Translator: AnubisTL
Just then—
Chen Mang, noticing the pair of train conductors in the corner, grabbed the microphone and shouted with a grin, "Hey, you guys in the corner! Come join the fun!"
"Anything goes!"
"Tonight, all expenses are on me!"
"Dealers or girls—take your pick!"
The train conductor who had been sulking in the corner earlier froze for a moment. He tentatively poked the nearest girl, who still offered, "Sir, would you like to play? 100,000 points."
But then she added, "Lord Mang's treat—no charge."
A flicker of disbelief flashed in the man's eyes before he leaped to his feet, his face flushed with excitement, and roared, "Lord Mang is the best!"
He then plunged into the crowd, grabbing three or four girls and joining the deafening music in reveling in the moment's decadence.
The other train conductors and thugs who had been lingering in the corners also surged toward the girls below the stage, overwhelmed by Lord Mang's generosity. They were almost embarrassed by his extravagance.
"Lord Mang is awesome!"
The dwarf, tossed into the air by countless women, chewed on a Red Heart Nut as he gazed down at Chen Mang on the stage and shouted, "Awesome!"
People's joys and sorrows are always different.
For example,
In a corner, Zhang Qi, dressed in million-dollar luxury clothing, pinned the luxury boutique clerk beneath him, snarling, "You looked down on us earlier!"
"Anyone can afford a few hundred thousand yuan for clothes!"
"Come on, give me that disdainful look again!"
"Hey, bitch, you're actually doing it!"
"I won't..."
"..."
Wildcat, sitting nearby smoking alone, glanced at Zhang Qi's antics and sighed softly, muttering to himself, "Wife... the temptations out here are overwhelming."
"Every woman here is prettier than you."
"It's only my unwavering resolve that keeps me steady."
"In this environment, who else could stay grounded besides me?"
"Sigh."
He sighed deeply again before turning to Li Shiji beside him. "Thank goodness you're here with me. I..."
"Hey, where is everyone?"
Wildcat scanned the crowd, finally spotting Li Shiji in a corner, his face flushed as he playfully wrestled fingers with four or five dealers, completely uninhibited and having the time of his life.
"..."
After a moment of silence, Wildcat turned his gaze to Zhang Yi and Zhang Er, who were feasting heartily nearby. He nodded slightly in relief—at least someone was keeping him company. But then, in the next instant!
He saw Zhang Yi and Zhang Er strip off their shirts, roar like apes, and charge into the crowd. They tossed several women into the air, caught them, and swept them into their arms in one smooth motion!
Damn it!
So you two only get horny after you've stuffed yourselves? You only have time to play after you're full? You fucking bastards!
Happy times always pass too quickly.
The two-hour party soon came to an end.
Chen Mang, feeling refreshed, strode up to the third floor to change his clothes. His previous outfit had been torn to shreds. The black boxing match was starting in twenty minutes, so the party had to stop.
Inside the fitting room, Chen Mang glanced at the outfit he was wearing and nodded in slight satisfaction. Not bad.
Whether it was psychological or not, wearing this 2.19 million yuan ensemble instantly made him feel significantly more handsome.
He planned to take all these top-tier luxury clothes back with him.
After all, they were free.
Why not take them?
The only pity was that he couldn't find a "Second-Hand Luxury Goods Store" on the map. Otherwise, he would have sold the entire batch immediately. Even at a tenth of their original price, he could have made a substantial profit.
But considering their actual performance—these clothes didn't even have temperature regulation—he could only marvel at the marketing genius behind their exorbitant price tags.
Biaozi and the others had already gathered in the arena, changed into their outfits, and were ready to participate in the black boxing matches.
Each of them had chosen an outfit for themselves.
Meanwhile, Zhang Yi and Zhang Er were responsible for carrying the refrigerator. They loaded every top-tier luxury item they could find—clothes, leather bags, household goods—into the refrigerator. Thank goodness they had brought it; otherwise, transporting all this loot would have been quite a challenge.
The refrigerator was still packed with snacks and food provided by the casino.
There was no need to worry about space; several refrigerators were nested inside the main one.
"This is a bit too decadent," Biaozi muttered, rubbing his ears. The deafening music had suddenly stopped, leaving his ears ringing and numb.
He then turned to Chen Mang with lingering desire, "Lord Mang, the others will be green with envy when they hear about this back home."
"That dealer was something else."
"Especially when I specifically chose a table where she had to deal while... you know. It was quite the experience."
"Weren't you after that million-yuan madam?" Wildcat asked from the side, looking puzzled.
"Oh, I took care of both."
"That's impressive."
"I ate plenty of Red Heart Nuts."
"Stop eating so many Red Heart Nuts," Chen Mang snapped irritably. "Those things are supposed to be goblin snacks, not for you guys to gorge on every day."
"Alright, let's get going. The black boxing is about to start. Zhang Yi, you still up for it?"
"No problem!"
"Good. I noticed you earlier—you're a tough one. I'll have to keep a closer eye on you from now on."
"Heh heh."
Chen Mang led Biaozi and the others back to the hotel suite on the seventh floor.
He pushed open the door.
The woman, now in a long, deep black dress, sat on the sofa, gazing at Chen Mang and his group with a half-mocking smile. "You guys really know how to have fun. Should I just turn this entertainment city into a nightclub?"
"Not bad," Chen Mang replied with a grin, stepping closer and lifting her chin. He leaned in and whispered, "It's a shame you're not joining us. It would be even more fun with you."
"I need to remind you," she said coldly, "your 'free ticket' has expired. I have every right to refuse you now."
"And will you?" He brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
A flicker of panic flashed in her eyes as she avoided his gaze. "The black boxing match is on the rooftop. Ziyang City's 'Devil's Arms' is already waiting for you. Win the match first."
"Of course."
On the rooftop, the night wind howled.
Zhang Yi stood in the ring, burping loudly. Across from him stood a hulking man whose arms were thicker than Zhang Yi's thighs, though the man was a head shorter.
The woman, now radiating the aura of a powerful boss in her black dress, glared at a man in a suit across the rooftop. "Come on," she said coldly. "Let's see if your 'Devil's Arms' can maintain its winning streak this time."
"Hmph." The man in the suit sneered. "Bring it on!"
"Such a cliché opening," Chen Mang sighed from his seat in the audience. Though the introduction was predictable, it quickly ended, and the match officially began.
Bang!
The Devil's Arms charged forward, his fist slamming into Zhang Yi's abdomen. Zhang Yi staggered back two steps before retaliating with a furious roar, his fist crashing into the man's cheek.
Like a basketball struck with immense force, the man's entire head caved in instantly. Blood gushed from his orifices as he collapsed to the ground, his body convulsing violently. He was barely clinging to life.
Zhang Yi leaped into the air, delivering another devastating blow from above. This time, the man's head was completely crushed.
Roar!
Zhang Yi raised his blood-soaked right fist, standing on the arena floor and pounding his chest with a triumphant roar.
The match was over.
The speed of the victory stunned everyone. When the gap in comprehensive physical fitness reached a certain point, combat experience became less critical. Moreover, Zhang Yi was no novice in battle himself.
As they parted ways, Chen Mang stood at the entrance of his suite, checking his wrist device. The million credits from winning the black boxing match had already been deposited.
His current balance now stood at exactly 1.5 million credits.
This was more than enough. He could purchase thirty Virtual Map Chips. If the Mechanical Train Parts Store had that many chips for sale, he could spend the entire sum without restraint.
"I'm leaving now," Chen Mang said, waving goodbye to the woman in the black dress with a smile. As he turned to leave, he suddenly remembered something. "I only know your name is Qi. Do you have a surname?"
The woman looked at Chen Mang, her eyes filled with complex emotions. "My full name is Wang Qi."
"That's nice. A good name."
"Since we've shared this fleeting encounter, if any other guests enter the city in the future, try to avoid them. Don't let just anyone with a free ticket take advantage of you."
A flash of anger crossed the woman's eyes as she said, each word deliberate, "I'm the Boss of Sun City. Not everyone is qualified to meet me. Ordinary people can't even access this level!"
"And do you think those free tickets are easy to get? They're extremely rare, you know!"
"But what if someone unordinary comes along?"
"I'll hide in my room."
"That's the right attitude."
Chen Mang turned and walked up to the woman, patting her head with a smile. "Once I take control of this city, you'll be the head of all three entertainment cities. Just be a good girl and listen to me, and we'll get along just fine."
"Have you ever been with anyone before?"
"No," the woman replied, her voice tinged with shame and indignation as she met Chen Mang's gaze. "I'm not human. Why would you expect me to bleed?"
"Just asking. Let's go."
Chen Mang waved his hand dismissively and led Biaozi and the others toward the elevator at the end of the corridor.
"Lord Mang, to be honest, I'm starting to feel a bit nervous about elevators now."
"I'm not," Zhang Er retorted.
"Okay, Zhang Er, we know you're not. Can I be?"
...
Wang Qi stood motionless, her expression complex, for a long time before finally approaching the floor-to-ceiling window. The man was leading his men on motorcycles, roaring down the street in a grand procession. She was the only person in this city with a Tier 4 Smart Chip, granting her cognitive abilities comparable to humans.
It was precisely this capacity for thought that made her dread the coming slumber. Unlike the others, who merely understood the concept of sleep without truly fearing it, she grasped its implications.
When this group left, all the city's lights would be extinguished, and everyone would fall back into their dormant state, awaiting an uncertain future awakening.
Perhaps...
This man truly could control the city.
For some reason, even though logic told her his claim was absurd, a voice in her mind insisted he could. Perhaps it was the overwhelming arrogance radiating from him.
"He should be back soon," Old Pig muttered, standing outside the train and glancing at his wrist-mounted watch. Nearly two days had passed, far longer than any previous fortuitous encounter map had lasted. Could Lord Mang have run into danger?
A growing anxiety gnawed at him.
If something happened to Lord Mang, it wouldn't just be a matter of losing their leader. With the train conductor dead, the train would become invalid, impossible to inherit. They would all perish here.
Without the train's protection, survival in the Zombie Basin was impossible.
The past two days had been uneventful.
No other trains approached, and no exceptionally high-tier monsters attacked. They had mined steadily for two days, yet Old Pig felt increasingly uneasy. This anxiety hadn't been present when Lord Mang was around; now, without him, he felt like a headless fly.
"We're here."
In the night-shrouded city, Chen Mang led Biaozi and his group back to the Mechanical Train Parts store, their starting point. About a kilometer away in the opposite direction lay the Flesh Train Parts Shop.
"Let's start spending."
Chen Mang dismounted from his motorcycle, leaned on his cane, and strode into the shop.
As soon as he stepped through the door, a girl standing by the entrance with a tablet greeted them with a smile.
"Welcome to the Mechanical Train Parts Store. You can purchase any item here."
"Feel free to browse the first floor. The second floor is restricted to Tier 10 train conductors and above. Sir, your current Tier doesn't meet the requirements."
Biaozi instinctively reached out to poke the girl.
"Sir, interested? 50,000 points."
As expected, Biaozi curled his lip. He felt like he already knew this city inside and out, like a local.
"..."
Chen Mang surveyed the hall. There was only one row of display cases, each with three tiers. Screens embedded in the cases showed item information, prices, and stock levels.
Zombie Siege: Special Item, Virtual Map Chip. Requires Tier 5 Combat Training Virtual Space. Price: 50,000 points. Stock: 1.
"Take it!"
Chen Mang tapped the screen lightly. Immediately, 50,000 points were deducted from his wrist-mounted device. The clerk standing beside him opened a cabinet beneath the counter, retrieved a chip, and placed it on a nearby tray.
The clerk's face was plastered with a professional smile. "Anything else you need?"
"Do you offer discounts for bulk purchases?"
"No, sir. All items are priced as marked. No haggling, no credit."
Chen Mang said nothing more, simply moving to another screen.
Random White-Grade Accessory Blueprint: Price 15,000 points, 5 in stock.
Beep, beep, beep...
Chen Mang tapped the button five times, clearing out the entire stock of this high-quality item. It was a steal—buying all five costs only 75,000 points, whereas a single blueprint sold for 10 Legacy Value at Mundo's black-market shop.
An absolute bargain.
If only he had more points.
Slightly disgruntled, Chen Mang turned to the shop assistant. "Can't you restock items that are sold out?"
"Sorry about that," the assistant replied. "Items with zero stock can't be purchased again."
(End of the Chapter)
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