"Everyone is doomed to die?"
The six men exchanged glances, as if they had already reached some agreement before Xiao Ai arrived, and couldn't help but laugh.
"No, no, no."
A burly man wearing a down jacket over a sweater stepped forward: "Well, Mr. Robot, I think you've misunderstood something. We do believe this crisis is real, and we absolutely trust that your Targeting Radar is more advanced than ours."
"But—"
"In this crisis, none of us will die. Only your Stellar Train will."
"After all, we're all Level 9 Trains. We can leave the Zombie Basin anytime. We're not locked here, so why should we risk our lives with your Stellar Train?"
"The ones in a hurry are you, not us."
"Of course, we're not heartless either. If you want to take the lead and gather us, we can listen to you and form a temporary alliance to collect all the copper ore from the lower-level trains."
"But the Stellar Train needs to offer Murphy Stones in exchange."
"That's right," a man in an olive-green military coat behind him stepped forward with a serious expression. "Our Train Conductor shares the same sentiment. Since your Stellar Train has so many Supermodel Effects, you must have plenty of Murphy Stones, right?"
"There are six of us here. Give each of us 100 Murphy Stones, and we'll help you."
"After all, in a life-or-death situation, you wouldn't be stingy with some Murphy Stones, would you?"
"Don't rush to refuse. Use your walkie-talkie to ask your Train Conductor. I know you can't make this decision."
"..."
Xiao Ai paused for half a minute, only speaking again after receiving all the information from Chen Mang.
"Level 10 Train is a threshold."
"I remember the Blue Zone is different from other zones. Once a Level 9 Train enters, it can't return to lower-level zones. If you could enter higher-level zones so easily, you wouldn't have lingered in the Zombie Basin for so long."
"You must not be ready to upgrade to a Level 10 Train. Entering the Blue Zone recklessly would also be a death sentence."
"Moreover, so many Level 9 Zombies and hundreds of thousands of zombies are both a crisis and an opportunity. If we survive this, we'll get many rewards to share, which will significantly speed up train development."
"This isn't just about the Stellar Train. It concerns all of you."
"You're saving yourselves."
"No, no, no."
The man in the down jacket shook his head firmly. "Our Train Conductor made it very clear: no Murphy Stones, no deal. He'd rather gamble by entering the Blue Zone than help you for free."
"For free?"
A cold glint flashed in Xiao Ai's eyes as he smiled. "Isn't this also helping yourselves?"
"Whoever takes the lead must pay. You want to be the boss but contribute nothing? How can your Stellar Train want all the good things?" Another man approached from afar, his voice full of displeasure.
"Let's be blunt."
"This crisis is your Stellar Train's problem. You're begging us, understand? Without us Level 9 Trains, do you really think your Stellar Train stands a chance?"
"If you're not willing to offer anything, then get lost!"
"When the time comes and you come begging for our help, the price won't be the same."
"..."
After a brief pause, Xiao Ai finished receiving Chen Mang's message before walking toward the off-road motorcycle: "Our Train Conductor says the cooperation is off. See you if fate allows."
"Trying to leave?"
The man in the military coat flashed a venomous glare, immediately pulling a rifle from his coat and aiming it at Xiao Ai, ready to fire.
Then he saw Xiao Ai suddenly stop, swiftly turn around—and somehow now holding two rapidly spinning Gatling guns in his hands.
The next moment—
"Rat-tat-tat!!!"
The two Gatling guns in Xiao Ai's hands roared to life. A storm of energy bullets, like a relentless metal downpour, engulfed all seven men in the blink of an eye. Without hesitation, Xiao Ai opened fire.
Three seconds later.
The gunfire ceased. Xiao Ai opened the armor on his abdomen, stuffed both Gatling guns into the pockets inside, then strode toward the off-road motorcycle, revving the throttle and speeding toward the Stellar Train.
The Stellar Train had already begun moving, gradually picking up speed.
"Hurry, hurry!"
At the last carriage, Uncle Li stood at the rear, lowering the carriage's armor from the top to form a ramp. The sparks from the friction between the armor and the ground flashed like fleeting fireworks in the roaring wind.
Behind the train.
Xiao Ai rode the off-road motorcycle, racing toward the rear of the train.
With a sharp twist of the throttle, the front wheel lifted slightly.
The motorcycle soared up the ramp and into the carriage. Uncle Li glanced at the approaching trains in the distance, sneered, and spat a thick glob of phlegm outside: "Eat my dust."
Then he quickly pulled the armor back up, sealing the train shut.
Xiao Ai had already tossed the motorcycle aside and was striding through several carriages toward the train's control room.
Inside the control room.
Chen Mang watched the targeting radar screen—the two pursuing Level 9 trains had been left far behind. When it came to speed, the Stellar Train feared no one in stormy weather!
The train's top speed had already surpassed a thousand.
Good luck catching up.
If Xiao Ai's route hadn't exposed the Stellar's position, those trains' targeting radars wouldn't have even spotted it.
"..."
Leaning back in his chair, he calmly lit a cigarette and stared at the train radio. Clearly, this plan had failed.
Humans are a fairly united species in the face of disaster.
But unfortunately.
It always has to be during the disaster. Before it truly strikes, too many cling to delusions—no idea what they're hoping for. Even those Level 9 trains, with fallback options, still had the audacity to demand exorbitant prices.
A hundred Murphy Stones per train.
How bold.
If he had that many Murphy Stones, why would he need to ally with them? He could just sell one for a measly 50,000 units of iron ore and make 6 million easily.
"Train Conductor."
Just then—
Xiao Ai pushed the door open: "Any other plans?"
Chen Mang exhaled a slow stream of smoke, then waved dismissively. "Call Mundo and Doba over."
"These are the only six Murphy Stones left on the train."
Chen Mang pointed to the Murphy Stone on the nearby table and looked at Mundo: "When you teleport to the high-level zone and encounter an advanced train, you can sell the Murphy Stone to them."
"Start by quoting a high price. If they can't afford it, gradually lower it."
"Iron ore only."
Doba nodded solemnly and turned to Mundo: "The goal is to sell it as expensive as possible, but if they can't pay, reduce the price."
"Understood!"
Mundo nodded emphatically.
"Go ahead. Whether these six Murphy Stones sell or not, you must return to the train within 20 hours. Head to Living Carriage No. 4 and take two 'Goblin Tickets' for yourself."
"Bring some other supplies too—cigarettes, cigars, cola, pocket dimensions, whatever you think is necessary."
"Doba, go test whether Mundo can carry the refrigerator while teleporting. If not, have him wear more layers of clothes."
Each piece of clothing only has one pocket with spatial functionality.
But you can wear multiple layers.
Or, like Xiao Ai, you can cut out the pocket with spatial functionality to create a small pocket dimension, then stuff another pocket dimension inside it.
This was Xiao Ai's invention.
Xiao Ai named it the "Xiao Ai Pocket Dimension" and even sewed pockets inside his own belly.
The price is extremely low.
Only 1 unit of wood.
It's the most cost-effective item on the train. Although the refrigerator also has spatial functionality and a larger capacity, a Level 10 refrigerator costs 4,500 units of iron ore—far more expensive than the pocket dimension.
After finishing these arrangements, Chen Mang turned to Xiao Ai again.
"Sell the pocket dimensions for 1,000 units of iron ore each."
"Try to earn as much iron ore as possible before the 'Zombie Volcano' erupts. Once the disaster hits, we'll plunder more trains, avoid Level 9 Zombies, and aim to gather at least 6 million units of iron ore."
"Understood."
As for the targets to plunder...
Chen Mang calmly observed the two Level 9 trains on the Targeting Radar. They had stopped chasing him—now it was his turn to pursue. He had been tailing them from a distance, waiting for the moment one of them strayed alone. That would be his opportunity to strike.
A Level 9 train.
In a sneak attack, he wasn't necessarily outmatched.
The production cost of one Level 9 shell for the "Doomsday Cannon" was 700 units of copper ore. After two consumption halvings, it came down to 175 units of copper ore per shell.
He had a total of 1.295 million units of copper ore.
Enough to produce 7,400 Level 9 shells.
This amount was far from sufficient for the impending "Zombie Volcano," but it was more than enough to ambush a single Level 9 train. Their mere Level 8 "Tycoon Energy Shield" couldn't withstand his Doomsday Cannon.
Moreover.
He was trailing 20,000 meters behind—their Targeting Radar couldn't detect his train at all. His "Radar Blocker" was Level 10. Even if they did spot him, he could still disguise his train as a Flesh Train using his "Mechanical Tentacles."
From an extreme distance, he could lock onto the Level 9 train with his Doomsday Cannon and deliver a devastating instant strike.
Then came the looting phase.
If reason didn't work, it was time for physics.
They'd have to choose between sugarcoated words or cannon fire.
Meanwhile—
Inside the "Combat Training Virtual Space."
The Train Conductors of nine Level 9 Mechanical Trains stood on a platform, holding a small meeting.
"What the hell are you guys doing?"
A middle-aged man frowned deeply: "I knew negotiations might break down, but did you have to screw it up so quickly? I hadn't even arrived yet when you managed to ruin the talks. Shouldn't we at least wait until everyone's present before discussing?"
"Could you show some consideration for those of us coming from farther away?"
"Consideration for you?" The Bald Man's face darkened: "Then who the hell's gonna consider me? My second-in-command died without a word, who do I take this up with?"
"That damn Stellar Train doesn't follow any rules at all! They started killing people the moment talks broke down!"
"Even if we cooperated with people like that, they'd just betray us later!"
"So what do we do now?" The middle-aged man looked at him gravely: "We all know our situation. If that Blue Zone was so easy to reach, we'd have gone there long ago instead of staying here this whole time."
"That's exactly why we're stuck in Zombie Basin."
"We could use Stellar's ignorance about this as a bargaining chip, but if negotiations completely collapse, we'll die too. The solution Stellar proposed really is our only way out. All the trains must gather together if we're to have any chance of survival."
"We also need to collect all the copper ore from the other trains, otherwise there won't be enough."
"How much Murphy Stone are you asking for?"
"100 per train."
"That much? Didn't we originally agree on 50 per train?"
"I was just leaving room for negotiation, but he didn't even counteroffer—just flat out refused."
"..."
After a long silence, the middle-aged man gritted his teeth: "In that case, there's only one option left—wait. Wait until hell freezes over!"
"If Stellar can't execute his plan during this Zombie Volcano crisis, he's dead for sure!"
"For now he doesn't know we can't leave Zombie Basin either."
"We'll play it cool."
"When he can't hold out anymore and comes begging again, we'll lower the price then. He won't have any room to refuse."
"Now it's just a test of who has stronger nerves."
"His Targeting Radar can detect when Zombie Volcano will erupt—we can't. Those who can see the fuse burning are often the ones who can't stay calm. From that perspective, we have the advantage."
"I'm fine with that."
The Bald Man spoke expressionlessly: "But let me make this clear—after this disaster ends, several of us have already agreed to besiege Stellar. Even with all his Supermodel Effects, I refuse to believe he can withstand six Level 9 trains."
"I'm taking my share of this pie no matter what."
"Fine, count me in when the time comes."
Under the night sky.
The two Level 9 trains that had been running side by side finally separated, heading in different directions.
"Hah..."
Having just emerged from the Combat Training Virtual Space and returned to the train compartment, the Bald Man snorted coldly at the pinned message in the Train Radio. Now they're selling dimensional bags? 1,000 units of Iron Ore each?
That really is a good deal.
He was even tempted.
It was clear Stellar Train was trying to quickly amass Iron Ore to upgrade to Level 9 and escape Zombie Basin. He actually hoped Stellar would gather enough resources for the upgrade—just imagining Stellar's expression when they discovered even a Level 9 train couldn't leave Zombie Basin amused him greatly.
He didn't buy any.
Although he really wanted it, he
knew the Stellar Train would never be sold to him now.
But it didn't matter.
When the time came and the Stellar had to beg him, everything would be his.
If you're going to beg, you'd better have the right attitude.
Right now, though, the most important thing was to choose a new second-in-command—his previous one had just been killed.
Just then—
Beep, beep beep.
A loud alarm suddenly blared through the train.