Translator: AnubisTL
"Hmm..."
Chen Mang was pondering a serious question: What should he call this special position? How about "Xiao Ai's Caretaker"?
He'd left the matter to Old Pig to handle.
Now, he needed to upgrade the train and prepare to head to the Purple Zone.
He glanced at the train resource panel.
35.4 million units of iron ore, 2.57 million units of wood, 17.64 million units of copper ore, 4.48 million units of red heart rock, and 10.29 million units of titanium crystal ore.
After upgrading the basic accessories, a small amount of iron ore was consumed. The Solar Energy Panel also absorbed a bit more. In effect, the amount remained unchanged, including the ore brought from the Goblin's Tomb and the ore mined over the past ten days.
He then crafted several Tier 4 Energy Stones for daily use and to power the two Pope mechs.
As for the iron ore in Neon City, he hadn't extracted it. It would remain there for the city's daily operations. In a sense, Neon City had effectively transitioned to a corporate system from that moment on.
While Neon City now held an additional 3.79 million units of iron ore, these resources belonged to the company's accounts and didn't represent pure profit. In contrast, the Stellaris's accounts were private, and all profits were recorded there.
These messy accounting matters were a real headache!
But—
By sheer coincidence, the train happened to have a pre-apocalypse chief accountant with a million-dollar annual salary.
Not long after, Uncle Li entered the locomotive cabin with a nervous expression. "Lord Mang," he said anxiously, "the Zombie Grinding Cage project has made significant progress, but there's still..."
"No need to rush," Chen Mang interrupted calmly, waving his hand. "You have a more important task now: 'Xiao Ai's Caretaker.'"
"Your duties will include staying by Xiao Ai's side, relaying information immediately, and managing all accounts for Neon City."
"If you find any discrepancies in the accounts or if iron ore reserves reach the warning level, you must notify me promptly."
"For example, if Neon City currently has 300 million units of iron ore, how many units can I withdraw at once without disrupting the city's normal operations? From now on, you'll be in charge of all these accounts."
"How does that sound? Is it a good fit for your expertise?"
Uncle Li paused, slightly stunned, before responding instinctively, "Perfect fit, Lord Mang. There couldn't be a better match. But what about the Zombie Grinding Cage..."
"Neon City is still in its early stages, so it shouldn't be too busy. You'll have to work a little harder and manage both roles."
"I stand by my previous promise. If the Zombie Grinding Cage is built, you'll still receive First-Tier Elite Talent treatment."
"When things get busier, you've been training a young apprentice, haven't you? Delegate the Zombie Grinding Cage and the Breeding Carriages to your apprentice."
"Coordinate the details with Xiao Ai."
"Yes!"
---
"Are you alright, Uncle Li?"
In Breeding Car 15, the young man who had always followed Uncle Li rushed forward as soon as he saw him return looking dazed. "What's wrong? You look like your soul has left your body. It doesn't seem like Lord Mang's summons went well?"
"I don't know if it was good or bad."
Uncle Li paused for a long moment, still dazed, before continuing. "Lord Mang gave me a new job: Xiao Ai's caretaker. I'll be responsible for all the accounts for Lord Mang's latest project, Neon City."
"To be honest, I never dreamed that an accountant like me would find such a professionally relevant position after the apocalypse."
"That's great news!" the young man exclaimed excitedly. "Even though the title sounds a bit off, Neon City is currently the Stellaris's biggest project. You'll be managing all its accounts—that's practically as high-ranking as Trainmaster Zhu! Plus, you spent so long in training back then, you must have picked up plenty of tricks for keeping two sets of books."
"Hey, hey, hey," Uncle Li said, his expression turning strange. "You can eat whatever you want, but you can't just say whatever comes to mind. Who's keeping two sets of books? And for Lord Mang? You're practically asking to be sent to the afterlife."
"Actually, I think it's a good thing," the young man continued. "It's a better fit for my expertise, and it offers greater career potential in the future. It's a real job with real responsibilities and real power."
"There's just one thing I don't understand."
"What's that?"
"Lord Mang said he'll be handing over the Zombie Grinding Cage and the Breeding Carriage to you to manage in the future."
cough
The young man froze for a moment, then cleared his throat and a wide grin spread across his face. "Uncle Li, I've truly learned a lot these past few days. If Lord Mang entrusts me with such an important task, I'm willing to give it my best!"
"Exactly! That's what's so baffling. How did even you suddenly rise up like this? You're managing an entire carriage now!"
"You were just a clueless small-town youth when you first joined us."
"Times make heroes, Uncle Li. Joining Lord Mang's train and following your guidance, it's hard not to improve. Rest assured, I'll never forget your mentorship and the opportunity you gave me!"
"Did you just use every word you've learned in your entire life?"
"Pretty much."
Uncle Li took a deep breath before tucking a Space Pocket into his pocket. "I need to report to President Ai first. Neon City isn't too busy these days, so I'll still come back often to finish the Zombie Grinding Cage."
"And hey, over there! Did you forget to give the gentleman an adrenaline shot? He's practically dying!"
"Oh, right, right! I'll go right away."
Stellaris, Locomotive Cabin, First Floor
The thugs following Erdan carried box after box of resources to the Travel Frog, which was docked on the first level.
Upgrading the train to Tier 11 required 2 million units of iron ore, and upgrading it to Tier 12 required 3 million units.
With that, the 5 million units of iron ore were gone.
Erdan then spent another 6.75 million units of iron ore to upgrade his Tier 9 armor all the way to Tier 14.
In total, he had spent 11.75 million units of iron ore.
"Alright," Chen Mang said, patting Erdan on the shoulder. "Tier 12 train, Tier 14 armor—that should be more than enough even in the Purple Zone. I doubt many people in the Purple Zone even have Tier 14 armor. Is that million units of iron ore I gave you last time still enough?"
"Yes, yes," Erdan nodded eagerly. "I'm just using the iron ore to make food and energy stones. I'm not consuming much at all. It's more than enough."
"Alright, get on the train. We'll split up once we enter the Purple Zone."
"Yes, sir!"
Chen Mang turned and walked toward the elevator, taking it to the second floor of the locomotive cabin. He gazed at the massive holographic screen ahead, where the border between the Extreme Cold Lands and the Purple Zone lay just beyond.
Two large characters appeared on the screen:
Stone Man
There were six Purple Zones to choose from, but he ultimately selected the Stone Man Zone. This zone was particularly special. Before the apocalypse, it had been a bustling city circle, comprising a Main City and three satellite cities, all thriving with life.
After the apocalypse, however, any train that entered the city ruins within this zone would find its target acquisition radar and other detection devices temporarily disabled.
Based on his experience, this unusual phenomenon likely meant the city ruins concealed something valuable. He had to investigate.
The next moment—
As the train slowly began to move, a line of text appeared on the control panel screen:
"The area ahead is the Purple Zone, the Stone Man Zone."
"Maximum monster level: Tier 15. Current train level: Tier 12. High danger level. Exercise caution."
The Stellaris didn't advance too quickly.
After all, this was a relatively unknown area, so recklessness was out of the question. As the Stellaris slowly passed through the light curtain and entered the plain ahead, the locomotive cabin's first-floor door slowly opened.
Then—
The Travel Frog shot out from the locomotive cabin like a streak of golden light, streaking across the sky and disappearing over the horizon in moments.
The Stellaris didn't press further.
Instead, it remained stationary.
Its target acquisition radar and resource detection radar whirred to life, scanning the surroundings first.
Streams of data scrolled across the screens.
Within a 100,000-meter radius, there are no underground mines. Three trains are currently mining a Tier 4 Titanium Crystal Mine and two Tier 4 Iron Ore deposits. Also within the range is an unmined Tier 4 Iron Ore deposit and seven Tier 3 Iron Mines.
The target acquisition radar has detected a Tier 15 monster, the highest level in range, 72,800 meters from the Stellaris train. It appears to be mating. Uh, its partner seems to be a Tier 2 rabbit.
That Tier 15 monster is also a rabbit.
"A rabbit?"
Chen Mang frowned slightly. Could a monster like a rabbit really reach Tier 15? He glanced at the boss's information on the control panel screen:
Red-skinned Rabbit, Tier 15. Monster Characteristics: Extremely fast. Normally docile and does not actively attack trains, but holds grudges fiercely. Will relentlessly pursue any creature that disturbs it, including trains tainted with the scent of its slain kin.
The next moment—
The train's internal alarm blared.
"Warning! Warning!"
On the target acquisition radar, a red dot was hurtling toward the Stellaris at incredible speed!
It had completely ignored a passing train, its target laser-focused on the Stellaris.
"Oh?"
Chen Mang chuckled as he pushed the control lever forward. He couldn't return to the Blue Zone, the Extreme Cold Lands, now. But fortunately, while his armor couldn't withstand a Tier 15 monster, his train was fast enough, and he could fly!
Instant activation!
In an instant, the Stellaris train accelerated to its maximum speed of 5,000 kilometers per hour.
"Hmph," Chen Mang snorted, sitting in the locomotive cabin and watching the Red-skinned Rabbit on the target acquisition radar gradually fall behind. Fast? Trying to outrun me?
But soon, he realized something wasn't quite right.
Three more red dots had appeared on the target acquisition radar, rapidly closing in on him.
One was Tier 15, and the other two were Tier 12.
All were Red-skinned Rabbits.
"Heh!" Chen Mang exclaimed. "I refuse to believe it!"
Three hours later.
"I believe it now."
The Stellaris train had stopped on the wasteland. Chen Mang sat expressionlessly in the locomotive cabin, staring at the twenty-odd red dots that had reappeared on the target acquisition radar. After a long silence, he silently pushed the control lever forward again.
He was starting to lose his temper.
Over a dozen Red-skinned Rabbits, including three Tier 15s and five Tier 14s, had been relentlessly pursuing him for a full three hours!
His speed was more than sufficient to outrun them.
But these Red-skinned Rabbits seemed to have some kind of lock-on hack. No matter how briefly he stopped, they would reappear on his target acquisition radar screen before long. He knew this zone was teeming with rabbit monsters before coming here, but he never expected them to specifically target him for elimination.
And those rabbits could even fucking fly!
Rabbits that fly?
How miraculous! It's even more astonishing than Adam's apple allergy!
In reality, thousands of rabbits were chasing him.
However, only these dozen or so were in the First Tier. The rest were either too low-level and couldn't keep up, or had run out of stamina and stopped to rest, with other rabbits taking their place.
His "Bunny Cloud" wheel was far slower than "Magnetic Levitation." Flying in the air would only let them catch up, but on the ground, he could maintain a distance.
The most critical problem was that this zone intersected with five other zones: white, yellow, green, and one Red Zone.
There wasn't a single Purple Zone to escape to. He had no choice but to stay and fight.
"You like chasing, do you?"
Chen Mang, seated at the control panel, gazed at the dozen or so glowing dots on the target acquisition radar. His eyes narrowed slightly, a cold glint flashing within. He had to eliminate these damned rabbits; otherwise, he'd never be able to establish a foothold in this zone.
The Doomsday Cannons were completely useless.
He'd tried firing at close range, but their dodging speed was simply too fast. Xiao Ai could lock onto them, but the cannon shells couldn't hit them. The only way to guarantee a hit would be to deploy thousands of Doomsday Cannons for a direct barrage.
He didn't have the funds to build thousands of Doomsday Cannons right now.
But...
He had a better plan.
The Stellaris surged forward, widening the distance between itself and the pursuing rabbits. Only then did it gently set the train down on the ground. He constructed an ordinary carriage and attached it to the rear of the train, leaving its doors wide open.
Then, the Stellaris continued to hover just above the ground, hurtling forward!
"Xiao Ai, have Uncle Li and the others retreat to the Resident Car."
"Yes!"
Chen Mang maneuvered the Stellaris, gradually slowing down to allow the pursuing rabbits to catch up. He constantly changed direction, forcing the rabbits, which had initially been scattered, to converge into a single line.
Meanwhile...
The three fastest Tier 15 rabbits were now only a few hundred meters from the Stellaris, steadily closing in.
Though both the Stellaris and the rabbits were incredibly fast, their near-equal speeds created a state of relative stillness, making it relatively easy to exploit their vulnerabilities.
In the next instant—
The Stellaris train suddenly decelerated sharply.
Caught completely off guard, the fastest Tier 15 and Tier 14 rabbits plunged headfirst into the newly constructed carriage at the rear.
"Now!"
"Damn those goddamn rabbits!"
"I wanted to out chase them, but they just kept coming!"
Chen Mang reacted swiftly, his face contorted with fury as he slammed his fist onto a button on the control panel he'd never touched before.
A purple-grade accessory: Space Stasis.
(End of the Chapter)
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