2000 meters underground in the Doomsday Abyss, inside a cavern.
Biao Zi was patrolling with his gun, keeping a close eye on the working Slaves, not daring to relax for a moment. With more Slaves now, any slip-up would mean he was derelict in his duties.
He wasn't worried about a Slave rebellion succeeding.
After all, there was Lord Mang.
But suppressing a rebellion would inevitably cost some Slave lives, and the responsibility would likely fall on him, the enforcer.
Just then—
"Biao Ge."
Hei Hao sneaked over and whispered, "Got any cigarettes? I haven't had one all day, and I'm craving one."
Biao Zi frowned.
"Didn't I assign you a patrol route? Who told you to wander off? What if something happens? You'll be the one to blame."
"I'm out of cigarettes too. Get back to your post."
"Hehe."
Hei Hao chuckled awkwardly, then lowered his voice. "A few days ago, when we looted those packs of cigarettes in the ruins of Taiping City, I told you to keep a few for yourself, but you handed them all over, saying Lord Mang would distribute them. But he hasn't given us any yet."
"Why don't you go ask Lord Mang about it?"
"..."
Biao Zi stared at Hei Hao expressionlessly, silent for a long time before finally speaking softly. "Hei Hao, before the apocalypse, I was your foreman. You followed me, working on construction sites. I brought you out of the village."
"After the apocalypse, wherever I went, I took you with me, and I saved your life several times."
"You haven't forgotten these two favors, have you?"
"Of course not. What's this about?"
"Then stop saying things that put me in a difficult position." Biao Zi patted Hei Hao's shoulder gently. "A few days ago, in the Train carriage, you asked if you could have some fun with Ji Chuchu, saying Lord Mang had promised it. Train Conductor Zhu's face turned dark the moment you said that."
"Was that something you should say?"
"Everyone knows your role on the Train is as my right-hand man, the one who's been with me from the start. If you keep speaking carelessly, where does that leave me?"
"Ask Lord Mang for cigarettes?"
"Do you think I have the face to do that, or do you?"
"If I refuse you, will you start resenting me, thinking that now that I'm doing well, I don't care about my old buddy's feelings?"
"I'm not lecturing you. I just hope you'll be more careful with your words in the future. My position on the Train isn't that high. At best, I'm the head enforcer. At worst, Lord Mang just needs someone in this position—it doesn't matter who fills it."
"Do you understand?"
"Look at Er Dan. He barely speaks a word and is still patrolling the route I assigned. Learn from him. When you're working, don't think about other things. Go on."
Er Dan and Hei Hao.
Both had been with him since before the apocalypse, from the same village.
Many guerrilla construction teams were like this—workers from the same village, sticking together when far from home.
"Biao Ge, I remember you still have that 'last cigarette' in your pocket? How about giving it to me?"
"..."
Biao Zi stared at Hei Hao, who suddenly seemed unfamiliar, and after a long silence, he pulled out the cigarette box from his jacket pocket, took out the last cigarette, and handed it to Hei Hao.
He watched Hei Hao's retreating figure without speaking, a shadow gradually clouding his eyes.
This was his "last cigarette."
Even though things were going well now, in the apocalypse, no one knew when they might die. So he always kept one cigarette in his pocket, calling it his "last cigarette"—the one he would smoke before death, a way to put an imperfect end to his life.
Hei Hao knew about this.
But he never expected Hei Hao to ask for that cigarette.
Hei Hao... was getting a bit carried away, especially with all the new Slaves joining, each treating him with respect. It made Hei Hao think he had a high status on the Train, completely forgetting who gave him that status.
When Train Conductor Zhu scolded Hei Hao earlier, he was also indirectly warning Biao Zi. Though Biao Zi felt awkward at the time, he still covered for Hei Hao.
Now it seemed that if Hei Hao's attitude didn't change, he might bring disaster upon Biao Zi in the future.
He knew Hei Hao enjoyed the feeling of looking down on others.
When Biao Zi first joined Lord Mang and went on his first mission, Hei Hao suggested he keep the Train Token he found, so they could later strike out on their own. Biao Zi understood the sentiment, but such ill-timed ideas were deadly on the Stellar Train.
"..."
Biao Zi sighed softly and glanced down at the Soaring Dragon Assault Rifle in his hands. After all, he and Hei Hao had been together for so long. He wouldn't kill Hei Hao over such a small matter. He admitted he wasn't a good person, but he couldn't bring himself to harm his own brother.
Tonight, he'd find a chance to have a heart-to-heart with Hei Hao.
If things continued like this, disaster was inevitable.
Hei Hao's mindset was teetering on a dangerous edge.
Inside the Stellar Train's cabin.
Chen Mang had his feet propped up on the table, munching on a bag of chips as he enjoyed a post-apocalyptic movie on the screen. Though the plot was a bit clichéd, it was still quite good.
From the movie, he could catch a glimpse of this world's culture.
It felt good to deeply understand a world like this.
It had been a long time since he'd relaxed like this.
In the apocalypse, such moments of relaxation were rare.
He glanced at the Train Radio. A few minutes ago, he'd asked if anyone had accessories for generating oxygen or headlights. As soon as he sent the message, the Train Radio exploded with activity.
Many were excited, some praising him as a big shot, others asking for his advice.
But...
No one had privately messaged him, claiming to have the relevant accessories.
"Hmm..."
Chen Mang suddenly thought of something. He set the chips aside, took a bottle of ice-cold cola, and drank half of it before sitting upright at the control panel, staring at the green-grade accessory, "Train Radio."
This accessory was level 1.
Of course, he'd never considered upgrading it before, as the information he had suggested that upgrading it wouldn't provide any additional effects. It was the same whether upgraded or not.
But he suddenly wanted to see what kind of supermodel effect it would have if upgraded to level 10.
No time like the present.
After consuming 9000 units of Iron Ore, the "Train Radio," the most commonly used yet easily overlooked accessory, was successfully upgraded to level 10, unlocking two corresponding supermodel effects.
"Train Radio Level 5 Supermodel Effect": You can pin your message to the top of the screen, costing 10 units of Iron Ore each time.
"Train Radio Level 10 Supermodel Effect": You can conduct remote trades with other Train Conductors through the Train Radio.
"What?"
Chen Mang froze for a moment, a flicker of astonishment in his eyes. He had only upgraded the "Train Radio" to level 10 as a casual experiment, since he had two level 2 Iron Ore mines and didn't need to worry about Iron Ore for the time being.
He never expected the supermodel effect to be so overpowering.
The level 5 effect was like a controllable ad space.
The level 10 effect was even more impressive—it would save him a lot of time. From now on, he wouldn't need to go to gatherings to trade with others; he could do it remotely.
This far exceeded his expectations.
He had thought the supermodel effect might allow him to join chat rooms in other regions.
When he visited the Kunlun Mountains yesterday, he took a quick look at the Train Radio and noticed it was blank. He hadn't joined the Kunlun Mountains region's chat room, probably because he was just a passerby and hadn't officially entered the green region, so he lacked the necessary permissions.
"Not bad."
Chen Mang glanced at the other ordinary white accessories in the Train cabin, like the "Telescope." He decided that once this batch of Iron Ore was mined, he'd upgrade all the accessories he could, just to see their supermodel effects.
Who knows? Maybe one of those unremarkable accessories had an insane supermodel effect.
Before upgrading the "Train Radio," he had no idea its effect would be so extraordinary.
Without further delay.
He immediately sent a message, pinning it to the top of the Train Radio.
"Stellar Train": Seeking accessories for generating oxygen, headlights, and other accessory blueprints. Anyone with blueprints of any grade, please message me privately to discuss prices.
The message was encased in a golden frame, occupying one-seventh of the screen, floating at the top of the Train Radio chat room, looking extremely conspicuous.
Those who happened to be paying attention to the Train Radio immediately flooded it with question marks.
"Iron Tree Train": "?"
"Please Let Me Survive Train": "?"
"Sea of Dung Mad Maggot Train": "?"
"Tonsils Never Speak Train": "Bro, how did you get that golden frame and pin your message?"
"Protagonist Train": "Wait, bro, I've read this plot in a novel. Did you know the apocalypse was coming, and you just happened to have some cash, so you spent millions before the apocalypse?"
"Hong Qigong Train": "I've been cursing at my AI, but he still won't tell me how to get a golden frame and pin a message."
Chen Mang quickly scanned the Train Radio, filtering out the useless chatter, but still didn't find the message he was hoping for. Just then, his Train Radio chimed with a private message.
It was from the Protagonist Train.
Honestly, he didn't know what kind of person would name their Train something like that.
But on second thought, it made sense. Everyone is the protagonist of their own story, and he was the protagonist of his own life.
The message was brief.
"I have an accessory for generating oxygen."
"What do you want for it? Name your price."
"No price, bro. It's yours."
"..."
When Chen Mang read this, he almost thought he was mistaken. Bro, this is the apocalypse. You're just giving away an accessory blueprint? Are you running a charity?
This is life-or-death charity.
Take some Iron Ore, upgrade your Train, and keep yourself alive in the apocalypse. Isn't that better?
"?"
"Bro, I noticed you the moment you climbed the Iron Ridge Wasteland regional leaderboard. Then you quickly rose to the top. I can see you have the makings of a protagonist. Based on my experience, showing goodwill to a protagonist before they truly rise will bring great rewards in the future."
"I don't need this oxygen-generating accessory, so giving it to you doesn't cost me anything."
"I just hope that when you truly rise, you'll spare me some scraps so I can live a little longer."
"Bro, send me your coordinates, and I'll deliver it to you."
"..."
Chen Mang stared at the private chat window, expressionless. It was clear this guy had read a lot of novels and was firmly convinced of the "protagonist theory." Once such a person identified someone they believed to be the protagonist, they would do everything to latch onto that protagonist's coattails.
It wasn't necessarily good or bad.
It just felt... strange, because he always believed in the theory of self-interest. He could die any day. The protagonist theory? He never believed in that.
"No need. Send me your coordinates, and I'll trade remotely."
"Ah? Let me try."
On the other side of the Iron Ridge Wasteland, inside a level 2 Train, a young man sitting at the control panel tentatively entered his coordinates into the chat box. Before he could react, he saw a golden "balance scale" appear above his Train Radio.
The left side of the scale was illusory, while the right side was real. He cautiously placed the green-grade accessory blueprint on the right side.
In the next moment—
With a flash of white light.
The accessory blueprint disappeared.
"Holy crap!"
The young man jumped up from the control panel, staring in disbelief at what had just happened. He was completely frozen. How the hell was this so high-tech?
As far as he knew, even level 3 Trains didn't have the ability to trade remotely.
How did the Stellar Train do it?
He had noticed the Stellar Train because when the "Regional Leaderboard" first appeared, his rank was just below the Stellar Train. He had instinctively wanted to catch up.
But...
As he chased, the Stellar Train shot to the top of the leaderboard.
He had witnessed the Stellar Train's exponential, monstrous growth, as a level 2 Train forcibly took the top spot, suppressing all the level 3 Trains.
Before he could react.
The previously illusory left side of the balance scale also delivered a pile of items, clattering onto the control panel.
There were two packs of cigarettes, 1000 units of Iron Ore, ten steaming hot meat buns, and even a porn magazine.
"This bro..."
The young man stared at the pile of items, picking up the porn magazine and muttering in a daze, "He's really thoughtful. But... did this bro forget that I'm also a Train Conductor? I don't lack women."
But soon, his expression turned a bit downcast. The bro had rejected his goodwill.
Just then—
His Train
Radio chimed again.
"I appreciate the gesture, but in these desperate times, don't be too quick to give away your life-saving resources."
"Here's a little gift. Keep it."
(End of Chapter)