Who Was the Train Conductor?

Though his face was much cleaner than it had been in his previous life, Su Huan recognized the damn Biker at a glance.

The piece-of-junk bike Su Huan had fixed up for him needed major repairs twelve times a month and minor repairs thirty-six times.

He got it fixed more often than he clipped his fingernails.

Because of that piece of junk, the two of them had dealt with each other for a whole year and ended up getting pretty familiar.

Still, Su Huan confirmed, "What's your name?"

"Huang Hai. You can just call me Old Huang," the bespectacled man hurriedly replied.

Su Huan couldn't help grinning. He opened the rear door and snapped, "Get in!"

But neither of them took offense at his tone. Their faces were filled with pure gratitude.

Lao San looked a little bewildered. "Are these two friends of yours?"

"I don't know them."

Lao San pressed the clutch and shifted gears, looking even more confused. "Then why'd you let them on if you don't know them?"

Su Huan patiently explained, "They've got six or seven people. If it's just the four of us, doesn't that make us look weak?"

"We've got guns."

"But we still have to sleep. How are four people supposed to keep an eye on the hundreds of people behind us? We saved these two, and since they don't know anyone on the train, they'll definitely stick close to us. If anything happens, they can help us out too. Right?"

Su Huan had said "us" four times in a row.

The more Lao San listened, the clearer his thinking became. He exclaimed, "Build up a circle of loyal people and get more folks under our control. That's a good move! The boss always says I've got too many sneaky ideas, but I think you're the one who's full of tricks!"

Su Huan's eye twitched. He opened his mouth, unsure what to say, then finally managed, "I'll take that as a compliment."

"This idiot..."

The rest of the trip was mostly uneventful. A few zombies foolishly got in their way, but the high-explosive incendiary rounds treated every flesh-and-blood monster equally.

Su Huan even took the time to haul a Blood Hound aboard.

Cats and dogs were the most common large animals in the city. Birds and insects were more numerous, but very few had mutated. He suspected it was because their bodies were too small to absorb much Pan-Energy.

Energy and flesh weren't directly proportional, but a stronger body was needed to contain more energy.

By the time the fire engines returned to the train, the sun was already sinking.

The three fire engines, spattered with blood, quickly drew everyone's attention, especially the one in front with a road sign embedded in it.

Their engines hummed softly as the three vehicles drove in through the gap in the barricade, one after another.

To avoid causing unnecessary trouble, Su Huan jumped down before they reached the train.

The three brothers and the two men from before followed close behind.

Lao San cautiously scanned the area. When he saw the train, he trusted Su Huan a little more.

Lao Da said in surprise, "There sure are a lot of people here."

When the returning passengers saw Su Huan leading the way, they immediately moved aside. Those in front kept turning to look back as they stepped out of his path.

Lao Er cautiously nudged Lao San with his elbow and whispered, "Why does this crowd seem so scared of Lao Si?"

Lao San shot him a look. "What a dumb thing to say. Take a look at what you're carrying. How could they not be scared?"

Su Huan walked ahead, smiling without a word.

Soon, they spotted Yu Jing directing workers as they hauled steel plates in the heat. Before she could say anything, Su Huan spoke first. "The train conductor's back."

He greeted her in an even tone.

Yu Jing looked at Su Huan's smiling face and found his behavior a little odd. Not knowing how to respond, she simply murmured, "Mm."

To Yu Jing, it had sounded like a statement. But to the three brothers, it sounded like a question.

So they got the message.

The train conductor was inside!

Su Huan brazenly led them straight toward the train.

Lao San was getting nervous too. He tugged at Su Huan's arm and urged, "Lao Si, we're just going in like this?"

Su Huan rubbed his chin. "Yeah. Why not?"

"Shouldn't we make a plan or something?"

"Like what?"

"We split up. Once we're inside, we take control of the train conductor. Then some of us rally the passengers who've been exploited, and we drag the conductor and his lackeys out..."

Su Huan asked curiously, "Why do it that way?"

"To take the moral high ground! You're young, so you don't get it. If we just kill the train conductor, won't we become the new bandits?"

"But if we drag him out and you publicly give the bastard a thorough dressing-down, it'll avenge you and win us the people's support. Think about it. Doesn't that make sense?"

Lao San clapped his hands, looking pleased with himself as he spoke.

Su Huan's mouth twitched. A strange expression appeared on his face as he tried to suppress his reaction. "There's really no need to go through all that. Just come with me."

When Su Huan went ahead, the others had no choice but to follow.

Qi Xiaoba, who was fitting steel plates together, tugged at his tight collar and said softly, "Sister Yu Jing, something's off about those people. I'll go take a look."

Yu Jing nodded.

Xiao Ba's wheelchair floated into the air and carried him straight into the carriage.

Inside the carriage.

Seeing how relaxed Su Huan looked, the brothers admired him. He really was someone who could handle big things—he was still so calm at a time like this.

As they passed through the observation carriage, the shrill whine of an electric saw cutting through bone reached them.

The moment they saw the workshop, which looked like a slaughterhouse, their faces turned deathly pale.

"Ugh..."

Quick as a flash, Su Huan grabbed the Biker by the tie and yanked him upward, forcing the vomit back down his throat.

He didn't want the guy making a mess in his carriage.

Su Huan smiled as he explained, "Don't worry. She's just another poor soul who was forced into it."

Lao San and the others looked at Wan Xing's lovely face, then at the bits of flesh on her gloves and the Butcher laid open on the table. They swallowed nervously.

Wan Xing glanced at them curiously, nodded to Su Huan, and silently returned to her work.

After they'd walked a few steps, Lao Da angrily cursed, "Making a young woman do this kind of thing! That train conductor's a real bastard. If I see him, I'll shove my gun up his ass and empty a whole magazine into him!"

The smile on Su Huan's face stiffened for a moment.

He continued leading them onward, into the dining car.

They saw several tables pushed together and a sofa covered with a striking orange-cat blanket.

The cabinets beside it were lined with jars of yellow peaches. Honey-colored light shimmered through the glass, mingling with the steam rising from the clay pot.

Their gazes swept over Yu Yue in her apron, and they all remembered how Su Huan had described her.

She really was sweet and gentle...

Lao San hurriedly shook off the strange thought and called out, "Where's the train conductor? Who's the train conductor?!"

Heavy footsteps sounded from the front of the train. A burly, imposing figure walked over, carrying a bloodstained shield and frowning as he sized them up.

Lao San and the others immediately raised their guns.

The sound of an electric wheelchair came from behind them. The boy's clear black-and-white eyes held a hint of hostility.

They were trapped in the dining car, with one figure before them and another behind.

As if he hadn't noticed the tense atmosphere, Su Huan stepped forward.

He slumped down on the sofa without a shred of dignity, letting the slanting sunlight turn his face orange. He looked just like the lazy orange cat on the blanket.

He took the iced drink Yu Yue handed him, rested one hand against his cheek, and half-closed his eyes as he calmly repeated Lao San's question. "Right. Who's the train conductor?"