"The general scope of the data center has been determined."
Shu Wei said.
Su Huanâs fingers twitched slightly, and his brow relaxed.
After all that hard work, it was just for thisâa cultivation pod and a data center. Once these two essential pieces of equipment are set up, the final segment of the research foundation of the armed train will be complete.
Then he can finally head to the electromagnetic weapon laboratory he has been dreaming about.
High-power weapons have always been a concern for Su Huan.
Although a few howitzers and mortars have solved urgent issues, theyâre just conventional stuff. Their numbers and power canât compare to the cutting-edge equipment before the apocalypse.
Moreover, the Black Kite inherited an entire military district.
There must be giant weapons inside.
Without equivalent weapons, forget about "combat," you wouldnât even have the qualifications to perish together.
To put it nicely, the train is currently accumulating strength, but in reality, itâs just being blocked in the Flood Zone by the Black Kite.
Without equipping electromagnetic weapons, we canât even head further north, let alone the Storm Zone.
"Where is it?"
Su Huan calculated the progress of various projects.
"Not far, about fifteen kilometers directly north."
"Have the stewards of each group coordinate, arrange the necessary tasks, and then quickly salvage it. After that, weâll head to the Storm Zone to meet your father."
As the conductor walked past, various light strips in the corridor lit up sequentially, dimming slowly as he walked by.
Listening to Su Huanâs flippant tone, Shu Wei furrowed her brows.
"I have no objection to you attacking him, but... whatâs the significance of doing so?"
"Significance?"
Su Huan stopped in his tracks, raised an eyebrow, and asked, "What do you mean?"
Shu Wei replied calmly, "If you just want to know the truth behind the apocalypse, you could achieve that through negotiation."
"Did you misunderstand something? I have no issues with negotiating with the Black Kite, provided that the armed train has equivalent power as the Black Kite."
Shu Wei looked at Su Huanâs gentle gaze and remained silent.
Sheâs not foolish; she couldnât miss the hidden murderous intent within those words "meet."
"Alright, alright..." Su Huan reluctantly raised both hands, "Iâm just curious how involved the Black Kite is, how much, whether it deserves to be killed, or deserves to die..."
"... Arenât you afraid?"
Shu Wei knew she had spoken too much today.
But having already said it, she decided to ask everything clearly at once. The closer she got to Su Huan, the less she understood him.
People should have desires, whether selfish or noble, they should have them.
But Su Huanâs goal is just to upgrade the train, continually heading north.
Why is that?
If it were for safety, shouldnât he stay put in the Acid Rain Zone? Given the armed trainâs current condition, even in the Flood Zone, nothing poses a threat to him.
Knowing full well that journeying further north would mean more dangers, be it natural disasters or the people along the way.
No one wants such an uncontrollable force appearing within their domain.
So why do it?
If itâs for the truth, with the armed trainâs strength, as soon as it leaves the Flood Zone, it would certainly have the qualifications to negotiate with the Black Kite.
The truth wouldnât be hard to obtain, either.
But itâs clear that Su Huan is after more than that, whether itâs the fight over Crown Pear Trees or the showdown documented with the Steel Council.
Su Huan has better ways to achieve his aims without harming himself.
Yet he still pursued them.
Only fierce desires can foster strong will.
So what desires drive him?
"Afraid?"
Su Huan looked at his palm, his lips unintentionally curling. The cold blue sensing lights reflected eerily in his dark eyes.
He should be afraid. If he wasnât, he wouldnât have fled with the convoy at the onset of the apocalypse, nor would he have fearfully escaped overnight upon hearing of the Steel Councilâs potential experiments on him.
At that time, there were so many things he feared.
Zombies, mutant beasts, pursuing forces, acid rain, floods...
Yet over the past four years, no one has ever asked him if he was afraid.
Now someone actually asked him if he was afraid.
Interesting.
Thatâs truly interesting.
One who has died once should logically cherish life more, but it seems that line snapped long ago within him.
Caution is second nature, but fear seems to have been long burned away by the resentment within his chest.
Even over these four years, he couldnât even keep the fire within his chest.
It dissipated, too.
How long can hatred endure?
A day, two days?
Su Huan believes itâs until the next bout of hunger.
Until the next encounter with death.
Until the next moment his eyes close.
...
So many things can drown out hatred.
Before dying, he wouldnât even know who he should hate.
There wasnât anything particularly worth hating.
Itâs the apocalypse, after all.
Everyone faces the same scenario, no one to blame.
Initially, after being reborn, he simply wanted to create a mobile shelter for himself to live better.
But then the Steel Councilâs helicopter instantly stole away all his focus.
All the hard work, struggles.
Itâs all a pre-designed game.
Turns out, only they were living miserably, while others thrived far better.
Some people knew of the apocalypse early on.
Even the apocalypse might be someoneâs manipulation.
Since that day, Su Huan felt an indescribable pressure lodged in his throat.
Thereâs no discomfort.
Maybe a bit.
Not too uncomfortable.
Just a little uncomfortable.
He pondered and pondered, but couldnât understand.
Because the thinker, the one who fears, has long since died.
The person wearing the "Su Huan" guise now is that pressure.
Lodged in his throat is the pressure brewed after four years and three months, precisely a thousand five hundred sixty-four days.