Chapter 291: Youth Story And Cat
Su Huan thought about it, and the situation was indeed as she said.
The major forces’ head start only targeted high-level Evolvers like He Jie and Zhao Kuo; ordinary people’s evolution also began after the Apocalypse.
Large-scale Zombie Hordes appearing would make it easier to collect General Energy Crystals.
In the first month, the Armored Train was mainly focused on escaping the high-temperature zone, so Su Huan had no time to plan for the subsequent passengers, thus delaying one month.
With the Train’s overall population, maintaining this elite cultivation mode with concentrated resources, the one-month time difference could be erased quickly.
“There are quite a few Gene Potions provided this time, right?”
Su Huan suddenly asked.
Shu Wei collected her thoughts and replied, “Most are concentrated in Basic Potions. There are twenty full sets of Tier 1 Potions, ten of which are common professions, and the other ten are ‘Manufacturer’ Flesh and Blood direction potions researched by Black Kite.”
Su Huan sneered.
Black Kite’s intentions were obvious.
According to Mister Shu’s statement, good Profession Potions and Tier 2 and above Profession Potions were all controlled by No. 1.
Alerting No. 1 in advance—not to mention full sets of potions and large amounts of supplies.
Not even a single General Energy Crystal would be handed over.
Anyway, even the worst resources were still resources; at worst, they could be used for exchange, which would be fine.
“Ten Profession Evolution Potions that fit our planning system—keep them. Those that don’t fit, put them in the points exchange pool. I don’t have such high requirements for the crew’s combat power. Also open exchange permissions for Basic Potions to them; you handle the ratios yourselves, ensuring large-scale promotion to Tier 1 for the Train by June.”
The remaining ten sets of ‘Manufacturer’ Profession Potions were set aside by Su Huan.
There was already Yu Jing on the Train walking this path, which gave him enough headache.
The others could forget it.
Find a way to exchange with other forces later.
The taboo-playing madman hadn’t formed yet, and the drawbacks of Flesh and Blood Evolution hadn’t been discovered; it was still a shiny full set of Profession Potions.
“Got it.” Shu Wei glanced at the Tactical Tablet in her hand and said softly, “Allow me to remind you: the ‘Firepower Specialist’ provided by Gunfire and its subsequent Tier 3 career direction have been verified feasible by Director Xu. Also, some matters from the Pan-Asian Alliance—he hopes you can come take a look.”
“Oh, how much longer?”
“Ten minutes.”
“Then let’s go now.”
Su Huan stood up and walked toward the back.
The car window divided the Storm Zone’s scorching sunlight into bright, warm square grids, casting onto the ground where the edges softly diffused.
The Train’s slow movement allowed Su Huan to more easily observe the scenery outside the window.
The originally lush ground, after repeated ravaging by sandstorms, presented a western posture: withered grass lay low, spasming like tremors when the wind blew over.
These things were all novel to him; even a few stubborn thorn bushes could make him look a few more times.
Although the Acid Rain Area and Flood Zone provided the greatest boost to his ability.
But if Su Huan had to choose himself, he would rather stay in the Storm Zone forever.
“Any message from Gunfire?”
Su Huan suddenly asked.
Shu Wei shook her head slightly. “When we pass by Professor Ma’s place later, I’ll have him amplify the communication range, then check the messages.”
“Tch, shouldn’t have let those three go back so quickly back then.”
Su Huan said casually.
Although the three from Gunfire were high-level, they weren’t the renowned giant pillar General Su Huan knew, the Tier 5 ‘Heavenly Fire Commander’—one of the current endpoints for He Jie’s evolution direction.
Gunfire’s top-tier strategic deterrent.
If this person had come, Su Huan would have interest in playing with them, but three big men—forget it.
Apart from some “deposit.”
Before leaving, the Armored Train had reached an exchange agreement with Gunfire.
Still no movement until now.
But Su Huan wasn’t worried; you could run away with the monk, but not the temple. As long as he continued north, they would eventually meet.
Carriage 3 was still just Wan Xing alone.
Although she had become a Tier 1 Evolver and the Purser of the Manufacturing Group, she had no intention of assigning herself two subordinates.
This was fine; Carriage 3’s position was critical, and letting ordinary attendants in could easily cause problems.
After a simple greeting, Su Huan continued walking back.
Along the way, whether ordinary attendants, Level 5 management, or deputy pursers, all respectfully greeted Su Huan.
Although the Train Conductor’s rights and strength hadn’t changed much, the respect gained was greater.
But Su Huan soon grew impatient and went straight through the central Armory Hall.
After complex decontamination procedures, Su Huan saw the first acquaintance in Director Xu’s Laboratory.
High Priestess.
She looked much younger than on the Island, wearing a heavy white long dress, sitting by the window, with a not-too-old researcher standing opposite her talking.
Without any warning, the High Priestess turned her head.
“You’re here.”
Su Huan was somewhat speechless. “You don’t use your ability for things like this, do you?”
The High Priestess smiled. “It’s just that using my ability too much makes my intuition sharper than ordinary people. Don’t worry, I want to live longer than you, to see what this world can become.”
“It won’t get any worse anyway.”
Su Huan sat on the chair brought by the researcher.
He was too lazy to go in; Director Xu’s Laboratory had different zones with different management rules.
Clothing and disinfection procedures were different.
Better to chat here and wait for the old man to come out himself.
“Did you crack that prophecy?”
The High Priestess asked.
“No.”
Seeing Su Huan’s indifferent appearance, the High Priestess was somewhat worried. “That prophecy is very important to the Train.”
“Did you see me dead in the prophecy?”
The High Priestess was stunned. “Well, no…”
“Then it’s not important.”
While they spoke, the mechanical doors opened layer by layer, and Director Xu walked out from the Laboratory Interior with his assistant.
His steps were light and brisk, coat hem fluttering.
Likely some experiment had achieved a breakthrough.
Su Huan looked up and said to Shu Wei behind him, “Wanna bet on…”
“No bet.”
Before he finished, Shu Wei flatly refused him.
Before even standing still, Director Xu said with shining eyes, “I cracked the Deep Blue Data Collector’s ability.”
Su Huan felt a bit regretful; too bad he didn’t win a prize.
……
Restless wind swept over from above, carrying away the sweat from training on the body.
Mongoose sat on the train roof with knees hugged, lost in some contemplation.
Soon targeted as prey by a Tier 1 mutated eagle falcon in the sky, but the Armored Train’s massive size made it somewhat wary.
After circling for a moment, suspicion appeared in the eagle’s eyes; the next instant, it dove toward Mongoose’s position.
Claws sharp as knives, gleaming with cold light.
Mongoose’s eyes remained dazed, completely unaware of the approaching danger.
Cannon and anti-aircraft machine gun on the Train simultaneously turned their muzzles.
“Boom boom——”
Explosion sounds mixed with woodpecker-like thuds rang out simultaneously.
The Tier 1 mutated eagle falcon let out a shrill scream.
Blood sprayed, black feathers exploded.
Just three meters from Mongoose’s head, the huddled Mongoose suddenly sprang up, body lunging forward, directly crossing six meters, palm silently landing on the train roof.
Then continued hugging legs and sitting properly.
The Tier 1 eagle falcon behind barely missed, crashing directly onto the roof.
Emitting a thudding bang.
Four Armed Soldiers and two Combat Group members jumped onto the Train, delivering finishing shots to the still-struggling Tier 1 eagle falcon.
Only after confirming it was dead did they apologetically shout to Mongoose sitting ahead.
“Sorry, Mongoose sis, almost hurt you.”
Mongoose’s ears twitched, didn’t turn back, raised one hand and waved.
The group dragged the Tier 1 eagle falcon and jumped to the deck.
Because of liking to sit on the roof, Mongoose had long grown accustomed to being treated as a small snack by foraging birds and beasts.
At first a bit disheveled, but with strength improvement, she could now dodge these mutated beasts using Instinct reactions while lost in thought.
Moreover, the Armored Train’s self-defense system would activate in advance; even if it failed, the on-duty Sentry and Combat Group members would come out to counterattack.
Just dodge.
Mongoose suddenly felt an itch on her butt, reached out with claws to scratch.
Eyes instantly became perfectly round, like two concentric circles.
The black ring pupils in the center became enormous.
Hand pulled out, clutching a fluffy rope, pinched it—still elastic.
Mongoose incredulously tugged twice.
The “rope” was pulled out longer.
If this was a tail…
Seemed over two meters long!
Corner of mouth twitched, Mongoose let go.
Sure enough, through Instinct Manipulation, the “rope” moved.
No, it was the tail moving.
She had grown a tail.
Smelling the bloody scent drifting to her nose, hearing the knife-cutting sounds below, Mongoose sighed faintly.
Although it was something long expected, it still felt a bit strange.
Having been human for so many years, was she going to turn into a cat from now on…
A bit hard to accept.
Mongoose instinctively licked her hand, then groomed the disheveled fur on her tail.
This was just a small matter.
What truly lingered in her mind was witnessing Old Wu being “clubbed to death” that day.
The Train Conductor’s pitch-black calm eyes left an indelible mark in her heart.
Although not quite a collapse of faith.
But it always made her feel something off.
She had thought about it for days and still couldn’t figure it out.
Mongoose suddenly stood up on the roof. “I need to find someone to ask; can’t keep spiraling alone.”
With determined eyes, she stuffed the tail back into her pants and headed inside.
First circled at He Jie’s doorway, hearing laughter from inside; Mongoose hesitated, then turned to another carriage.
Deputy 2 and Deputy 3 were officer carriages; Deputy 4 was the Purser carriage.
Main 4 was the carriage of Xiao Ba and others who boarded first; although no core member designation after restructuring, in ordinary attendants’ eyes, this carriage was even better than the adjacent management carriage.
After all, this was the main train.
Mongoose only gained permission to come to the front carriages after becoming Qu Hang’s Adjutant.
But apart from helping Yu Yue fetch things, she hadn’t come in many times.
Mongoose was a bit nervous.
Like a little cat tiptoeing through unfamiliar territory.
Fortunately, ‘Beast Transformation’ gave her cat traits, allowing good control of walking sounds.
The corridor was quiet, only the motor whirring from Carriage 3.
Suddenly, wheel-rolling sounds came from Carriage 5.
Mongoose’s ears instantly flattened, instinctively wanting to drill into a narrow spot, but realizing she wasn’t a thief, she stiffened in place.
“Mongoose sis?”
A youth’s puzzled voice came.
Mongoose looked up, seeing Xiao Ba in a khaki T-shirt sitting in a Wheelchair, looking at her curiously.
“Eighth Master…”
The tail stuffed in pants slipped out, went over the shoulder, and waved at Xiao Ba like a hand.
The youth was somewhat dumbfounded.
When Mongoose reacted, her facial expression also gradually stiffened.
……
“Kitty sis, why do you have cat ears?”
“Kitty sis, what’s your name?”
“Kitty sis, can I touch your tail?”
Mongoose sat stiffly on the chair in the room.
A small figure circled around her, but whenever he went to one side, Mongoose’s tail shrank to the other.
Mongoose awkwardly responded.
But when the little boy’s hand reached out, she still instinctively moved her tail away.
“Cheng Cheng, don’t be rude!”
Xiao Ba carried two cups of tea out from the room, handed one to Mongoose, then sat back in the facing Wheelchair.
To ease the awkwardness, Mongoose asked, “Eighth Master…”
“Mongoose sis, you’re so much older than me; still call me Xiao Ba.”
“Xiao Ba… why are you still in a Wheelchair?”
Xiao Ba smiled and patted the Wheelchair, winked. “This is my secret weapon!”
“Oh~”
Mongoose understood.
After this topic, the room fell into awkward silence.
Several topics flashed in her mind, then rejected by Mongoose.
Gaze instinctively fell on the curious-eyed little boy nearby; she quickly asked, “He’s the little boy you adopted?”
Xiao Ba nodded, a warm smile on his lips. “He hasn’t gone to school yet, only remembers his nickname Cheng Cheng, so I gave him my surname; full name Qi Cheng.”
“Navel orange?”
“Uh… Cheng from growth.”
Mongoose’s complexion softened. “Impressive; where did you meet him?”
The opposite Xiao Ba’s expression unchanged, like a little adult, said to the little boy nearby, “Xing Zi sis is off work soon; go find her. Brother needs to entertain a friend; come back after dinner tonight.”
“Okay…”
The little boy agreed hesitantly, looking back three steps before leaving toward Mongoose’s tail.
“Go on.”
Once the door closed, the smile on Xiao Ba’s face slowly faded.
Carrying faint worry.
“It’s not exactly a secret, but it involves the Train Conductor.”
Hearing “Train Conductor,” Mongoose perked up instantly.
“Can you tell me in detail?”
Xiao Ba hesitated. “Many people witnessed the whole thing back then, but most won’t care; no need for strict secrecy, but I don’t want anyone telling Cheng Cheng about it.”
Mongoose hurriedly held up four fingers in a swearing gesture.
“Xiao Ba, rest assured; no one in the entire Corps has a tighter mouth than me.”
“No need to swear. The matter starts from the Steel Council incident; you weren’t on board yet then, right?”
“No, I’m from Shun’an.”
“It went like this…”
