Translator: AnubisTL
"..."
Inside the Stellaris train, parked beneath the starry sky of the wasteland, Chen Mang narrowed his eyes as he examined the Blueprint in his hand.
A white-grade Vehicle Component Blueprint.
Rapid-Fire Ballista.
Clearly, this was an offensive accessory. It couldn't be mounted on top of any ordinary carriage; instead, it had to be installed in a dedicated Open-Air Carriage. Each Open-Air Carriage could accommodate up to eight ballistas.
The drawbacks were obvious: its firepower wouldn't be as immediately impactful as a heavy machine gun.
But the advantages were equally clear.
Being white-grade meant it consumed less energy, allowing for more frequent use without the same sting as a heavy machine gun. With the latter, you might not know if the enemy felt the pain after a burst of fire, but you'd definitely feel the pinch in your wallet.
The hundred or so slaves had toiled for two days to mine copper ore, only for it to be gone in a flash.
Moreover—
He could upgrade the Rapid-Fire Ballista to a high enough Tier, adding several overpowered effects that might even surpass the firepower of a heavy machine gun. This was the first white accessory he'd seen with a ranged attack capability.
"Not bad," Chen Mang murmured.
Chen Mang chuckled as he tucked the white-grade Rapid-Fire Ballista Component Blueprint into his pocket. He was quite excited about this accessory. Just from the name, he figured it couldn't be too weak, and it would be very useful in the early stages.
Of course, that usefulness would likely be limited to the early stages.
Returning to the locomotive, Chen Mang slapped the Rapid-Fire Ballista Blueprint onto the control panel. As it dissolved into a pale white point of light, he gained the ability to craft the accessory at any time. Even if the accessory was destroyed, he could still craft it again without the Blueprint.
However, if this train were destroyed and he used the Train Token to create a new one, he would lose the ability to craft this accessory.
He hadn't thoroughly inventoried the remaining loot, just roughly sorted through it. He decided to return to the Doomsday Abyss first and conduct a detailed inventory there.
The mine in the Doomsday Abyss hadn't been fully excavated yet. He'd let the slaves rest tonight and have them continue mining tomorrow.
After today's experience, he'd witnessed firsthand the power of a Tier 5 Heavy Machine Gun paired with Tier 3 Bullets. It was impressive. If he had a few more bullets, taking down a Tier 3 Boss would be as easy as slaughtering a pig.
However, until he found Tier 2 Copper Mines, he wouldn't use the Heavy Machine Gun again. It was simply too expensive to maintain.
Under the cover of night, the Stellaris train, now slowly accelerating, began to turn, heading toward the coordinates of the Doomsday Abyss.
Time to head home!
In Guard Car No. 5, the thugs who had been clutching their Soaring Dragon Assault Rifles, ready to join the fight at any moment, finally exhaled in unison as the outside fell silent and the train smoothly glided across the wasteland.
"It's over," Biaozi, sitting by the window, gazed at the Crimson Wasteland rapidly receding behind them. His heart, which had been suspended in his chest, finally settled. "The battle's done. Relax, everyone. No need to stay so tense."
Afraid? Who wouldn't be? He was terrified too!
If the train couldn't hold out, they, the thugs, were the last line of defense. They'd have to be the ones to step up.
There was nowhere to run.
Stranded on the wasteland, if the train broke down or was destroyed, they'd likely meet their great-great-grandmothers soon enough.
After the Stellaris's recent upgrade, Carriage 5 had been converted into a hard sleeper car. Each thug had their own bunk, and it was the only carriage with windows, allowing them all to witness the battle firsthand.
The zombie, towering over ten meters tall, had exerted a suffocating pressure on them.
But thankfully, Lord Mang had held his ground and emerged victorious.
Biaozi then turned to Wildcat, who was clutching a photograph tightly, and asked with a smile, "What's that? A picture of your sister-in-law?"
During the train battle, Wildcat had clutched a photo he'd pulled from nowhere, his face pale with fear. Ever since Biaozi had risked his life to save him, the once most rebellious troublemaker had become utterly obedient. Biaozi found himself liking the kid more and more. With his short buzz cut, Wildcat was surprisingly efficient and clean in his actions.
Embarrassed, Wildcat carefully tucked the large headshot back into the hidden compartment of his necklace, whispering, "My ex-girlfriend. We broke up right before the apocalypse."
"Hmm."
Biaozi lit a cigarette, brought it to his lips, and exhaled a puff of smoke before leaning back in his chair and gazing at the necklace around Wildcat's neck. The pendant was a steel square, similar to a "no-issue plaque," with a hidden compartment perfectly sized for a photo.
"Was she pretty?"
"Heh, beautiful. Not just pretty, but also gentle."
"I don't know how to explain it. Before the apocalypse, I was a nobody, working at a container factory. But she never looked down on me. She said we'd build a good life together, one step at a time, and that we shouldn't envy others."
"If there's one thing I regret most in my life, it's probably not taking her out for steak before we broke up."
"She always wanted to go to that steakhouse, saying she'd treat me. Of course, I couldn't let her pay. It's a bit pricey, but I'm not broke."
"But I always felt a bit inferior, too afraid to step into that kind of place. I figured I'd have plenty of chances later when I made more money. But..."
Wildcat, usually so reserved, suddenly lit up when he mentioned his ex-girlfriend. The spark quickly faded.
"..."
After a long silence, Biaozi finally lowered his head, gazing at the flickering cigarette in his hand. He murmured softly, "In the apocalypse, being beautiful isn't always a good thing."
Wildcat didn't respond. He simply stared out the window, stroking the steel pendant in his arms for a long time before finally speaking.
"Just surviving is a blessing."
"Why did you break up?"
"She left without saying goodbye. A few months later, I heard from her friend that she'd already gotten married. It was an arranged marriage. I saw the guy's photo. He was pretty fat. Probably rich."
"Don't you hate her?"
"No," Wildcat shook his head. "Everyone has the right to choose a better life. She's been with me for a long time. It's my fault for failing to keep my promise to her."
At that moment, Old Pig, who had been sitting silently nearby, couldn't help but interject. "Brother, I have to point something out. Based on what you've told me, you two were deeply in love, and she doesn't seem like the type to care about wealth. This plotline is starting to sound like she's suffering from a terminal illness and left without saying goodbye to avoid burdening you."
Wildcat paused, slightly stunned. "That's too melodramatic, isn't it?"
"It's possible," Old Pig said seriously. "Consider this: What if she really has a serious illness and needs a huge sum of money for treatment? If she told you, what would you do?"
"I'd die with her," Wildcat replied without hesitation.
(End of the Chapter)
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