Chapter 258: Military Uniform
“The Third Priest’s ability is relatively simple, with little room for research, but the Second Priest’s and High Priestess’s abilities have both benefited me greatly.”
At the mention of this topic, a faint excitement flashed in Director Xu’s eyes.
Seeing there was nothing for them to do, everyone finished eating and gradually dispersed.
Only Yu Jing and Director Xu were left.
After Director Xu finished explaining the research results, Su Huan had a general understanding of their abilities.
It was pretty much as he had guessed.
The Second Priest is a “Manufacturer.” He first accidentally used materials extracted from a feline mutated beast on the island to create a potion that could temporarily enhance physical fitness. Although it had some side effects, the potion had no other functions at that time.
Later, he evolved a new ability.
It was precisely Yu Jing’s “Life Devouring Reshaping.”
Then, combining the skills “General Energy Erosion” and “Puppet Manipulation,” he created the ghostly scene of “three hundred people resurrected.”
This profession has very good strength, but it also has considerable limitations.
It requires him to plant his ability in the other’s body in advance.
That is, the so-called “Divine Stones.” All these Divine Stones have been tampered with by the Second Priest.
Finally, there is one necessary condition: the manipulated puppet must be in a state of death; living ones won’t work.
The reason the remaining members under the bombardment at that time were so pained was because the Second Priest was killing them.
But this method only works on people of lower level than him.
Like the High Priestess’s Son, who is also a Tier 1 Evolver. Even after swallowing the Divine Stone, the Second Priest couldn’t do anything to him and had to use a siege method to take him down, which is why the “Reaper” has so many scars on his body.
Yu Jing on the side listened with great interest. “It’s a pity I wasn’t there. How was the combat power of those puppets?”
Su Huan thought for a moment. “Although I didn’t give them much chance to show off, they were only at the level of marionettes. Once the main body is distracted, they become living targets, far inferior to your puppets.”
A trace of suspicion flashed in Yu Jing’s phoenix eyes. “‘Bodhi Dao Artifact’ doesn’t have any skills related to intelligence, so why do my puppets have a certain degree of autonomous intelligence?”
“Oh, not dead enough?”
A cold glint flashed in Su Huan’s eyes.
“Impossible.”
“Probably not.”
The two women said in unison.
Yu Jing’s probing gaze fell on Shu Wei behind her.
The latter said calmly, “It should be related to the smart chip implanted in Zhao Kuo’s brain before his death.”
“Implanted?”
Director Xu caught a key word.
Seeing that Su Huan had no intention of interrupting her, Shu Wei continued, “Zhao Kuo underwent a lot of body modifications to reach Tier 1, but he didn’t modify his brain. Later, he was selected for a Tier 2 modification experiment. The process and content are confidential, but… the brain must have been a key focus of the Tier 2 modification.”
Su Huan agreed, “Possible. With that level of electrical current intensity from me, not to mention a human brain—even a saber-toothed tiger or mammoth would be pierced through. He took a direct hit and could still flee, so obviously there’s something in his brain.”
Yu Jing said thoughtfully, “I didn’t dissect it, so I’m not too clear on the structure inside his brain…”
Director Xu said, “I’m more interested in the details of the Black Kite experiment. You can come to my laboratory to chat when you have time.”
Shu Wei naturally knew Director Xu’s background and smiled politely in refusal.
“Knock knock.”
Su Huan lightly tapped the table with his index finger. “Let’s put the puppet matter aside for now. Have you figured out the research on the High Priestess’s ability?”
Director Xu shook his head. “I have no clue at all about this prophecy ability. I tried isolating her, but she could still use her ability normally. I can’t find the channel through which she obtains her ability at all. In short, it still needs time.”
“Then, can’t you judge how many more times she can use her ability or its accuracy?”
“…Can’t.”
Director Xu said honestly.
Su Huan didn’t dwell on this topic and instead continued the previous discussion on departmental refinement issues.
Although most evolvers find it hard to reach Tier 1, for stable production, each department of the train should have a core ability.
Just like the Steel Council’s elite soldiers, most of whom are professions from the Gunfire Lineage.
The train’s data repository currently stores many evolution directions and methods, and Director Xu is in charge of updating and entering the information.
So he was kept behind.
Yu Jing stood up to clear the bowl and chopsticks. Director Xu took the towel handed over by Yu Yue, wiped his hands, smoothed the hair at his temples, then stood up and sat on the Orange Cat Sofa directly opposite.
The two began a new round of discussion.
From Attendant Group Four all the way to the Armed Corps, and the ability directions of the newly taken-in survivors.
They went through everything, during which Yu Jing and Shu Wei supplemented some information.
The evolution professions for the main departments were tentatively decided.
To ensure the train’s profession diversity, two or three professions were circled for each core department, and nothing was set in stone—adjustments would be made based on the situation.
Director Xu hesitated. “I can understand the others, but we don’t have a corresponding follow-up direction for the ‘Mechanical Apprentice’ profession. If we promote a large number to this profession, what then?”
“Don’t worry, I’ll handle it.”
Su Huan said calmly.
The mechanist route must not be abandoned. As the absolute core of the Wasteland Lineage, the mechanist series demonstrates vigorous vitality and broad prospects.
He alone knew of over a dozen branch professions, all top-notch in applicability and practicality.
Whether for production or combat, there are paths.
For ordinary scavengers, mechanists are even more popular than the Gunfire Lineage.
By the time all matters were discussed, two hours had passed.
Outside the window, the sky remained overcast.
Rumbling engineering machinery crushed over the quietly grown mutated plants. Teams of survivors followed behind the machinery, plant juices splattering radially underfoot. A bit of fuel additive was sprinkled, and flames whooshed up.
Sounds of plants shattering and faint shrieks rose.
Steel, machinery, flames…
Humanity returned to the starting line once more, vying with this world for dominance.
All things compete vigorously, full of life yet cruel.
……
“April 5, slow water”
“The water flow is calm today. Luckily, we salvaged the Data Center in one go.”
“April 7, slow water”
“The world is big; I want to see it.”
Su Huan sat on the crown of the Crown Pear Tree, looking at the reflective water surface, his voice carrying a bit of warmth. “Are you sure you won’t come with me?”
A youth stood by the thick branches. Compared to when they first met at Iron Mountain Shelter, the youth had grown taller, his arms more defined, but his stubborn expression remained unchanged, resembling Old Man Tie Shan.
Xiao Dong tugged at his tattered shirt like a rag, saying firmly, “I’m not leaving. Guan Chong Station is my home. I want to stay with Grandpa Tie Shan and rebuild Guan Chong Station.”
“Mm.”
A clear breeze blew through the treetop, the emotion in the Train Conductor’s words very faint, as if blown away by the wind.
After waiting a long time with no other words coming, Xiao Dong didn’t know what to say.
The youth silently stood beside Su Huan, gazing at the distant water surface.
As he gazed, his eyes slowly fell on the golden pears in the treetop.
When the sun shifted slightly and the water surface became like a glowing mirror, Su Huan flicked a bolt of lightning from his fingertip.
It turned into an extremely thin beam of light that wrapped around the pears on the small pear tree below. With a gentle hook of his finger, he pulled back two pears and tossed one to Xiao Dong beside him.
The latter clumsily caught it, staring in shock at the golden pear, sniffing it hard under his nose, swallowing saliva, then stuffing it into his pants pocket.
“Why not eat it?”
Su Huan crunched on his pear.
It made Xiao Dong drool, but he seemed to have forgotten the pear in his own pocket.
“Since the sky changed, it’s been a long time since I’ve eaten fruit. I want Grandpa Tie Shan to taste it, and Uncle Zhenbang and Uncle Zhendong—they always help me with work. If any is left, I want to bring it back for my dad, mom, and grandma…”
“That one pear isn’t enough to share.”
“Just tasting it would be good.”
Su Huan turned his head, staring straight into his eyes. “If you had the ability to get more pears, then everyone around you could eat one.”
Xiao Dong stood stunned in place, as if he didn’t understand.
Su Huan ignored him, jumped down from the Crown Pear Tree, and walked straight outward. Shu Wei and the other two quickly followed from under the tree.
A ditch had been dug around the Cultivation Pod, introducing a water source, with the Cultivation Pod floating in this puddle.
This was specially done to facilitate installing the Data Center.
The process went very smoothly, much simpler than building the Cultivation Pod.
Walking out of the Cultivation Pod, Su Huan arrived at a simple workshop.
The train had currently been fully repaired, but with the Train Conductor’s personality, he naturally wouldn’t let them idle.
The four thousand five hundred people began working day and night again, synthesizing materials for other engineering projects, not even knowing what they were doing themselves.
They didn’t even have time to think. After thirty hours following the foreman on each work shift, they were already exhausted.
Even with such high-intensity work, no one was clamoring to strike or anything.
Seven days ago, one-tenth of the people were executed, thoroughly removing the troublemakers from the team. Though some good bones were mistakenly pulled, this wasn’t a bad thing for the Armored Train.
It just meant development after Iron Mountain Shelter might be a bit slower.
Seeing the Train Conductor enter the workshop, several senior attendants hurriedly contacted the Train Conductor. Soon, Hu Shuo came running over quickly.
“Train Conductor.”
“Mm.”
Su Huan responded, his gaze searching the working crowd before heading straight toward Old Man Tie.
As he walked, he said, “Start the Guan Chong Station plan.”
Hu Shuo responded seriously. “Should Guanchao Island be retained?”
“Just replicate Shun’an Outpost.”
Old Man Tie sat beside a fallen tree, holding a Wood Axe to trim the Crown Pear Tree branches. Everyone in this area was doing the same, only the crackling sounds of the Wood Axe chopping wood.
As if sensing Su Huan’s approach from afar, Old Man Tie stood up with the axe in hand.
Su Huan walked right up to one meter in front of him.
Looking at him covered in wood shavings, he said faintly, “Tomorrow you can return to Iron Mountain Shelter.”
Old Man Tie was clearly a bit surprised, tossed aside the Wood Axe, and said thanks.
“But Iron Mountain Shelter will be renamed afterward.”
“What name?”
“Armored Train Platform 2, Guan Chong Station.”
After Su Huan finished speaking, Old Man Tie’s brows relaxed, and he said straightforwardly, “No problem.”
Su Huan raised an eyebrow. “Not afraid this time that I’ll take your leadership?”
A roguish expression appeared for the first time on Old Man Tie’s righteous face. “You’re more capable than me. You can support four or five thousand people. If the shelter’s people all join the Armored Train, that counts as living good days.”
Su Huan let out a faint, indifferent scoff. “Wishful thinking. Get back to work for me first.”
He turned and walked out of the workshop.
“Tell He Jie that I’ll give him another day tomorrow to clean up Guanchao Island thoroughly before we leave.”
Su Huan instructed.
“Yes.”
The Secretary responded crisply.
“Is the standard military uniform designed?”
“A few styles are out.”
“Let’s go see.”
……
The Armored Train’s tailor shop is in Carriage 5, right next to the Pursers’ Carriage 4 and Storage Carriage 6.
As for the even more front areas housing officers, who are currently all out training, plus the tailor shop not open to the public, it’s the Train Conductor’s quietest area.
When Su Huan entered, he unexpectedly saw He Jie’s wife Han Qin and Lin Jin also there.
Xiao Hezi and Han Qin were holding a piece of clothing up to his body to compare.
Seeing Su Huan, irrepressible joy appeared in Lin Jin’s tired eyes.
“Train Conductor!”
“Mm, why are you here?”
Su Huan was slightly puzzled.
The latter said tiredly, “I was originally training, but Captain He told me early that training was over, then… I was dragged here. I don’t remember the specifics; my brain is foggy, distracted, not too clear…”
Seeing Lin Jin’s eyes glazed over and his speech incoherent, Su Huan waved his hand speechlessly. “Go back and sleep.”
Lin Jin gratefully fled.
Xiao Hezi looked at the military uniform in her hand, then at the tall and handsome Train Conductor in front of her, her eyes slowly lighting up.
“This is the new military uniform, right?”
Su Huan asked.
“Yes, Train Conductor, would you like to try it on?”
Xiao Hezi asked full of expectation.
“Do you have women’s styles?”
“Ah?”
Xiao Hezi was stunned, her expression slightly odd. “Yes, but the sizes aren’t large…”
“You have 168 cm ones, right?”
“No problem, military uniforms are generally made a bit larger.”
“Bring two sets.”
Xiao Hezi held up one black and one dark green military uniform, her expression strange as she said, “You… are you going to change here?”
“Tch.”
Su Huan slightly raised his eyelid and stepped back, revealing Shu Wei with an indifferent expression behind him.
“Put it on her.”
Xiao Hezi immediately breathed a sigh of relief, but felt a faint sense of loss in her heart.
“Then follow me.”
“No need, right here is fine.”
Su Huan said.
Xiao Hezi and Han Qin’s gazes were somewhat shocked.
While White Deer was still pondering what this meant, Giraffe dragged him out the door.
Shu Wei’s complexion was slightly pale, her porcelain-white skin somewhat dazzling.
“Oh, then we’ll go out.”
Seeing the actions of Giraffe and the other, Xiao Hezi reacted, set down the military uniform, took Han Qin’s hand, and walked out.
The door closed.
Su Huan’s pitch-black gaze fell on the woman.
“Change.”
Shu Wei didn’t make a sound, placed the tablet on the table nearby, and silently placed her fingertips on her collar.
This action had been done many times in front of Su Huan, so it wasn’t particularly hesitant; the slightly formal suit fell onto the table.
