Chapter 308: Checkpoint and Background
"Please… " The woman who had tried to hug him struggled to her feet, her face pale and her eyes watering with pain and humiliation.
She clutched her side where she got hit, wincing with each breath. If not for her power armor, that kick would have killed her.
"I just wanted to thank him," she said in a voice barely above a whisper, tears streaming down her cheeks.
’I can’t believe he hit a woman just because he’s angry,’ one of the passengers grumbled to himself, thinking that Reign was a failure of a man for hurting a woman.
Little did he know, Reign didn’t see any difference between genders when they were insignificant to him.
To him, they were all classified as food. Expecting a monster like him to give women a free pass for pissing him off was a concept that only applies for weak humans.
One of the train’s crew, who had been watching from the back, stepped forward cautiously. His eyes flicked to the woman before deciding to assist her.
"Let’s get you some help," The crew member said softly, guiding her away.
The atmosphere in the train car had changed completely after this. No one dared approach him again.
’This is much better,’ Reign thought to himself.
He should be feared, not the other way around. He would be a failure as a monster if he started getting happy from mere compliments.
The train continued its journey, but the path was not entirely clear of danger.
Minor blockages, mostly scattered debris and a few remaining corrupted zombies, occasionally slowed its progress.
However, these obstacles were quickly handled by the train’s crew without needing Reign’s intervention.
His earlier display of power had left a lasting impression, and for now, his presence was more a symbol of reassurance than a necessity.
Eventually, the train approached its destination: a fortified platform that had been transformed into a stronghold.
Tall barriers and heavy machinery lined the area, clearly prepared to fend off any attack that might try to breach the defenses.
Among the setup were trucks carrying long-range rocket launchers, large cannons, and other heavy equipment designed to hold the line against overwhelming forces.
As the train inched closer to the platform, the military personnel stationed there signaled it to stopped. They were clad in imposing and gray heavy power armor.
The inspection team, initially focused on the task at hand, was taken aback when they finally saw the state of the train.
It was ragged and battered, evidence of the hard battles it had endured.
One soldier, his visor reflecting the harsh lights of the platform, voiced what many were thinking. "Is this is the train that made it through all that? It looks really outdated"
His disbelief was shared by the others. The train looked barely capable of making the journey.
One of the officers, a tall man with a commanding presence, stepped forward.
"What is this train carrying?" he asked one of his subordinates, who hurriedly whispered something in response.
"Weapons and ammunition? You’re telling me this train carries the supplies we’ve been desperately waiting for?"
"Yes, sir," the personnel replied. Before he could say more, someone stepped off the train.
"My name is Lucas, a weapons dealer. I’m here to trade these weapons to aid our government," Lucas introduced himself.
"Did you bring a lot?" the officer asked as they shook hands.
Lucas nodded firmly. "That’s right. We’ve got enough to help you buy some time before the next reinforcement arrived."
The officer’s face lit up with enthusiasm.
Without wasting a moment, he raised his communicator to his mouth and spoke into it.
[ We’ve got a train here with the supplies we’ve been waiting for. Get the commanding officer down here immediately! ]
Within moments, the platform was abuzz with activity.
The military quickly shifted from their routine duties to prepare for the arrival of the commanding officer.
Lucas stood by, watching as the platform turned into a busy scene. The soldiers were clearly excited, moving quickly and with purpose.
News of the incoming supplies had boosted their moral.
They no longer worried about the train’s worn-out look, as the promise of much-needed equipment made them eager and hopeful.
The commanding officer arrived shortly, a stern figure who quickly assessed the situation.
He looked over the train with a critical eye before turning his attention to Lucas. "You’re the one who brought this in?
Lucas nodded. "That’s correct. We’ve got the ammunition and weaponry you need. Let’s get it unloaded and to where it’s needed most."
The commanding officer’s expression softened into a rare smile.
"Excellent work. This is exactly what we’ve been waiting for. Let’s get these supplies distributed and make sure they’re put to good use."
Lucas chuckled and respectfully asked for his payment. "Before that, about our fee for delivering these supplies…"
The commanding officer raised his eyebrows, trying to maintain his commanding demeanor. "You’re asking for payment now? Right in the middle of all this?"
Lucas didn’t budge. "That’s right. We took a huge risk to get these supplies here, and we need to be compensated. The amount of money I spent just to break through that horde was astronomical."
His words left no room for negotiation.
For a moment, the commanding officer tried to hold his stern expression. But seeing Lucas’s unwavering stance, he finally chuckled, his rigid posture softening.
"Well, you’ve got some guts, I’ll give you that," the commanding officer said.
Lucas narrowed his eyes slightly but stayed firm.
"Even if we’re brave, we still need fair payment for the risk we took. We went through a lot to get these supplies here." He didn’t back down, staring directly at the commanding officer.
"Alright, alright. Show me the list of the weapons and ammunition you’re selling."
Lucas handed over a detailed list of the cargo, carefully itemized and organized. The officer took the list, scanning it with his eyes.
After a moment, he nodded and said, "This looks a lot. Let’s get these unloaded and inspected first, then I’ll pay you"
He motioned for dozens of soldiers to start moving the crates from the train.
Lucas nodded in agreement, his expression relaxing slightly.
"That works for me," he said. He watched as the soldiers began unloading the crates, his eyes scanning the activity.
As the crates were moved and inspected, he remained alert, ensuring that everything was handled properly.
He knew that this was just the first step and that the final payment was still to be determined.
But he wasn’t worried about profits. During wartime, the price of goods could increase a lot. He expected to sell these weapons at a 500% markup or more.
Plus, there were very few weapons dealers like him who would risk dying just to trade, so the military wouldn’t be too unreasonable with him.
"I want to report something." A woman’s voice broke the silence.
"What are you doing here, Miss Emy?" Lucas was shocked; he didn’t expect her to leaved the train.
"My name is Emy Miller, a representative of BioGen, and I want to report a criminal currently on the train," she spat out.
"Miller? Are you General Emelio’s daughter?" the commanding officer asked.
"The one and only," Emy said with a hint of satisfaction, her eyes gleaming with the anticipation of finally getting her revenge.
’I’ll make you pay for killing Alfonso and playing with my emotions,’