Chapter 69
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Chapter 69: Destiny’s Call
“You—” Zhang Zhiyuan’s voice wavered, his hand half-raised in protest, but it was too late.
Anthony calmly sheathed his dagger, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips as he carelessly discarded the lifeless body at his feet. “I thought you’d be used to this by now,” he said, his tone laced with a cold indifference. “Or did you still think he deserved mercy?”
“Perhaps his crimes didn’t warrant death.”
Anthony’s eyes flickered with a mix of amusement and exasperation. “Come on, Here we are the law. And look—” he nodded toward the exit of the carriage. Outside, among the escaping slave laborers, several small, frail figures stood out. Their hollow cheeks and skinny limbs showed they were hustled kids—no more than twelve years old, at best. “I’ve done my share of bad things, but even I draw the line at hurting children.”
Zhang Zhiyuan’s mouth opened to argue, but no words came. Instead, he took a deep breath to steady himself and moved to the next carriage.
The next two coaches also held slave laborers., They opened each iron door one by one. Surprisingly, the first boy they rescued chose not to flee with the others. Instead, he trailed behind them, his eyes filled with a quite determined as he assisted with the evacuation of the remaining captives.
It wasn’t until the seventh coach that the group finally encountered some resistance.
Fifteen minutes had passed since the train had derailed, yet even now, the guards of Gaotian Mining Corporation remained clueless about the chaos that was unfolding around them. They emerged from the carriages in small groups, scanning their surroundings near the wooden bridge, completely unprepared for the ambush lurking within the train.
Without hesitation, Anthony, who was first to break through the door, raised his gun and fired at the four guards stationed inside the carriage.
A crack of gunfire shattered the silence amidst the fog!
“Enemy attack!”
“They’re—”
The guards’ warnings were cut short as they crumpled to the ground, their voices silenced forever.
“Naruko, Zhou Zhi—cover the windows on both sides! I’m heading to the roof!” Zhang Zhiyuan barked out orders, his voice carrying a resolute authority. “Anthony, keep breaking through the doors.” Though outnumbered, their CQ-B automatic rifles offered firepower far surpassing the outdated steam guns of their adversaries. Securing this carriage meant they were one step closer to the conductor’s cabin, one step closer to victory.
Just as Zhang Zhiyuan moved forward, he felt a sudden tug on his sleeve, halting him in his tracks. Just as he turned around, he was startled to see the boy who had stayed behind.
“Why are you still here?” Zhang Zhiyuan asked, surprise flashing in his eyes. “Hurry, get moving!”
“No… if you keep going like this, you’re all going to die,” the boy said, his voice trembling with urgency. “They have a weapon—something terrible. If we don’t act fast, we’re finished.”
“What?” Zhang Zhiyuan’s brow furrowed, trying to grasp the boy’s meaning.
“I’m telling the truth!” The boy’s eyes burned with intensity. “The weapon’s at the very end of the train. You need to take me there—it’s the only way we stand a chance.”
For a moment, the group exchanged uneasy glances.
Zhou Zhi snorted, a disbelieving grin spreading across his face. “Why must we specifically escort you for us to have a chance at survival?”
“Because I can operate wondrous constructs!” the boy exclaimed, his voice rising with desperation..
“Wondrous constructs?” Zhang Zhiyuan echoed, bewildered. “What are those?”
Luo Di, the only one who seemed to grasp the gravity of the situation, turned serious. “What exactly do you mean by ‘weapon’? Is it some kind of machine?”
The boy nodded eagerly. “Yes, it’s a heavy-duty machine with devastating power—a newly developed wondrous construct from the old continent. It requires someone with special talents to use it. If our enemies activate it first, we’re all doomed.”
“You know what wondrous constructs are?” Asahara Naruko looked curiously at Luo Di.
Luo Di hesitated, unsure herself, until Chaoyang’s voice resonated in her mind: This steam locomotive and their steam guns, fundamentally, are both types of artificial wondrous constructs. In simple terms, think of them as a category of unique machines.
After relaying this explanation, Luo Di mentally asked, Why don’t you just tell them yourself?
“Wouldn’t hastily patching explanations make me seem unreliable?” Chaoyang responded assertively. “Besides, competent Players should be able to handle unexpected incidents in the game on their own.”
Meanwhile, Zhang Zhiyuan leaned out from the roof of the train, his movements precise and practiced as he swiftly took down two armed guards. He ducked back inside, a slight furrow in his brow. “…I still don’t quite understand.”
Zhou Zhi’s eyes suddenly gleamed with realization. “I get it now! You’re the legendary high school student!”
“What nonsense are you talking about?” Zhang Zhiyuan frowned.
The boy also appeared taken aback, “High…school student?”
“An enemy’s train is transporting a prototype, facing a sudden attack mid-journey, and the Distinguished One is a seventeen-year-old youth—haven’t you heard this story before!” Zhou Zhi excitedly exclaimed while firing his gun, “Hey, what’s your name?”
“Me? Uh… Lesker.” The boy stammered, still processing Zhou Zhi’s strange logic.
“No problem, Lesker, we’ll take you to the last carriage right away—ow!” Zhou Zhi’s words were cut off as Zhang Zhiyuan smacked him on the back of the head.
“Our mission is to secure the funds,” Zhang Zhiyuan reminded him sharply. “Quit filling everyone’s heads with unnecessary stories.”
“The door is open!” Anthony’s called in the exchange,his voice breaking the momentary tension. He had just finished breaking through—the aluminum-thermite had melted the lock, and with a powerful kick, he swung open the heavy iron door to the conductor’s cabin.
Da-da-da!
They were greeted by a rapid burst of gunfire, the sudden onslaught catching them off guard. Anthony grunted as he staggered back, blood trickling from a fresh wound, but before hitting the ground, he hurled a flashbang grenade obtained from the shop into the conductor’s cabin.
A blinding white light exploded from beneath the door, followed by a deafening blast that sent sharp echoes ricocheting through the confined space.
“Ah…”
Agonized screams immediately erupted from behind the door.
Zhang Zhiyuan didn’t hesitate. He crouched low, rushing through the iron entrance, and fired four precise shots, each bullet finding its mark in the guards who had instinctively covered their eyes. Only when he was certain they were incapacitated did he turn to Anthony. “Are you alright?”
“Hmph, not dead yet.” The Russian grunted, pulling his shirt aside to reveal that most of the bullets had been stopped by the soft armor beneath. One, however, had lodged itself in his shoulder. “Didn’t think these guys had automatic weapons.”
“Yes, it looks similar to a Gatling gun,” Zhang Zhiyuan observed, glancing briefly at the still-smoking multi-barreled firearm in the center of the conductor’s cabin. His focus quickly shifted as he began searching for the money chests.
Compared to the other carriages, the conductor’s cabin had a completely different style. Not only was it illuminated by hanging lamps overhead, but the floor was also fully carpeted. Beds, desks, sofas, and various furnishings lined both sides, making it as luxurious as a hotel room.
“It could be a suitcase or maybe a safe, Zhang said, eyes scanning the room. “Don’t miss any potential hiding places for money. Naruko, the rear compartments are yours!”
“No problem.” Asahara Naruko replied, dragging a sofa over to block the doorway. She propped her gun on its backrest, ready for whatever might come.
“Are you here… to rob us?” Lesker exclaimed, shocked.
He’d run through countless theories about the group’s purpose, but never once had he imagined it would be something so… ‘simple’.
“Not exactly. Zhou Zhi corrected with a grin. “We’re redistributing wealth—from the rich to help the poor. “Would you like to lend a hand?”
“But… this is Gaotian Mining Corporation’s armed train! And if you don’t hurry up and control those wondrous constructs, you won’t be able to take this money out of the fog zone!”
“Don’t worry, just as they have their secret weapons, we have our own ways to escape.”
“Zhou Zhi, don’t say too much!” Zhang Zhiyuan interrupted. “Kid, for your own safety, you should hurry and leave now. Thanks for your help earlier; may fate bring us together again someday.”
“There’s another person here!” Luo Di suddenly made a new discovery.
Zhang Zhiyuan rushed over, and sure enough, at the far end of the conductor’s cabin, a man was seemingly “embedded” in the wall. Due to the dim lighting inside, they hadn’t initially noticed this peculiar shadowed corner. The man’s hands were hoisted up by iron hooks, his body restrained with leather straps, and combined with the inwardly caved-in cabin wall, it gave the illusion that he was embedded within the wall itself.
Unlike ordinary slave laborers, this individual had undoubtedly endured torture. His toenails had been ripped off, and his arms were covered with whip marks. Blood had soaked his shirt, staining it a deep crimson. His eyes were tightly shut, indicating he had fallen unconscious.