Translator: AnubisTL
"Zhang Damei."
After Old Pig left, Biaozi couldn't contain his curiosity any longer. He strode over to Zhang Damei and asked, "Zhang Damei, What's your comprehensive physical fitness score?"
"Are you calling me?"
Zhang Damei turned to Biaozi, her face flushed with embarrassment. "You already know my new name. This is the first time someone's called me 'Damei,' and it's a bit awkward."
"My comprehensive physical fitness score is 18.2."
"Brother Biao, what's yours?"
"..."
Biaozi remained silent, his expression unreadable. He glanced at his own score of 12.1 and said calmly, "It's about the same as yours. You should head back to the train. It's our first team's turn to patrol and stand guard."
"Go practice in the combat space for a while longer."
"Once you're ready, we'll have you start ranked matches. Aim for a high ranking to earn more reputation value for the Stellaris."
"No problem!"
Zhang Damei's bashfulness vanished instantly, replaced by a fierce glint in her eyes. "I'll smash their brains out!"
With that, she sprinted back into the train.
Fortunately, the combat training virtual space's pod was large enough; otherwise, Zhang Damei might not have fit inside. Biaozi watched Zhang Damei's retreating figure and sighed softly. "What a talented freak."
As the train developed, these talented residents were becoming increasingly common.
Zhang Damei, Li Shiji...
People like him, who weren't particularly outstanding in any aspect but had risen to high positions solely because they were among the first to follow Lord Mang, would inevitably be replaced by more promising fresh blood as the train continued to evolve.
He had to work hard to improve.
The ranked match.
It was a multiplayer mode within the Combat Training Virtual Space accessory. Only after upgrading the accessory to Tier 5 could one unlock this overpowered effect, allowing participation in ranked matches.
This wasn't a competition against trains from a single zone.
Instead, it pitted trains of the same Tier from all zones against each other, effectively making the entire world the arena. The number of skilled opponents was staggering.
Even Zhang Damei, naturally as strong as an ox, couldn't be certain of victory. The ranked match arena was for unarmed combat, and he might encounter ruthless fighters who had made their living through black boxing before the apocalypse. Their comprehensive physical fitness, honed through years of training, wouldn't be inferior to Zhang Damei's.
The challenge was still quite daunting.
Inside the female talent carriage.
"This is amazing."
Yan Yao sat in her seat, gazing at the semi-transparent panel before her with wide-eyed wonder. Then, she turned to Ji Chuchu with a puzzled expression. "Chu Chu, why am I still receiving Tier 3 Resident Benefits?"
"All Tier 3 and above Elite Talent Benefits within the train are currently under Lord Mang's direct order. He hasn't explicitly upgraded you to Tier 3 Elite Talent status yet, and since you just joined the train, you naturally remain a Tier 3 Resident."
"But... I've already prepared to serve Lord Mang!"
"Well, you haven't actually served him yet, have you?" Ji Chuchu rolled her eyes at Yan Yao. "Once you're chosen for the first time and the session ends, Lord Mang will upgrade you. The fact that you're allowed to stay in this carriage now is just Trainmaster Zhu and the others tacitly assuming you'll eventually be promoted."
"So when will Lord Mang choose me?" Yan Yao asked anxiously. "At this rate, with Tier 3 Resident Benefits, it'll take me a month just to earn a single stellar coupon. How will I ever save up fifty?"
"Just wait," Ji Chuchu said, her gaze drifting wistfully out the window. "It's been ages since he's chosen me..."
"Don't even get me started on you," Yan Yao muttered.
"But Chu Chu, why did you use a stellar coupon to have two new outfits made? Ordinary clothes like these aren't high-precision items. What's the point?"
"I won't tell you. It's my secret weapon."
Ji Chuchu glanced at Yan Yao, a playful glint in her eyes, before turning back to the window. The two outfits were the same style she wore during a variety show. If Lord Mang called her again, she'd wear this outfit. He'd definitely love it.
"ALS?"
Stellaris, locomotive cabin.
Chen Mang's brow furrowed as he received Biaozi's message relayed by the AI. He hadn't had any major health issues at the time, yet his treatment in the medical bay had cost him 45,000 units of iron ore. Treating ALS would require at least 100,000 units.
A guard's girlfriend.
...
After a long silence, he turned to Xiao Ai, who was fiddling with something nearby. "Have Wildcat and his girlfriend come to my locomotive cabin."
"Understood."
Xiao Ai nodded, and the message instantly flashed across Wildcat and his girlfriend's vision.
The speed of information transmission was now countless times faster than before.
Soon, the door to the locomotive cabin creaked open.
"Master Mang?"
Wildcat entered with a mixture of trepidation and fear, not even daring to meet Lord Mang's gaze as he sat in his chair. He had joined the Stellaris long ago, one of the earliest recruits, having enlisted during Master Kun's time.
Yet he had never spoken to Lord Mang alone, much less been in the same space with him like this.
His body trembled involuntarily.
Behind him, a woman with faint freckles stood nervously, clutching Wildcat's sleeve slightly behind him.
"Hmm."
Chen Mang nodded, sizing up the pair before chuckling lightly. "Relax. I'm not that bad-tempered."
"Each of you take one and see if it reacts."
Without further explanation, he pulled out the long-sealed special item, the Doomsday Marriage Certificate, from his drawer and tossed it over. As Wildcat hastily caught the two certificates and handed one to his girlfriend, the surface of the ordinary-looking Doomsday Marriage Certificates suddenly began to glow with a slow, crimson light.
"Lord Mang... what's this?"
"That's good."
Chen Mang smiled, then took the Doomsday Marriage Certificate Wildcat offered him. When he opened it, three lines of text appeared inside:
"Please select your wedding Tier."
1: Golden Wedding.
Requires a wedding ceremony witnessed by 1,000 people. Three Tier 4 Trains of the same class must participate in the banquet. Food and drink must be provided for all wedding guests, along with basic items such as a wedding dress, red carpet, artificial flowers, and fireworks.
Successfully hosting a golden wedding grants the train 500 Legacy Value and 20 Reputation Value.
2: Silver Wedding.
Requires a wedding ceremony witnessed by 500 people. Food and drink must be provided for all wedding guests, and a wedding dress is required.
Successfully hosting a silver wedding grants the train 200 Legacy Value.
3: Bronze Wedding.
Requires a wedding ceremony witnessed by 100 people.
Successfully hosting a bronze wedding grants the train 100 Legacy Value.
500 Legacy Value and 20 Reputation Value.
Chen Mang toyed with the Doomsday Marriage Certificate in his hand for a moment before looking up at the woman behind Wildcat and smiling. "You've been on the Stellaris for a while now. How's it been? Has anyone been bullying you?"
"N-no, sir."
The woman standing behind Wildcat, though clearly terrified, forced herself to remain calm. Her eyes, filled with gratitude, darted between Chen Mang and Wildcat as she stammered, "Meeting Lord Mang during the apocalypse is the greatest blessing Meijia could have asked for. If it weren't for you, sir, I might still be waiting to die in that safehouse."
"And to see Wild Cat one last time before I die... I have no regrets."
"Rest assured, Lord Mang, I've already received my pickaxe. I can mine now. I won't let you support me for nothing."
"..."
Chen Mang frowned slightly, paused for a moment, and then said softly, "The Stellaris can certainly afford to support one woman."
"Xiao Ai, take her for a medical examination. Let's see how many resources it will take to cure her."
"Yes, sir."
Xiao Ai, who had been tinkering with something nearby, set down her tools. She stuffed a tangle of wires back into her head, stood up, and turned to the woman. Her voice was mechanical and devoid of emotion. "Follow me."
"Master Mang!"
Wildcat finally snapped out of his daze. His eyes reddened as he dropped to his knees, repeatedly kowtowing. His voice trembled. "As long as you can cure Meijia, my life is yours from now on, Grandpa Mang. If the train ever needs someone to carry out a suicide mission, I'll be the first to volunteer!"
"If I ever waver, shoot me on the spot."
"From now on, I'll go wherever you send me."
Chen Mang, seated in his chair, glanced at Wildcat casually. "So, if I can't cure her, you won't listen to me anymore?"
"No, no, that's not what I meant!"
Wildcat knelt on the ground, straightening up anxiously to face Grandpa Mang. "I misspoke. What I meant was..."
"Enough," Chen Mang said, cutting him off. "Let's see how much resource we need."
"125,000 units of iron ore," Xiao Ai reported after returning with the woman.
Chen Mang glanced at the Stellaris's train panel. It still had 327,000 units of iron ore—enough, technically. But... After a moment of silence, he looked at Wildcat, whose hope had already begun to dim, and said calmly, "Do you know what 125,000 units of iron ore represents?"
"I do."
Wildcat, kneeling on the ground, lowered his head. His eyes reddened, and in an instant, the hope that had filled him moments before vanished. After a pause, he suddenly laughed, his voice hoarse. "125,000 units of iron ore... enough to feed the entire Stellaris train for 60 days."
"Meijia... she doesn't deserve to consume so many resources. She... she's not worth that much."
"Lord Mang, it's alright. Meijia can live for another two or three years. Even without treatment, it's enough to survive for that long in the apocalypse. Let's save these resources to develop the train, make the Stellaris even better. After all, there are so many people on board."
"Lord Mang..."
Meijia, standing beside him, quickly knelt on the ground as well, her eyes filled with fear. "Wildcat is right."
She had been part of the train for some time and knew that iron ore was the most crucial resource for its development. 125,000 units of iron ore... her life hadn't been worth that much even before the apocalypse. How could it be worth that much now?
"..."
Chen Mang sat silently in his chair for a moment before rising and walking over to Wildcat. He helped him up, brushed off the nonexistent dust from his shoulder, and whispered with a smile.
"She's not worth that much."
"But you are."
"Xiao Ai, take her down for treatment. Make her happy. In a few days, I'll personally host a grand wedding for the two of you—perhaps the first truly grand wedding of the apocalypse."
"Everyone's spirits are pretty low these days. We'll use your wedding to lift everyone's spirits."
"Go on now."
Wildcat, who had just been helped to his feet, was about to speak when he realized Lord Mang had said he could... heal her? His body froze, and tears finally overflowed from his eyes, as he sank to his knees again, his eyes bloodshot, and roared:
"Lord Mang!"
"Rest assured, if ever the train needs me to die, if I falter even once, may I be raised by beasts."
"My life from now on belongs to you, Lord Mang."
"Tell me how to die, and I'll die as you command."
"Alright, alright..." Chen Mang patted Wildcat's shoulder again, somewhat helplessly. "The Stellaris doesn't have that many missions that require someone to sacrifice their life. By the time such a day comes, the Stellaris will likely be on the brink of destruction anyway."
"Now go on."
Soon after—
Xiao Ai returned to the locomotive cabin alone, sat down, and began opening her head for further modifications. Only then did she speak: "Lord Mang, this might be the most expensive woman you've ever bought."
"125,000 units of iron ore."
"That's equivalent to two and a half Ji Chuchus."
"Not bad."
Chen Mang leaned back in his chair, propping his feet on the control panel. "As long as we find Tier 2 Iron Ore, we can mine it all in about a day."
125,000 units of iron ore for 500 Legacy Value, 20 Reputation Value, and Wildcat's loyalty wasn't a bad trade. Chen Mang had observed Wildcat; he was extremely susceptible to kindness and genuinely remembered favors.
As for the wedding, he would definitely choose the golden wedding.
The conditions for the golden wedding weren't particularly difficult for him. The only challenge was finding three trains of the same tier to attend the ceremony, but even that wasn't insurmountable.
Just moments ago, the Purple Cloud Train had messaged him, announcing its successful arrival at the Sha River Plains and its promotion to a Tier 4 Train.
It was paying its respects.
While Chen Mang found the whole "paying respects" thing ridiculous—as if he would go out of his way to find them if they didn't—at least he now had one Tier 4 Train confirmed for the wedding.
The Azure Dragon wouldn't do; it was a Tier 5 train. He still needed two more Tier 4 trains.
We'll figure it out later. There's no rush for now.
"Oh, right—"
Just then, Xiao Ai, who had been tinkering in the corner, suddenly spoke up. "Train Conductor, could you make me another Mechanical Eye? One is enough, but it makes me look like a one-eyed dragon. It's so ugly."
"..."
Chen Mang rolled his eyes at Xiao Ai, casually crafted another Mechanical Eye, and then said sarcastically, "Should I make you a high-precision outfit later too?"
"Huh, good idea."
Chen Mang couldn't be bothered to respond to Xiao Ai. He let out a long sigh and turned to the train panel, lost in thought. Today, the train would remain stationary for repairs. In the afternoon, they would scout the iron ore deposit, and mining would begin tomorrow.
By then, he would have completed the Combat Training Virtual Space and the Single-Soldier Skeletal Armor.
He would also finish crafting the remaining accessories and upgrading what needed to be upgraded.
As for now...
"Call Ji Chuchu over."
"Wait, hmm... let's have Yan Yao come too."
"Never mind—"
After a moment's pause, Chen Mang tossed his cigarette butt out the window. "Call both of them."
(End of the Chapter)
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