[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-apocalypse-i-built-an-infinite-train":3,"chapter-apocalypse-i-built-an-infinite-train-apocalypse-i-built-an-infinite-train-chapter-97":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Apocalypse: I Built an Infinite Train",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2261861,4414,"Chapter 97: Cooperation (Chapter 1, Requesting Monthly Votes)","apocalypse-i-built-an-infinite-train-chapter-97",97,"\u003Cp>Click~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as she finished speaking, the few people in the lab grew tense, their eyes snapping to Ding Junyi. After thinking it over, they knew this broken lab had nothing of value to offer—so they could only let Ding Junyi speak for them. Ding Junyi stepped forward without hesitation and said directly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We have P3-level access permissions for the underground city. Except for a few restricted zones, we can assist you in entering and retrieving supplies from residential areas, commercial zones, entertainment districts, industrial sectors, storage levels, biological and cultural asset preservation layers, research layers, and all rapid transit corridors. Though evacuated, a city of hundreds of thousands abandoning in haste must still have left behind considerable valuable supplies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Additionally, we know the exact location of a Twin Star 11R nuclear-powered electric locomotive. Its onboard DRX micro-nuclear power generator has a thermal output of 290 megawatts. Also, if you need our biological lab’s research data, we can provide it—but only under mutual confidentiality, to prevent us from facing political prosecution by the Federation government.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She laid all her bargaining chips bare at once. Beside her, Xu Wen’s face tightened as he whispered:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What about the third point… should we mention it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though she’d initially resisted, now that negotiation was upon her, she wanted to spill every single condition—just to survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No.” Ding Junyi lifted her finger from the response button and said calmly: “If they rescue us, we gain the right to life—but lose all other rights. What they choose to do to us afterward won’t be up to us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These people were all ordinary civilians—virtually defenseless. Under these circumstances, they had to see Lin Xian and the others as saviors, yet also consider the possibility they were bandits or thugs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Han Qiming looked grim. “Could it really be that extreme? Look at those three women—they don’t seem like the type to do anything to a man like me. Their faces don’t look vicious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Yan stared at him in disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Professor Han, have you lost your mind? Do you think Ding Director is talking about those three girls? Why don’t you look at that two-meter-tall giant?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At those words, Han Qiming’s face turned green, his legs trembling. “N-no way…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Junyi rubbed her temples, utterly baffled by how these people kept fixating on irrelevant details.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the Infinite, Lin Xian and Kiki both perked up upon hearing Ding Junyi’s words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh my god, a Twin Star 11R nuclear-powered electric locomotive, wow!” Kiki exclaimed. “Lin Xian, that sounds amazing!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xian raised an eyebrow, glancing at Chen Sixuan and the others, then gave a wry smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This woman is clever. But according to her, they have no material resources at all—only permissions and information.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A massive underground city abandoned in haste would certainly leave behind plenty of supplies—but such vague claims held little value for Lin Xian’s group. Of course they knew there’d be some gains inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But those unknown gains carried unquantifiable risk. Far more valuable was the Twin Star 11R locomotive Ding Junyi mentioned outright—yet her direct mention of it gave Lin Xian the eerie feeling she knew his true objective.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If that’s the case, why even go through them? Give me some time to hack into the system, won’t that be enough?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kiki said immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How long would it take?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Only after connecting can I tell. But in this situation, the main AI must’ve been evacuated already. What’s left is probably a sub-system. I’d guess… five.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then it’s unnecessary.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xian said: “Saving them might be simpler. And if they’re truly a research team, they may hold valuable information we need. Plus, they understand the underground city’s layout. In this case, cooperation will be far more efficient than confrontation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But what if they’re lying to us?” Chen Sixuan understood Lin Xian’s intent but voiced her concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s see, little girl!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xian pointed at the roof. Kiki instantly understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, two drones rose from the Infinite’s roof and swiftly flew toward the underground city’s surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The snowstorm’s too heavy—image quality’s poor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the information center, Kiki manipulated the drones while grumbling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s fine.” Lin Xian said. “Use the daylight to observe. It’ll help us judge the general situation. First, check below…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Got it~” Kiki pouted, watching the screen showing the completely silent underground tunnel. “Looks about right—no signs of living movement.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If only we had thermal imaging. This place would be perfect for it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xian nodded. “The large aerial night-dweller they mentioned might be that giant atmospheric jellyfish we saw last night. But I still don’t know what that underground creature is.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Sixuan said: “It seems far more dangerous than we imagined. Even if we enter, we can’t stay long.” Lin Xian added: “Then prioritize the Twin Star 11R nuclear-powered electric locomotive. Everything else we’ll assess as we go. Can you locate their position on level 52?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kiki shook her head. “No. Signal drops beyond the horizon. It’s pitch black down there—nothing visible. But look, there’s a downward tunnel ahead. Open the door and the train can go straight down into the city.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s normal for a city this size to have underground freight tracks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Staying on the train gives better odds against zombies. Plus, if we need to haul supplies, elevators inside will make it easier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But driving the train into a sealed, fallen underground city is still risky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xian fell silent, then looked at Kiki. “What do you think?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s definitely risk.” Kiki rested her chin on her hand, studying Lin Xian. “But what they described matches our goals perfectly. The only problem is: we don’t know what weird things lurk inside—or that terrifying underground creature…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Xian nodded. “Energy’s a major issue—it’s key to our survival. But I already reserved one to two days for this place, specifically to upgrade the Infinite’s defense and detection systems, life support, and weapons…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I think this risk is worth taking.” Lin Xian said firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An empty underground city lay before them. If they didn’t even try exploring it, they’d be betraying his mechanical ability. And with the nuclear-powered locomotive’s location confirmed? This end-times relic had to be tested!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes!” Kiki raised her hand eagerly. “I’m in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Lin Xian, Chen Sixuan and the others exchanged glances, then nodded in approval.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone knew the Infinite was the key to survival. As a mechanical adept, Lin Xian had absolute authority here. If they could improve the train’s safety, its value far outweighed ordinary supplies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, in the lab, Zhao Yan, Xu Wen, and Han Qiming endured unbearable tension. After enduring the eternal night, they’d finally received a rescue team—a glimmer of hope. But the others had no obligation to risk their lives for them. All they could do was pray Ding Junyi’s offer would convince them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Will they really agree? There’s no food or water here. We don’t even know if the military zone still has weapons. Will they really come rescue us just for that unknown nuclear locomotive?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Wen looked desperate. Though Ding Junyi’s analysis sounded logical, upon reflection, it felt like nothing at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The others might have adepts who could enter the city without their help. And that Twin Star 11R locomotive was just theoretical—level 95 had been offline for days. They had no idea what condition lay below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These claims seemed less convincing than food or weapons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the hope of sexual favors—or that the rescuers’ conscience would compel them to save fellow humans—felt more plausible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of this, their expressions grew more frantic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Wen paced anxiously, staring at the unresponsive response unit. She grew frantic and moved to rush toward it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you doing?” Ding Junyi asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I—I’ll tell them there’s plenty of food, drink, and weapons! Maybe that’ll convince them!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At those words, Zhao Yan and Han Qiming turned to her with complex expressions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They knew Xu Wen was desperate and grasping at straws—but they themselves were too panicked to think clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Junyi stared coldly at her. “I know what you’re thinking. But I advise you not to.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why?!” Xu Wen’s voice cracked, eyes red. “Your conditions won’t convince them! Without something concrete—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are your fabricated claims any more concrete?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But… but—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Junyi’s gaze swept over the other two. “Rationally speaking, if they have no interest in our first offer, we have zero rescue value. Even if we’re right and they’re interested, any temporary alliance we form is fragile. Our existence isn’t necessary to them. In other words, they can use us, then kill us all—and we have no choice. In a negotiation where our survival depends entirely on their morality, do you really think lying to trick them into saving us is rational?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Wen fell silent, her face pale, lips dry. Her hand, reaching for the response button, trembled in midair—then slowly withdrew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Get your head straight,\" Ding Junyi said, arms crossed. \"We have no armed strength. In this situation, staying friendly gives us a chance. Deception and luck? It’s certain death.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>New book launch—begging for monthly votes! Infinite Train, soaring to the skies!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deeply grateful!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1522,"2026-06-19T18:20:04.953Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","44a6ce6e060f3d327d0eeba322125b9d199b03fd1757439e26f8f3dd683eadd7","apocalypse-i-built-an-infinite-train-chapter-98","apocalypse-i-built-an-infinite-train-chapter-96",541,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fapocalypse-i-built-an-infinite-train-cover.jpg"]