Chapter 31: Discovery of Iron Ore

Soon, night fell.

The temperature outside had dropped below -30°C, but inside the first carriage, it remained as warm as spring.

Variable-frequency air conditioning was truly a blessing. If it were a regular AC unit, the outdoor unit would have frozen and stopped working by now.

Zhao Kuo gazed into the darkness outside. To be honest, the subway world was pitch black at all times, but facing the night still gave him a sense of unease.

After all, every night brought some kind of trouble.

"The rice cakes are ready. They just need to be steamed. I made a makeshift steamer out of steel sheets earlier. We might be able to eat steamed rice cakes tomorrow," said Tang Yingying, wiping the sweat off her brow after a busy afternoon. She took a sip of water and added, "The taste might not be great, but it's edible!"

Given the limited conditions, just being able to shape the rice cakes was already an achievement.

If the steamed rice cakes turned out well tomorrow, they could try making buns the day after. After all, there was still some pork chop meat left.

Zhao Kuo nodded.

Life wasn't too bad now. With the AC running, hot meals on the table, and a cute girl acting as a little chef, things were quite comfortable—if only there weren't those monsters outside.

Speaking of which, was his rocking chair ready yet?

Just as Zhao Kuo thought of this, Lei Dahui sent him a private message along with a trade request.

Lei Dahui: "Boss, the rocking chairs are ready. I've sent them over. If there's anything you're not satisfied with, let me know, and I'll remake them for you."

Zhao Kuo completed the trade, and in an instant, two rocking chairs appeared in front of him.

The chairs were exquisitely crafted. Compared to Zhao Kuo's own attempt, it was like comparing a mayfly to the universe—utterly incomparable.

Although the wood used was the most ordinary kind, under Lei Dahui's skilled hands, it had gained a unique texture. The chairs had been meticulously sanded, giving them a seamless finish. The armrests were even carved with intricate patterns, making them look particularly elegant.

Moreover, Zhao Kuo could detect a faint smoky aroma, likely from a smoking process used to protect against insects.

It had to be said, the chairs were worth every penny.

Zhao Kuo sent 1 subway coin over and said, "I'm very satisfied with the chairs. I'd also like to order two stools and two tables—one for eating and one for storage. Help me design them. Money isn't an issue."

Seeing Zhao Kuo's message, Lei Dahui felt a surge of joy.

He had guessed correctly. A boss who could spend 1 subway coin on rocking chairs surely had other needs as well.

It was frustrating to compare oneself to others. While most people were still struggling to survive, the boss was already worrying about how to enjoy life.

Lei Dahui: "No problem, boss. A stool for 0.2 subway coins and a table for 0.6 subway coins. Does that price work for you?"

Zhao Kuo: "That's too low. How about 0.5 subway coins for a stool and 1 subway coin for a table? I trust your craftsmanship."

It wasn't that Zhao Kuo had money to burn, but Lei Dahui's skills were indeed worth the price. Besides, he might need to commission more items from Lei Dahui in the future, so offering a higher price would also help elevate his standing in Lei Dahui's eyes.

Sure enough, upon seeing the message, Lei Dahui was momentarily stunned. Despite having seen many things in his life, he couldn't help but feel a warmth in his heart.

Everyone knew how valuable subway coins were. 1 subway coin could be exchanged for 50 basic materials at the station, but at the trading center, it could fetch 80 basic materials—and the value was still rising.

No one would ever complain about having too much money. Since the boss held him in such high regard, Lei Dahui naturally wouldn't let him down!

Lei Dahui: "Alright, thank you, boss. I won't stand on ceremony. I'll make sure the items are done well."

Zhao Kuo: "Just call me Zhao Kuo. No need to be so formal. I trust your skills. Looking forward to the results."

After saying this, Zhao Kuo closed the chat interface and smiled.

3 subway coins weren't much to him, but for an ordinary player, it was a significant sum. While 3 subway coins couldn't exactly buy Lei Dahui's loyalty, it at least left a good impression.

In the subway world, having someone with refined craftsmanship was incredibly useful.

Just as Zhao Kuo was deep in thought, the [Ore Detector] placed under the control panel suddenly beeped.

Zhao Kuo was startled and quickly picked up the detector. The display showed that there was an ore vein not far ahead!

Zhao Kuo immediately slowed the train and came to a gradual stop.

"There's an ore vein to the left. Let's send Little Croc down to scout it out first," Zhao Kuo said after parking the train. Being cautious by nature, he didn't act rashly.

Tang Yingying didn't waste any time either and released her adorable plush crocodile.

The plush crocodile darted off the train and quickly crawled toward the ore vein.

However, due to the snow, the two could only see the upper part of the crocodile's back, and Tang Yingying's shared vision wasn't of much use.

Even if they could share the vision, all they'd see was a vast expanse of white, which was meaningless.

But just as the plush crocodile was about to reach the ore vein, something unexpected happened.

From the snow beside it, a white snake shot out with lightning speed, biting the plush crocodile and lifting its head, ready to swallow it whole.

Fortunately, Tang Yingying reacted quickly and issued a command.

"Spit fire!"

A burst of flames erupted from the plush crocodile's mouth, and at the same time, the damage it had taken increased.

The snake seemed to fear the flames and immediately spat out the crocodile.

"Swift movement!"

Tang Yingying ordered, and the plush crocodile's speed skyrocketed as it began circling the white snake.

Only then did the two get a clear look at the snake. It was about 3 meters long, covered in shimmering white scales. Its two fangs glowed with a purple hue, clearly indicating they were highly venomous.

"It doesn't look easy to deal with," Zhao Kuo said.

"Should we retreat?" Tang Yingying asked.

Honestly, once the plush crocodile's swift movement ability wore off, it probably wouldn't be a match for this creature.

But a glint of madness flashed in Zhao Kuo's eyes. "You forget, I still have a pet collar. If we can capture this thing, it'll be a great boost to our combat power."

The white snake was indeed powerful and looked cool—it had instantly won Zhao Kuo's favor.

"Ugh, such a shallow guy," Tang Yingying muttered under her breath. Then she released her adorable plush bunny and said, "If you want it, let's go for it. I refuse to believe the two of us can't handle this thing together!"

Zhao Kuo gave her a thumbs-up. Honestly, her words resonated with him.

A silenced sniper rifle appeared in his hands. Zhao Kuo opened the window and aimed at the white snake, which was currently distracted by the plush crocodile.

With a soft "pfft," the bullet left the barrel.