44: Chapter 44 The Ecosystem Within the Hub

"Th-this... is this f*cking a level 2 train?!"

At the top of an abandoned tower about a few hundred meters away from the platform where the [abyss roarer] was docked.

A burly man, exuding an aura of brutality, was staring intensely through the high-powered military binoculars in his hands at that steel behemoth, which looked like a dark golden demonic dragon.

He was the leader of the [Iron Blood Alliance], the local despot who held sway over the periphery of this [East China Region] core hub—[Zhao Kuang]!

[Zhao Kuang] had originally been in his camp, enjoying the service of a few newly captured women.

When he received a report from his subordinate that the Third Battalion of Kuang Dao had been crushed by a train in the canyon, he was so enraged that he snapped a woman's neck on the spot.

He assembled hundreds of the alliance's most elite thugs and over a dozen heavy-firepower trains, rushing aggressively to the hub, prepared to tear apart the reckless fool who dared to provoke the [Iron Blood Alliance].

However, when he truly saw the train parked at the VIP platform.

[Zhao Kuang]'s mind, previously clouded by rage, was instantly doused as if by a bucket of minus fifty-degree ice water.

Bone-chillingly cold.

"L-Leader, are we still attacking?"

An adjutant standing beside him, looking at the dark golden armor that was twenty centimeters thick and the ferocious dragon ram at the front of the train, was trembling.

"To hell with attacking!"

[Zhao Kuang] backhanded the adjutant, sending him flying. The flesh on his face twitched violently due to extreme frustration and dread.

"Are you blind? Didn't you see that it's [train no. 0099]? Didn't you see that it's the only level 2 armored train in the world?!"

"With the level 1 junk we have, we couldn't even scratch their armor, let alone fight them. Are you trying to get us killed?!"

Although [Zhao Kuang] was brutal by nature, and his awakened S-rank talent [Mad Blood Tyrant] gave him formidable close-combat ability.

But he could build the second-largest alliance in this cruel wasteland, so he was definitely not just a muscle-brained idiot.

He was a true mastermind, most skilled at avoiding harm and seeking advantages.

"That idiot Kuang Dao deserved to die for provoking this god of slaughter."

[Zhao Kuang] took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the rage in his heart.

His sinister eyes, like those of a poisonous snake, hid in the shadows, staring intensely at the train.

"Don't act rashly for now. Tell the people below to keep their eyes peeled and watch them closely."

"This is the core hub, protected by the safe zone established by the [Heavenly Dao System]. Even if [Su Chen] is a dragon, he has to coil up here."

"Wait until we figure out their background, then we'll find a way to get our revenge."

...

Meanwhile, on the VIP platform.

Under the awe-struck, greedy, and almost suffocating gaze of tens of thousands of survivors present.

The thick, airtight door of the [abyss roarer] slowly opened with a hiss of pressure release.

A wide alloy gangway extended onto the platform floor.

The first to walk out was not [Su Chen].

It was four [Combat Team] girls wearing uniform black tactical camouflage, covered by dark silver [Valkyrie Exoskeleton Armor].

[Zhang Man] walked at the front; her hot figure looked even wilder and more alluring outlined by the armor.

The micro-power furnace on her back emitted a deep blue halo. Although the high-frequency vibrating bone blades on the outside of her arms were sheathed, the faint, sharp aura still made the surrounding people feel a chill.

The four [Valkyries], like the most loyal royal guards, stood on both sides of the gangway, scanning the surrounding crowd with icy eyes.

Immediately after.

[Su Chen], wearing a high-end black tactical trench coat, walked down the gangway with a composed pace.

On his left was the cold-tempered, peerless snow lotus-like chief housekeeper, [Chu Qingxue].

On his right was the little money-grubber [Su Xiaoxiao], pushing up her black-rimmed glasses, holding a ledger, her eyes full of shrewd calculations.

Such a team, with an extremely luxurious configuration, heaven-defying looks, and exuding terrifying martial deterrence, instantly became the absolute focus of the entire core hub!

"Oh my goodness... is this really wasteland survival? This is basically a doomsday monarch on a tour!"

"What kind of equipment are those girls wearing? It looks cooler than Iron Man's suit! I just sensed it, all four of them are high-level ability users!"

"What do you know? Didn't you see the man leading them? That's the big boss [Su Chen]! The ruthless guy who just smashed the [Iron Blood Alliance] into powder in the canyon!"

"The two women beside him are so beautiful. Even the top superstars before the apocalypse would be eclipsed by them. Sigh, the lucky ones get everything, while the poor ones starve..."

Bursts of suppressed gasps and swallowing sounds erupted from the crowd.

But [Su Chen] completely ignored these gazes.

In this world of survival of the fittest, possessing absolute power means having the privilege to despise all rules.

He turned his head slightly and looked at [Su Xiaoxiao] beside him.

"Xiaoxiao, I leave it to you."

"Go to the official trading house here, make a list of the things we need, buy what should be bought, and trade what should be traded."

[Su Chen] waved his hand, casually taking out several heavy, sealed, temperature-controlled metal boxes from his spatial backpack, and handed them to the two [Valkyries] behind him to carry.

"Don't save anything. What we lack the least right now is 'hard currency'."

Hearing the words "hard currency".

[Su Xiaoxiao]'s big eyes, hidden behind her black-rimmed glasses, instantly curved into crescent moons of greed.

"Don't worry, [Train Master], I guarantee I'll complete the mission!"

"I'm going to scrape clean all the top-tier supplies in this hub for our train today!"

[Su Xiaoxiao] puffed out her chest, which, while not busty, was full of youthful vitality. Leading the two [Valkyries] carrying the boxes, she walked like a proud little peacock towards the iconic, huge, semi-circular building in the very center of the hub.

That was the highest-level official auction house and trading center established by the [Heavenly Dao System] in this area.

...

Twenty minutes later.

In the VIP reception room of the highest-level auction house.

It was covered with a somewhat old but still soft wool carpet, and the air was filled with the smell of cheap perfume, used to mask the stench of the wasteland.

An auction house manager, wearing an ill-fitting old-era tuxedo and sporting a handlebar mustache, sat behind the desk with an arrogant expression.

His name was Matthew, one of the most powerful managers in this trading center.

Usually, even if the big alliance bosses who had several heavy trains under their command came to him for business, he would act aloof and indifferent.

"Miss, if you only want to sell a few broken wooden planks or the fur of some low-level [Ghoul]s, then please leave immediately."

Matthew didn't even look up; while trimming his nails, he spoke in a tone full of superiority.

"This is the highest-level trading center. I only accept high-level blueprints, rare cores, or..."

"Or purified water and fresh vegetables, right?"

[Su Xiaoxiao] pulled out the chair and sat down unceremoniously, crossing her long legs, pushing up the glasses on the bridge of her nose, and a cunning smile curled at the corners of her mouth.

"Thud!"

"Thud!"

Two [Valkyries] wearing [Valkyrie Exoskeleton Armor] stepped forward and placed the two heavy, temperature-controlled metal boxes they were carrying heavily onto Matthew's desk.

"Open them."

[Su Xiaoxiao] snapped her fingers.

"Click."

The combination locks on the metal boxes were unlocked, and the lids popped open.

When the contents were revealed to Matthew.

This manager, who had been looking down his nose at everyone, jumped up from his chair as if a rooster had its neck strangled!

His pupils dilated to the limit, his handlebar mustache trembled violently, and a heavy wheezing sound like a bellows came from his throat.

"Th-this... this... my God!"

Matthew reached out his trembling hands in disbelief, wanting to touch the things in the boxes, but as if afraid of dirtying them, he forcibly stopped in mid-air.

In the left box.

Neatly arranged were dozens of crystal-clear, impurity-free medical-grade glass water storage tanks that were even emitting wisps of cold air!

Each storage tank was filled with a full liter of [absolute purified water], which was countless times more precious than gold in the wasteland world!

And in the right box.

It was a layer of soft, shock-absorbing sponge.

On the sponge lay dozens of [fresh mutant tomatoes], plump in size, their skins glistening with an alluring ruby-like luster, and even hanging with a few drops of crystalline dew!

In this cruel world where one has to risk their life for even a mouthful of clean rainwater, and where one might even sell their own daughter for half a piece of moldy bread.

Such a massive amount of absolute purified water and fresh vegetables rich in trace life energy.

This is not just wealth.

This f*cking is an ultimate nuclear weapon that could make all survivors go crazy and trigger a regional war!

"Ar-are all of these yours?!"

Matthew swallowed hard, and that arrogant look on his face vanished instantly.

Replaced by a fawning smile that was so obsequious he practically wanted to kneel down and lick [Su Xiaoxiao]'s shoe soles.

"Respected, great, and incomparably beautiful VIP lady!"

Matthew bowed deeply, his tone filled with awe and fanaticism.

"Forgive my stupidity and arrogance just now; your wealth is enough to buy half the lives in the entire [East China Region]!"

"I wonder what you would like to trade for these miraculous supplies? As long as our auction house has it, even if it's the stars in the sky, I will pluck them for you!"