Chapter 70: Chapter 70: The Trial Mission Begins!

[Mission Name: Pioneer Trial I ]

[Mission Details: Find and obtain a pass inside the station to complete the trial and leave.]

[Mission Hint: This is a special station. Once entered, you cannot leave until the mission is completed.]

[You may choose to skip this station and continue your journey, but you will lose the Pioneer title!]

[Mission Reward: One train carriage.]

Bai Cheng didn’t care much about titles. What she really wanted was the reward this time!

Her newly upgraded train could connect to a second carriage, meaning that she could recruit another legendary employee.

No matter how she looked at it, this would be a massive boost to her strength.

"With Chi Yan and Zi Yuan by my side, how could I lose to those amateur survivors?"

Without hesitation, Bai Cheng stepped forward and opened the train door.

At the same time, the lights on the platform suddenly brightened, revealing a scene almost identical to the previous two stations.

With her two employees following behind, Bai Cheng adjusted her backpack and completed the authentication at the door.

This also meant that she had chosen to enter this special station, and there was no turning back now.

A small screen by the door flickered to life, displaying station information.

Bai Cheng narrowed her eyes and frowned slightly.

[Arrival Station: #00 Treewood Town Station] 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

[Station Type: (Multiplayer) Special Trial Station]

[Station Introduction: Here, assets mean strength. Remember to not excessively damage buildings, or the terrifying presence within the town may awaken!]

[Remaining Time Until Departure: – ]

[Station Rules: Cannot enter station platforms where other survivors’ trains are parked. Survivors cannot harm each other, including employees!]

"The station number isn’t three... but zero?" Bai Cheng was momentarily stunned, realizing just how unusual this station was.

"And ’assets’... That must mean Infinite Coins."

She rested her chin on her hand, her gaze lingering on the last two rules.

If survivors can’t harm each other, then this special trial station doesn’t seem too dangerous?

After a brief pause, Bai Cheng decisively stepped into the narrow corridor beyond the door.

Meanwhile, in a pitch-black Snow Mountain Castle far away...

A corpse lay silently on the ground, blood pooling around it.

A group of survivors moved cautiously through the room, gathering supplies without daring to make a sound.

The atmosphere was suffocating, tension thick in the air.

Suddenly, a bright light flared at the end of the hallway, startling them.

A glaring white screen lit up, displaying several messages in quick succession.

[<Pioneer Title> Competition Event Begins!]

[Mission Details: Obtain a pass inside the station. All participants will obtain rewards after any participant succeded in leaving the station!]

[Mission Hint: The special mission station is fixed to 100 km from your current location. Please arrive within three hours!]

[Current Arrivals: 1/20 (Teams will be counted as single units upon entry).]

[You have chosen to participate. Proceed immediately!]

[Event Rewards: Talent Awakening (Enhanced), one additional carriage, employee upgrade, Pioneer title (awarded to the first to leave the station).]

The moment the messages appeared, the fear and tension gripping the group vanished, replaced by exhilaration.

"We were just talking about when this event would start two days ago, and now it’s here!" The leader, a man, grinned excitedly.

The others cheered just as eagerly.

For them, this event wasn’t just about the generous rewards. It was practically a guaranteed win!

The Pioneer title was secondary. Every single reward listed was enough to elevate an ordinary survivor to new heights.

So, regardless of their motives, nearly every survivor who received the notification immediately signed up.

But there were only a hundred Pioneers, and no more than two thousand survivors could participate in the event.

In a channel with over sixty thousand people, it all came to the speed of their hands.

Even though they were still inside a station, the group didn’t hesitate.

The leader immediately declared, "Forget the supplies here. We’re heading to the next station now!"

He hurried toward the first floor, but one member quickly interjected, "Brother Wen, if we get there and the slots are already full, won’t we waste this station’s supplies for nothing...?"

The man called Brother Wen glared at him. "You think I don’t know that? Stop wasting time and move!"

It was true that everyone’s trains moved at the same speed, and with so many already on the move, they had little advantage.

But were they really supposed to give up such lucrative rewards?

Brother Wen could only hope that most survivors were currently asleep.

"Brother Wen, you misunderstood. I meant that since one person traveling is the same as all of us going, why not send one ahead while the rest keep gathering supplies?"

Brother Wen paused, then nodded. "You’re right. You go then. We’ll save a share for you."

"..."

Back in the special station, Bai Cheng stood frozen, staring at her surroundings.

After stepping through the door, she found herself inside a wooden cabin. There were no windows, no view of the outside.

The room was spacious, filled with the rich scent of wood and fresh air.

Modern amenities were everywhere. There was a vending machine, a plush-looking bed, and even a steamy bathroom.

Bai Cheng’s eyes sparkled with longing. She really wanted to dive into that bathtub.

But she hadn’t forgotten her mission.

This was a station she couldn’t leave without a pass.

And as a Pioneer, she was effectively pitted against every other survivor.

There was no time to waste. After a quick scan of the room, she moved to open the wooden door ahead.

"Treewood Town... This place must be huge," she muttered. "The pass definitely isn’t in the starting room."

But when she gripped the doorknob, it didn’t budge. Instead, a screen beside it lit up with new text.

[Current participant count not met. Mission cannot begin!]

[Latest possible starting time: 2 hours, 59 minutes remaining]

Bai Cheng blinked, then quickly understood.

"Oh, we have to wait for others?"

"Makes sense. Pioneers are probably ahead of regular survivors."

Strangely, she felt more relaxed now.

Turning back to the bathroom, she rubbed her hands together eagerly.

"In that case... bath time!"

Compared to the crude shower in Station One, this special station even had a spacious wooden tub.

In no time, Bai Cheng stripped naked, reclined in the tub with her arms behind her head, and kicked her feet up on the edge, swaying them lazily.

"Ahhh~ This is the life!"

Face flushed from the heat, body melting into relaxation, she waved a hand. "Zi Yuan, give me a massage!"

Time flew by unnoticed, until the screen abruptly updated.

[Participant count reached. Mission will now begin!]

Splash!

Bai Cheng abruptly bolted upright, water sloshing in the bathtub.

"Let’s move!"