Ten minutes later.
Chen Mang successfully arrived at the store he had never entered before.
「Flesh Train Parts Store.」
As soon as he pushed the door open.
He heard the crisp voice of the salesperson by the entrance: "Apologies, sir. This is the Flesh Train Parts Store. Mechanical—Respected 1024-level Flesh Train Conductor, welcome."
"Thanks."
Chen Mang chuckled lightly as he stepped inside, casually scanning the shelves on the first floor before waving his hand. "Pack up everything on this floor. Ten times the price."
Moving to the second floor.
"Pack it all. Ten times the price."
On the third floor.
"Pack it all. Ten times the price!"
Swift and decisive. In just a few minutes, Chen Mang walked out of the store, followed by Zhang Yi and Zhang Er carrying a refrigerator filled with their spoils.
Next!
The shopping spree wasn't over yet!
He had no plans to visit the Memory Bank.
Although it contained experiences like piloting mechas and close combat techniques, implanting memories required a certain level of mental strength. Currently, only Li Shiji met the requirements here. More importantly, memory implantation was harmful to the body—if it could be avoided, it was best not to do it.
After riding his off-road motorcycle around the streets for a while, Chen Mang reluctantly turned his direction toward the "Sun City" entertainment complex.
The only places where he could splurge freely were the parts store and convenience stores.
The remaining shops were mostly service-oriented.
Mostly brothels—services he had no use for.
Half an hour later.
Chen Mang strode into the casino and took a seat at a gambling table. Without even glancing at them, he placed the 500 million chips he had just exchanged all on the number "8." Smiling at the dealer, he said, "Come on, spin the wheel."
It was a fairly simple game.
Roulette.
There were 38 numbers in total. If you bet on a number, the casino's payout ratio was 1:38. In other words, betting 100 million chips would yield 3.8 billion chips. However, typically, when cashing out, you could only take away 3.5 billion.
The rest was the casino's cut.
He didn't care at all about winning—he was just sitting there playing blindly.
Yet...
When the dealer opened the wheel, the number displayed was unmistakably 8.
The dealer behind the table froze for a moment before speaking. "Sir, congratulations. You've won 19 billion chips. Our casino... doesn't actually have that many chips on hand..."
"I'll need to consult my superiors."
"No need for that."
Chen Mang casually tossed the chips in his hand to Biao Zi and the others. "You guys stay here and play. Xiao Ai, come with me upstairs."
Upstairs.
Inside the presidential suite, Chen Mang returned to that familiar spot. The bodyguards at the door bowed respectfully upon seeing him. As he pushed the door open, he saw Sister Qi standing there in a deep red evening gown, holding a glass of red wine, her expression complicated as she looked at him.
"I didn't expect you to return so soon."
"Where did those 500 million chips come from? The casino doesn't have that kind of money. You nearly crashed the casino's system."
Chen Mang walked straight to the sofa and sat down before casually pulling a cigarette from the box on the table and putting it in his mouth. He said nonchalantly, "A casino that can't even cough up over 10 billion? That's pretty pathetic."
"This place has been abandoned for a long time. There are chips—not just 10 billion, but even a trillion. But the actual money in the casino's account is only 26 million."
"Not enough to cash out the chips."
"No matter."
Chen Mang waved his hand dismissively, then turned to Wang Qi with a smile. "Consider it a gift for you. How've you been sleeping these past two months?"
"Not bad."
Wang Qi glanced at Xiao Ai standing nearby. "And who's this? Haven't seen such a crude robot in ages. Looks like it can't even manage basic facial expressions."
Xiao Ai remained expressionless, but two words appeared on the screen of his face:
「Slut」「Bag」.
"It even curses?"
"His body might be basic, but his intelligence level is way above yours." Chen Mang looked at Wang Qi seriously. "Remember what I told you before?"
"I'll take control of this city and make you the boss of three entertainment hubs."
"Now I'm back."
"This city is mine. I've checked—it's running on a 「Level 8 Energy Stone」 with 37% capacity left. According to Xiao Ai, that's enough to keep the whole city running normally for 217 years without entering hibernation."
"Starting today."
"No one in this city will go into hibernation. I'll grant you high-level permissions to control all the robots here."
"Right now, only some shops are open for business. Most are shut down."
"Your first task."
"Use Sun City as the center. Move all open businesses in Neon City—including that Memory Bank and the Mechanical Train Parts Store—to the vicinity of Sun City."
"I want this area to become a commercial district, a bustling one where every shop is open."
"Lively and vibrant."
"If I have guests visiting, you'll need to entertain them well and keep them from wandering into other zones."
"Really?"
A glimmer of excitement flashed in Wang Qi's eyes as she asked incredulously, "No more hibernation? But then the energy will only last 217 years."
"That's enough."
Chen Mang nodded silently. A Level 8 Energy Stone required 5 billion units of iron ore. Damn expensive!
Who knew if he'd even live another 217 years? If he did, he'd surely have no trouble affording another 5 billion units by then. If he didn't, why bother saving? Might as well splurge.
"No problem."
Wang Qi studied the young man before her with a strange light in her eyes. She never expected that in just two months, he'd return and forcefully seize control of the city.
"Aren't you afraid of the city's original owner?"
"Why not ask if he fears me?"
Chen Mang smiled and waved his hand, signaling Xiao Ai to wait outside for a while. Then he walked up to Wang Qi, looking down at her nestled in his arms. Gently stroking her red lips, he whispered, "This city is very important to me. Do well, and you'll be greatly rewarded."
"After all, it's the only Level 4 Intelligence Chip in Neon City."
"Don't disappoint me."
"As for now..."
"I love this deep red evening gown of yours."
Wang Qi, sitting on the sofa, gazed up at Chen Mang with tender eyes, slowly leaning her head against him and murmuring, "Thank you, Master."
An hour later.
Chen Mang strode out of the casino with Biao Zi and the others. Instead of riding the Off-Road Motorcycle, they walked briskly down the street while Chen Mang outlined the next steps to Xiao Ai.
"First step."
"Narrow down the commercial district. Neon City is too big—we don't need that much space right now. Just a small area centered around Sun City will do. Move all the shops there."
"Second step."
"Remember the 'Neon City Free Entry Ticket Production Line' we found on the second floor of that factory earlier? Mass-produce a batch and distribute them freely to every Train Conductor we meet."
"Third step."
"Replace the city's entire currency system with 'Stellar Coupons.' Then set the spawn point at the square in front of Sun City, where we'll set up shops where Train Conductors can exchange resources like 'Iron Ore' and 'Copper Ore' for Stellar Coupons."
"Let the Train Conductors trade their resources for Stellar Coupons, then spend them in the shops."
"Great plan."
Xiao Ai nodded in admiration. "Just one small issue—the 'Mechanical Train Parts Store' and the 'Flesh Train Parts Store' have already been completely cleared out by us. What will customers buy when they arrive?"
"Can't we just put the useless stuff back later?"
Chen Mang shot Xiao Ai an exasperated glance. They'd been too excited earlier and bought everything in sight. Now they had to return some of it—definitely a bit silly.
"Then we'll display some of our Train's specialties."
"For example, I have a Special Item called the 'Cosmos Sack,' which creates a small portable space. But our Train's own 'Space Pouch' can achieve the same effect at a much lower production cost."
"We can also sell refrigerators."
"And food with Supermodel Effects, like cola and Bread Slices."
"Simple First-Aid Kits, Mecha, and the like—all sellable."
"Including paywalled knowledge."
"For instance, we can sell information about the Supermodel Effects of the 'Doomsday Cannon' at levels 5, 10, and 20. People will definitely want to know this—before using a Murphy Stone, no one knows the subsequent Supermodel Effects. This info can also be sold, priced affordably since overcharging would just encourage reselling."
"And the casino."
"The casino is another great way to make money, but we'll scrap betting against the house. All guests can only bet against each other, with the casino taking a cut."
"Then we'll design a 'Referral Reward' system."
"For example, if a Train Conductor enters using a 'Neon City Ticket' gifted by another Train Conductor, both receive a referral bonus. This will encourage viral spread among guests."
"Let's return to the Iron Ridge Wasteland once more and distribute Neon City Tickets to every train passing through those regions. These trains will carry our tickets to other areas when they travel onward."
"This planet is vast enough!"
"There are a full 50 million trains. Even if just 100,000 enter our Neon City, our profits will reach an astronomical figure."
"The amount of iron ore obtained from mining is inherently limited!"
"Neon City is a game-changing existence—it not only enables cross-regional trade but also cross-regional communication. I want to turn this place into a holy land in the hearts of all Train Conductors!"
"For example, if a train is being pursued or encounters danger, they can even post a rescue mission here, calling for Train Conductors from their region to come to their aid!"
"And more..."
Chen Mang spoke passionately, his hands gesturing animatedly in the air, his words punctuated by excited spittle, as if the glorious vision of Neon City was already unfolding before him.
Xiao Ai silently took notes beside him.
Biao Zi grinned in admiration as he watched Lord Mang's back.
Much of it he didn't fully grasp.
But he could tell Lord Mang was extraordinary.
And—
Trains might soon bring a steady stream of iron ore here. Before, they only traded with trains from one region, but if this plan succeeded, given some time to develop, their train could trade with trains from many regions.
After the apocalypse.
The planet was divided into countless regions, with trains from different regions unable to interact—except in Neon City, where trains from all regions could gather.
Sometimes, he truly felt lucky. How had he ended up following Lord Mang, of all people?
Sun City.
Standing by the floor-to-ceiling window of a high-rise, Wang Qi gazed with mixed emotions at Chen Mang's retreating figure on the street below. When this man had first told her about his plan, she had thought it insane.
Two months later, he had made that insane plan a reality.
And now, he had an even crazier one.
This man truly dared to dream.
And to act.
After a long pause, the corners of her lips curled upward as she spread her arms, basking in the warm sunlight. At last, she no longer had to remain dormant. Moreover, she had a new job—and a new master.
For years, she had schemed against the overseers of the other two entertainment cities.
Then—
Suddenly, inexplicably, she had won. Without any warning.
Such was the privilege of clinging to the right coattails. Nothing to be done.
Chen Mang continued walking and talking, his mind racing, speaking whatever came to him. His role was to set the direction—the finer details would be left to his subordinates.
Such as pricing the goods.
The exchange rate between resource ores and Stellar Coupons.
The incentives and procedures for attracting new users.
These weren't tasks that could be completed overnight.
They would need to return to the train, draft a near-perfect SOP, and then continuously refine it based on feedback in the days to come.
Crush the Neon City Free Entry Ticket, and you could enter the city, staying for up to 48 hours with the option to leave early—far superior to the standard Neon City Ticket, which didn't allow early exits.
The "Neon City Free Entry Ticket Production Line" was located inside the factory, somewhat resembling a train component, yet it wasn't installed in the train. It consumed the Level 8 Energy Stone, though the depletion was minimal—almost negligible—so there was no need to worry.
"Huff."
After walking for who knows how long.
Chen Mang finally finished explaining all his plans in one breath. Taking the water handed to him by Biao Zi to moisten his parched lips, he lit a cigarette and stood by the roadside, gazing at the brightly lit city in the distance with a faint smile.
"If my life had an autobiography,"
"Then this place would be a major turning point in it."
From this day forward.
He would be someone who truly held the means of production in his hands. The speed of his growth would far surpass the sluggish pace of his train chugging along to mine resources.
At first, progress would undoubtedly be slow. But as long as he kept at it, the profits down the line would be unimaginable.
(End of Chapter)