The news that Yang Zicang needed a rail vehicle soon reached the ears of the several important personages outside.
“Why does the president want those things at a time like this?“
“Who can find a streetcar? I’ve heard there are some in Bruno City to the east, but can they be delivered here in a hurry?” This proposal was, of course, quickly rejected.
Word came that led to this: Tarko has no streetcars or buses. That kind of complex system, which looks simple but actually integrates many technologies, would be hard to guarantee that someone with ulterior motives in Tarko wouldn’t exploit it, carrying out technological modifications and upgrades to give birth to a demon.
Moreover, according to several streetcar experiments from decades ago, accidents were very prone to occur on the roads, involving collisions with donkeys, horses, and pedestrians.
However, locomotives were available. Upon receiving an order from the Hazel Palace administrative staff on-site, a communications officer immediately contacted the railway bureau.
“I think we can’t stray too far from here.“
Ying Renyu and a few others walked over and said to Yang Zicang, “President, if we go to the railway bureau, our security guarantee will be much smaller. You should understand that, right?” His latter remark sounded particularly cautious and careful.
“What do you need streetcars or such things for at this time?” Asked Ruan Wenxiong, who had just returned from visiting and inquiring about the Lumiére Sip story.
“Well…“
Noticing Yang Buchen’s hesitant expression, Ruan Wenxiong gave a light cough. “The materials on the tale of the Liuli Lamp… “
“Let’s just have you write down the other interview materials first, Old Ruan, ” Yang Zicang said immediately. “Leave the story content aside for now. “
“But I can’t read or write your script around here… “
“Then that just gives you something to do. “
A young man standing nearby upon seeing this interjected, “How about we try to bring over a coal-powered locomotive? “
Yang Zicang thought for a moment. Even if they managed to get a steam locomotive over here, aside from taking at least several hours, it would also draw far too much attention.
“No need, ” he said, glancing at the nearby buildings, his gaze settling on a wall behind a house where flickering shadows played through trees over some fire-brick compounds.
Yang Zicang then addressed those beside him, “Actually, have the Command transfer a single carriage and perhaps one truck chassis here for us. “
“And then what? “
“We only need to haul them into that courtyard, ” Yang Zicang said, pointing at the distant enclosed area. “Also, I need two fifty- to sixty-meter segments of railway track, or similar steel beams will work too. “
The men cupped their chins in thought, then cast each other confused and strange looks upon hearing Yang Zicang’s proposal.
“What kind of device is that going to form? “
However, compared with the grandiose notion of hauling a steam engine here, this plan would be both simple and much less conspicuous.
First, the steel was quickly delivered. The warriors carrying it barely needed to exert any effort and brought it into the courtyard in about twenty minutes.
Next came a truck cab, stripped of its cargo bed and the drive mechanism below, leaving only two tires. It was pushed by several men through the courtyard wall behind the heavily guarded room. One of them lifted the rear—a section of the thick main beam extension rod that hadn’t been sawn off yet.
As the afternoon breeze gusted through the courtyard, the delivered steel was nailed down according to the standard railway gauge.
But once the truck cab arrived, Yang Zicang gave it a look, hummed twice, and said, “Hey, brothers, let’s also nail down two more steel tracks outside. “
“Eh? “
“Just follow the wheelbase of the truck cab’s tires, but start measuring from the middle of the tire. “
As several people stood up to look, Yang Zicang walked over, crouched down, and examined the wheel.
“Hmm, changing this thing to train wheels might be too late. Using the hub directly should be fine. “
He patted the wheel as he stood up and gazed at the men staring blankly at him, as well as Ang Paliss, who was silently stroking his chin in thought.
“Don’t just stand there slack-jawed. This is the standard Radiance Operation. Let’s move. Take off the tires, and nail down the new outer tracks based on the hub width. “
Within half an hour, a large truck tractor pulling a black-painted heavy iron carriage, capable of withstanding artillery attacks, was sent into the yard by soldiers.
This was a truly imposing beast, its style completely different from the civilian carriages seen on ordinary railway tracks.
“This was dismantled from the ‘Royal Ridge’.“
“No wonder. Even without the embellishment of these emblem paint jobs, it makes you want to hold it in your arms and rub against its majesty.“
It was lifted by adjustment of the heavy lifting hooks, carefully and meticulously, and placed on the tracks by several people supporting it.
Following this came the truck with its tires stripped away, leaving only the iron rims.
Under the frowning gaze of the arriving Demon-Blood Warriors, the slightly lowered truck was then welded to the ‘Royal Ridge’ exclusive train carriage by military vehicle maintenance specialists invited over, with designated personnel carrying out urgent debugging and drivetrain modifications.
Zorro came running in. Upon seeing the dozen or so people busy helping around the yard and that huge machine in the middle, his trotting state hesitated, then he went over to Yang Zicang, who was standing on the edge speaking to someone else.
“You’re back. How did it go?” Yang Zicang asked with concern when he saw**him approaching.
Zorro shook his head lightly. Then he felt the voices of the others around him blur slightly. Taking his cue, he said, “No luck, Zicang. There’s no gap or road leading downwards; Little Red Horse can’t simply sink into the earth by itself.“
Yang Zicang thought for a moment. “Aside from my White Shadow Mind Dragon, the Demon Train also can’t sink into the ground at will. “
Zorro removed his wind-and-visor goggles, flicked away some sweaty hair from his scalp to let his skin cool down. “What a pity, about the promises the Holy Ring Council made to you this time. Ah… It’s also my fault for not notifying you all sooner. “
“This has nothing to do with you. The dangerous element hadn’t been caught yet, so caution was necessary. “
Two military vehicle repair specialists nearby, busy adjusting the connecting rod, looked with some difficulty underneath this train car, pointing and discussing some of its internal structure.
Watching them, Yang Zicang signaled Zorro with a look. “Let’s go inside the car. “
The people outside watched the two enter the car. Through the windows, they saw the two men’s upper bodies move past one after another, two to three meters apart, in front of a few windows whose layers of glass had fine specialized wire mesh embedded between them.
Behind them, Zorro examined the neat and dignified car’s interior as he walked forward.
Suddenly, under the hand of Yang Zicang, who was casually walking past while steadying himself on a seatback between two windows, he spotted a folded piece of paper left behind.
Zorro, who had initially been looking outside, immediately appeared at ease, slowing his pace slightly as if scanning the carriage apartment. His hand touched the soft upholstery of a seat, then, as he took two more steps forward and lifted his palm, the paper that had folded several times was gone.
“Not bad. ” Yang Zicang turned around and surveyed the exquisite furnishings and decor in the train compartment.
“It’s really rather nice—much more comfortable than being inside Little Machao’s belly. “
A welding sound rang out. “Ahem, we should head down now. “
The few who had been watching all along saw Zorro, wearing the outer coat of the Soldier Army uniform and a linen undershirt, jump down one after another from the black carriage iron doors.
“Hmm… ” One man his perplexedly scratched his cheek with a finger.
“Little Hammer. “
“Right here. “
After Zorro left, he straddled the Nightmare Motorcycle, gripped the handles, cranked the engine, turned around, and surged into the narrow lanes and houses of the nearby city.
Before long, the motorcycle’s figure—ridden by Zorro—appeared inside a deserted room piled high with vegetables, but loud chatter from a back kitchen was audible from next door.
He glanced at the watch on the wrist that was clutching the motorcycle’s handlebar—the one his brothers in the Special Defense Command used to signal him back home. Having thought for a few seconds, he took out the folded piece of paper.
—Do not open it. Inside is but a fifth of it. If I return, destroy it.
“Return? ” Zorro, who had all along been a little doubtful regarding that Miss summoning him back through a call made via the Special Defense Command line, found the word rather peculiar when he noticed it.
But it certainly was dangerous down there, he thought gravely.
Then, a faint rush surging up within him, Zorro kneaded the folded paper with one hand. So tantalizing—it turned out to be an Ancient Gold-grade intel packet. What if… he opened it now.
In the end, he didn’t dare to try anything rash and muttered to himself: “This really is a troublesome matter. How am I supposed to get you out perfectly and safely? “
Amidst the roaring roar of flames coming from outside, a voice rang out along with footsteps approaching the walkway: “Broccoli and potatoes, right? Is one basket enough? “
“Enough, enough! It’s great that we don’t have to feed those sons of bitches anymore, ” came a faint response.
Zorro immediately stuffed the note into his pocket, gave the Nightmare Motorcycle a light pat, and then charged toward the air by the wall, vanishing into it.
Inside the courtyard.
Amidst clinking and clattering noises, the strange contraption that had been linked together through half a day of tinkering was finally deemed temporarily complete, as the repair specialists, wiping their sweat after standing up, made the announcement.
“We can only mount the gas tank this way for now. As for the braking system… ah forget it, we’ll leave the exhaust and such aside for now and redesign it when we get back. “
“I never imagined that we could take part in the research and development of a new scientific project. It’s truly thanks to Chairman Yang’s brilliant mind, ” said one of the repair specialists, who was shorter than the others, with a tone of polite yet heartfelt admiration.
“It’s nothing, really, ” Yang Zicang said, forcing a smile.
“The change in the wheel rim… now that I look at it again, it’s starting to seem oddly fitting. ” A grease-stained vehicle repair specialist beside him quietly kicked at the truck’s wheel hub, which had no tire on it.
The shorter man simultaneously declared in a loud voice, “But the esteemed Mr. Yang, if the most crucial engine is not replaced, there is no way to completely isolate the birth of the Science Demon. Hmm, and switching it entirely to steam would be unnecessary… “
“Besides, the steam approach should still remain dangerous in the future new territories, ” one person whispered.
These few repair experts, filled with worry yet ambitious ambition, stared at the strange object before them.
In the midst of their discussions, one person climbed into the driver’s seat and started the vehicle.
As he started it up, the hammered-altered wheel hub produced a grating, ear-splitting screech, slipped, and dragged the entire carriage forward bit by bit.
“Damn, we need some more thrust. “
“And this wheel really needs to be completely redesigned. “
The several repair experts nearby, who had never imagined that changing the future would involve them, surged with excitement, not letting a single detail of the vehicle’s movement escape their notice.
“Thrust? That’s simple. A few brothers, give us a hand, ” a young man said, running to the rear of the vehicle. “Let’s test it out. “
Since it was just a test, three or four men ran to the back, reached out, and prepared to push the vehicle into motion. But by then, someone had already let out a “Whoa! ” and was staring down at the accessories on himself.
At that moment, Yang Zicang, who was only wearing the ring given by Tatamingqi, felt the attention directed at him from among the distributors.
“Hey! Zu! ” The few young men, using only the muscle strength in their arms, began pushing the combination of the started truck cab and train carriage, making it go “chugga-chugga-chug-a-jug-a-chug ” along the tracks.
Yang Zicang’s thumb moved away from the ring, and the ｛-Radiance – ..｝ was almost complete.
“Alright, the action was perfect. “
He walked over to the remaining short steel bars—cut into fragmented pieces due to the courtyard’s space constraints, barely reaching a total of ten meters—and picked them up into the car carriage.
After jumping down, Yang Zicang dusted off his hands and said, “Now I need to light a campfire… ” He glanced left and right, his eyes finally landing on a large black tire that had been removed intact and set neatly aside.
“……“
In less than five minutes, a low flame was lit in front of the “tracks ” within the courtyard that had no extension. Fueled by fragrant pine branches and shredded tires, it billowed thick black smoke.
Inside the driver’s cabin, a young man in grey workwear poked his head out, his view blocked by the dense smoke.
“Ah, right, ” Yang Zicang said to the people around him, “I need to run a test with this vehicle. Please, irrelevant personnel, leave for now. “
Led by a soldier of the army, a few people discussed among themselves as they walked out of the courtyard. A couple of others who felt they might be helpful remained nearby.
Yang Zicang pulled open the car door and climbed inside. “Make the smoke bigger. “
“Huh? ” These people quickly grasped his intention. “Send it into the hotel? “
As someone ran over to fan the flames, Yang Zicang placed both hands on the steering wheel, staring at the black smoke ahead. A silver-white glow ring, faint yet discernible, materialized on his chest, its inner hexagon rotating slowly.
“Mr. Pailisi, ” he said towards the window, “please step into the carriage for a moment. “
“Alright. ” Ang Pailisi briskly climbed into the carriage under the twilight haze.
In the truck’s cab, Yang Zicang stared straight ahead. As he gripped the steering wheel with both hands, he moved one hand toward the high gear shift lever on the right. Though he had never formally learned to drive a truck, just watching these days was enough to understand how it worked.
Click.The gear shift tilted as he moved it, and his foot pressed down on the accelerator. The hexagonal shape on his chest now had its outer ring glowing faintly brighter.
“Mind Dragon Express, ” he muttered lowly, staring straight into the black smoke.
Then, the entire assembly of strange trains began to shudder forward, gradually gaining momentum as its wheels turned lightly and swiftly. It rumbled into and charged straight through the black smoke toward the emptiness within!
Just at this moment of final entry, the two figures that had been fanning the flames nearby quickly closed their eyes and rushed toward the rear of the car.
“Hey! You two! ” the other two shouted.
“You two are idiots! ” shouted the one hanging on the carriage with eyes closed. “How can one key let the train enter the inn? “
Another man, squinting and groping while grasping the train door, pressed his cheek against the metal exterior as the speed increased, saying, “A car with this kind of design and modified flaws—how could it possibly be given directly to the lobby managers! Chairman Yang… am I right… ” With that, he turned over and entered the carriage.
“Very right. Guard this place and don’t let anyone else discover it. “
Within the expanding circle of flames and smoke, this strange vehicle quickly rushed into the black smoke and disappeared along the tracks, leaving only two people in the yard who took a few steps toward the smoke, swinging their arms but grabbing nothing but air.
……
The scenery outside the window was chaotic and streaked horizontally. With two clanging sounds, two men who had been climbing on the outside of the car tumbled and fell into the carriage opposite Colonel Brownlion, but quickly got back to their feet.
One of them nodded to the Colonel, then excitedly ran toward the front of the carriage, “Chairman Yang? Are we heading underground now? “
“No, ” came a faint voice from the front.
“Then where are we going? “
The speed of their passage was incredibly fast; the dense phantom images of city buildings were instantly left behind, and blurred plains and some fleeting mountain ridges appeared around them.
“I was originally planning to hide something here, but since you’ve come up, forget it. “
“Ah, no! ” wailed another man who was approaching nearby in the carriage, “Please don’t do that. “
“Heh heh, just kidding you. “
Whoosh! Some people in a civilian house who were just about to eat their dinner suddenly felt a gray shadow streak past them at high speed.
“What the hell is that! ” With a thud, a farmer was so startled that the plate in his hand fell onto the table.
In front of him, across the wooden table, the girl who was resting her legs and holding a fork and knife was so frightened that she let out an “Ah! ” and turned to look, but there was nothing there anymore.
Beside the women washing clothes by the river as they walked toward the shelter camp, a shadow flashed past. They all looked up toward the distant place that thing had gone, but saw nothing.
Several of them were startled, but thought it might just be river mist blowing through—though that was the opposite direction. Still, they didn’t dwell on it and continued carrying their wooden basins toward the camp, which had suddenly grown noisy.
Jenny, who was at the back of the group, frowned as she thought about what she had just seen. Suddenly, she stopped, turned her head, and looked at a thin iron sheet nearby that had scorched some soot marks into the grass.
Jenny, with her two braids, walked over, set down her wooden basin, and crouched. She picked up the iron sheet, using her wet clothes as a buffer, and discovered that it was inscribed with words in the common language she had studied for only about two years.
“Don’t easily… give, what?” She tilted her head, looking at the sharp-edged markings left on the fragment. “What transformation? The Hellfire Sect—strange, I recognize this word.” She felt a little joy as she gazed at the last two characters: “Gold.“
“Jenny.” A stern woman ahead turned back.
“Oh, coming!” The girl hid it under her clothes at the bottom of the basin, then carried the wooden basin with both hands and ran off.
…
Inside the carriage, Yang Zicang glanced at the iron wall behind him, which he couldn’t penetrate, and continued gripping the steering wheel with a slight tension in his heart.
Will it succeed?
Yang Zicang felt a special sensation kindling within his heart. Yet there were still more important matters supporting him to make the swift, scattered, secret decision before attempting that.
The bizarre four-rail vehicle, its form having slightly faded, accelerated and rushed into the wind.
Krupp-End.
In the scorched city, creatures such as cattle and sheep, as well as chickens and ducks leisurely strolling and fluttering their wings, were sparsely scattered across every corner of the city.
Suddenly, on the long street, a few ducks scattered and ran away with quacks. Ahummed, accompanied by a sharp screech. The truck cab, pulling the carriage, plunged out of the shaking dust and air, tracing a few sparks across the ground as it tiltingly swayed before stopping right in the middle of the road, bathed in the blazing sun’s oblique light.
Onboard the airship, among the crowd holding an afternoon tea to celebrate the day’s highly successful auction, one person stretched their head out to gaze downwards.
“Something’s happening! “
“What? “
“Down there, there’s a shaking train carriage, and someone’s gotten off! ” he shouted.
Several figures hurried over; then they saw a few black specks stepping out from the carriage and the cab of the truck hauling it. One person fetched a telescope and handed it to an indigenous Equipment Maintainer standing nearby, who looked perplexed.
“Hey, that seems, that isn’t… “
“Who is it? ” Fanny, who had been smiling subtly amongst the crowd, heard the conversation. Turning around gracefully, she lightly walked over and said, “Let me have a look, then. “
She walked to the window, looked, hummed a soft tune, and gazed at the few black dots heading toward the airship’s hanging rope ladder and the figures guarding it.
“Is it someone we know? ” she asked, unable to see clearly due to the angle and distance.
“Hey. Of course it is. ” The person at the window chuckled, handing the telescope in hand to Fenny beside her.
……
Inside the gunwale of a crowded departing passenger ship, “Miao Duling “—wearing a straight-cut outfit that revealed nothing of her figure, with her hair bound up in a headscarf, buck-toothed dental braces in her mouth, and her face smeared with dark rouge—gazed at the slender coastline.
I’ll make it there safely, right?
She touched the ship’s rail. As long as she reached the Chebin Archipelago safely, there would be no problem.
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