Unexpectedly, the latter became a core member of the association within a few days, rising even faster than his own old qualifications.

Luck truly defies logic.

After enduring more chat with the two, Old Ma gathered quite a bit of information and hurriedly ran towards the dormitory.

Although the Armed Corps and the crew were technically separate, the military management wasn't that strict, and they still lived together.

However, the crew and the Armed Corps received better treatment, with more points being distributed.

When he arrived, Liu Ming happened to be eating, so he didn't dare to speak, just handed over a note and left.

Of course, Liu Ming wouldn't let him leave so easily, so he pulled him for a brief chat.

He took out two packs of good cigarettes and a pack of chocolate from his drawer and stuffed them into Old Ma's hands.

Watching Old Ma leave with light steps, Liu Ming finally turned his attention to the note.

After memorizing all the information, he crumpled the note between his hands, grinding it into paper scraps before throwing it into the trash can.

Inside, there was already a thin layer of paper scraps accumulating.

He lit a cigarette but didn't smoke it, letting it burn out quietly, then poured the ashtray's water into the trash can, drowning all the paper scraps.

Enduring countless hardships to reach this point, he was about to finish his probationary period and couldn't afford to lose everything because of something like this.

Yet he couldn't possibly abandon the Tongzhou Association.

It was his eyes and antennae.

Without any other power foundation under his feet, even if he climbed higher in the Armed Corps, it wouldn't matter.

The train conductor and the instructor could elevate him with a word, or knock him down with another.

Only by controlling power himself could he find real security.

"Knock knock—"

There were two clean knocks on the door from outside.

"Liu Ming, the lieutenant wants us to assemble before ten; there's a mission today."

Liu Ming quickly opened the door, cheerfully replied, "Alright, I'll definitely be on time."

After the other person left, he closed the door and put on a new combat suit.

Even though he wasn't in the Armed Corps yet, the train still issued them equipment: a combat suit, two sets of regular clothing for changing, including underwear and socks, all these were sources of happiness in a post-apocalyptic world.

The combat suit was a sand-colored camouflage, appearing dull but extremely durable.

Then there were the bulletproof vest, tactical vest, tactical knee pads, elbow pads, explosion-proof gloves, and a helmet.

There were no extra accessories.

Equipment like night vision goggles or even more advanced gear was available on the armed train but was used for the crew tactical team.

However, the other necessary items were provided: a canteen, rations, a personal first aid kit.

The main weapon was a foreign assault rifle, centrally managed by the train armory, with each person only having a basic load of rifle and pistol rounds.

The quantity was strictly recorded, and loss would result in disqualification.

During the initial selection, He Jie had the logistics team trade food in secret for the soldiers' ammunition, some riskily traded bullets for supplies.

They were then disqualified.

The same method was used several times; besides trading, some even arranged thefts in the dormitory!

It served as a harsh reminder for the remaining soldiers.

Where there are men, there are bullets.

Even during training, they carried them.

Thankfully, being Evolvers, carrying a load and a half of ammunition wasn't that much of a burden.

After fully arming himself, it was already nine-fifty.

Liu Ming stepped out, heading for the stair building at the center of the residential area, where some people were already waiting. After a while, including Liu Ming, a total of four people arrived. After all, it was their first mission, and no one dared to arrive at the last minute.

Tong Zizhan and Gao Yuan approached, gave a few simple instructions, then led the group to a six-story slab building nearby.

Since the building was close to the stair building, convenient for communication with the train conductor, the logistics team had taken over this for office use.

The first floor also functioned as a temporary trading zone.

There were five windows in total, with twelve-hour shifts.

Three windows were for everyday transactions, where everyone on the armed train and in the base could use points to exchange for living supplies.

Even without supplies, trading could be done with items of equivalent value.

The prices were steep, but those who could trade in private already had; those who braved this route did so because the train was the only source available.

One of the remaining windows was a munitions depot, holding most of the train's munitions, the focus of protection for the combat team.

The last one was an internal window, only accessible to the crew and Armed Corps personnel.

These goods were more sought-after.

Things like rare medicines, tactical equipment, Pan-energy Crystals, evolution materials, etc.

Tong Zizhan paused and turned to them, "You go to the armory to receive equipment; just mention my name. I've reported it up top."

The four acknowledged, their loud response startling a worker exchanging for living supplies nearby.

Once the four left, Gao Yuan spun the ring on his hand, puzzled, "What prompted you to take up a mission when our points are already so high?"

Tong Zizhan rolled his eyes at him, "Without doing missions, how could I justify spending points? I'm going to exchange for an exoskeleton; you get them some more ammo, one basic load each. Get the most expensive 7.62 rounds. For six of us, that's 1440 points. Plus the exoskeleton at 500, and throw in some pistol rounds and grenades, over two thousand gone just like that."

"That's the way!"

Gao Yuan gave him a thumbs up and hurried off to prepare.

Taking a mission was essentially a private job; the train covered no losses.

The soldiers' ammo had to be paid for by the officers as they saw fit.

Ten minutes later.

Tong Zizhan managed to get another exoskeleton; with the five previously rewarded, each of the six had one.

The entire armed train didn't have such a lavish team.

This mission was a scouting task, with average difficulty; Tong Zizhan mainly focused on two aspects.

First, the distance covered.

This mission involved departing from Shun'an, heading northeast to reconnoiter the situation in Qingchuan Province's capital, then onwards north to Hongyi City, observing the presence of zombies and mutant beasts along the way, the state of survivor communities, the condition of the railway tracks, and any unusual occurrences.

Not to mention, from Shun'an to Hongyi's straight-line distance alone exceeded a hundred kilometers.

Second, the duration.

This mission lasted ten days, with an extension to fourteen days in case of unforeseen circumstances.

That would be two weeks, enough time for the two to do many things.

Most importantly, to distance themselves from the bully He Jie.

He had never endured such severe beatings, even during the Deep Blue Data training.

So as soon as the mission was posted, they went to claim it.

In the morning, under the rare clear sky, two off-road vehicles set off toward Hongyi City.

...

Three days later.

Staircase Office Building.

The train conductor had his legs propped up on a solemn desk, squinting at a movie, with steaming coffee with extra sugar by his side.

Chief Purser Hu Shuo wore a black administrative jacket over a gray shirt, holding a folder and slightly bowing as he respectfully read the progress of various recent affairs.

"Snap!"

Su Huan snapped his fingers, and Hu Shuo immediately stopped speaking.

"Conductor, is there a problem?"

"What was the recent total food acquisition again?"

"Staple grains fifty thousand tons, three thousand tons of cooking oil, over a hundred tons of various instant noodles, and around a hundred tons of other assorted foods. Most of Shun'an's food is in our base now."

Su Huan nodded with satisfaction, "Let He Jie continue the scavenging, and release the news, keeping the base population around fifteen thousand."

Hu Shuo hesitated, "Conductor, while you're here, there won't be any issues, but if the train heads north, won't having two-thirds more external population at the base be…"

Su Huan glanced at him, "That's Wan Hao's problem, what does it have to do with me?"

This large foundation was established for him; if he can't manage, it's his incompetence!

What does it have to do with the armed train?

Is he supposed to hand-hold Wan Hao in creating policies, organizing factions, and building the base?

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