Translator: AnubisTL
The rotund man was none other than Master Kun, the former Train Conductor of Chen Mang's train.
At that moment, the locomotive was crammed with ten people.
"Master Kun!" one of the men holding a police baton whispered hesitantly. "We've abandoned the carriage with the Heavy Machine Gun. Now, the locomotive has virtually no offensive capabilities. Shouldn't we... use that 'Vehicle Blade' Blueprint?"
"At least that would give us some means of attack."
If Chen Mang were there, he would have recognized the man immediately. This was the same thug who had ordered his lackeys to beat Chen Mang with their batons in the slave car. He was one of Master Kun's most trusted confidants.
During their escape, Master Kun couldn't take all his thugs with him. He chose to bring only his most loyal lackeys and a few of his most trusted henchmen. In the locomotive now were six of these thugs, Master Kun himself, the deputy train conductor, and two women who were Master Kun's mistresses.
Though the women were attractive, their faces bore the unmistakable look of survivors who had narrowly escaped disaster.
Though they were thugs, they were also trusted confidants of Master Kun, privy to his plans and schemes—knowledge far beyond the reach of ordinary lackeys.
Master Kun glanced at the white accessory blueprint, the "Vehicle Blade Blueprint," resting on the nearby table, and shook his head. "Crafting this accessory requires 500 units of iron ore. Despite being a white-tier item, its production cost is higher than some green-tier accessories."
"We only have a little over 200 units of iron ore on the train—far from enough to craft it."
"Besides..."
"We don't even need it. This is just a Rookie Train, not even qualified to build the most basic 'Firearm Production Line.' Whether it's vehicle-mounted weapons or individual firearms, you need a Tier 2 train or higher to craft them."
"What offensive capabilities could a Tier 1 train possibly have?"
"We all have guns. Once we find them, we can take them all down effortlessly. They're just slaves. Kill the overseer, and what risk remains?"
The middle-aged man who had proposed the plan said no more, lowering his head to glance at the pistol and baton in his hands, a faint unease lingering in his heart.
Who was Chen Mang?
He'd never heard of him, but he had an overwhelming sense that this man was likely the slave overseer he had appointed for Slave Car No. 7—a ruthless character whose impression on him had been profound.
With just the few of us and these guns, will it really be safe?
He couldn't understand how these people had survived the zombie horde, but if they had, surely scavenging guns and ammunition from abandoned carriages wouldn't have been difficult. Why did Master Kun seem so utterly unconcerned?
Wait—
Suddenly, the man realized what was at play. His voice trembled with excitement as he rasped, "Master Kun, I understand what you mean! Even if they found pistols and ammunition, those guns were all made by our train. They can't harm you!"
"Hmph."
Master Kun pulled the woman beside him into his arms, his face splitting into a satisfied grin. "You've finally figured it out? Not too late. Did you think I'd recklessly charge in without a plan?"
"Only fools wouldn't survive long in the wasteland."
"Let's move out!"
"With this batch of slaves, rising again will be a breeze. I just hope Chen Mang goes to the mine instead of panicking and running around the wasteland, making us lose him and letting someone else snatch this juicy morsel!"
"That's true!"
The man nodded in agreement. Normally, a Tier 1 Train was considered decent if it could acquire ten slaves. Often, even the Train Conductor had to personally take up mining. A Tier 1 Train with no offensive capabilities and a hundred slaves was indeed as vulnerable in the wasteland as a wandering, fat target.
The sun was gradually setting, nearing dusk.
Beside the iron ore, the train sat securely parked. Inside the train, Chen Mang was constantly searching for information and studying train components. Each train had its own unique strengths.
For example, some were fast, some had powerful firepower, some had thick armor, and some were highly maneuverable.
His vision, however, was for a versatile train. He was currently researching these components, along with the various information and rules from the Rookie Guide.
Old Pig was in Living Car No. 3, sorting and storing minerals and supplies. The remaining ten thugs, armed with rifles, patrolled the area, keeping watch.
These ten men had been slaves that morning, but by afternoon, they had become rifle-carrying thugs. The sudden change in status and treatment made them walk with a swagger, despite their gaunt faces, eager to show they were no longer slaves.
It was somewhat like how, in peacetime, newly risen middle-class people would go to great lengths to demonstrate they belonged to a different social class than ordinary people.
Once a person reaches a certain position, they will strive to act like someone in that position. Though it may seem awkward at first, over time, they will truly settle into it.
Just then—
"Hmm?"
Chen Mang suddenly noticed a locomotive speeding toward him from the distant wilderness at breakneck speed!
He immediately stood up from his chair.
Picking up a telescope, he peered through the glass at the distant object.
"It's really coming!"
Chen Mang's expression shifted abruptly. He immediately grabbed the walkie-talkie and ordered all his thugs to get on the train and prepare for battle. This locomotive was almost certainly the same one he had previously been on, since it was rare for a train to have only a single locomotive.
Even he now had three carriages!
The approaching train's posture clearly indicated it intended to ram them at full speed. Being a Tier 2 train, its armor was undoubtedly thicker than his Tier 1 train. Such a collision would either shatter his train into pieces or, at the very least, overturn it.
They had to get behind the mine.
As long as the enemy couldn't ram them directly, they still had a chance of winning!
In an instant, Chen Mang made his decision. He immediately maneuvered the train behind the small, meter-high earthen berm behind them, preparing to pull off a "King Qin's Pillar Maneuver" and evade the impact. But...
After several seconds, he realized the approaching train was actually slowing down.
"Huh?"
Chen Mang froze, incredulous. Why would they slow down? Were they abandoning the ramming tactic? But without a direct collision, what offensive capabilities did a single locomotive have? He couldn't see any external offensive accessories.
Wait!
A strange expression crossed Chen Mang's face as he suddenly realized what was happening. Master Kun must have assumed that this Tier 1 train was newly built and therefore lacked any offensive capabilities. He likely intended to capture them alive, minimizing casualties while recapturing them as slaves. At the same time, he wanted to keep the train intact so he could simply attach their carriages to his own.
Though it seemed hard to believe, the locomotive's gradually slowing speed made it clear that Master Kun was indeed thinking along these lines. Theoretically, this strategy maximized his potential gains while also maximizing the danger for them.
Understanding this, Chen Mang urgently barked into the walkie-talkie, "Old Pig! Find something to cover the Heavy Machine Gun!"
"All hands, listen up! Don't fire until I give the order!"
Normally, a Tier 1 train would indeed lack any offensive capabilities. After all, none of the thirteen available train components had any offensive capabilities. The only defensive component, the Steel Car Armor, required a staggering 1,000 units of iron ore to craft.
Master Kun's decision would have been perfectly reasonable under normal circumstances.
But—
In this world, abnormal things always happen.
(End of the Chapter)
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