My Apocalypse Train

Translator: Anubis Translations

Chen Mang glanced sideways at Old Pig, said nothing, and simply patted his shoulder before returning to the locomotive cabin.

The iron ore had already been moved back to Cargo Warehouse 2.

A total of 1,101 units of iron ore.

Eighty-one slaves had produced this quantity in a single day, truly a case of overexploitation.

"Money again," Chen Mang chuckled, looking at the resource count on the Train Panel. "Women? What women? If those two women could be sold for enough iron ore, I would have sold them long ago."

Women.

After too much, they're just the same.

Out of the seven train components essential for upgrading the train, Chen Mang only needed to craft two: Steel Car Armor and Axe Production Line.

Crafting these two required at least 1,100 units of iron ore.

Just enough.

Not more, not less.

The axes produced by the Axe Production Line would be used to harvest wood. The size of this production line was the same as the Pickaxe Production Line, and he placed it in the 2nd Cargo Carriage.

The Steel Car Armor required 1,000 units of iron ore per carriage.

Naturally, he prioritized the locomotive.

As the iron ore in Carriage No. 2 melted into dust and integrated into the carriage, Chen Mang stepped out of the locomotive cabin and nodded in satisfaction at the thick layer of armor covering the locomotive's surface.

He tapped it experimentally with his knuckles, hearing a deep, dull echo.

[Accessory Name:] Steel Car Armor

[Accessory Grade:] Green

[Accessory Tier:] 1

[Accessory Effect:] Provides complete immunity to all damage from Tier 1 bullets and Tier 1 biological threats. Also offers some protection against Tier 2 bullets and Tier 2 biological threats.

[Upgrade Requirements:] 5,000 units of Iron Ore

As expected of something that requires 1,000 units of iron ore to craft—it's worth every bit!

It doesn't just look safe; the armor's stats are impressively robust.

Standing several meters away, Chen Mang grabbed his Soaring Dragon Assault Rifle, aimed at the locomotive's armor, and emptied a clip.

Tutututu!

After firing all his ammunition, Chen Mang approached to inspect the damage. The locomotive's armor showed not a single dent, only faint scratches—a testament to its absolute immunity.

His Soaring Dragon Assault Rifle Production Line was Tier 1, so the rifles and ammunition it produced were naturally also Tier 1.

He even aimed half a clip at the locomotive's glass windshield.

Yet again, not a single mark remained.

Though the armor wasn't visible through the glass, the glass shared the same strength. If all the carriages of the train were equipped with Tier 2 or even Tier 3 Steel Car Armor, even if the train remained stationary, the zombies would be unable to breach its defenses, even in the face of another zombie horde.

"Excellent!"

Chen Mang nodded with satisfaction. The 1000 units of iron ore had been well spent, even if they had gone quickly. His 81 slaves had labored all day, and he had spent it all in an instant.

Only 1 unit of iron ore remained.

Earning money is like squeezing toothpaste, while spending it is like water flowing down a stream.

He suddenly felt a twinge of gratitude that Master Kun had enslaved him upon his arrival in this world. Without those 81 slaves, life would have been unbearable. He would have had to mine the ore himself.

Master Kun was truly a good man.

When the opportunity arose, he'd erect a monument to him and burn incense in his honor.

With this—

He had crafted all seven essential train components required to upgrade the Tier 1 Train to Tier 2. Now, only one final step remained before the upgrade could be completed.

[Upgrade Requirements:] Possess 4 carriages, complete all 7 essential train components, and consume 5,000 units of Tier 1 Iron Ore.

He currently has 3 carriages.

Once he adds another slave car and accumulates 5,000 units of iron ore, he'll be ready to upgrade to a Tier 2 train.

If everything goes smoothly, it should take about five days.

Everything is progressing in a positive direction.

However, it also serves as a reminder:

After upgrading the train to Tier 2, he must prioritize upgrading the Soaring Dragon Assault Rifle Production Line to Tier 2. This will ensure that future Soaring Dragon Assault Rifles can penetrate the Tier 1 armor of other trains.

Defense and offense must both be strengthened.

Tonight is destined to be unforgettable.

The slave car reeks.

The two newly crowned champions of the day refuse to take their women back to the slave car, instead opting to consummate their victories on the spot. The other slaves gather around, cheering them on, creating a lively scene.

Amid the chaos, some even take the opportunity to grope each other's buttocks.

Biaozi and his thugs stand nearby, watching the spectacle. After a long moment, Biaozi can't help but chuckle, infected by the atmosphere. "What a scene! Master Kun would never have tolerated this in his day."

"Um..."

Standing nearby, Black Rat murmured wistfully, "I'm suddenly regretting being chosen as a thug. I'm plenty strong myself. If I were a slave, I'd be the one charging into battle tonight."

Biaozi rolled his eyes at Black Rat with disdain. "Look at you, being so petty. We're thugs—our status is one Tier above slaves."

"If Lord Mang feeds slaves this kind of food, shouldn't we get something even better?"

Black Rat scratched his head awkwardly, mumbling, "It's not about the food. It's just... it's been so long since the apocalypse began that I haven't experienced such a lively atmosphere. I just want to go inside and join the fun."

"..."

Biaozi paused, then stared absently at the scene unfolding nearby. It was true; it had indeed been a long time since the apocalypse began that they'd witnessed such a lively atmosphere.

In the high-risk environment of the apocalypse, everyone's nerves were constantly on edge. Nearly every train conductor developed disturbingly extreme habits. When a person spends prolonged periods in such dangerous conditions, suddenly gains power, and faces no legal or moral constraints, they inevitably resort to extreme behaviors to relieve stress.

This was an objective law of nature.

Lord Mang, on the other hand, seemed to have no vices whatsoever. He appeared perfectly normal, without any mood swings or interest in women. This actually made him seem even more problematic!

In the blink of an eye, it was already the fifth day.

The horizon was just beginning to lighten with the pale, fish-belly white of dawn.

Chen Mang had risen early and finished washing up. Standing inside the locomotive cabin, he clasped his hands, closed his eyes, and murmured, "Heavenly Father, please bless us with another safe day. Even if it's our last."

The previous four days had all passed without incident. The slaves had consistently met their daily mining quota of at least 12 units of iron ore, pushing the extraction to its absolute limit.

If they could complete another successful day of mining, his train would naturally upgrade to a Tier 2 train—a significant improvement.

More importantly, with energy stones produced by the Train Radio and Crafting Table, he could safely explore the wasteland at full speed, searching for higher-grade iron ore and other opportunities.

These past few days had been nerve-wracking. After all, Master Kun's mining operation had been overrun by a zombie horde within hours of starting. The wasteland was truly a place of constant, unpredictable change.

He was already quite satisfied to have safely mined for four days.

Of course, if they could manage another successful day today, he would be even more satisfied!

(End of the Chapter)

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