When Su Mali made that remark, steward Cai's fair face immediately turned green. He showed an awkward expression and said, "Young Lady, the RV has been outfitted with 80 rounds of 84mm super-caliber ammunition. This is the exact amount Mr. Qian specified."
In other words, no more.
Eighty shells are already a lot. In the apocalypse, even food could not be produced reliably, let alone bullets. These surely came from dwindling stockpiles. There is no denying it. Qian Duoduo's gift is enormous, making up for both the RV's defense and its counterattack capabilities.
Xiao Cai gestured with his hands, the motion stiff in the cool air of the hall. "These shells are very large, with wide destructive range. A few rounds can settle any matter. But more than that, the turret serves as a deterrent. Unless faced with an irrecoverable situation, it is best left unused. Right now, bullets are truly more precious than equipment."
"Xiao Cai, that is enough. I am quite satisfied." Jing Shu examined the beast of a weapon, her fingers brushing against the cold, matte-finished barrel which stretched at least one and a half meters long. It looked violently imposing. Unlike other turrets, this one had no recoil, which made it appear slimmer and easier to mount directly on the RV's front.
Just as Xiao Cai said, the turret was more deterrent than weapon. Anyone daring to tamper with the RV would think twice. And if something truly happened, she could fire it for real. With this turret, her sense of security deepened even more. On the migration road, it is a tool that could make all the difference.
"Steward Xiao Cai, you are finally here. Today, you must tell us about this turret. How could Mr. Qian be willing to part with such a secret weapon?"
The speaker was an old man bundled head to toe in something resembling a spacesuit, the thick, protective fabric crinkling as he shifted his weight. In fact, everyone here was tightly wrapped against the environmental hazards. The wealthier they were, the more they cherished their lives. Still, most kept low profiles. It was unlike Su Mali, who flaunted herself in a dazzlingly iridescent black outfit that drew stares the moment she entered.
"Yes, give us the details."
Voices rose around them, echoing slightly in the vastness of the exhibition hall. Jing Shu looked around, but she did not recognize anyone. Every face was hidden under sealed raincoats and visors.
"Well, Lao Liu, Lao Wang, you are both here. Honestly, this turret is not much. Among all turrets, its power is actually on the smaller side; but it is still a cannon. It uses conical shells, each weighing 2.54 kilograms. With standard propellant, muzzle velocity reaches 439 meters per second. At a 10-degree angle, it can accurately strike at 1,180 meters, and its maximum range is 1,500 meters."
Jing Shu nodded, calculating the speed in her head. So when fired from far away, it might take two to three seconds to hit its target.
"As for its power. Heh. If a grenade wipes out everything within 15 meters, then a cannon shell brings down every house within 15 meters of impact. In a half-soccer-field radius, unless people are in an artillery shelter, they are dead. It is not from shrapnel, but from sheer shockwaves. Put bluntly, one shell could crack open half a mountain. Its effect is comparable to TNT charges we saw recently, though the principles differ. The result is the same: sheer destructive force."
Listening to Xiao Cai's explanation, Jing Shu understood. Grenades relied on fragments for damage. Compared to cannon shells, grenades were weak. They could not even bring down a house. At that thought, she felt the familiar weight of responsibility. Her RV now had everything. Defense, counterattack, deterrence. It is finally complete. When the time comes, her whole family inside this RV will live in comfort, safe from harsh environments and invasive creatures.
"Mr. Qian also considered gifting howitzers or mortars, but nothing was as practical as this. A high-damage weapon like this will certainly prove useful in the future," Xiao Cai added with pride, his orchid fingers fluttering as if he were the one receiving the gift.
"Steward Xiao Cai, you still have not explained. Why is Mr. Qian suddenly so generous?"
"Isn't it obvious? This Miss Jing Shu is the one who recently dismantled a four-ton bomb barehanded. Without her, the last standing castle in Xishan would have been blown apart. Mr. Qian considered other options, but realized what she most needs right now is armed strength."
He spoke without concealment, making Jing Shu cough and quietly shuffle aside to avoid the sudden intensity of the crowd's focus.
"So that is how it is. This turret might be the most valuable item here today, then?"
Xiao Cai fluttered his fingers with a smile. "Lao Wang, don't tease me. That helicopter is the real treasure. Unfortunately, its recipient is not here yet, or we would all get a look."
"Yes, I heard it is the reward for building Mr. Qian's one-stop Xishan Base. Even if the helicopter is costly, constructing such a massive base in just three months was worth it."
"Xiao Cai, we have seen everything in this hall now," Su Mali said, her eyes blinking rapidly behind her hood. To her, once curiosity was satisfied, interest vanished. Though the items were valuable, she lacked the desire for them. She already had plenty.
Xiao Cai immediately caught on. This young lady had long wanted to see the underground facilities. "Then why not go now, before the event begins? We can visit the employees' quarters."
"Perfect, let's go. I have wanted to for ages, but with Mr. Qian's surprises for you, I held back," Su Mali said shyly. She grabbed Jing Shu's hand and happily pulled her toward the underground passage. After such a brutal bombing last time, Su Mali somehow carried no trauma at all. Her heart is truly resilient.
"By the way, Miss Jing Shu, do you want these installed on your RV now, or after the event?"
Jing Shu thought a moment. "After the event. For now, leave them here. They will not run away."
"Haha, true enough. To receive so many valuable gifts from Mr. Qian is quite the honor."
"Hehe." Jing Shu only smiled and followed Su Mali and Xiao Cai down into the underground passage, toward the employees' living quarters.
What she saw there left her stunned. It completely overturned her expectations. She had not imagined Qian Duoduo had built the place so well. Compared to Banana Community, it is downright luxurious; at the very least, infinitely better than sleeping in a garage.