Chapter 27: Erect a Monument for Master Kun and Light an Incense Stick
"..."
Chen Mang glanced at Lao Zhu, saying nothing more, and merely patted his shoulder before returning to his Train compartment.
The Iron Ore had already been moved back to Warehouse No. 2.
A total of 1,101 units of Iron Ore.
With 81 Slaves, producing such a quantity of Iron Ore in a single day was undoubtedly overworking them.
"Got money again."
Inside the Train compartment, Chen Mang couldn't help but smile as he looked at the resource count on the Train Panel. Forget about women; if those two women could be sold for enough Iron Ore, he would have sold them long ago.
Women.
After a while, they're all the same.
Among the seven essential Vehicle Components required for upgrading the Train, he had only two left to craft: Carriage Steel Armor and Axe Production Line.
Crafting these two items would require at least 1,100 units of Iron Ore.
Just enough.
Not too much, not too little.
The Axe Production Line would produce axes for logging. This production line was the same size as the Pickaxe Production Line and was also placed in Warehouse No. 2.
Meanwhile, the Carriage Steel Armor would consume 1,000 units of Iron Ore per carriage.
Naturally, he prioritized the Train's head.
As the Iron Ore in Warehouse No. 2 turned to ash and merged into the carriage, Chen Mang stepped out of the Train compartment and looked at the thick layer of armor on the Train's head, nodding in satisfaction.
He tapped it with his knuckles, hearing a deep, dull echo.
Component Name: Carriage Steel Armor
Component Grade: Green
Component Level: 1
Component Effect: Fully immune to damage from Level 1 bullets and Level 1 creatures, with some defensive effect against Level 2 bullets and Level 2 creatures.
Upgrade Requirement: 5,000 units of Iron Ore
Worth every bit of the 1,000 units of Iron Ore it took to craft! Not only did it look secure, but the panel also seemed tough.
Standing a few meters away, Chen Mang picked up his Soaring Dragon Assault Rifle and fired a full magazine at the armor on the Train's head.
"Rat-tat-tat!"
After emptying the magazine, Chen Mang approached to inspect the armor. There wasn't even a dent—just a few scratches on the paint. It was truly immune.
His Soaring Dragon Assault Rifle Production Line was Level 1, so the rifles and bullets it produced were naturally Level 1.
He even fired half a magazine at the Train's windshield.
Still, not a single mark.
Though the windshield didn't visibly have armor, it shared the armor's strength. If all the Carriage Steel Armor on the Train were Level 2 or even Level 3, even if another Corpse Tide came, the Train could remain stationary, and the Zombies wouldn't be able to breach it.
"Excellent!"
Chen Mang nodded in satisfaction. The 1,000 units of Iron Ore were well spent, though they were gone in an instant. His 81 Slaves had toiled all day, and he had spent it all in a flash.
Only 1 unit of Iron Ore remained.
Truly, earning money was like squeezing toothpaste, while spending it was like water flowing.
He suddenly felt a bit grateful that he had been captured and made a Slave by Master Kun when he first arrived. Without those 81 Slaves, life would have been much harder—he would have had to mine the ore himself.
Master Kun was a good man.
When the time came, he would erect a monument for Master Kun and light an incense stick.
And so—
The seven essential Vehicle Components required for upgrading the Level 1 Train had all been crafted. The final step to upgrading to Level 2 was within reach.
Upgrade Requirement: Possess 4 carriages, complete all seven essential Vehicle Components, and consume 5,000 units of Level 1 Iron Ore.
He currently had 3 carriages.
He just needed to add a Slave carriage and gather 5,000 units of Iron Ore, and he could upgrade to Level 2.
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, it would take just five more days.
Everything was moving in a positive direction.
But it also reminded him.
Once the Train reached Level 2, he should prioritize upgrading the Soaring Dragon Assault Rifle Production Line to Level 2. That way, the Soaring Dragon Assault Rifles wouldn't struggle against the Level 1 armor of other Trains.
He needed to focus on both defense and offense.
Tonight was destined to be an unforgettable night.
The Slave carriage reeked.
The two newly crowned "grooms of the night" refused to bring the women into the Slave carriage, choosing to do their business right there. The other Slaves gathered around, cheering and creating a lively scene.
Some even took advantage of the chaos to push from behind.
Biao Zi and his gang of enforcers stood nearby, watching the spectacle. After a while, Biao Zi couldn't help but laugh, caught up in the atmosphere. "It's so lively. We never had anything like this under Master Kun."
"That..."
Hei Wa, standing beside him, whispered regretfully, "I suddenly regret being chosen as an enforcer. I'm strong too. If I were a Slave, I'd be the one on the battlefield tonight."
Biao Zi gave Hei Wa a disdainful look. "You've got no ambition. We're enforcers, a step above Slaves."
"If Lord Mang gives Slaves this kind of treatment, we'll surely get something better, right?"
Hei Wa scratched his head awkwardly and muttered, "It's not about the food or treatment. It's just that the atmosphere is so lively. It's been so long since the apocalypse started, and we've never had such a fun moment. I just want to join in."
"..."
Biao Zi was momentarily stunned, then also found himself gazing at the scene with a distant look. Indeed, since the apocalypse began, it had been a long time since they'd experienced such liveliness.
In the high-stress environment of the apocalypse, everyone's nerves were on edge. Every Train Conductor had developed some hard-to-accept habits. When someone stayed in such a high-pressure environment for too long and suddenly rose to power, without the constraints of law or morality, they were bound to resort to extreme behaviors to relieve stress.
It was an objective law.
But Lord Mang seemed to have no such habits. He was completely sane, without any mood swings, and didn't indulge in women. Wait—thinking about it, that actually made Lord Mang seem even more problematic!
In the blink of an eye, it was already the fifth day.
The sky was just beginning to lighten at the horizon.
Chen Mang had already risen early, washed up, and stood in the Train compartment with his hands clasped, murmuring, "Heaven, please grant me one more peaceful day. Even if it's the last day, I'll be content."
The previous four days had all passed safely, with each Slave mining at least 12 units of ore daily.
It was truly overworking them.
If today also went smoothly, his Train would naturally upgrade to Level 2, which would be a significant improvement.
For one thing, with the Train Radio and the Energy Stones produced by the Fabrication Table, he could confidently explore the wasteland at full speed, searching for higher-grade Iron Ore and opportunities.
These past few days had been filled with anxiety. After all, when Master Kun had started mining, the Corpse Tide had surrounded them within hours. It showed how unpredictable the wasteland could be.
He was already satisfied with four safe days of mining.
Of course—
If today also went smoothly, he would be even more satisfied!
(End of Chapter)