Chapter 24: A Drastic Remedy

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Some say the Twelve Calamities are a potent drug that accelerates evolution. Others, of course, argue there are sixteen.

The lunatics of the Church of the Mechanical God have always preached that "Pan-Energy" is the power leaked from Pandora’s box, that the Evolved are the chosen ones blessed by God, and that machines are the arks designed to carry humanity’s flesh. Those who dabble in the forbidden curse this notion, believing that steel is corruption and that flesh is the only true song of joy.

But for an ordinary person in the apocalypse like Su Huan, it was nothing more than a soul-shuddering slaughter. He spent a month fleeing the extreme heat, yet it took him three years to barely escape the acid rain. Before he could even catch his breath, he was submerged by the floods that followed.

He still clearly remembers the searing pain as the rising floodwaters eroded his skin and flesh. Rainwater poured into his nasal cavity, the stinging sensation wrapping around every single nerve—a despair from which there was nowhere to hide and nowhere to flee.

The only thing that made him luckier than most was that he had been reborn. The misfortune, however, was that if his planning fell short, he might have to experience it all over again.

According to Su Huan’s projections, his armored train would only have the bare minimum qualifications for self-preservation once it reached the third stage.

Stage One: Reasonably sturdy physical defenses, a freshwater cycle, supply stockpiles, a small team that obeys orders like an extension of one’s own arm, and a large labor force.

Stage Two: Defensive systems capable of withstanding multiple natural disasters, dual-loop water and food systems, simple weaponry, a squad of Evolved, and a train society with a clear class structure.

Stage Three: Dynamic defensive systems, a resource recycling system, energy recovery systems, powerful weaponry, rudimentary research capabilities, a team of Evolved, and a fully functional train society.

He had to not only survive but also use the memories of his past life to preemptively seize resources and talent amidst these disasters. Only then could he create a snowball effect, transforming his armored train into a massive apocalyptic power like Deep Blue Data.

His time was tight. Previously, he had avoided bringing the train into cities whenever possible, simply because he did not want to waste time on those who were destined to be weeded out. But now, this conflict seemed inevitable.

As the sun set and darkness engulfed the carriage, only the pupils of Su Huan, sitting in the dark, glowed faintly.

"I hope they are smart enough to accept my terms."

He pulled out his personal logbook and retrieved a black pen from the desk’s pen holder. He first drew a calendar in the log, then began crossing out the dates one by one. The scratching sound of the pen was like a sharp blade—decisive and ruthless.

...

04:15 AM.

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Su Huan opened his eyes slowly. He did not turn on the lights, waiting instead for his vision to adjust to the darkness before quietly sitting up in bed.

He lifted a corner of the curtain and stared solemnly out the window. Faint moisture drifted in through the gaps, and countless invisible raindrops passed through the blast-proof mesh, striking the inner steel plating. The window by his bed had been shattered previously, but since there were no replacements, he had simply left it open and welded a hinged steel plate onto the inner layer.

The plate had two modes: one was fully open, and the other involved pulling a latch to transform it into a shutter, allowing those inside to observe the outside. With the steel plate and the blast-proof mesh, nothing could get in. He would replace it with tempered glass once he had the means.

After observing for a long time, Su Huan smelled no pungent odors and heard no strange noises. Only then did he cautiously open the plate and reach a hand out.

The humid, sweltering air surged into the carriage instantly, and even the rain carried a trace of warmth. Feeling the moisture on his palm, Su Huan brought it to his nose and sniffed; satisfied that it was merely ordinary rain, he felt relieved. Intense heat surged from his hand, and the raindrops were instantly evaporated into nothingness.

He stood by the window for ten minutes before closing the plate, as if the boundless night held an infinite allure for him. He opened his door silently and walked down the corridor, from the engine to the seventh carriage. He stood in each carriage for about five minutes, allowing his Pan-Energy perception to cover every corner—including the compartments where Qi Xiaoba and the others slept.

Of course, this was not to check the quality of their sleep; it was simply his method of eliminating potential crises. He did not like having things on his train that he didn't know about.

Suddenly, slight changes outside the train caught his attention. The time reached 05:00 sharp, and he decided to write in his log.

"December 20th, early winter, 29°C—"

"A train conductor always has endless things to worry about."

—"Conductor’s Log"

...

The train lay quietly on the tracks. From the direction of the water plant, several electric vehicles stopped on the road. A group of people carrying long knives and clubs climbed out, stepping nervously into the mud as they approached the train. If the clouds hadn't obscured the moonlight, one might have clearly seen the security guard uniforms they wore.

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"Damn it, it’s actually raining." The leader was a man with slanted eyes and a prominent nose, looking rather sinister.

"If we can take this train, we won't have to stand in the rain ever again," said a rugged-looking man beside him. It was none other than Dog Brother, who had narrowly survived the previous night!

"If we really take it, Dog Brother, you’ll be a brother to me, Old Hu. But if..." The man with slanted eyes let out a mocking laugh, leaving the rest of his sentence unfinished.

Dog Brother’s expression turned gloomy, but he didn't retort. The Kid was dead, and five of the brothers who followed him had died in a single night! The people he had bullied in the past now looked at him as if they wanted to devour him. Without his group of brothers, he dared not close his eyes on the train. He decided to go all in and not return.

But the thought of Su Huan’s armored train made him unwilling to give up. A sturdy fortress that could move, had ample supplies, and could withstand zombie hordes—it was paradise in the apocalypse. So he took a gamble, contacted the Star Property Management at the water plant, and formed a partnership. He would lead the way, they would provide the muscle, and they would take the armored train under the cover of night!

"As long as you can open the door, we'll be brothers for life," Dog Brother whispered.

"Old San, he's talking to you!"

The man with slanted eyes looked back at a rat-faced fellow who was carrying a police baton and wearing a security cap askew. Hearing his name, the man stepped forward eagerly. He glanced at Dog Brother first, then said with a fawning smile, "Boss Hu, you know my lock-picking skills. Old Wang’s wife changed her door locks six times, didn't I get in every single time?"

Seeing his subordinate so confident, the man with slanted eyes looked smug. "Don't just talk big. If you can't get in, I'll have your balls!"

"Hey, isn't that it right there?"

The rat-faced man pointed to the steel dragon on the tracks ahead. The group looked up to see the silhouette of the train, nearly five meters tall, looming in the rain. Its pitch-black steel plating exuded an imposing aura. Just looking at it, a sense of security welled up in their hearts.

The man with slanted eyes brightened. "Good stuff. That is some truly good stuff!"