Translator: AnubisTL
Inside Carriage 5.
After taking Yan Yao away, Old Pig entered and smiled gently at Ji Chuchu, who was sitting by the bed. "Looks like things didn't go as planned? That's not what you promised Lord Mang, was it?"
"Don't end up making trouble for yourself if things go wrong."
He could naturally see through Ji Chuchu's intentions at a glance. Knowing she had reached her limit, she was trying to use Yan Yao to improve her status on the train. But it seemed her progress wasn't going smoothly.
"It's a bit tricky," Ji Chuchu admitted, shaking her head and glancing out the window. "She hasn't experienced the apocalypse. Her mindset hasn't shifted yet. Give her some time, and she'll naturally understand."
Old Pig nodded. "Just make sure you don't push too hard and cause unpleasantness. If she really doesn't want to, don't force her. Just let her mine. Lord Mang isn't fond of such messy affairs. Do you understand what I mean?"
"Yes, I do, Trainmaster Zhu."
"Good," Old Pig said, turning to leave the carriage. This was just a minor incident. Since Yan Yao had been brought to the carriage, Lord Mang hadn't even asked about her, appearing indifferent, as if she were completely expendable.
If you're obedient, I'll keep you. If not, you'll be treated like any other resident.
Mine ore or Sell your body.
Dawn soon broke.
The bald man on the Azure Dragon Train switched to his Windfire Wheel and sped toward the coordinates. The Bunny Cloud consumed too much energy to fly over the Kun Mountain (Kunlun Mountain) Zone, where the terrain was difficult to navigate and the skies were safer.
But on the Sha River Plains, flying when he could use the Windfire Wheel was just plain stupid. No matter how rich he was, that wasn't how he should be spending his resources.
However...
When he was only a few minutes away from the coordinates, the Azure Dragon Train slowly came to a halt. Several mechanical arms extended from the sides of the carriages and replaced the wheels with Bunny Clouds in just a minute.
With a roar of ignited Nitrous Tailpipes, the train shot forward, soaring through the air directly toward the coordinates!
A moment later, he spotted the Stellaris parked nearby. He grinned and slowly maneuvered the Azure Dragon Train to land in front of the Stellaris. He leaned out the window and waved.
"Brother! It's me!"
"..."
Chen Mang stared impassively at the train that had stopped before him. He had upgraded his target acquisition radar to Tier 15, giving it a detection range of 15,000 meters. He had spotted the Azure Dragon Train long ago.
At a distance of over 10,000 meters, it had still been running along the ground.
After pausing for a minute, it had flown over.
Hmm, I see.
Bunny Cloud must be consuming a lot of energy.
But he didn't call him out on it. He just sighed softly. Why is this guy acting like a child? This is the apocalypse, not a game of make-believe.
He rolled down his window and leaned out to examine the Azure Dragon Train.
"I've heard a lot about you. Nice train."
"Not bad," the bald man chuckled. "Tier 5 train, 22 carriages, over 600 slaves. Shall we set off now? I'll lead the way. My train is pretty fast; it can hit over 500 on flat ground at full speed, but I'll slow down for you."
"Just over 300."
"Alright."
Neither man got out of their trains; they leaned out of their respective locomotive cabins to chat for a few moments.
After all, this was their first meeting.
The Azure Dragon Train's conductor was also hesitant to step out and talk alone. Nearly all his abilities came from his train; leaving it would greatly increase his danger. Chen Mang had no objections, though he could remotely control the train with the Hell Staff.
But...
There was still danger. No matter how fast the train was, bullets were faster.
Two trains, one following the other, sped eastward across the Sha River Plains. In stark contrast to the Kunlun Mountain Region, where the mountains lay to the west and the Sky Piercing Tower to the east, the trains were now heading in the opposite direction.
About three hours later, the Azure Dragon Train gradually slowed to a stop before the Sky Piercing Tower.
"We've arrived. We'll have to wait a bit," Chen Mang said, glancing at the message from the Azure Dragon Train's conductor on the train radio. He gazed at the scene before him, a sense of awe welling up within him. The tower before him appeared to be a hundred meters wide at its base, resembling a colossal power pole.
But with a distinctly sci-fi aesthetic.
Its transparent surface revealed a multitude of differently sized gears whirring within the column. Some, dozens of meters in diameter, rotated slowly, while others, only a few centimeters across, spun at dizzying speeds.
Looking upward, the column's diameter narrowed with increasing height, shrinking to a mere ten meters wide at its apex. At the very top, a massive platform jutted out, the overall structure resembling an exaggerated golden needle mushroom.
This was certainly not a relic of the pre-apocalypse era.
Before the Sky Piercing Tower stood a massive light barrier, similar to those marking zone boundaries.
"Fortuitous Encounter Map: Sky Piercing Tower."
"Official countdown begins: 01:10:29."
"Maximum capacity: 8 trains can ascend and participate. Only Tier 5 and lower trains are permitted."
"Trains within the Yellow Waiting Zone cannot attack each other, nor can members of different trains attack each other."
"Brother!"
The Azure Dragon Train's conductor had already jumped off the train with his confidants, standing on the plains and waving towards the distant yellow circle. "We're in the Yellow Waiting Zone now. It's safe here. You can come down."
"Let's go," Chen Mang said softly into his walkie-talkie. "Old Pig, tell Biaozi to come down too."
Just then—
Xiao Ai, who had been standing quietly in the corner of the locomotive cabin, suddenly spoke up. "Train Conductor, I want to go down and take a look too."
"You?"
Chen Mang frowned slightly, about to refuse, but after a moment's thought, he picked up his Hell Staff, walked to the mirror, and adjusted his appearance before finally saying, "Alright, let's go down together."
He then stepped off the train.
"Brother!"
The bald man from the Azure Dragon Train and his subordinates immediately rushed forward to greet Chen Mang as soon as they saw him disembark, their faces beaming with smiles. "We've been kindred spirits for ages! Finally, we meet! That maze design of yours last time was truly ingenious, Brother. I admire you."
"My name is Erdan. What's your name, Brother?"
Erdan's gaze then fell on Chen Mang's clothes, and he paused slightly. How could clothes made on the same Clothing Customization Production Line look so much better in quality?
And that cane looked incredibly expensive too!
Moreover...
This was the apocalypse. Why did this guy exude an aura detached from the mundane world? Just one look at his demeanor told you he was no ordinary mortal.
Erdan had always been quite confident in his own appearance, but for some reason, a wave of self-doubt suddenly surged within him. He instinctively lowered his head to examine his own outfit. Could this guy have upgraded the Clothing Customization Production Line to produce Overpowered effects?
"Just call me Chen Mang," Chen Mang replied, leading Old Pig and the others to the bald man. He grinned warmly. "Brother, your head shines like a beacon."
As fellow train conductors, the contrast in their auras was stark.
Indeed.
It was all a matter of money.
Chen Mang's outfit was crafted with the Tier 10 Overpowered effect of the Clothing Customization Production Line, resulting in exquisitely detailed clothing. His cane was a special item, the Hell Staff. His body had been completely transformed in the Medical Bay, and combined with his naturally handsome features and impressive Height, he simply couldn't be compared to Erdan.
Especially in an environment like the apocalypse, the contrast was stark.
Only after disembarking the train could Chen Mang truly appreciate the awe-inspiring presence of the Sky Piercing Tower before him. He gazed up at the towering structure, its transparent facade revealing countless rotating gears within, and thought, "How cool!"
If only he could collect this thing. It would make an amazing trophy.
He then glanced around. Currently, only their two trains occupied the Yellow Zone. No other trains were visible, and the target acquisition radar showed no other vehicles nearby.
"Just the two of us?"
"Yes."
Erdan, the conductor of the Azure Dragon Train, nodded solemnly. "Few people know the Sky Piercing Tower has officially opened. I've been monitoring this area closely, and every fortuitous encounter map comes with its share of dangers. Many prefer to avoid them, opting for the safer route of mining."
"Chen Mang," Erdan continued, "regardless of how many trains arrive later, we'll stick to our agreement. If it's a cooperative map, we'll team up and split the rewards 50-50. If it's a solo challenge, we'll each fend for ourselves. How does that sound?"
"Alright. But what if it's a competitive one?"
"There aren't any competitive ones," Erdan shook his head. "At least, I've never encountered or even heard of a competitive fortuitous encounter map."
As he spoke, Erdan suddenly turned and shouted toward the locomotive cabin: "Mom! Make some ice-cold beer! I'm treating my brothers to a drink!"
"Forgive me, everyone. My mother passed away long ago, so I named my AI 'Mom.' It makes me feel like she's still with me."
"I enjoy exploring fortuitous encounters and have acquired quite a few fun accessories. For example, this ice-cold beer production line. It's not particularly useful, but it does improve our quality of life."
A door on one of the Azure Dragon Train's carriages opened, and a beautiful woman in a short skirt emerged, carrying a tray laden with over a dozen cans of beer.
"Try some. It's been a while, hasn't it?"
Erdan turned to Chen Mang and his group, extending a warm invitation. "Come on, everyone, have a taste. We still have some time. Let's sit down and enjoy the company. In this apocalypse, moments like this are truly precious."
[Indeed, this beer was produced by an accessory and poses no harm.]
[Also, Train Conductor, could you ask this Erdan if his train has A-Rank potential? I'm quite curious.]
"..."
Ignoring the information transmitted to him by the AI in his mind, Chen Mang didn't put on any airs. He simply followed Erdan and the others, sitting cross-legged on the ground and cracking open a beer to drink.
"Brother, let me tell you, that maze you built back then..."
Though the man before him seemed a bit pretentious, they found themselves surprisingly compatible in conversation. They chatted happily, while Old Pig and the others gathered with Erdan's crew, all sitting cross-legged on the grassland, none carrying any weapons.
If it weren't for the two imposing trains parked on either side, it wouldn't have felt like the apocalypse at all. It would have resembled a peaceful spring outing.
But the machine gun turrets scattered outside the carriages quickly reminded them of the grim reality.
"Brother!"
After downing two cans of beer, Erdan, though not drunk, was feeling lively. He looked at Chen Mang earnestly. "We're truly kindred spirits. Here's what I'll do: I know the Stellaris has S-Rank potential, but it's only a Tier 4 train, so it might lack many accessories."
"I'll produce a few thousand more bottles of beer later and send them to you!"
"You can drink as much as you want anytime you want."
"But..."
Erdan suddenly chuckled, pulling the beautiful woman in a short skirt beside him into his arms and winking. "This woman's off-limits, though. She's mine. What do you think? Not easy to find a woman this gorgeous in the apocalypse."
"Call me Lord Mang!"
The woman in Erdan's arms, surprisingly obedient, whispered, "Lord Mang."
"..."
Chen Mang, sitting cross-legged on the ground, couldn't help but sigh again. Why does this guy have to show off every single moment? Who asked you about your woman anyway? Really...
He glanced sideways at Old Pig.
Though Old Pig was chatting with others, his attention had been fixed on them. He immediately understood, nodded slightly, and pulled out a walkie-talkie from his pocket, whispering a few words into it.
The next moment—
The door to Carriage 5 of the Stellaris train suddenly slid open.
Standing in the doorway was Ji Chuchu, radiant in a red evening gown, her bright eyes and pearly white teeth gleaming. She gracefully waved to the crowd before walking towards them with elegant steps. Finally, she knelt beside Chen Mang, smiled at everyone, and said nothing more.
Then, she took out a cigar, lit it quietly, and presented it to Chen Mang with both hands.
She looked both stunningly beautiful and remarkably obedient.
"Oh."
Chen Mang accepted the cigar, pinching it between his fingertips with a chuckle as he looked at Erdan. "It's fine. A friend's wife is off-limits, after all. I can't take your woman; you keep her."
He had seized this cigar from the train outside the swamp, finding seven in total.
He didn't enjoy smoking them, but they looked more stylish.
"Huh?"
Erdan, who had been beaming just moments ago, stared at the scene. His smile froze instantly, his eyes widening in disbelief and shock. His voice rose involuntarily. "You... you're not that Ji Chuchu?"
"The top-tier celebrity? The C-center guest from the pre-apocalypse's hottest variety show, 'Sisters, Take the Stage'?"
"That's me."
Ji Chuchu, kneeling at Chen Mang's side, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her smile radiant as a flower. "Thanks to Lord Mang for taking me in, I finally have a safe place to stay in this apocalypse."
"I... I..."
A flicker of confusion crossed Erdan's eyes. He glanced at Ji Chuchu, stunningly beautiful and regal in her red evening gown, then at the woman beside him in her ultra-short skirt.
They were in completely different leagues.
After a long moment, he managed a stiff smile, his face flushed with embarrassment. He looked at Chen Mang awkwardly and said, "Brother, you're living the good life, huh?"
(End of the Chapter)
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