The young man looked at the message sent by the Stellar Train and was momentarily stunned, but he couldn't help but laugh. The guy had indeed accepted his favor.
When the Stellar Train eventually rises to prominence.
If he ever finds himself in a life-or-death crisis, this favor might just save his life.
And...
"Not bad," he muttered.
He glanced at the pornographic magazine in his hands, flipping through the pages. It wasn't that he lacked female companionship, but this magazine gave him a different kind of feeling, as if he were still living in a civilized society.
Just then—
"Son..."
The door to the train compartment was pushed open, and a middle-aged man walked in, his face etched with bitterness. "Now that you're the Train Conductor, and I'm your father, can't I just enjoy a little peace?"
"Enjoy peace?"
The young man frowned, his expression serious. "Enjoy what peace? This is the apocalypse! What did you think it was, playing house?"
"If one less person is mining, the train's development slows down."
"If you enjoy peace today and I enjoy peace tomorrow, soon enough, we'll all be enjoying peace in hell."
"Don't you understand this logic?"
"Enough."
The young man discreetly shoved five roujiamo, a pack of cigarettes, and the pornographic magazine into his father's arms, whispering, "Hide these. I'm giving you a little extra, but you can't stop working. If you stop, my Second Uncle and Third Aunt will definitely go on strike."
"I've worked hard to control the situation."
"Don't mess things up for me."
"...Sigh." The middle-aged man let out a soft sigh, then glanced down at the pornographic magazine in his hands. "I understand the logic. Mining every day is fine, but you're living so lavishly. Can't I enjoy a little peace too? Your mom passed away early, and I never remarried..."
"Don't think about doing things that would disrespect Mom, you old pervert."
"But you're living so lavishly—does that mean you're respecting Mom?"
"She was your wife, not mine. I don't have a wife, so what does it matter to me?"
"True."
Green Grade Vehicle Component Blueprint: Oxygen Generator.
Chen Mang looked at the blueprint in his hands and felt a wave of emotion. Although he didn't fully approve of the young man's methods, he had to admit that the guy had done him a huge favor. With this, he no longer had to worry about oxygen.
Not only would he not have to worry about whether there was enough oxygen in the caves while mining, but the four refrigerators packed with Slaves would also have a steady supply of oxygen. In the future, he wouldn't need to build any more Slave carriages. All the Slaves could be stuffed into the refrigerators, and the four previously built Slave carriages could be reserved as high-grade Slave carriages, a privilege only Level 1 Slaves could enjoy.
To craft this component, 500 units of Iron Ore were needed.
Not too expensive.
Immediately, he spent 500 units of Iron Ore to manufacture an Oxygen Generator in the 10th Goblin Slave Car and then spent another 9,000 units of Iron Ore to upgrade it to Level 10.
With each upgrade, the oxygen production increased, but so did the energy consumption.
The Level 10 Oxygen Generator was now fully capable of producing enough oxygen for 1,000 people to breathe in an oxygen-deprived space. The component's Circuit System was connected to the Generator, making it a major energy consumer when activated.
A 100% Level 1 Energy Stone could power a Level 1 Train for 100 hours, or the current Stellar Train for 60 hours.
It could also power a Level 1 off-road motorcycle for 100 consecutive days.
Currently, there were many energy-consuming components in the train, though most of them didn't need to be activated all the time. The Energy Stone inserted into the Generator last time still had 37% of its capacity left.
After upgrading the Oxygen Generator to Level 10, he also gained two Supermodel Effects.
Oxygen Generator Level 5 Supermodel Effect: The Oxygen Generator can be linked to the Train Auxiliary AI. The AI will automatically control the oxygen output based on the oxygen deprivation level in the space. Requires the Green Grade Accessory Train Auxiliary AI to be fully upgraded.
Oxygen Generator Level 10 Supermodel Effect: It will analyze the air quality of the surrounding environment in real time and synchronize the report to the Train Auxiliary AI.
"Hmm."
Chen Mang raised an eyebrow. These effects were quite useful.
He left the train compartment and walked through the carriages until he reached the 10th Goblin Car. There, he looked at the Oxygen Generator placed in the corner. It looked somewhat like a large bubble machine used at wedding events, with a large air vent.
When it started operating, it would spew out a large amount of oxygen from this vent.
It was already running. At its current oxygen production rate, operating continuously for 24 hours would consume about 50% of a Level 1 Energy Stone, equivalent to using 250 units of Iron Ore per day. Compared to other components, it was quite energy-intensive, but it was still cheaper than feeding Slaves.
Buzz buzz buzz.
As the buzzing sound filled the air, the Oxygen Generator began its work, flooding the cave with oxygen.
Not bad.
At least it's aerobic exercise.
Chen Mang couldn't help but chuckle at his own joke. He looked around, wanting to explain the humor to someone, but everyone was busy. Only Lao Zhu noticed him, but the solemn and respectful expression on his face made Chen Mang wave him off, indicating that he didn't need to come over. He then walked back to the train compartment alone.
Might as well finish watching that movie.
"Phew."
Among the Slaves, a young man sidled up to Uncle Li, carefully glancing around before whispering, "Uncle Li, didn't you say that when new Slaves join the train, you'd have a plan to climb up a step? How's that going?"
"Just wait a bit longer."
Uncle Li swung his pickaxe, striking the Iron Ore in front of him, and shook his head. "Haven't found anyone reckless yet."
His plan was actually quite simple.
Find someone reckless among the new Slaves, preferably someone who wanted to incite a rebellion. Then, when the rebellion was just starting, he and the young man beside him would quell it, showcasing their abilities and catching Lord Mang's attention.
But...
Many new Slaves had arrived, yet not a single one seemed interested in inciting a rebellion. This left him feeling a bit awkward. In the carriages he'd been in before, rebellions happened from time to time. Why was there no sign of one here?
Without a rebellion, how could he stand out?
Talent was like shit—you had to stick your head out of your ass for people to see it clearly. Otherwise, even if you were full of shit, no one would notice.
Especially in an apocalypse, standing out was difficult, and you had to know your limits. Pushing too hard was dangerous.
"Oh."
The young man scratched his head. He didn't have any ideas either. His approach was to follow Uncle Li. His mind was simple, so his solution to problems was always to follow someone smarter, letting them solve the issues while he picked up the scraps.
Mining was hard work.
Chatting helped pass the time.
"Uncle Li, have you ever been with a virgin?"
"..."
Uncle Li gave the young man a blank look but didn't respond, just continued swinging his pickaxe.
The young man didn't mind, continuing to swing his pickaxe while muttering to himself, "Before the apocalypse, I had a strong virgin complex. Every time I went on a blind date, I'd ask if the girl was a virgin, but I'd always get called a pervert."
"As if it were some kind of offensive question."
"It's not like I'm discriminating against non-virgins. Isn't it just a pre-screening? They ask if I have a car or a house—isn't that also a pre-screening?"
"I just couldn't accept it. I wanted a completely pure relationship, but even after the apocalypse came, I still haven't found one."
"After the apocalypse, it's even less likely I'll find a virgin. Uncle Li, do you think I'll never find a virgin in my lifetime?"
"Sigh."
Uncle Li let out a soft sigh, then said wearily, "It's not about whether it's offensive or not. It's about having no emotional intelligence. It's like when you did poorly on a test as a kid, and your relatives asked how you scored—how did that make you feel?"
"And, as a middle-aged man, I'll give you some advice."
"Emotions shouldn't be pure."
"Something pure will be glaringly obvious with even a speck of dust, but something already tainted won't stand out as much even if it gets a little dirtier. Who can guarantee they'll stay pure their whole life?"
"Might as well find someone who's already tainted. Even if something happens later, it won't be as painful."
"As for the virgin complex..."
"I lost mine after I turned 16."
The young man's eyes flashed with confusion. "Is there some kind of trick to it?"
"No."
Uncle Li shook his head. "It's just that after I realized none of the girls I liked were virgins, I accepted it. These days, virgins are rare—they're practically a novelty."
"If you can't change the world, you can only change yourself."
Just then—
"I, I, I am!"
A woman over six feet tall, muscular and carrying a pickaxe, shoved her head between the two men, her face flushed with excitement and shyness. "You guys got me all worked up..."
"I'm a virgin."
"Hey, young man, how about I give you my virginity?"
"..."
The young man was dumbfounded, staring at the woman with her chiseled features. He muttered in a daze, "What a strong woman."
"Sis, I've got a pickaxe here. Want to borrow it?"
"I'm still young."
"My mom said I'm not old enough to date yet. Could you stay away from me?"
"Oh." The middle-aged man glanced at the woman behind him, his expression blank. "If it's someone like her, then it's not surprising."
As soon as he finished speaking, the woman, who had been shy just moments ago, instantly turned grim. She stood up, reached out with her right hand, and lifted the middle-aged man into the air like a chicken, saying word by word, "Explain to me, what the hell do you mean by 'not surprising'?"
The middle-aged man's eyes flashed with panic as he flailed helplessly in the air. He wanted to say something, but the collar of his shirt was choking him, making it impossible to speak.
"You..."
"What are you trying to do?"
The young man beside them saw this and his expression changed. He immediately grabbed the woman's right arm, trying to pull it down, but after a few attempts, he found it impossible. He then wrapped both arms around it, lifted his feet off the ground, and tried to use his body weight to pull her arm down.
But...
It was no use.
After a few unsuccessful attempts, the young man decided to treat the woman's thick arm as a lever and did three pull-ups before landing back on the ground, dusting himself off, and letting out a long sigh.
"Uncle Li, I tried."
At that moment—
Biao Zi, who was patrolling nearby, noticed the scene. His face darkened, and he immediately cocked his Soaring Dragon Assault Rifle, aiming it at the woman's head, his voice hoarse. "Let him go."
The woman didn't dare ignore Biao Zi's warning and immediately released Uncle Li, setting him back on the ground. She then muttered somewhat pitifully, "He said no one would want me."
Biao Zi couldn't be bothered to deal with the conflicts between the Slaves. He just gave the woman a cold glance.
"If this happens again, pick a comfortable way to die."
He then strode off, though as he turned, a flash of astonishment crossed his eyes. Wasn't that woman's strength a bit too damn exaggerated? In peacetime, she could probably take on three grown men without breaking a sweat.
"Hmph."
The woman shot Uncle Li a displeased look before picking up her pickaxe and returning to mining. She worked with incredible effort, her efficiency even surpassing many of the men. As she worked, she muttered under her breath.
"One young hunk, two young hunks, three young hunks."
Inside the Stellar Train.
Chen Mang, lying on a seat and engrossed in the movie on the screen, suddenly heard a knock at the door. He frowned slightly and said in a deep voice, "Come in."
"Lord Mang."
Lao Zhu entered, his face full of respect, and whispered, "Hei Hao told me something. I think it's important to report it to you immediately. Lord Mang, how should we handle this?"
"Hei Hao, tell Lord Mang yourself."
"Alright, alright."
Hei Hao, who had followed Lao Zhu in, first bowed respectfully and let out a few dry laughs before hurriedly speaking. "Lord Mang, you might not know this, but Biao Zi has been a Train Conductor several times before. At his peak, he was even the Conductor of a Level 2 Train."
"The first time he went on an external mission, he handed over the Train Token just to make you think he had no intention of going independent."
"These days, I've developed a deep affection for the Stellar Train."
"Biao Zi will definitely rebel in the future, Lord Mang. After all, he's been a Train Conductor several times. He won't be content to stay under someone else forever."
After speaking, Hei Hao clenched the hem of his shirt, feeling the sweat in his palms. His rapid breathing and the thumping of his heart echoed loudly in his ears.
For a moment, no one spoke.
After what felt like an eternity—
"Good!"
Chen Mang, who had been lying on the seat, suddenly shouted in satisfaction. He looked at the movie playing on the screen, leaned back, and lit a cigarette with a pleased smile. "That's how you kill Zombies—with excitement and satisfaction."
"It's making me itch to kill some Zombies myself in a few days."
Then, Chen Mang glanced at Lao Zhu and Hei Hao standing nearby and casually waved his hand. "Bring Biao
Zi to me."
Lao Zhu lowered his head, about to respond, when he heard Hei Hao eagerly agree beside him. His brow furrowed slightly, but he said nothing, simply acknowledging the order again and leading Hei Hao out of the train compartment.
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