Translator: AnubisTL
"Central Air Conditioner," "Permanent Shock Absorber," "Medical Bay."
These three yellow-grade train components were all non-essential accessories for Tier 3 trains. He had crafted them all in the Iron Ridge Wasteland, but had been unable to upgrade them due to a lack of iron ore.
Upgrading a yellow-grade train component from Tier 1 to Tier 10 typically required 45,000 units of iron ore, significantly more than white-grade components, which usually needed only 4,400 units for the same upgrade.
After consuming 45,000 units of iron ore, the "Central Air Conditioner" yellow-grade accessory quickly reached Tier 10 and gained two overpowered effects:
Central Air Conditioner Tier 5 Overpowered Effect: Halves energy consumption.
Central Air Conditioner Tier 10 Overpowered Effect: When circulating fresh air, if the system detects toxic gases or extremely poor air quality outside, it will immediately stop drawing in air. This effect requires the "Oxygen Generator" to reach Tier 10 and gain its corresponding overpowered effect, as well as the Train Auxiliary AI to be sufficiently upgraded.
The Central Air Conditioner comes with a built-in Fresh Air System, effectively improving air quality inside the train.
Upgrading it had no noticeable effect.
Essentially, it functions like a normal Air Conditioner, maintaining a temperature range suitable for typical conditions. It can't directly heat the train to over 100 degrees Celsius or cool it to below -200 degrees Celsius. However, it can still maintain a normal temperature range inside the train even in extremely cold or hot environments.
The downside is a significant increase in energy consumption.
This is where the Tier 5 overpowered effect comes into play, serving as a decent general-purpose overpowered effect.
The Tier 10 overpowered effect only activates under specific conditions and is rarely needed. But when it does, it plays an absolutely crucial role. The oxygen generator's Tier 10 overpowered effect continuously analyzes the surrounding air quality and synchronizes its reports with the Train Auxiliary AI.
The weather grew colder.
Winter was just around the corner. Trains that hadn't reached Tier 3 and couldn't install the Central Air Conditioner accessory were likely to struggle. Many people would probably freeze to death. Even if they survived, frostbite would severely impact their work efficiency.
The train conductor naturally had his own ways of staying warm. The highest priority on any train was always given to the conductor. But the slaves? Many of them were likely to freeze to death. Even if they survived, frostbite would severely hamper their work efficiency.
The residents of his train, however, had no such worries.
Inside the train, there was air conditioning. Outside, they had clothes with a "Temperature Lock" effect—an overpowered effect only attainable when the Clothing Customization Production Line reached Tier 5. Most people couldn't upgrade this accessory to Tier 5, and even those with Murphy Stones wouldn't want to spend them on it. Moreover, only Tier 4 trains had a chance of obtaining Murphy Stones in the first place; they never appeared in low-level regions.
Furthermore—
The residents of his train also had access to "Bread Slices" and "Mineral Water," foods with overpowered effects that, with long-term consumption, could enhance physical fitness and even reduce the likelihood of illness.
In short, the living conditions for the residents of his train were nearly superior to those on every other train in the Iron Ridge Wasteland and the Sha River Plains.
At least, despite the intense daily labor, not a single resident had died from exhaustion or serious illness. This alone demonstrated the train's excellent performance in this regard.
In the apocalypse, what more could one ask for than such an environment?
Chen Mang then turned his attention back to the "Permanent Shock Absorber," a yellow-grade Accessory. Its effect was to significantly reduce the impact force when the train was violently struck, thus protecting the lives of those inside.
A very useful accessory.
When he had collided with the Tier 4 Train deep underground earlier, he hadn't felt much of an impact. That was with only a Tier 1 "Permanent Shock Absorber." Without it, colliding with another train at such high speed would have been far more unpleasant.
After consuming 45,000 units of iron ore, he upgraded the accessory to Tier 10.
Each upgrade enhanced its impact-reduction effect. At Tier 10, the impact force from violent collisions was greatly diminished, and it gained two overpowered effects.
Permanent Shock Absorber Tier 5 Overpowered Effect: None.
Permanent Shock Absorber Tier 10 Overpowered Effect: None.
Despite the lack of overpowered effects, he still upgraded it to Tier 10, not for its overpowered effects, but for the enhanced effects it would gain upon leveling up.
Next, he produced 45,000 units of iron ore to upgrade the Medical Bay to Tier 10. Although he already possessed the Tier 10 Simple First-Aid Kit, an accessory capable of healing external injuries and even regenerating severed limbs, it was only a yellow-grade Accessory. He wanted to see if the Medical Bay's effects would become even stronger at Tier 10.
The upgrade yielded no noticeable improvement.
It remained exactly the same.
But...
The two overpowered effects he received were almost monstrous.
Tier 5 Medical Bay Overpowered Effect: Limb regeneration.
Tier 10 Medical Bay Overpowered Effect: Humans have never truly faced any incurable diseases. The Medical Bay can cure any ailment, including so-called cancers. Treating different diseases requires varying units of iron ore, with more severe illnesses demanding greater resource expenditure. Additionally, replacing any mechanical organ within the Medical Bay causes no discomfort.
The Tier 5 overpowered effect overlaps with the Tier 10 overpowered effect of the Simple First-Aid Kit.
However, the Simple First-Aid Kit's effect is single-use, while this one can be used permanently.
Moreover, using the Simple First-Aid Kit to reattach a severed limb requires a trained individual. It doesn't necessarily have to be a professional surgeon; if the stitching goes wrong, you can simply remove it and try again. After dozens of attempts, you're bound to get it right eventually.
The process is, admittedly, somewhat painful.
Death from the pain is unlikely.
Fainting from the pain is definitely possible.
The Medical Bay, on the other hand, eliminates this concern entirely. For limb regeneration, you simply place the severed limb and the patient inside the Medical Bay, close the lid, and after a minute, open it to find the limb fully restored. The entire process is painless and incredibly easy.
Of course, as with any limb regeneration method, the Medical Bay consumes more resources than the Simple First-Aid Kit.
In peacetime, the Medical Bay's Tier 10 overpowered effect would have been a technological marvel that would have stunned humanity. In the previous world before the transmigration, the medical community could treat only about 10% of all diseases, including even common colds, which were considered incurable.
New diseases were even being discovered from time to time.
It was like a game that occasionally produced bugs. With nearly ten billion people, it was perfectly understandable and normal for some strange things to occur now and then.
"Hmm."
Chen Mang walked to Carriage No. 2. He had placed the Medical Bay inside a Tier 10 Refrigerator in this carriage. Upgrading the refrigerator to Tier 10 had dramatically increased the space utilization of each carriage. After all, adding another carriage wasn't a simple matter, and the armor for that carriage would be expensive.
He stood still, staring at the Medical Bay before him. Similar to the Combat Training Virtual Space, it was entirely white but had a more futuristic design. He remained silent, lost in thought.
There shouldn't be anything wrong with my body, should there? I don't seem to have any illnesses.
After a moment's hesitation, he stripped off his clothes and climbed inside.
As he lay down, the lid quickly rose from both sides and slowly closed. Simultaneously, a thick, white liquid began to seep from the Medical Bay's base, soon enveloping his entire body. A small screen appeared on the inside of the lid.
The system has detected the following issues:
Lung integrity: 78%Heart integrity: 89%Limb integrity: 99%Genital integrity: 87%Liver integrity:
To repair a specific organ, tap the corresponding area on the screen to view the repair cost.
To fully restore all organs, 43,000 units of iron ore are required.
"That expensive?!"
The first thought that flashed through Chen Mang's mind was whether the price was outrageous. He hadn't suffered any injuries, wasn't sick, not even a cold. He was just getting a full-body checkup. And after the checkup, it told him he needed to spend 43,000 units of iron ore?
This felt strangely familiar.
If he were diagnosed with a terminal illness, how much iron ore would it cost?
And—
In his previous world, the medical checkup data he received from the hospital included specific disease names and a series of highly technical numbers. This "Medical Bay" simply evaluated each of his organs based on their "completeness"?
It sounded odd, like repairing Train Components.
He could accept other organs being less than 100% complete, but why were his limbs only 99% complete?
"There's nothing wrong with my limbs. No injuries at all," he protested.
The screen quickly displayed another line of text:
"Patient's right index finger has a hangnail."
"..."
"Repair everything."
In the next moment, a thick, white liquid began rapidly flowing from the bottom of the Medical Bay, covering his face and nostrils. At first, he held his breath, but he soon realized the viscous liquid didn't interfere with his breathing at all.
A minute later.
The white, viscous liquid drained rapidly, and Chen Mang climbed out of the Medical Bay. He walked over to the full-length mirror and examined himself from head to toe, his eyes wide with disbelief.
The guy in the mirror...
Is he really that handsome?
He rarely used the word "handsome" to describe himself. He'd always believed that for a man, appearance should never be a top priority.
But this time, he genuinely felt handsome. The man in the mirror radiated a completely different aura than before.
He'd never felt so light and free in his body. It felt...
Like he'd been reset to factory settings.
He looked at his right hand. Even the tiny splinter had been completely healed. He glanced down—it hadn't grown any bigger.
It seemed the Medical Bay only offered restorative effects, not fundamental changes. But that was fine. His current size was perfect; any bigger and he'd hit the height limit in the Tunnel.
Those 43,000 units of iron ore were well spent!
After putting on that high-tier outfit, he felt confident he could live another century without issue. If he kept using the Medical Bay, he even thought living to three or four hundred years old might be possible.
After all, human death was largely caused by the irreversible decay of organs.
But now...
The irreversible had become reversible!
"Not bad."
Chen Mang surveyed his reflection in the mirror one last time with satisfaction before heading back to the locomotive cabin. He wasn't planning to release this accessory to the lower levels just yet. It was too expensive, and the train couldn't afford it right now. The Simple First-Aid Kit would suffice for the time being.
With this, all craftable accessories for the Tier 3 train were complete. Except for the Storage Box, which he didn't need at the moment—the train still had a hundred Tier 10 Refrigerators, more than enough storage space.
"..."
In High-Tier Talent Carriage 5, Ji Chuchu sat in her seat, gazing out at the bustling scene. Trainmaster Zhu and the others were standing at the entrance of High-Tier Talent Carriage 4, tirelessly unloading slices of bread to serve as the day's food for the residents.
Lord Mang hadn't contacted her in a long time.
The minor celebrities who used to chat with her to pass the time were no longer permitted to enter this carriage, leaving her with no one to talk to.
Ji Chuchu's expression grew distant, her thoughts drifting away. The train had reached the Sha River Plains. She wondered if Lord Mang still remembered the matter she had mentioned—her best friend, Yan Yao, was hiding in a safe house in a villa in Sha River City.
Her circumstances had already determined her status on the train.
She was fortunate that Lord Mang still favored her, sparing her the need to resort to the same tactics as those minor celebrities. But how long would this affection last? She understood men better than she understood herself. Her livelihood depended on this, and novelty faded quickly.
There was only one way to secure her position on the train: Yan Yao.
Her best friend was slightly more attractive, still a virgin, and a celebrity—a high-value asset. Even if Yan Yao couldn't rise to the top, Lord Mang would undoubtedly favor her more.
In that case, she could leverage Yan Yao to maintain her status on the train. Moreover, Yan Yao knew nothing and would need guidance. Who better to teach her than she?
After a long moment, she snapped back to reality.
She looked down at the lipstick in her hand. Cosmetics were rare in the apocalypse, and she had just bought this one at the shop using a stellar coupon. She didn't know when Lord Mang would seek her out or when he might pass through this carriage. All she could do was maintain a perfect appearance, hoping that the moment he saw her, her beauty would provide him with some emotional value.
That would be enough.
Outside the Stellaris's locomotive cabin.
Panting heavily, Old Pig finally exhaled deeply, then wiped the sweat from his forehead. Leaning against the train, he watched Biaozi, who was collecting water for the passengers, and fished a cigarette from his pocket, sticking it in his mouth as he continued to breathe heavily.
"You're working hard, Biaozi. Saving up for a train token?"
"Hey, Biaozi."
"When you get your own train, how about calling it the 'Biaozi Express'? I'll be your deputy conductor. I think I'd have a brighter future following you."
(End of the Chapter)
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