Room 647-15. Shang Jianyao pushed the door open, dressed in a gray uniform.
Behind him, Long Yuehong stepped inside, curiosity glimmering in his eyes as he surveyed the surroundings.
The room was filled with weapons of all shapes and sizes—long and short, silver and black, arranged on tables or hanging from the walls. It looked like an exhibition of modern firearms.
To be honest, Long Yuehong had only read about exhibitions in books and heard his teachers vaguely describe them. He had never experienced one himself.
The closest he'd come was attending the "Experimental Crop Showcase" hosted by the Inner Ecology Zone a few years ago.
Now, standing in this room, he felt that exhibitions should look exactly like this.
Jiang Baimian stood by the door, her eyes scanning Shang Jianyao from head to toe. She nodded approvingly.
"You wear it with style, and you've got the attitude to match!" she said.
The uniform of the Security Department was well-designed—sharp and professional. On Shang Jianyao, with his tall stature and strong build, it exuded an aura of rugged sophistication.
"This outfit isn't ideal," Shang Jianyao replied, his brows slightly furrowed.
"Why not?" Bai Chen, standing nearby, looked at him, puzzled.
Jiang Baimian sighed softly. "I feel like ignoring whatever he's about to say is probably the best option."
But Shang Jianyao's lips curled into a smile, and he answered Bai Chen's question with a laugh.
"I can't do the Golden Coast Swing Dance or wear a grass skirt in this."
Bai Chen's expression froze.
"...Sometimes I can't tell if you're joking or just plain insane," Jiang Baimian muttered, half-joking, before turning to Long Yuehong. "Stop staring blankly. Head over there and get ready for the lesson!"
Her eyes flicked over Long Yuehong, scrutinizing him from head to toe. A smile appeared on her face.
"Looking sharp. Much better than before."
Long Yuehong, feeling a little left out while the women had focused on Shang Jianyao earlier, straightened his back and said with renewed confidence, "Yes, Team Leader!"
He approached the long table Jiang Baimian had pointed to. Bai Chen picked up a silver pistol with a black grip and held it up for them to see.
"This is a gun both relic hunters and wasteland bandits have a love-hate relationship with," Bai Chen began. "Notice its long and thick barrel? It uses 11.18mm rounds, so its firepower is immense. Perfect for hunting large beasts. There are other similar models here—some are even nicknamed 'Python.'"
She continued, "Its recoil is heavy. If you're not physically strong enough, you won't be able to handle it. But since you've both undergone genetic enhancements, that shouldn't be an issue. This specific model, the United 202, is a recent production from 'United Industries.' Its main drawback is that it tends to jam more often than other pistols. Keep that in mind when using it."
With an air of calm expertise, Bai Chen dismantled and explained the weapon's components before moving on to another pistol from the table.
"This one uses 7.62mm rounds. Smaller size, excellent precision, and easy to carry. Maintenance is simple, too. However, it's not ideal for people with larger hands. Works perfectly for me, though." She smiled faintly.
Bai Chen's lesson continued, her voice steady as she introduced a variety of weapons, from the hefty "Fatty" 14.5mm sniper rifle to the compact "Short Neck" submachine gun. Long Yuehong and Shang Jianyao listened intently, occasionally picking up the weapons to get a feel for them.
Jiang Baimian joined in during a break, pointing to a large steel pipe on a nearby table. "Guess what weapon this is?"
Long Yuehong squinted, reading the faint characters etched on it: Lin Nan Steel Pipe Factory.
"Ha!" Jiang Baimian laughed. "This is actually a single-soldier rocket launcher. Most of its components were repurposed from a seamless steel pipe factory operated by the Salvation Army. Alright, carry on."
By 6:20 PM, after a grueling day of training, Shang Jianyao and Long Yuehong had showered and changed into their casual clothes. Each carried a meal box as they sat down in the 647th floor's cafeteria.
"My whole body hurts. The Team Leader is way too ruthless!" Long Yuehong groaned as he carefully lowered himself onto his seat, wincing at the pain from his bruises.
Their morning had been filled with weaponry lessons, while the afternoon was spent on combat training. Jiang Baimian hadn't held back, drilling them mercilessly.
Shang Jianyao had lasted a while under her relentless attacks, but Long Yuehong had been beaten down within seconds each time.
"She must have had better genetic enhancements than us! Look at her strength, her reflexes, her coordination—it's inhuman!" Long Yuehong grumbled. He turned to his friend, narrowing his eyes. "You're a monster too—a little monster! How did you manage to spar with her like that?"
Although Shang Jianyao had only lasted for short bursts against Jiang Baimian, it was still an impressive feat.
Shang Jianyao smiled. "You couldn't even beat Bai Chen."
Long Yuehong's face flushed red. "She doesn't fight fair! And it's not like you won many rounds either!"
"Out in the wasteland, there are no rules in combat. Only life and death," Shang Jianyao replied evenly.
"Fair enough. Her combat techniques are definitely practical," Long Yuehong muttered as he opened his meal box.
Inside, fluffy white rice was topped with savory braised pork and dark, flavorful pickled vegetables. The rich aroma wafted upward, making his stomach growl.
"This job wouldn't be bad at all if it didn't involve fieldwork," he sighed contentedly.
"Tomorrow's another combat training session," Shang Jianyao reminded him with a glance.
"Ugh! Don't ruin the moment. Just eat!" Long Yuehong snapped, his voice rising in frustration.
Shang Jianyao ignored him, digging into his own meal of stewed potatoes and braised pork.
After dinner, the two returned to the 495th floor's Activity Center.
As they stepped inside, a tall, clean-cut young woman in a plain dress approached them. Long Yuehong's face lit up as he walked toward her.
"Feng Yunying! Are you here to see me?" he asked eagerly.
Feng Yunying blinked, taken aback. "You're done eating already? I'm just here to return something to a friend."
Long Yuehong forced a laugh. "I had dinner in a smaller cafeteria. Where are you working these days?"
When Feng Yunying inquired about his assignment, Long Yuehong hesitated before reluctantly answering, "The Security Department."
She gave him a concerned look. "Be careful, then."
Meanwhile, Shang Jianyao wandered off, finding a seat next to the Activity Center's supervisor, an elderly man named Chen Xianyu.
"So, where'd they assign you? Need me to pull some strings?" Chen asked without looking up from the items spread across his table.
"Classified," Shang Jianyao replied succinctly.
Chen chuckled but didn't press further. Instead, he patted Shang Jianyao's shoulder. "Just stay safe."
As they chatted, Shang Jianyao noticed a familiar face—a woman he'd seen earlier in the day. She moved gracefully through the center, her expression serene.
"Do you know her?" Shang Jianyao asked, pointing toward the woman.
Chen glanced over. "That's Li Zhen. You two should know each other—she used to be your neighbor. She's had a rough life. Lost her kids in an accident a few years back, and she and her husband were... affected during a mission. Couldn't have more children after that."
Shang Jianyao nodded silently, digesting the information.
Later that night, lying on his dimly lit bed, he waited for the familiar nightly broadcast to begin.
At precisely 8:00 PM, the sweet voice of the announcer filled the living quarters.
"Good evening, everyone. I'm Hou Yi, your news anchor for the hour..."