Chapter 302: Rough Ride
"I heard it's been out of service for years," another whispered, eyes wide with concern.
"Do you think Lucas knows what he's doing?" someone else questioned, his voice barely audible.
A sense of doubt seemed to take hold of the group. People started to huddle in small clusters, whispering to each other.
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"What if it breaks down?" a young woman asked, her voice trembling.
"If we're in the middle of nowhere," her companion replied, glancing around nervously. "We'll be stranded."
Lucas overheard some of the whispers and was annoyed by Reign's words, but he felt powerless to do anything.
When he looked at the person who was responsible for all of this, he saw him standing there with his dog, smiling and enjoying the whole situation.
"Ahem!" He cleared his throat, trying to regain control of the situation
"Everyone, calm down," Lucas said loudly to cut through the noise, "This train might not look great outside, but it's functional and the engines were well-maintained inside. We'll reach our destination safely."
But even though he tried to reassure everyone, the doubt remained.
Seeing the unease and whispers still spreading, Lucas had an idea. He spoke up loudly, trying to sound confident.
"Besides, we have Mr. Rain here," he declared loudly, causing heads to turn. "With him around, it will feel like we are being escorted by an army of one thousand! No.. Two Thousands!"
The group fell silent, eyes turning to Reign. For a moment, the anxiety in the air dissipated, replaced by awe as they remembered his epic and overwhelming one sided performance.
He was someone who could move like lightning, someone who could kill opponents before they even processed what was happening.
In their eyes, he was the epitome of power and strength, and this made them calm down. .
"That's right ! We have him on our side. He's like a force of nature," someone whispered, admiration clear in their voice.
Another voice added, "Yeah, if anyone can get us through this, it's him."
A third person nodded, saying, "I feel better knowing he's here."
Reign just stood there, exuding confidence and silent authority. He didn't need to say anything; his reputation spoke for him.
'This shrewd businessman,' Reign clicked his tongue in annoyance, seeing that his name was being used to calm everyone down.
'Alright, I'll show you what happens when you use my name without my permission,' he chuckled sadistically.
Reign stepped closer to Lucas and the group, his smile widening.
"I only came here to protect this guy because I got paid for it," Reign said, grabbing Lucas by the shoulder. "If there's a problem, he's my top priority." He grinned and added, "But don't worry, I'll save you if I'm in the mood to do some charity for free"
Everyone's reactions were mixed. Some looked confused, while others quickly realized what Reign might be suggesting.
One person, eager to avoid trouble, stepped forward. "How much do you want?" he asked with a firm tone.
Another hurriedly chimed in, "Yes, just tell us the amount. We don't want any problems."
Reign's eyes sparkled with amusement as he watched the passengers scramble. He leaned back on the rusty train, enjoying the chaos he had stirred up.
"Oh, you're so quick to catch on," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "
"Five million credits per person," he said, his tone casual and unbothered. "That's what it'll take to keep things quiet."
The passengers exchanged glances, their worry turning to relief. Since they were all wealthy, the amount didn't faze them. They quickly began pulling out their cash certificates, each one showing their readiness to pay.
One by one, they handed the money.
"Here you go," one of them said, handing over the certificate with a smile. "I'll entrust my life to you."
Another added, "I'll give you more if you prioritize me in case of emergency .."
Reign collected the certificates with a satisfied grin, clearly pleased with how easily they had complied.
'Idiots, You really think I will bother saving you all? ' he thought with a smirk. He didn't actually need the money; he just liked making have some false sense of safety.
Emy also handed over her protection money to Reign without saying a word. She looked away, still angry about what had happened earlier.
In her mind, Reign had played with her emotions, and she couldn't forgive him for that.
"Alright, let's go," Reign declared, leading the way. "Don't worry, I'm a man of my word. I will protect you all." He walked in first, signaling everyone to follow.
With their mind now a bit more calm, they slowly entered the train.
As they boarded the freight train, a crew member in casual, mechanic-like clothing greeted them.
His shirt was stained with oil, and his pants were worn and patched. The uniform, clearly meant for manual labor rather than customer service, added to the rough and unpolished feel of the train.
He pointed to their designated car, which matched the train's overall worn-down appearance.
Interior was basic and old, designed for function over comfort, and the crew member's attire only reinforced the sense that this was not a train meant for luxury .
The metal benches, worn and scratched, lined the walls. The floor was covered in a faded, industrial-grade material that had seen better days.
Reign found a spot, sitting down on one of the hard benches casually. The car's unpolished, utilitarian design made it clear that this was a no-frills ride.
The others, especially those used to wealth and comfort, had a very different reaction. They looked around with visible disappointment and discomfort.
One person wrinkled their nose at the old, worn metal benches and the grimy floor. "Is this really where we're supposed to be? We might get sick just sitting here" he whispered to a companion, his voice filled with disbelief.
Another passenger tugged at their expensive clothing, trying to avoid sitting directly on the worn seats.
"I thought we'd be traveling in something a bit more... civilized," she said, her tone laced with irritation.
Few others exchanged uneasy glances, clearly unsettled the interior.
Once everyone was settled, the crew began closing the metal windows to ensure no miasma could get through.
They also started up the outdated filter system to prevent anyone from suffocating. Fortunately, most of the train cars were packed with weapons, and only one car was set up for passengers, so the amount of oxygen needed wasn't very high.
The freight train began to move, starting slowly and then gradually picking up speed.
As it passed through the station, it drew curious looks from others. Its worn appearance made it stand out compared to the newer trains.
Reign just leaned back against his hard chair, shutting of his eyes and allowing himself to relax until they reached Brentwood.