Chapter 69: D-class Squad
Hearing Su Huan’s voice, Lu Xiao’s expression changed slightly as he straightened up.
Su Huan walked in first, followed by Old San who had gone to find him.
Glancing at the wounds of the several injured, Su Huan frowned, “This is… an encounter with an Earth Dragon?”
Lu Xiao silently noted this name in his mind and said gravely, “Bad luck. While picking that mutated plant that looked like an onion, we were attacked by something that drilled out from underground. Two were bitten to death on the spot, three were injured, and two panicked and ran off directly—they probably won’t make it back. As for the rest, they’re not my people.”
“Not your people…” Su Huan scanned the crowd, didn’t see that woman, and felt a bit regretful.
He walked over and patted Lin Xia’s shoulder, saying flatly, “Simple bandaging will do. Medical resources have to be exchanged for.”
Lu Xiao frowned, “We pick plants for you and you still charge us?”
Su Huan wagged a finger, saying seriously, “You need to understand—you’re working for me, and they’re working for you. As their captain, you should decide yourself: abandon these team members or exchange for the corresponding medical resources.”
The injured lying on the ground immediately reacted and began wailing at Lu Xiao.
“Captain, I’m only twenty-one. I don’t want to die. Please…”
“I picked several mutated plants.”
Lu Xiao’s face darkened instantly. He gritted his teeth and said, “Don’t tell me that after busting our asses all afternoon, the mutated plants we brought back still owe you treatment fees.”
“They do indeed owe me treatment fees.” Su Huan’s gaze was frank. “I’m not playing word games with you. This was originally a qualification test, and these mutated plants are your exam papers to hand in.”
“Now you have two choices again: forfeit the exam or continue. So tell me your choice—do you want to continue?”
Amid the wailing all over the ground, Su Huan’s calm inquiry carried a certain cruelty.
Lu Xiao’s chest heaved a few times before he regained his calm. “Of course we continue!”
The woman nearby handed over a black bag. Old San took it and, at Su Huan’s signal, opened it and poured out the contents.
Over a dozen mutated plants with white fruit lay on the carriage floor, their roots still clumped with clods of earth.
They looked fresh and firm.
Su Huan nodded and instructed Old San to take them to Carriage 7 and hand them to Huang Hai. Then he looked at Lu Xiao, extended a hand, and smiled. “Welcome to the armored train.”
Lu Xiao stared dead into Su Huan’s eyes until five breaths later, when he slowly gripped it.
They touched and parted immediately.
Seeing that Lu Xiao wasn’t pulling any tricks, Su Huan’s smile gained a bit more sincerity.
He actually admired Gao Zhe a lot and had given him opportunities, but that guy always wanted to take his place.
Lu Xiao was different.
For now, the two got along quite harmoniously.
Little did he know it was because they boarded at different times and saw different things.
When Gao Zhe boarded, he saw Su Huan exploiting ordinary people like pigs, dogs, cattle, and horses, while when Lu Xiao boarded, he saw Su Huan standing at the front of the train clearing the way for everyone.
Hence the subtle difference.
“Now you’re the captain of the armored train’s first D-grade basic squad. Carriage 17 will become your squad’s exclusive carriage. Tomorrow we’ll install a water tank for you and connect it to the water purifier, but just to say it upfront—water fees still have to be paid.”
This was completely the Steel Council’s system. Su Huan just used it directly without any psychological pressure.
“You have the right to prioritize claiming the armored train’s tasks, but you must complete one task of the corresponding level each week. Tasks can be self-selected, but there will occasionally be mandatory tasks that must be completed—no delays, no excuses. Failure will result in deprivation of corresponding rights depending on the situation.”
“Your current rights allow you to exchange with the train for medical resources, food, purified water, and other life necessities, weapons and ammunition, evolution information, train special equipment, tobacco and alcohol, coffee, and other luxury goods, and you have a certain credit limit.”
After saying that, Su Huan glanced at the woman beside him and added, “Women are not currently available.”
Lu Xiao’s eyes lit up slightly. “What’s the credit limit?”
“No exact value calculated yet, so it depends on my mood.” Su Huan said straightforwardly.
Lu Xiao was choked up, his expression odd. “What about train special equipment?”
“Not crafted yet.”
“…Weapons and ammunition?”
“Too little. Not selling for now.”
“Grass!” Lu Xiao was so pissed he laughed and couldn’t help cursing. “So it’s all empty promises?”
Su Huan thought for a moment. This was indeed dampening enthusiasm. He said sincerely, “How about you try exchanging for something else?”
Lu Xiao raised an eyebrow. “Evolution information?”
“You’re too poor. I don’t want to extend you credit for now.”
Lu Xiao: “?”
If he could beat him, he’d really want to rub Su Huan’s smiling handsome face hard under his military boots.
This damn bastard gave him the illusion of facing the old squad leader.
He said irritably, “Don’t make me guess. Just tell me directly what I can get.”
Su Huan thought for a bit. “You’re sure you want to treat these three, right?”
Lu Xiao waved his hand impatiently. “Treat them! Of course!”
If he didn’t treat them in front of so many people, morale would collapse—who would dare go out with him afterward?
Su Huan grinned and called out, “Hear that? Use the best medicine!”
Lin Xia, who was setting bones and sweating profusely, responded. The patient under her hands was already in agony, foaming at the mouth and convulsing.
The other injured looked toward their temporary leader.
But their team had only gathered some ordinary supplies and hadn’t brought back the needed mutated plants, so they had no qualification to exchange with Su Huan.
Having resolved this little interlude, Su Huan continued to Lu Xiao, “I can also tell you some basic information about evolvers and the levels of common zombies, to avoid you not recognizing them and suffering heavy casualties.”
Lu Xiao responded seriously.
Su Huan looked around and shrugged. “This isn’t the place to talk.”
The two walked forward two carriages. The crowd behind showed disappointment.
At a time like this, everyone wanted to grasp strength.
Su Huan explained simply to him. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to give Lu Xiao sudden enlightenment.
“So I’m a Defender?”
“And biased toward the strength direction. I also have your subsequent evolution path.”
Knowing this guy’s habit of not releasing the eagle until he saw the rabbit, Lu Xiao asked directly, “What’s the price?”
“Haven’t decided yet. I suggest you do more tasks, raise your squad’s level, and unlock more permissions.”
Lu Xiao really wanted to roll his eyes. You’ve barely drawn the pie and now you’re telling me to eat?
“How many levels does this squad have in total?”
