we really take it down, Dog Brother, you’ll be my Old Hu’s sworn brother from then on, but if…” Drooping Eyes smiled insincerely and chuckled twice, not finishing the rest.
Dog Brother’s complexion darkened, but he didn’t retort.
Little Ghost died, and five of the brothers who followed him died in one night!
The people he used to bully now looked at him as if they wanted to eat him alive.
Without this group of brothers, he didn’t dare close his eyes on the train.
Might as well go all in and not go back.
But thinking of Su Huan’s armored train filled him with unwillingness—a mobile fortress with ample supplies that could withstand zombie tides, simply paradise in the apocalypse.
So he gambled, contacting Prosperity Property Management at the water plant to cooperate with them.
He would lead the way, they would bring people, and take down the armored train under cover of night!
The other side’s Old Da was not only an evolver, but most crucially, had guns.
Plus Gao Zhe as inside help, he didn’t believe they couldn’t take down Su Huan.
“As long as you can open the car door, we’ll be brothers for sure.” Dog Brother said in a low voice.
“Old San, it’s your turn!”
Drooping Eyes turned back to a sneaky-looking guy, who carried a police baton, wore a crooked security hat, and hurried forward a few steps upon hearing the call.
He first glanced at Dog Brother, then flattered with a smile, “My lockpicking skills, Hu Tou, you still don’t know? Old Wang’s wife changed six door locks, but didn’t I still get in?”
Drooping Eyes, seeing his brother so confident, also showed pride on his face, “Don’t brag; if you can’t get in, I’ll directly rip off your balls!”
“Hey, isn’t that it up ahead?”
The sneaky one pointed at the steel dragon on the tracks ahead.
The group looked up and saw the nearly five-meter-high train outline vaguely visible in the rain curtain, its dark steel deck exuding a tough aura.
Just looking at it gave a sense of security.
Drooping Eyes’ eyes lit up, “Good stuff, really good stuff!”
