Wishing You Success
"Federal Senior Researcher Xie Xu and Federal Pioneer Tu Ran have been granted broadcast authority over this maglev train. The train's operating program has been modified, all doors are now sealed, and the train will make its stop at Mitner Square."
"All security personnel from the Executive Department and the remaining members of the Pioneer Team have already departed for Mitner Square. We will be waiting for you there."
"Wishing you success."
The announcement echoed through every carriage of the maglev train.
The despairing passengers, upon hearing that a government researcher and a Pioneer were aboard, calmed down with almost miraculous speed.
"There's a Pioneer! A Pioneer is actually here! Pioneers are the ones who deal with aberrants—he'll definitely have a way to handle them. We're saved!"
To them, the Pioneer who had appeared was like a god descending from the heavens, about to rescue them from disaster.
Xie Xu returned from the front carriage with a group of people, then sealed the front door of his carriage. He took the communicator from Tu Ran's hands, his voice linking to the train's broadcast system.
"The aberrant outbreak originated in the third carriage and has been spreading outward in both directions. I am currently in the seventh carriage, and the aberrants are about to reach us. All armed personnel aboard this train, please report to the seventh carriage immediately."
Xie Xu's calm voice carried a stabilizing force that soothed the listeners.
"We need to hold the seventh carriage to prevent the aberrants from spreading toward the rear. At the same time, survivors in the first six carriages, if you can hear me, quickly open your communicators, connect to the port labeled 'Pioneer,' and share your locations. We'll form a team and come to rescue you."
He repeated the message twice before exchanging communicators with Tu Ran.
Tu Ran's communicator now displayed a scattering of red dots—locations shared by survivors in the forward carriages.
Several people emerged from the carriages behind them, men and women alike, carrying various types of firearms, mostly handguns.
One burly man hauled a massive cleaver over his shoulder. His rough, fiercely scarred face looked positively menacing.
His voice was just as coarse. "Which one of you is the Pioneer?"
Tu Ran raised her hand. "That would be me."
The man's thick, dark brows instantly knitted into a deep frown. He gave Tu Ran a quick once-over, then planted the cleaver's tip on the floor, his expression dripping with disdain. "What, a woman?! Where's the man who was speaking earlier?"
Tu Ran: "..."
She felt insulted.
The others who had followed him out visibly deflated the moment they saw that the Pioneer was a woman.
"I'm Researcher Xie Xu. I was the one broadcasting," Xie Xu said, raising his voice.
"Shit, we've been had," the burly man cursed.
The others shared the same sentiment.
They had assumed the Pioneer was a man, and it was that confidence that had spurred them to take the risk and come forward, ready to charge into battle at his side.
Now the Pioneer turned out to be a woman, and the researcher was the man.
What could a researcher do? Cheer them on?
They couldn't begin to fathom what the Federation had been thinking, entrusting the lives of an entire trainload of people to the two of them.
The disappointment on everyone's faces was impossible to hide. Some were already having second thoughts.
Xie Xu, as if oblivious to their contempt, continued his calm arrangements.
"There are many people trapped in the first six carriages, especially the first two—they're packed with survivors. A few of them are armed, but the aberrants are attacking them right now, and they won't last long. We need to form a team to go in and rescue them. Who's willing to go?"