Translator: AnubisTL
The train continued north.
On both sides, the nitrous tailpipes roared with blue flames, accelerating the train to breakneck speeds. From a distance, the train, dotted with dozens of pale blue flames, resembled a land-based rocket.
It was incredibly fast.
If the firepower accessories on other trains lacked the overpowered AI Auto-Targeting effect or if their AI's processing power was insufficient, hitting the Stellaris would be nearly impossible. Of course, unless the train maintained its current speed and traveled in a perfectly straight line, the AI could easily calculate the trajectory.
They had departed in the late afternoon, just before dusk.
As darkness fell, the sky filled with stars, the moon, and the sun, all hanging together. Chen Mang could now clearly see the distant mountain range. He estimated they were about half an hour away. The Sha River Plains were no smaller than the Iron Ridge Wasteland.
Along the way, they had encountered several Tier 2 Iron Ore deposits, but all were already being mined by other trains, so he hadn't lingered.
Just then—
"Hmm?"
Chen Mang frowned, instinctively slowing the Stellaris train. The target acquisition radar screen had always displayed only red and green dots: green for the Stellaris crew and red for other lifeforms.
This was the first time he had seen a Yellow Dot.
Soon, he spotted a cloaked figure standing in the distance, facing the Stellaris and waving slowly.
Could it be a black market merchant?
Chen Mang thoughtfully maneuvered the Stellaris to a halt beside the cloaked figure, but he didn't open the carriage doors. At the same time, the train's firearms immediately swiveled their barrels, locking onto the figure.
Once the train had Legacy Value, it could use it to purchase rare accessory blueprints, items, and other goods from black market merchants. There was also a chance to enter the Doomsday Black Market, or certain accessories could only be installed on the train once the Legacy Value reached a certain threshold.
The moment the train came to a stop, Chen Mang tilted his head to look at the mysterious cloaked figure standing beside the train, who had stopped waving. His lips twitched slightly. Although the figure was completely obscured by the cloak and hood, he recognized the person instantly.
It's that damn goblin merchant!
Even with the black gloves, he could still glimpse a flash of green skin at the cuff, along with the figure's short stature and the extremely pointed ears that couldn't be hidden by the hood.
If it wasn't a goblin, what else could it be?
Yesterday, he had been lucky enough to obtain a special item: the coordinates to a Goblin Ruins. He planned to mine some iron ore to upgrade the train further before exploring the ruins.
He hadn't expected the so-called black market merchant to be a goblin merchant. This goblin merchant's business was surprisingly diverse.
Just then—
The mysterious cloaked figure who had stopped the Stellaris stood motionless, his face cold as he rasped, "Foolish human, congratulations on encountering the mysterious, elusive, and magnificent black market merchant. You may use your Legacy Value to purchase any item from me."
"Here is the item list."
"State the item number you wish to purchase. Remember, the great black market merchant has no time for conversations."
"You have only one minute to make your choice."
Immediately!
Four items rapidly appeared on the control panel screen in the locomotive cabin. The most expensive item cost 100 Legacy Value, which seemed to be within the train's budget.
At the very top, bold crimson letters proclaimed:
Doomsday Fortuitous Encounter: Black Market Merchant
Elusive and unpredictable, the black market merchant may appear near any train. However, only trains with Legacy Value can purchase rare and precious items from him.
Attacking, imprisoning, or harming the black market merchant is strictly prohibited.
1: Special Item: Murphy Stone, 100 Legacy Value.
2: Random Yellow-Grade Accessory Blueprint, 100 Legacy Value.
3: Random White-Grade Accessory Blueprint, 10 Legacy Value.
4: Special Item: C-Grade Difficulty Skip Ticket, 100 Legacy Value.
"..."
Chen Mang first glanced at the four items displayed on the control panel screen, then at the black market merchant standing beside the train. His expression slightly odd, he lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and instead of making a choice, turned his head to Xiao Ai.
"Release Doba. Let him have a word with him."
Soon after—
Doba, carrying his pickaxe and leading a hundred goblins, jumped down from the last carriage of the train and strode toward the front.
"Stupid human, what do you—"
Before the words could finish, Doba's pickaxe flew from afar, crashing heavily in front of the black market merchant. Doba roared, "Foolish black market merchant, how dare you speak such words about the great human seer?!"
"You..."
The black market merchant, still standing in place wearing his black cloak, tilted his head and glared at Doba, his brow furrowed and his expression grim. "Stupid, stupid... goblins?"
Suddenly, the black market merchant froze, only then realizing the truth.
"You're goblins?"
At that moment, Doba strode forward and stood before the merchant, his voice cold. "Call me Doba, Goblin King!"
"I never expected to encounter a black market merchant here. Only one black market merchant emerges from thousands of goblin merchants. It seems the heavens favor the goblin clan!"
"I—"
"Doba, the newly crowned King of the Goblins."
"Under the guidance of this great human seer, the Goblin Civilization is slowly reviving. These are my clansmen behind me. Will you rejoin the goblin clan, join my ranks, and assist me in restoring the Goblin Civilization?"
"I..."
The black market merchant's body trembled slightly. He abruptly threw back his hood, dropped to one knee before Doba, and roared through tears, his voice hoarse with emotion. "I pledge to follow in Lord Doba's footsteps and rebuild the Goblin Civilization together!"
"Very good."
Doba nodded with satisfaction and stepped forward to help the black market merchant to his feet. "Let the goblin clan rise again!"
"Now, come with me back to the train."
The black market merchant nodded heavily, his eyes red-rimmed as he followed Doba toward the last few carriages.
"The goblin clan finally... finally has a king again!"
"Let the goblin clan rise again!"
"Hey, wait a minute..."
Inside the locomotive cabin, Chen Mang, who had been watching the scene unfold, finally snapped out of his daze. He quickly leaned out the window to look at the group of goblins who had already reached the end of the train. Glancing at the cigarette in his hand, which had burned down to ash, he was about to say something when the goblins all disappeared into the carriages.
He looked back at the text on the screen:
Prohibited: Attacking, imprisoning, or harming the black market merchant.
Imprisoning? Attacking?
He hadn't done anything! The black market merchant hadn't even resisted, just obediently followed Doba, chanting "Let the goblin clan rise again!" as they marched toward his carriage.
A few seconds later...
The line of text on the control panel screen gradually faded, as if nothing had happened. Only the target acquisition radar showed a Yellow Dot still in Carriage 11.
"This actually worked?"
Chen Mang sat in his chair in a daze. After a long moment, he finally exhaled deeply and gently rubbed his temples. "Send Doba over here."
He'd initially sent Doba down there just to see if the goblin merchant would give him a discount, considering they were all goblins. He hadn't expected much, but it was worth a try. To his surprise, the black market merchant had actually been quite cooperative.
Doba had simply straightened up, exuding an aura of kingly dominance. The black market merchant, who had been so arrogant just moments ago, immediately knelt down in submission.
Are goblins really this simple and pure?
You say you're a king, and he actually believes you?
Maybe I should just claim to be the Goblin God next time?
He'd gotten too caught up in the spectacle and hadn't bought any of the four items he'd been interested in. He wondered if he could still use the black market merchant on the train.
Soon, Doba arrived at the locomotive cabin, pickaxe slung over his shoulder, having marched through several carriages.
Chen Mang glanced at the pickaxe resting on Doba's shoulder, frowning. "When did you start carrying that thing around everywhere?"
"Great human seer," Doba replied, raising the pickaxe with a solemn expression. "For a race to have cohesion, it must have a symbol. The Goblin Civilization's revival was entirely due to the hundred-plus goblins who dug it out with these very pickaxes."
"Therefore, I have designated the pickaxe as the Goblin Clan's emblem. When the Goblin Civilization officially revives, I will record the story of our surrender to the Stellaris as clan history, and this pickaxe will serve as the Goblin Clan's emblem."
"Hmm," Chen Mang nodded impassively. After a long silence, he finally asked, "What's the deal with that guy?"
"Reporting to the great human seer," Doba replied. "Among the Goblin Clan, there exists a special type of goblin known as the goblin merchant. You witnessed their unique abilities firsthand last time: incredible carrying capacity and astonishing speed. They often travel as itinerant merchants, a talent they are born with."
"But among goblin merchants, there is an even more extraordinary type."
"The Black Market Merchant."
"Black market merchants lack the exceptional carrying capacity of ordinary goblin merchants, nor are they particularly fast. However, they can traverse space. With a mere thought, they can appear in a completely unfamiliar, unknown location—a power entirely beyond their control."
"That's why black market merchants are so elusive. They don't even know where they'll appear next. Many become orphans the moment they learn to use this ability, never able to return home."
"As they grow older, they can teleport randomly up to ten times a day."
"I just spoke with him. Unlike me, he hasn't fully recovered his intelligence, but he's better than other Goblin clansmen. He can speak and has some capacity for thought, though an unknown entity has programmed him with the mission of stopping the train to sell his goods."
"Just like when I was deep underground, trying to reach the Mohe Hills."
"Yet, in his mind, the glory of the Goblin Civilization still burns. He vaguely remembers its downfall and, like me, yearns to revive and rebuild it!"
"Great human seer, can we let him join the train?"
"..."
Chen Mang remained silent, leaning back in his chair and gently massaging his temples, processing this information. He had always found the existence of goblins somewhat incongruous.
He had visited the mechanical city and the Kunlun Mountain Region.
He possessed a mechanical train and had heard tales of flesh trains.
Chen Mang had seen mechs wielding rocket launchers and been chased by terrifying worm monsters dozens of meters long.
The things he'd encountered could be broadly divided into two categories: "mechanical" and "monster."
The goblin, however, didn't fit into either. It was too primitive to be mechanical, and it wasn't quite a monster either. It was as if it had crawled out of some forgotten corner of the world, feeling somewhat out of place.
Those monsters were mindless, driven only by bloodlust.
These goblins, though initially appearing as monsters, lacked that bloodlust. Their sole desire was to prove their greatness.
After a moment of silence, Chen Mang looked up at Doba. "Alright, but he's a black market merchant. I'm not sure if he can join."
Well, once he'd mentally agreed, he saw the yellow dot vanish and transform into a green one, officially making the goblin a member of the Stellaris train crew.
That's good.
He wondered how many wandering black market merchants there were on this planet. The chances of others encountering one had probably just decreased slightly.
"Go get him."
"Yes."
Soon after—
The black market merchant in the black cloak was brought before them, standing solemnly behind Doba.
"Hmm..."
Chen Mang paused before speaking softly. "Show me the goods you have. I won't rob you."
"I don't have any."
The black market merchant shook his head decisively. Then, glancing at Doba, he hesitated and reluctantly said, "Great human seer, I have no goods on me. They only appear after you pay Legacy Value."
"Can we do it now?"
"Yes."
Chen Mang said nothing more, simply gesturing for Doba and the others to leave. Then, he watched their retreating figures thoughtfully. So, my train now has a permanent black market merchant.
In the future, if he wanted to spend Legacy Value, he wouldn't have to wait for a chance encounter with a black market merchant. He could simply make his purchases directly from the one on the train.
This alone was worth it.
After all, how much could one mouth eat?
Perhaps many trains had Legacy Value but struggled to find black market merchants. He could charge a hefty referral fee!
And...
He turned his head to look at the Train Accessories(components) information on the control panel screen.
The black market merchant couldn't even control his own teleportation destination. Once he teleported away, he might never return to the Stellaris.
But—
He possessed the "Train Ticket" accessory. As long as a train crew member tore up their ticket, they could instantly return to the train. He had already upgraded it to Tier 10, but its range was limited to 10,000 meters. Only members within that radius could teleport back to the train.
Perhaps upgrading it to Tier 100 would expand the range significantly. After all, it was a White Accessory, so upgrading it didn't require excessive resources.
He needed to think carefully about this.
He should strive to discover more uses for it. The random teleportation effect was truly conceptual.
(End of the Chapter)
📖Read [MAT] ahead on Pa.treon@AnubisTL upto c214. [+4/+9.4k]
🎁All [2] Novels can be accessed for just $6/mo.
🔥Translated [700+] Chapters and [1.42M+] Words.
[MASS RELEASE: +22 | 31JUL25] ✍REQUESTING REVIEWS🙏