Translator: AnubisTL
"Every time I died and entered that dark, pitch-black environment, I'd grope around. Once, I found a Tier 1 pickaxe head and a Train Token. That's when I started mining and building a train all by myself."
"The other goblins were all asleep, and I couldn't wake them. So, I had to do all the digging alone."
"I don't know how long I mined."
"But eventually, I built that Tier 2 Goblin Train."
"As for the drill, it's a White Accessory that comes standard with the Tier 1 Goblin Train. It can break through mountains and shatter rocks, allowing the train to tunnel underground. The only downside is that it consumes energy quickly when activated."
"After upgrading to the Tier 2 Goblin Train, I also got a green-grade, craftable accessory called Nano Armor Paint. It coats the train's surface in a layer of black paint that blocks radar detection. For stealth, I upgraded it to Tier 3."
"Any Target Acquisition Radar below Tier 3 can't detect my Goblin Train."
"..."
A flicker of shock flashed in Chen Mang's eyes. He knew how difficult it was to upgrade a train to Tier 2, but he hadn't imagined that the Goblin Train had been built entirely by this little goblin named Doba.
This work ethic was more than just diligent—it was off the charts!
He could even picture the scene vividly.
In a desolate, lightless void, a tiny goblin swung a pickaxe in the darkness, relentlessly hammering at iron ore. The only sound in the silent space was the clang of the pickaxe against the rock.
Perhaps there was also the goblin's solitary shouts.
And so it went.
After countless days of grueling labor, the goblin finally managed to forge a Tier 2 train, its triumphant form now traversing the depths of the Underground. Completing the mission in its mind, it imagined itself the greatest goblin of all, forever hidden from the foolish humans who would never find it.
Then...
Chen Mang turned his head to look at the nearby, battered Goblin Train he hadn't yet consumed. A slight twitch played at his lips. For a moment, he felt an unexpected pang of guilt—as if he were bullying a child.
"I'll build you another Goblin Train later," he said.
"Mm-hmm."
Doba didn't seem particularly saddened by this. He simply smiled and said, "Honored Human Seer, the goblin race's sole remaining legacy in this world isn't that train—it's me. If I die, the goblin race truly perishes."
"You're the most cunning human I've ever met, unlike those foolish ones."
"I believe that one day, under your leadership, the goblin race will surely rebuild itself. When that time comes, the goblins will become your most loyal subjects."
"We will also construct an extremely safe and luxurious palace for you deep within the Underground."
"May your glory shine eternally in the depths of the earth."
After Doba left, Chen Mang gazed at the dilapidated Goblin Train lying nearby in the open space, lost in thought. Is Doba just painting me a pretty picture? Or is he buttering me up to ensure I keep my promises later?
From the goblin, he had learned a great deal.
First, the initial craftable accessories for the Goblin Train and the Human Train differed slightly. Second, the desolate space where monsters returned after death was incredibly rich in mineral resources.
Not only copper ore and iron ore, but also many rare and high-grade resource mines.
If…
If his Stellaris train could reach that place, he couldn't imagine how blissful it would be. Resource mines would be scattered everywhere, waiting for him to mine at will, and most importantly, there would be no danger.
According to Doba, all the dead monsters in that space were merely sleeping, with only Doba remaining awake.
That place was practically a utopia for him.
"Wait a minute..."
Chen Mang's expression suddenly turned slightly strange. Could that place really be Hell? Did the Hell Train actually exist? Based on his experience playing games in his previous life, it made perfect sense that Hell would be rich in mineral resources.
But then he sighed softly.
Clearly, he couldn't set foot in that place. It was a realm only monsters could enter after death. Even if he wanted to go, he couldn't. Once he finished mining the high-grade resource mines in the Doomsday Abyss, he'd have to search for new mines.
Resources were something no one ever had enough of.
Chen Mang didn't linger any longer, turning back to the train's interior.
With the iron ore he had accumulated previously and the iron ore from the past two days, he now possessed 34,008 Units of iron ore—almost enough to buy a Ji Chuchu. Of course, if nothing unexpected happened, he would likely acquire even more iron ore today.
After all, with so many goblins joining the battlefield today, and goblins being naturally skilled at mining, the train's construction progress would be greatly accelerated.
Of course, to accommodate these goblins, he had built two more carriages. Constructing two carriages was relatively inexpensive, costing only 200 Units of iron ore in total.
But...
Equipping these two carriages with Tier 2 Armor proved much more costly, consuming a full 12,000 Units of iron ore. Since he had already built two carriages, he decided to build two more for internal classification within the train, totaling 24,400 Units of iron ore.
Thus, the Stellaris now had eight carriages in addition to the locomotive.
In Carriage No. 2, he placed all his industrial production lines, including the Pickaxe Production Line, the Axe Production Line, and the future Off-Road Motorcycle Production Line.
Carriage No. 3 was designated for storing all iron ore. In the future, this carriage would also hold the bullets, copper ore, wood, and other resources produced.
Carriage No. 4 housed the "Moldy Bread Slice Production Line," "Cola Production Line," "Steamed Bun Production Line," and other food-related production lines. It was primarily used for stockpiling food, and any future salvaged supplies would also be stored here.
Carriage 5 was customized into a hard sleeper car at the cost of 1,000 units of iron ore. Each bunk had upper and lower Tiers, providing a total of 18 berths. The thugs would normally reside here, while Old Pig had his own private compartment in this carriage, furnished with a single bed seized from Master Kun's Train.
Carriages 6 and 7 were reserved for the 101 human slaves.
Carriages 8 and 9 housed the 121 goblin slaves.
The Stellaris train, once a mere prototype, had finally evolved into a Tier 2 train with eight carriages.
Today's resource expenditure was a bit high.
At this moment, the train's route was clearly defined and well-organized. The circuit system had also been completely overhauled. In the future, whether he manufactured more bullets, scavenged supplies, or unexpectedly encountered a group of survivors in the wilderness, he wouldn't need to hastily construct additional carriages. Everything could be directly integrated.
He had considered storing the slaves in refrigerators, but after testing it, the air circulation was poor, and the oxygen supply became a problem.
Carriage No. 3, where the iron ore was stored, was a different story.
In the future, this carriage would likely be filled with several refrigerators. Each refrigerator door would open to reveal a space stocked with various minerals and bullets.
After finishing his work, Chen Mang stepped off the train and stood in the shadows, gazing at the train slumbering in the darkness like a long dragon. He chuckled softly without speaking, a sense of satisfaction welling up from within. He had finally achieved some measure of success.
Once he finished mining the iron ore, then the copper ore, and stocked up on heavy machine gun bullets, his Stellaris train would essentially be a fully equipped Tier 2 train.
No, wait.
It was more than fully equipped. In his mind, "fully equipped" meant upgrading every accessory to Tier 10, each with two overpowered effects. Generally speaking, the wasteland consensus on a fully equipped Tier 2 train didn't even include such a concept.
(End of the Chapter)
📖Read [MAT] ahead on Pa.treon@AnubisTL upto c135. [+5/+12k]
🎁All [3] Novels can be accessed for just $6/mo.
🔥Translated [600] Chapters and [1.05M+] Words.
🔔 Become a member before 8 August to enjoy 50% off. Just $3.