20: Chapter 20 Annexation and Reorganization of the Carriages

Although the wasteland sunlight still carried the faint dryness of radiation, as it shone upon the pitch-black, gleaming armor of the Black Iron, it reflected a reassuring metallic texture.

In comparison, the nearby Train 9528, which had just been rescued, was practically garbage from a scrap yard.

Its body was covered in dents and scorch marks, its windows were shattered, and even its wheel hubs were deformed. It sat on the tracks like a dying old man, gasping for its last breath.

"So this is the so-called 'Train Core'?"

Lin Xiao stood in the driver's cabin of Train 9528, looking at a cubic crystal emitting a faint blue light that he had removed from beneath the control console.

The object was only the size of a fist, its surface covered in complex patterns. It felt warm to the touch and pulsed slightly as if it were alive.

Standing behind him, Liu Ruyan looked at the crystal with a complicated expression.

That was the "heart" of their train. Without it, Train 9528 would truly be nothing more than a pile of scrap metal.

"It's... yours now." Liu Ruyan bit her lip. Although it pained her, she knew this was the inevitable price.

"Don't look like your husband just died."

Lin Xiao toyed with the core, teasing her with a smile. "This is called resource integration. It's also to ensure you all live more comfortably in the future."

After saying that, he strode out of the junk train and returned to the Black Iron's driver's cabin.

"System, devour and fuse!"

Lin Xiao stuffed the blue crystal directly into a slot in the center of the Black Iron's console.

Buzz—!!!

In an instant, a dazzling blue light erupted, immediately enveloping the entire Black Iron.

Following that, the ear-piercing sound of metal grinding and restructuring echoed from outside.

[Ding! Homologous Train Core (LV.1) detected.]

[Devouring in progress... Fusion level 100%.]

[Congratulations, Host! Your exclusive train 'Black Iron' has leveled up!]

[Current Level: LV.3 (Junior Armored Train).]

[Upgrade Effects:]

1. Carriage Limit Increase: Increased from the original 10 carriages to 20 carriages.

2. Power System Enhancement: Boiler engine upgraded to 'Hybrid Engine' (adds electric assist), maximum speed increased to 150 km/h.

3. Auto-Repair Function: As long as there are sufficient metal materials, the train can automatically repair damaged armor.

[Matter restructuring in progress...]

Through the train windows, everyone witnessed a shocking scene.

They saw the abandoned Train 9528 begin to disintegrate like building blocks under the radiance of the blue light!

Countless metal fragments turned into streaks of light, flying toward the rear of the Black Iron.

Within the light, one carriage, two, three...

Brand new, standard carriages in the style of the Black Iron automatically generated, connected, and extended from the rear.

In just five minutes.

The tattered junk train completely vanished.

In its place, the Black Iron's body length had instantly doubled!

The current Black Iron had a full twenty carriages, looking like a true steel dragon coiled upon the wasteland, majestic and domineering.

"My god... is this magic?"

"This is unbelievable..."

The girls from the Dance Department who had just moved their things down were all wide-eyed, their gazes filled with disbelief.

They had originally thought they were just squeezing onto Lin Xiao's train to scrape by, never expecting that this train could actually "eat" other trains to evolve like a living organism!

"Alright, stop dazing off."

Lin Xiao's voice resounded throughout the area via the broadcast system.

"All new members, take your personal belongings and prepare for dormitory assignment."

...

Ten minutes later, in the public hall in the middle of the train (formed by knocking through two carriages).

One hundred and six girls gathered together.

The scene was extremely spectacular.

On one side were the 38 "veteran employees" from the original Art and Design Department. Though fewer in number, each was full of energy, dressed cleanly, and their eyes held a sense of confidence (and a hint of exclusion).

On the other side were the 68 newly joined girls from the Dance Department. Though each had a superb figure and incredible long legs, they were currently disheveled, looked malnourished, and had restrained expressions.

This was social hierarchy.

Lin Xiao stood on a high platform, his gaze sweeping over these hundred-plus beauties.

The sense of achievement was simply overwhelming.

This is my empire! This is my harem... ahem, my reserve force!

"First of all, welcome to our new classmates."

Lin Xiao clapped his hands, an unreadable smile hanging on his face.

"However, let me put the ugly words upfront. My train does not support idlers, and no small cliques are allowed."

He waved his hand, pointing toward Su Qingqian, Zhao Xiaotang, and the others behind him.

"For ease of management, I am going to break up and reorganize everyone."

"From now on, the entire train will be divided into five major groups."

"Group One: Combat Group. Leader Su Qingqian, Deputy Leader Zhao Xiaotang. Responsible for train security and external exploration."

"Group Two: Logistics Group. Leader Shen Man. Responsible for resource distribution and daily living."

"Group Three: Cultivation Group. Leader Tian Yuanyuan. Responsible for the greenhouse carriage."

"Group Four: Technical Group. Leader Luo Yao. Responsible for communications, reconnaissance, and train maintenance."

"Group Five: Mobile Group. Also known as the reserve force. All newcomers are temporarily assigned to this group."

Lin Xiao's gaze fell upon Liu Ruyan.

"As for Liu Ruyan, given your previous management experience, you will temporarily serve as the leader of the Mobile Group. However..."

Lin Xiao's tone shifted, becoming stern.

"I'm going to shuffle your original dormitories. In each carriage, I will arrange for two veteran members and four new members to live together. The veteran members will serve as 'Carriage Chiefs,' responsible for training the newcomers and supervision."

As soon as these words were spoken, a commotion broke out below.

The girls from the Dance Department, in particular, looked toward Liu Ruyan with unease.

This was clearly a move to "dilute their influence"!

By breaking them up and letting Lin Xiao's trusted aides manage them, he was completely stripping Liu Ruyan of her power to prevent them from banding together to revolt.

Liu Ruyan was a smart person; she instantly understood Lin Xiao's intention.

She bit her lip and looked up to meet Lin Xiao's gaze.

There was no room for negotiation in that look, only a command.

"What? You have an objection?" Lin Xiao raised an eyebrow.

"No... no." Liu Ruyan lowered her head. "Everything will be as the Conductor arranges."

She truly lacked the confidence to resist.

The image of that grenade bombardment was still lingering in her mind.

"Very good." Lin Xiao nodded in satisfaction. "As newcomers, your first lesson is—bathe, eat, and then get to work."

"Dismissed!"

...

The crowd dispersed.

The girls began to follow the veteran members (or rather, were escorted by them) to their new dormitories.

Although they were being monitored, when the Dance Department girls saw the clean and tidy bunk beds, soft bedding, and heard that they could take hot baths, their resentment at being monitored instantly vanished.

In this apocalypse where there wasn't even a place to take a dump, having a clean bed was heaven!

Only Lin Xiao and Liu Ruyan remained in the hall.

"Great School Beauty Liu, come with me for a moment."

Lin Xiao put his hands in his pockets and turned toward the front of the train.

"I'll take you on a tour of your new home. And while we're at it... let's have a heart-to-heart."

Liu Ruyan's heart skipped a beat.

A private talk?

She instinctively shielded her chest. Although she had long since prepared herself mentally—having even considered this step the moment she decided to surrender—now that the moment had arrived, she couldn't help but feel nervous and humiliated.

After all, she was the unattainable goddess in the hearts of countless boys at Shencheng University, the Liu Ruyan who was as proud as a swan on stage.

But she still followed him obediently.

When under someone else's roof, one has to bow their head.

Lin Xiao led her, not directly to the bedroom, but first to the rear of the train.

"This is the first stop."

Lin Xiao pushed open the door to the greenhouse carriage.

A moist, warm current brushed against their faces.

Liu Ruyan's eyes widened.

Through the glass curtain walls, she saw rows of neat planting racks.

Under the soft artificial sunlight, patches of tender green lettuce seedlings were spreading their leaves, and nearby there were even a few plants hanging with green cherry tomatoes.

Tian Yuanyuan was humming a song while watering them.

"These... these are vegetables?"

Liu Ruyan's voice was trembling.

She had been eating expired biscuits for three days, and her mouth was full of bitterness. Seeing these lush green vegetables now, her salivary glands secreted wildly, and her stomach let out an ungraceful growl.

"That's right." Lin Xiao casually plucked a lettuce leaf and handed it to her. "Want a taste? It hasn't been washed, but this is a sterile environment, so it's not dirty."

Liu Ruyan took the leaf and carefully placed it in her mouth.

Crisp, sweet, and carrying the unique fragrance of a plant.

Tears instantly began to flow.

"So sweet..."

"As long as you work hard, you'll have salad to eat every day."

Lin Xiao smiled and turned toward the next carriage.

"This is the second stop."

He pushed open the door to the "Weapon Workshop."

Buzz, buzz, buzz...

Inside, the Matter Conversion Ammo Box was running at full speed, spitting out golden bullets one by one.

On the racks against the wall, rows of freshly made crude grenades were neatly arranged, along with various cold weapons Lin Xiao had scavenged earlier.

That chilling metallic aura made Liu Ruyan instinctively feel fearful, but also gave her an unprecedented sense of security.

With this kind of military protection, who would dare to bully them?

"This is the third stop."

They passed the "Spring of Forgetfulness" shower room.

The sounds of girls laughing and splashing water came from inside.

A pleasant scent of body wash wafted out.

Liu Ruyan stood at the door, looking at the sign that read "15-minute limit per person," and her mental defenses completely broke down.

Vegetables, munitions, hot baths.

In this apocalypse, any one of these three things would cause people to fight to the death.

And on this man's train, he actually had them all!

She finally understood why outstanding girls like Su Qingqian and Shen Man were so devoted to him.

It wasn't just because he was the only man.

It was because he possessed the ability to build a paradise in this hell.

The shred of resentment and pride she held as a "former leader" completely collapsed at this moment.

Compared to Lin Xiao, her so-called Train 9528 was practically playing house.

...

Finally.

Lin Xiao led her to the number one Conductor's lounge at the front of the train.

"Come in."

Lin Xiao pushed open the door and walked in.

Liu Ruyan stood at the door and took a deep breath, as if she were walking toward an execution ground.

She straightened her somewhat messy dance outfit, trying her best to look presentable, then stepped inside and gently closed the door.

The room was large, with a double soft bed that looked inviting just to lie on, a private bathroom, and even a small bar counter.

Lin Xiao had already taken off his jacket and was sitting on the sofa by the bed in a lazy posture.

Liu Ruyan walked up to him, head lowered, her hands wringing together.

"Conductor... by showing me all this, do you want to tell me how useless I am?"

Her voice was low, carrying a hint of self-deprecation.

"I admit, I lost. Whether in strength or resources, I am far inferior to you."

"I can dance, and I can manage people... but these don't seem very useful in the apocalypse."

"If you want... I..."

She looked up, tears shimmering in her eyes, her exquisite and beautiful face carrying a heartbreakingly tragic beauty.

She slowly reached out, wanting to unzip her dance outfit.

"Stop."

Lin Xiao suddenly spoke.

He didn't pounce on her lustfully as Liu Ruyan had imagined, but instead sized her up with a scrutinizing gaze.

"Don't go stripping at the drop of a hat. You're making me look like some tyrant who's forcing a commoner girl."

Lin Xiao pointed to the chair next to him. "Sit."

Liu Ruyan was stunned and sat down somewhat awkwardly.

"Liu Ruyan, you are indeed very useful."

Lin Xiao poured himself a glass of red wine and swirled the glass.

"Your dance background means your body flexibility, coordination, and core strength are far beyond ordinary people. With a little training, you'll be the best agility-type assassin."

"Your management skills can help me handle the trifles of these hundred-plus people."

"Of course..."

Lin Xiao's gaze swept over her long, straight legs that were prominent even while sitting, and a mischievous smile curled on his lips.

"Your looks and figure are also a huge plus."

Liu Ruyan's cheeks burned under his gaze, but she felt a sigh of relief in her heart.

At least he recognized her value.

"However, here, I am the only king."

Lin Xiao suddenly stood up, walked over to her, and looked down at her.

"Your pride is too high. If I don't polish it down, you won't be easy to use later."

He reached out and tilted Liu Ruyan's chin up.

"If you want to live well on this train, if you want to eat vegetables, take baths, or even sleep on a soft bed... it all depends on your contribution."

"Today, I'll give you a chance to prove yourself."

Liu Ruyan's heart tightened once again.

Prove herself? How?

Lin Xiao turned and lay face down on the bed, pointing to his shoulders and back.

"Driving these past few days has been too tiring; my shoulders are sore. I heard you dancers know a bit about massage and relaxation?"

"Give me a massage. If it's comfortable, I'll reward you by letting you sleep on the sofa tonight. If not, go sleep on the floor outside."

Liu Ruyan was stunned.

Just this?

Just... a massage?

A massive sense of absurdity and shame-filled anger welled up in her heart.

She, Liu Ruyan, the dignified goddess of the Dance Department, had actually fallen to the level of being a massage technician for a man?

But following that, there was also a strange sense of relief.

At least it wasn't *that* kind of thing... at least she still retained her final bottom line.

"What are you still dazing for? Do you want me to deduct your contribution points?"

Lin Xiao urged.

"I'm... I'm coming."

Liu Ruyan bit her teeth, stood up, and walked to the bedside.

She looked at Lin Xiao's broad, sturdy back, the muscle lines clearly defined, radiating a strong masculine pheromone aura.

She reached out those slender, delicate hands that usually only danced and somewhat tremblingly pressed them onto Lin Xiao's shoulders.

"Mm... use more force, haven't you eaten?"

"Yes, right there, a bit lower... a bit lower."

"Tsk, this technique is alright, much better than that violent maniac Zhao Xiaotang."

Listening to Lin Xiao's grunts that were part enjoyment and part criticism, Liu Ruyan's face turned so red it looked like it was about to bleed.

As she massaged, she cursed Lin Xiao a hundred times in her heart.

However, as time passed.

She looked at the relaxed side profile of this man.

It was this man, who seemed a bit wicked and lazy, who had just saved all of them like a god descending to earth.

It was also him who had given them a home to shelter from the wind and rain.

Gradually, the resistance in her heart dissipated.

In its place was a sort of resigned obedience.

Even, when her fingers touched Lin Xiao's hard, hot muscles, a strange ripple actually surfaced in her heart.

"In this apocalypse... being able to massage such a strong person might also be a kind of luck."

Liu Ruyan comforted herself this way.

And Lin Xiao, lying on the bed, was already blooming with joy in his heart.

"This feel... tsk tsk, as expected of a dancer, her fingers are soft yet strong."

"This feeling of pulling a cold goddess down from her pedestal... is so damn satisfying!"

That night.

Liu Ruyan spent her first night on the Black Iron in this weave of shame and obedience.

Although it was just a massage (really just a massage; Lin Xiao was too tired and fell asleep during it), it was the beginning of the collapse of her psychological defenses.

...