31: Train Mutual Aid Association

"Really?" Train Captain Lu Yang asked happily.

Then, with a hint of hesitation in his tone, he added, "It’s okay if the price is a bit high?"

"How high?" Train Captain Gao Feng casually replied.

"A Level 1 one would cost 200 units of Level 2 Iron Mine," Train Captain Lu Yang deliberated for a moment before quoting a price that offered a threefold profit.

Hearing this, Train Captain Gao Feng on the other end of the radio chuckled, "Heh, Train Captain Lu Yang, you still don't understand the current survival situation of Train Captains!"

"Sometimes, it's not about whether it's expensive or not, but whether you can even buy it."

"Many veteran Train Captains have accumulated quite a bit of resources, but resources are useless without vehicle blueprints; those resources are just a pile of scrap metal."

"Train Captain Lu Yang, after your last transaction with me, you must have significantly upgraded all the vehicle components on your train, right?"

"You've probably also noticed that once vehicle components reach Level 3, they can no longer be upgraded. Without additional vehicle components, Train Captains can only live with the components their trains came with."

"Bare survival is possible, but anything beyond that is out of the question."

"Especially weapon vehicle components are extremely rare, which means most Train Captains only have one option when encountering large mutated beasts: to flee."

"If their luck is bad, it's not impossible for their train to be destroyed and them to lose their lives."

Train Captain Lu Yang nodded; the Amethyst was just like that.

"So, now do you understand how rare your Harvester Individual Grenade Launcher is?"

"Forget 200 units of Level 2 Iron Mine; even if you double that, those Train Captains with some resources would buy a few grenade launchers for self-defense."

"After all, resources can be mined again if lost, but if your life is gone, everything is gone."

After listening to Train Captain Gao Feng's words, Train Captain Lu Yang gained a deeper understanding of the value of the Harvester Individual Grenade Launcher.

He also realized how good its market prospects were.

He decided that, aside from keeping a small amount of backup resources, he would use all the rest to produce Harvesters.

This was to avoid having too many orders and not enough time to produce them.

Furthermore, due to the existence of the Train Iron Law, weapons produced by his own train could not harm his own train.

He wasn't afraid that the Harvester Individual Grenade Launchers he produced and sold would pose a threat to the Xinhuo Train.

No matter how he looked at it, it was a sure-win business.

As for Train Captain Gao Feng, as Train Captain Lu Yang expected, he placed another order for Harvester Individual Grenade Launchers just before the call ended.

5 Level 1, 5 Level 2, and 10 Level 3.

30 standard magazines for each level.

After saying this, he hastily ended the conversation and went to mine.

After purchasing a batch of Ghost Killer Flintlock Rifles from Train Captain Lu Yang last time, he immediately ventured into the Eternal Night Zone.

However, although he had weapons capable of dealing with strange creatures, these creatures were elusive.

Most of the time, he had to focus intently on the enemy-seeking radar.

Even so, many passengers on the Black Knight still fell victim to the strange creatures, losing their lives unknowingly.

Therefore, he could only urge everyone to mine as quickly as possible.

Minimizing the time spent in the Eternal Night Zone.

Once this mine was depleted, he would head to the Train Assembly gathering point.

As one of the four conveners of the Train Assembly, he had to first scout the surrounding environment of the gathering point to ensure basic safety.

Otherwise, if a massive zombie horde or powerful mutated creature suddenly appeared at the designated assembly point, wouldn't it be a huge joke?

————

Thus, time passed imperceptibly as each Train Captain mined.

Soon, it was the scheduled day for the Train Assembly.

Early in the morning, the Train Captain of the Black Knight and several other Level 3 Train Captains once again issued a joint statement, specifying the official location and time of the Train Assembly.

At the ruins of San Dao Town, in the former Qinghe City outskirts, the assembly time was 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

San Dao Town was surrounded by a large plain, offering an open view and flat terrain.

This allowed for early detection of danger and enabled trains to quickly accelerate and escape.

In the apocalypse, no matter the activity, safety was always the primary consideration.

Train Captain Lu Yang, eager to proceed with his subsequent transaction with Train Captain Gao Feng, headed towards San Dao Town early.

However, when he reached a ridge intersection about sixty kilometers from San Dao Town, three trains suddenly blocked his path.

The one in the middle was a Level 3 Train, while the two on the sides were veteran Level 2 Trains.

Each train was fully equipped with Level 2 Train iron armor, and several heavy machine guns of the same model were mounted on their roofs.

On the top of the Level 3 Train's locomotive, there was also a launcher similar to a rocket launcher.

All were currently in the safety-off position.

About a kilometer from the three blocking trains, a Level 2 Train, the Pan Stone, which was also en route like the Xinhuo Train, had already been forced to stop.

It was continuously shouting forward through a loudspeaker.

"Hey, brothers up ahead, please make way. I've already arranged a transaction with Train Captain Gao Feng of the Black Knight, and he's on his way. Please be accommodating."

Hearing this, Train Captain Lu Yang on the Xinhuo Train had a playful look on his face.

The Train Captain opposite also had a transaction with Train Captain Gao Feng?

But considering the regional acquisition announcement Train Captain Gao Feng had made, it wasn't impossible.

So, would the three blocking trains make way?

The answer was quickly revealed.

The blocking Level 3 Train, the Dragon Tooth, was the first to reply.

"Two brothers, I have no ill intentions in stopping you; I merely wish to invite you to join the Train Mutual Aid Society."

"In the apocalypse, life is not easy for us humans, and as leaders of civilization's spark, Train Captains should help each other."

"As long as you join our Train Mutual Aid Society, we will not only clear the path immediately but also gift you a batch of resources."

"Then, when we become one family, helping each other in times of difficulty, we can better lead human civilization to survive in the apocalypse."

The reply from the Train Captain of the Level 3 Train, the Dragon Tooth, included the Xinhuo Train.

However, Train Captain Lu Yang had never heard of this Train Mutual Aid Society before.

Who knew what it was for?

And it was also a road-blocking recruitment method, which didn't look like a good thing at all.

So, joining was out of the question.

If they dared to block the road, Train Captain Lu Yang would have to let them taste the flavor of explosive arrows.

The other blocked Level 2 Train, the Pan Stone, evidently made the same choice.

Facing the Dragon Tooth's invitation, a gruff voice replaced the loudspeaker's message.

"I don't care if you're some broken Train Mutual Aid Society. I don't want to know, and I don't want to join."

"Xiao San already gave you enough face just now."

"If you don't make way, don't blame me for being impolite."

As he spoke, several autocannon turrets quickly rose from the roofs of the Pan Stone's carriages, identical to those Train Captain Lu Yang had seen on the Black Knight.

It seemed the Pan Stone hadn't lied; it truly had some connection with the Black Knight.

The Dragon Tooth, as a veteran train that had been active in the Donglin Plain for a long time, naturally recognized the origin of the autocannons.

His tone remained neither warm nor cold as he said, "In that case, then this brother may proceed."

"The gap between us is wide enough; you can drive through."

After saying that, he turned his attention to the Xinhuo Train.

"Brother over there, are you willing to join the Train Mutual Aid Society?"

"I am not afraid of the Black Knight; I just don't want humans to slaughter each other over a misunderstanding."

"If you are unwilling to join, we will also let you leave, as long as you don't regret it later."

Upon hearing this.

Train Captain Lu Yang: "???"

If Xiao Xin hadn't already issued a warning about being locked by fire control radar, I almost would have believed your nonsense.

Do I look that much like an idiot?!