128: It's the end of the world, and there are still people grabbing land?!

Lu Yang arranged for the Iron Centipede to gnaw on ore at the bottom of the lake, and then drove the Xinhuo Train along the edge of the newly formed large lake towards Qintian County in the northwest.

The populations of the other districts and counties in Wusu City were all similar, so Lu Yang didn't bother to pick and chose, just heading for the closest one.

However, as soon as he entered the territory of Qintian County, he saw a team of people who had erected many concrete roadblocks on the main road.

Although Lu Yang could drive around them, he noticed their bunkers, sandbags, and machine guns, indicating they had set up a checkpoint.

Lu Yang became interested, parked the Xinhuo Train five hundred meters away, and used its dynamic sound system to call out to them.

"Hey, brothers over there, what's going on? Why did you suddenly set up a temporary checkpoint? Is this for collecting fees?"

Upon seeing the Xinhuo Train, the people on the other side had already entered a state of alert.

At this moment, hearing the Xinhuo Train's shout, Gao Hu, the leader on the other side, also pulled out a megaphone from somewhere.

"Sir, we are just an external team trying to make a living. Qintian County and the neighboring Sifang County have already been incorporated into the sphere of influence of the Tier 5 train, Crow. Only Sir Rong of the Crow has the right to collect scattered ore in this area. If you don't want to be an enemy of Sir Rong, you'd better go somewhere else."

Lu Yang was puzzled: "Why does only he have the right to collect? Just because he's a Tier 5 train? Does that mean after he incorporates this area into his sphere of influence, other trains don't even have the right to pass through?!"

Gao Hu shook his head: "Sir, you must be a newly promoted Tier 4 train, and you don't know much about the situation in Longhe Valley."

"If you are just passing through, there's naturally no problem. After all, if you go around, we ordinary people won't detect you, and we wouldn't be so blind as to block your way."

"But since you've come to our checkpoint, I have to remind you of these things. Otherwise, if you get into a conflict with Sir Rong, and he finds out you passed through here, we'll also be in trouble."

Lu Yang was confused by the somewhat strange words from the other side.

He then asked: "So, are you also people from that Crow train?"

Gao Hu waved his hands repeatedly: "Sir, please don't joke. How could we be people from the Crow? Even if we wanted to join, they wouldn't take us."

"We are just residents of a small nearby settlement, hired by them to guard this checkpoint and earn some food to get by."

"So, if you still want to pass now, just drive forward. We'll clear the way for you. Just don't blame me later for not giving you a proper warning."

Gao Hu's job was to warn and caution.

If other Train Captains passing by didn't listen, he would immediately and swiftly clear the way.

After all, those who came were usually legitimate intermediate Train Captains.

Gao Hu didn't know if those who could be promoted to intermediate trains had any real skills, but they were certainly capable enough to deal with cannon fodder like them, who barely had any Tier 4 weapons.

Their weapons were merely for show, used to clear scattered low-level zombies.

If the number of zombies increased, they would have to flee immediately to the shelters of their own nearby settlements.

It wasn't worth risking their lives for a few scraps of food.

If it weren't for the empty promise from the Crow that good performers might have a chance to get a ticket for the Crow, they wouldn't be staying here at all.

Blocking roads was very dangerous.

Especially blocking the path of other trains; if you encountered someone difficult to deal with, it was normal for them to blast you away with a few bursts.

Therefore, even though Gao Hu was constantly responding, most of his body remained hidden behind sandbags, and he wore a steel helmet.

It's hard to say how much good it would do, but it was better than nothing.

However, what Gao Hu didn't expect was that after he finished speaking, the Train Captain on the other side not only wasn't angry but actually issued a recruitment notice.

"You said you're not people from the Crow?"

"Then are you interested in joining my Xinhuo Train?"

"My main purpose in coming here this time isn't primarily to mine, but rather to gather people. The treatment won't be harsh; you'll be treated equally with my other crew members. If you're strong and chosen for the Train Police reserve team, the treatment can be raised another notch."

Gao Hu: "Wh-what? Sir, your train is willing to take people?"

"Then may I be so bold as to ask, how many people can you take at most?"

"My settlement has over a hundred strong men. Can you take them all?!"

"Haha," Lu Yang chuckled at the remark, "Don't say a hundred people, even a thousand people, I'll take them all. As long as they're not heinous criminals, I'm willing to give them a chance."

In fact, even if they were heinous criminals, Lu Yang planned to take them in first.

Waste not, want not!

Anyway, weapons from the Xinhuo Train couldn't harm him, and if used to attack train facilities and equipment, not even a single screw would fall off.

At that time, these guys would all be assigned to the cannon fodder camp and suicide squads, making them fight on the front lines against the sea creatures. As long as they could survive until the mission ended, Lu Yang was willing to give them a chance to turn over a new leaf.

Meanwhile, at the checkpoint, upon hearing Lu Yang's words, Gao Hu and the others all dropped their bolt-action rifles with a clatter and shouted loudly to those behind them.

"Brothers, did you all hear that? The sir on the other side is willing to take us in! Hurry up and put down your weapons and come out!"

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! If you miss this chance, you won't find another one!"

As Gao Hu spoke, he also started taking off his clothes, and so did the checkpoint guards next to him.

And they stripped faster than each other; before Lu Yang could even react, twenty or thirty men on the other side were all stark naked, standing in a row.

Their various-sized 'little birds' dangled in the wind.

After confirming that everyone had stripped, Gao Hu continued to shout into his megaphone.

"Sir, we're all naked. You can send people to inspect us now. We guarantee not to bring any outside items onto the train. You can rest assured, we all know the rules. If anyone dares to hide items, you don't even have to say anything, we brothers will chop him into mincemeat."

"Right, brothers?!"

Hearing this, Lu Yang was speechless, but he simply 'hmm'-ed in agreement.

He hadn't expected that recruiting people in Longhe Valley had such a well-established precedent.

But it was indeed good; he couldn't comment on their thoughts, but their external appearance could be thoroughly checked.

So Lu Yang didn't stand on ceremony and directly sent Yang Kui with a team to inspect them inside and out.

Not even their anuses were spared.

Since they were so cooperative, it would be unreasonable not to conduct a thorough inspection.

This would also save a lot of subsequent checks.

Moreover, according to psychology, when they are prepared to accept the strictest inspection, a strict inspection can actually put their minds at ease.

Otherwise, they might become anxious and uneasy, suspecting that your lax inspection, unlike others, is a delaying tactic, leading to a state of indecision.

Sure enough, although Gao Hu and the others were made to look miserable by Yang Kui and his team, they were overjoyed when they boarded the train, grinning from ear to ear. Seeing the Train Police Officers on duty, they greeted everyone with a hearty "Hello, Big Brother."

Many of the young men in their early twenties blushed.

After all, they were only in their early twenties, while Gao Hu and the others looked to be at least thirty or forty years old.

It sounded strange for thirty or forty-year-old men to call them 'Big Brother'.

Especially since Gao Hu and the others were exceptionally enthusiastic in their greetings.

It made the young Train Police Officers almost genuinely believe that they were older than them!