Chapter 3: Steam Revolution

Zhao Kuo took stock of his current materials:

[Wood Planks x58]

[Iron Sheets x16]

[Components x33]

[Glass x6]

[Mutated Rat Meat (Cooked) 500g x2]

[Mutated Rat Hide x1]

[Leather x1]

[Bones x3]

Though he was doing well for this stage, he was still far from crafting a ​Primary Chassis. With no other choice, he listed ​20 packs of toilet paper​ on the trading platform.

Tang Yingying​ immediately sent a sulky emoji. Zhao Kuo thought guiltily, Sorry, kid. Within minutes, all 20 packs were sold, netting him:

——[Wood x59]

——[Iron Sheets x45]

——[Components x56]

——[Glass x40]

Toilet paper was his specialty—at least for now. He tried making more, but after six packs, he hit a ​24-hour cooldown. Only 30 packs per day? So much for getting rich. Still, he listed five more and tossed one pack to Tang Yingying. Gotta keep the water supplier happy.

With the materials in hand, Zhao Kuo crafted the ​Main Frame. A flash of light transformed his rickety railcar into a wooden-and-iron hybrid carriage, complete with windows, a door, and a windshield. Ugly? Sure. Safe? Absolutely.

Next, he used the rat hide and components to craft a ​Satchel. Crude as it was, it could store his crossbow and ​Lucky's Pistol​ for quick access. Perfect for surprises—like a bullet to the face.

Back on the railcar, Zhao Kuo noticed its speed had dropped from ​13 km/h​ to ​9.56 km/h. Checking the stats:

-**[Dilapidated Railcar]**​

-Body: Main Frame​

-Status: Overloaded​

-Max Speed Penalty: -3.44 km/h​

-**System Snark: "This thing just keeps going."**​

Overloaded? His hoarded materials had pushed the cart 30 kg over capacity. A warehouse upgrade was urgent—20 slots (3 items each) were too few. No choice—keep grinding.

While browsing the trading platform, he found a ​Crossbow Bolt Blueprint​ (25 Wood + 5 Iron for 50 bolts). He traded ​1 kg of Rat Meat​ (with a sanity-draining debuff) and water for it. Crafting bolts lightened the load, boosting speed to ​10.25 km/h.

Other listings were absurd:

​**"Brave Compass"**​ (Cursed, 300 materials)

​**"Emperor's New Clothes"**​ (Naked "invisibility," 1000 materials)

Scammers everywhere.

Finally, Zhao Kuo opened "Shlocka's Notes" from the second box. The traveler detailed survival tips—like lightening the cart—and a chilling final note:

"When night falls, stay by the fire. You'll hear faint bells. Survive, friend. Mourn me when you read this. May you see sunlight again."

Zhao Kuo shivered. Night? Bells? He gripped the notebook tighter. Survival had just gotten darker.

What are "they"? The notebook didn't specify, but Zhao Kuo knew—unnatural, terrifying horrors. Without this warning, even with the pendant, he'd have been caught off guard. Survival hinged on preparation.

After some thought, Zhao Kuo posted a warning in ​Global Chat. He wasn't a saint, but letting billions die unknowingly? Unthinkable. A simple message cost him nothing—but first, he played the market.

Wood Planks​ traded at ​1.5:1​ for other materials. Anticipating panic, he dumped his reserves:

[Iron Sheets x41]

[Components x43]

[Glass x38]

...converting everything into ​183 Wood Planks. If not for the toilet paper cooldown—he'd have manipulated prices further.

He privately warned ​Luo Ping'an​ and ​Tang Yingying, then publicly shared the notebook's final page:

"When night falls, stay by the fire. You'll hear faint bells. Survive. Mourn me. May you see sunlight again."

Chat exploded:

"What the hell are 'they'?!"

"Sexy ghost girls? Asking for a friend—"

"No, I sold all my wood! Rip me."

"Wood prices spiked to ​1:2.15! Hoarders, scram!"

Zhao Kuo smirked, his stockpile's value soaring, but he held firm—panic would only drive prices higher.

Then, gratitude poured in:

"Thanks, legend! Sent you a Campfire Blueprint!"

"Here's a component—don't die, bro!"

"Take this cup! You saved me!"

Ding!

[Lost One Statue Blueprint x1]

[Iron Sheet x1]

[Bone x1]

...dozens of donations piled up. Civilization hadn't collapsed—yet.

But the overloaded railcar creaked to a halt. The carriage was crammed with materials, but Zhao Kuo embraced the chaos. Resources = power. He splurged:

-**Main Wheel Blueprint (500 materials)**​ ✔️

-**Main Chassis Blueprint (850 materials)**​ ✔️

-**Dilapidated Steam Engine Blueprint (2500 materials)**​ ✔️

The engine's stats were dazzling:

​Speed: 25 km/h​ (Autopilot! No water needed? Magic.)

​Load Capacity: 100 kg​ (No speed penalty!)

​Fuel: 10 Wood/2 Coal per hour​

Crafting it required:

[Wood x1000]

[Iron Sheets x1500]

[Components x2560]

[Glass x1500]

His treasure trove evaporated—but the result? A ​steam-powered beast, all vintage metal and proud chugging.

**[Upgraded Subway Train]**​

​Body: Main Carriage​

​Chassis: Main Chassis​

​Wheels: Main Wheels​

​Light: Medium​ (Extinguish = death)

​Speed: 27.5 km/h​ (Sliding panels + wheel boost)

​**System Note: "This might actually go somewhere."**​

Zhao Kuo patted the battered engine. Beautiful. With 200 Wood Planks left, he'd make a fortune later.

As donations tapered off, he smiled. The horrors of the night loomed—but with fire, steel, and an illogical train, he'd outrun the darkness.

Let "them" come.

After inspecting the upgraded train, Zhao Kuo finally checked his overflowing inbox. Amid the chaos, a message from ​Li Er​ stood out:

"Thank you, sir. This blueprint is my humble gratitude."

Zhao Kuo replied, "No need. Your earlier generosity started a chain reaction."

Li Er's formal tone piqued his curiosity: "Your warning saved countless lives. If fate allows us to meet, I'll repay you tenfold." Zombie apocalypse Confucius? Zhao Kuo thought, then asked, "Got any coal to trade?"

Coal—premium fuel for steam engines—was scarce. Li Er had none, and the trading platform priced it at ​15 Wood Planks. Ridiculous.

Zhao Kuo turned to ​Luo Ping'an, declining her offer of 400 materials as thanks, saying, "Favors are less useful than goods." He probed, "Coal source?"

Luo Ping'an, ever the shrewd merchant, connected him with someone in ​charcoal production—Tang Yingying. Of course, it was her.

**Tang Yingying's Chat Log:**​

"Ugh! Missed the wood hype! I'm so dumb!"

"Wait, why's this guy messaging me? Oh right—charcoal time 💰"

Zhao Kuo: "Heard you sell coal. Let's deal."

Tang Yingying (playing innocent): "Market price's 15 Wood per piece~ Yours? 10! Friend discount~"

Zhao Kuo (rolling eyes): "Cut the act. One wood makes two coal. I know the ratio."

Tang Yingying (bluff shattered): "Fine. 8 Wood. Final offer!"

Zhao Kuo: "3, or I'll expose your '1 wood = 2 coal' secret to the world."

Tang Yingying (panicking): "5!... Wait, 3.5? Ugh, fine. 3 Wood. But you owe me!"

Deal struck: ​30 Wood Planks​ for ​12 Charcoal​ (she threw in extra to save face).

Zhao Kuo grinned as he loaded charcoal into the steam engine, watching the locomotive roar to life. Black smoke billowed, gears clanked, and the train surged forward at ​27.5 km/h—true subway glory.

**[System Update]**​

​Fuel Efficiency: 1 Charcoal = 2 hours (vs. 10 Wood/hour)

​Speed Stability: No overload penalty!

Tang Yingying's pout echoed in his mind: "You cheapskate! Don't die before repaying me!"

Zhao Kuo leaned back, watching tunnel lights blur. "Steam-powered life? Not bad."

**Global Chat Snippets:**​

"Did anyone else hear a train just now?!"

"Losing sanity and hallucinating, buddy. Have some rat meat and rest."

"No—I heard it too! A train—we're getting out!"

Zhao Kuo smirked. Let them wonder. His tracks stretched ahead, steam hissing promises: "Survive. Evolve. Outlast the night."