Translator: AnubisTL
Why was he able to sell a single murphy stone for 1.88 million units of iron ore?
Two major factors were at play.
First, he had Erdan's information network. Second, he wasn't desperate for the 2 million units of iron ore. This gave him the patience and composure to take his time, not placing too much importance on the deal.
Had he been in the Iron Ridge Wasteland, he might have jumped at the first offer of 1 million units of iron ore, afraid the buyer would back out if he haggled further.
This sense of confidence gave him a significant psychological advantage in the transaction, inadvertently earning him profits he hadn't even anticipated.
Just then—
He received a message from Erdan. Sure enough, the train had bought his murphy stone. It had already begun a large-scale excavation of Tier 4 Iron Ore. Erdan reported that he could even see the train conductor in the locomotive cabin, practically vibrating with excitement.
How could he not be excited?
Even in Crisis Valley, Tier 4 Iron Ore wasn't exactly common!
It was practically a rare mineral.
A single Tier 4 Iron Ore deposit was worth the equivalent of 10 million units of iron ore. Who wouldn't be thrilled to see that?
"That's good," Chen Mang chuckled, finding it quite interesting. He then continued browsing the other accessories, considering a bit more spending. Perhaps a few million more units, leaving around ten million units for emergencies—for Train Upgrades, Train Expansion, and future armor upgrades.
Hmm...
Fire Control System—green-grade Accessory.
Consumes 1.07 million units of iron ore to instantly upgrade from Tier 10 to Tier 100.
With more train residents, ten Heavy Machine Guns no longer provided sufficient deterrence. He needed more. A hundred should be enough. And there was also the purple-grade accessory, Space Stasis. Though he'd never used it, he had a nagging feeling that one day some monster might shatter the armor and breach the train.
In that moment, a Space Stasis.
Then, pinpoint annihilation.
The iron ore consumption wasn't excessive, but he seemed to have overlooked a detail: the train hadn't been expanded yet. The ceiling wouldn't accommodate that many Heavy Machine Guns. A hundred might indeed be too many.
Especially in the locomotive cabin.
However, he soon realized that the positions of the Heavy Machine Guns could be customized. If a carriage had a space gate, the guns could be mounted within it.
That's perfect.
He installed a ring of Heavy Machine Guns on the locomotive cabin ceiling and created a space gate within the cabin walls. The remaining 80 Heavy Machine Guns were all stored inside the space gate.
Secure.
The Resident Cars No. 8 and No. 9 were similarly equipped. Each carriage had two space gates on each side, totaling eight. Each space gate housed 20 Heavy Machine Guns, while the rest were mounted on the carriage ceilings. This ensured his absolute control even within the space gates.
As for the remaining Guard Cars, Advanced Talent Cars, and other carriages, the Heavy Machine Guns were installed in their default positions on the ceilings.
In carriages like the Groundburst Missile launch car, which required vertical movement, the Heavy Machine Guns were installed in corners on both sides, ensuring they wouldn't obstruct the launch mechanism.
The Stellaris train now consisted of 15 carriages and a locomotive. Its external Doomsday Cannons numbered 10, providing formidable firepower. Its internal Heavy Machine Guns totaled 1,600, offering even greater firepower.
Reaching Tier 100 in a single upgrade granted him three overpowered effects.
Tier 20 Overpowered Effect of the Built-in Security System: Halves ammunition consumption.
Tier 50 Overpowered Effect of the Built-in Security System: Enhanced penetration power.
Tier 100 Overpowered Effect of the Built-in Security System: Increased firing rate.
This accessory's Tier 5 and Tier 10 Overpowered effects allow it to fire blank rounds and nerve bullets, respectively, primarily for maintaining order on the train.
"Not bad," Chen Mang said, glancing at the information displayed on the train control panel screen. He smiled and turned his attention to the other accessories, now somewhat eager for an unknown monster to board his train. He imagined the creature finally reaching what it thought was the train's weakest point, only to look up and see the heavy machine guns lining the carriage.
Just as the monster was reeling in confusion, Chen Mang would activate Space Stasis, delivering a pinpoint strike!
No matter who came, they'd die.
Even Laozi himself would have to light three sticks of incense before leaving!
In the Advanced Talent Carriage No. 5, Yan Yao looked up at the ceiling, her gaze drifting over the dense array of heavy machine guns that nearly covered every inch. After counting for a long time, she murmured, "Chu Chu, there are only two of us in this carriage right now. Isn't 100 a bit excessive?"
"It is a bit," Ji Chuchu replied, her voice distant as she stared out the window, lost in thought. "But that's not the important part. The real issue is that Lord Mang seems to have forgotten about me. He hasn't visited in ages."
"You're right," Yan Yao agreed.
In Guard Car No. 7, "Mm," Biaozi nodded proudly. "Lord Mang's foresight is truly remarkable. With the increase in residents, the train's original ten Heavy Machine Guns for internal defense were clearly insufficient. A hundred is just right."
"The only thing that puzzles me is..."
"I remember this accessory's function: the higher the Tier, the more heavy machine guns you can equip in each carriage. How high do we need to upgrade it to reach a hundred?"
"Can't you do such simple math?" Old Pig glanced at Biaozi.
"It's not that I can't do the math, it's that I don't dare to calculate it."
In Breeding Car 15.
"This has nothing to do with me, right?"
Uncle Li, squatting on the floor and dissecting a female zombie with a vehicle blade, looked up at the hundred Heavy Machine Guns overhead, bewildered. "They should be in every carriage, right? They couldn't have been installed just to prevent a zombie riot."
"Probably."
Upgrade, upgrade, keep upgrading!
In the locomotive cabin, Chen Mang glanced at the other accessories again, his gaze settling on the Vehicle Audio System. He spent 502,500 units of iron ore to upgrade it directly to Tier 100!
This thing was unlikely to gain any practical use at Tier 100. He mainly wanted to make it more durable, so it wouldn't be nearly destroyed every time they fought.
While life-support accessories wouldn't gain the same strength as defensive components, they would still become somewhat more robust with each Tier increase.
Vehicle Audio System - Tier 20 Overpowered Effect: None.
Vehicle Audio System - Tier 50 Overpowered Effect: None.
Vehicle Audio System - Tier 100 Overpowered Effect: None.
The lack of overpowered effects was expected. After all, he hadn't upgraded the system for that purpose in the first place.
Now, for the remaining items...
Ah, yes. The Powerful Magnet had been upgraded directly from Tier 20 to Tier 100, consuming 970,000 units of iron ore. Its pickup range had increased to 10,000 meters, automatically attracting any dropped items within that radius.
[Powerful Magnet Tier 50 Overpowered Effect]: Halves the energy consumption of Powerful Magnet.
[Powerful Magnet Tier 100 Overpowered Effect]: Powerful Magnet can be freely controlled within the range of the target acquisition radar.
"Hmm?"
Chen Mang had already skipped over the accessory upgrade, intending only to increase its pickup range. He hadn't expected two overpowered effects to be added. However, he didn't quite understand them.
He knew about the Tier 20 overpowered effect of the Powerful Magnet, which granted the Powerful Magnet effect. The strength of the magnetic force depended on the grade of the energy stone consumed.
However, he'd never had a chance to use this effect.
He'd primarily relied on the basic attributes of the Powerful Magnet.
So why had this new overpowered effect suddenly appeared?
"Could it be...?"
A glint flashed in Chen Mang's eyes. He rose from his chair, retrieved several car blade fragments from the refrigerator, and tossed them out the window. Then, he activated the Powerful Magnet accessory.
Suddenly, he felt as if his mind had merged with the Powerful Magnet. With a mere thought, the car blade fragments floating outside the train slowly levitated into the air. At his mental command, they shot forward like streaks of cold light, piercing the distance.
"Huh?"
Slightly stunned, he glanced down at the control panel screen. It showed that the previous attack had consumed 1% of his energy, and he was using a Tier 3 energy stone.
Without hesitation, he immediately jumped off the train.
Leaning on his cane outside the train, he used it to control the vehicle. With a thought, the car blade fragment that had fallen far away flew back to him. With another thought, he sent it shooting away again!
This is fucking insane!
Now Chen Mang understood what the overpowered effect meant. It was pure, unadulterated Magneto!
The power of the ability depended entirely on the strength of the Powerful Magnet effect, which in turn depended on how much energy he chose to expend.
The previous two attacks had consumed 3% of his energy, equivalent to 1500 units of iron ore. Not bad, the cost wasn't too high.
Just then—
The target acquisition radar displayed a zombie horde six kilometers away, sprinting towards the train. There were about a hundred zombies, the highest Tier being 6, with most being Tier 3 or 4.
"Perfect timing."
Chen Mang couldn't help but chuckle. He strode back to the locomotive cabin, retrieved the car blade fragments from the refrigerator ahead of time, and arranged them on a seat before speaking. "No firing. Let that group of zombies get closer. Then, find a way to get those guards to step out of the carriage naturally—don't make it look too obvious."
"Later, broadcast the scene of me killing the zombies to the residents via the screen."
"Understood."
Xiao Ai's voice soon echoed through the train.
"Get off the train! Time to work!"
Biaozi, who had been sitting on a bed, immediately jumped up at Xiao Ai's command and shouted at the guards, "Lord Mang has ordered a parade! Hurry, hurry, hurry!"
"Zhang Yi and Zhang Er, you two lazy bastards, move your asses! Stop dawdling!"
"Zhang Qi, stay behind me later. You're the best-looking one in our first team—our designated pretty boy. Show off your charm!"
"Brother Biao, you're the best-looking in the first team!"
"Get lost!" Biaozi retorted with a good-natured curse. "Stop goofing around! This is Lord Mang's first parade! Everyone check your uniforms—it's important!"
"Everyone, show your best."
The guards, buzzing with excitement, quickly straightened their uniforms in the mirrors.
A military review!
Though they felt they hadn't fully matured, this was clearly Lord Mang's recognition of their efforts!
Immediately—
All the guards disembarked from the carriage and stood in three neat, solemn rows in the biting winter wind, awaiting Lord Mang's inspection. Each stood ramrod straight.
It was deep winter, and the cold wind was bone-chilling, carrying an unfamiliar, sour stench.
Huh? A stench?
Biaozi instinctively turned his head, spotting a zombie horde rapidly approaching the train in the distance. His expression shifted slightly, and he instinctively reached for his briefcase, but quickly stopped himself.
Since President Ai hadn't informed them of this, it meant Lord Mang might be using the zombie horde to test their strength.
Using a zombie horde for a military review—brilliant idea!
Just then!
The locomotive cabin door swung open, and in the guards' line of sight, Chen Mang slowly emerged, leaning on his cane. He approached them, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes. "Excellent. You all look sharp and full of spirit."
"Your training these past few days has been quite effective."
"Lord Mang..."
Biaozi finally couldn't hold back any longer. He glanced anxiously at the zombie horde behind Lord Mang, his voice hurried. "Lord Mang, the zombie horde behind you is less than 100 meters away. Shouldn't we give the order to eliminate them?"
"No need."
Chen Mang looked calmly at Biaozi, leaning on his cane with a light smile. "Do you remember when we were in the Neon City's Memory Bank, and you asked me why a certain memory could be sold for tens of billions?"
"I remember. You said you'd seen a dragon, Lord Mang."
"Not quite."
"Huh?"
"I didn't just see a dragon. I've killed one."
"For example, like this..."
Chen Mang slowly raised his cane with one hand, his lips barely moving as he whispered, "Sword."
In the next instant—
"BOOM BOOM!!"
Dark clouds had suddenly gathered above the train, and a fierce wind howled through the air, plunging the sky into instant gloom. Chen Mang's clothes billowed in the gale, and a bolt of lightning split the clouds, illuminating the world.
In that instant, Biaozi and the others saw Lord Mang's sharp features, his eyes blazing with a hint of arrogance, framed by the lightning.
And behind him, hundreds of car blade fragments had somehow floated into the air.
At this moment, the zombie horde was only a few meters away from Lord Mang.
Just then!
"Come!"
Lord Mang's crisp voice rang in their ears. He slammed his cane onto the ground, and the hundreds of car blade fragments floating in the air, as if imbued with a Soul, transformed into countless razor-sharp blades that shot toward the zombie horde behind him at speeds too fast for the eye to follow!
Pshhh... pshhh...
The sound of countless fragments piercing flesh filled the air.
When the thunder finally subsided, the entire zombie horde behind Lord Mang lay sprawled on the ground, not a single one left alive. The closest zombie had been only two meters away, yet Lord Mang hadn't even turned his head or blinked once throughout the entire ordeal.
"Keep up the good work," Chen Mang said with a calm expression, turning to Biaozi and his group with a light smile. "I'll teach you this dragon-Slaying technique later."
"A man should slay a dragon at least once in his life."
With that, he didn't linger, but instead walked alone toward the locomotive cabin, leaving Biaozi and his group standing there in stunned disbelief.
"..."
After an unknown amount of time, Biaozi finally snapped out of his stupor. He turned back to the scene behind him with disbelief in his voice, trembling as he asked, "Did... did you all see that?"
"Lord Mang... was he... using magic just now?"
(End of the Chapter)
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