"Not bad."
Chen Mang couldn't help but laugh, pulling Ji Chuchu into his arms and glancing at the woman in the miniskirt next to Er Dan. "Bro, you... you seem well-fed too."
"Can I still get those beers we talked about earlier?"
"Of course, why not!"
Er Dan spoke with a serious expression, "A bottle of beer is just one unit of Iron Ore. I, Er Dan, don't lack such things. Someone, move these to the Stellar Train!"
The next moment—
The carriage of the Azure Dragon Train opened, and dozens of Slaves jumped off, carrying crates of beer toward the Stellar Train.
Meanwhile, the Stellar Train's carriage also opened, and under Biao Zi's direction, a group of Train Residents jumped off to receive the beer and toss it onto the train.
"This—"
Er Dan, who was about to say something, looked at the group of Slaves from the Stellar Train and suddenly flashed a look of shock. After a long pause, he murmured, "Bro, how come your Slaves all look so healthy?"
"Ah, that."
Chen Mang clicked his tongue. How should he explain this? He couldn't exactly say that the bread and other things he gave them could enhance their physical fitness and supply essential vitamins. "Maybe it's because I feed them well."
"How many people die on average each month from mining in your place?"
"Die? None."
"No one gets sick?"
"Nope."
"How's that possible? Are your Slaves made of iron or something?"
"Bro... bro."
A Slave from the Azure Dragon Train, who was carrying a crate of beer to hand to a Slave from the Stellar Train, suddenly looked alarmed and whispered, "Are you crazy? Your Train Conductor is sitting right there. How dare you smoke so openly as a Slave?"
"If the Thugs find out you've been hiding cigarettes, you're dead!"
"Huh?"
The man who had jumped off the Stellar Train was momentarily stunned before he realized what was happening. He exhaled a puff of smoke casually and laughed, "What are you talking about? I'm not a Slave. I'm a Level 1 Resident now. This cigarette was bought with Stellar Coupons. Why can't I smoke it?"
"Just hand me the beer."
"Level 1 Resident treatment? What does that mean?"
"It means we can earn Stellar Coupons from mining, and then use them to buy things on the train, like cigarettes, houses, and—"
"Wait, what do you mean by houses?"
"Uh, I can't say. There are rules on the train. I can't reveal classified information. This is classified. But yeah, we have them."
"Don't your Thugs whip you to make you work?"
"Why would we need someone to whip us to work?"
"Huh? Don't you get tired?"
"Tired?" The man from the Stellar Train thought for a moment before holding up the crate of beer the Slave had handed him with one hand. "This is also classified. I can't tell you. But my physical condition keeps improving. I don't feel tired at all. I even have cola every day. I've got endless energy."
"Cola?"
"Yeah, that's classified too."
"Why is everything classified?"
"I didn't think about it until you asked. But yeah, it seems like everything's classified. At first, it was tiring, but it got much better later. It's way better than when I was on other trains. Plus, we have something to look forward to."
The man's eyes were filled with satisfaction and pride as he smiled and said, "Our treatment keeps improving. We can use the Stellar Coupons we earn to buy assets on the train. We can even find a wife and start a family again in this apocalypse."
"Do you have something to look forward to?"
"Yeah, I look forward to dying sooner."
The Slave from the Azure Dragon Train cautiously glanced at his Train Conductor, who was sitting cross-legged not far away, then lowered his voice, his eyes filled with longing and urgency. "Can I join your train?"
"Hmm."
The man thought for a moment before turning his head to look at Lord Mang not far away. "I'm afraid that's not possible. It could lead to war, and I don't have the authority to decide."
"I see."
The Slave from the Azure Dragon Train gritted his teeth and glanced back at the other Slaves from the Azure Dragon Train, whose eyes were also red. He whispered urgently, "All of us want to join the Stellar Train. Can you ask your Train Conductor? If it's possible, we'll start a riot from within as soon as you attack."
"The bullets are all stored in Carriage 2."
"When the time comes, we'll rush to Carriage 2 and blow it up. You can take advantage of the chaos to attack!"
"This—"
The man was stunned for a moment before his expression turned serious. "Wait here. I'll pass this message to Biao Ge."
"Alright, I'll wait for your signal!"
"..."
Chen Mang's face remained expressionless as Biao Zi whispered the report into his ear. His lips twitched slightly, and he sighed as he looked at Er Dan, who was still in shock.
Buddy, wise up.
Can't you see the look in your Slaves' eyes?
He then waved his hand, signaling Biao Zi to reject the proposal.
At this moment, Er Dan finally snapped out of his daze and murmured, "Bro... did your train change its system? Your Slaves all seem so motivated, nothing like the oppressed ones I have."
"Yeah, we changed it."
"Can you tell me about it?"
"Of course."
Half an hour later.
Er Dan frowned deeply, pondering Chen Mang's words. It might be a bit more complicated, but it seemed much better than the Slave system. The people on the Stellar Train were clearly full of energy, unlike his own Slaves, who were lifeless.
Especially—
Under this system, the Slaves' enthusiasm for work was much higher. The Slaves on the Stellar Train even worked up to seventeen or eighteen hours a day!
Moreover, Chen Mang hadn't held back. He'd even told him about the Bread Slices that could enhance physical fitness and the cola that restored energy. But where would he get the Murphy Stones to upgrade these two white Life Modules? Even if he had them, he wouldn't waste them on white Life Modules.
After a long pause, Er Dan shook his head with a bitter smile. "Bro, I can't use your system. You've got too many Supermodel Effects. I don't have nearly as many."
"Someone like you is truly one of a kind in this apocalypse."
"Now I'm worried that after my Slaves interact with yours, they'll all want to join the Stellar Train."
"That's true."
Chen Mang nodded in agreement. Without so many Supermodel Effects, an ordinary person would've been exhausted working like this long ago. "That's why I told you from the start. This system isn't exactly classified. It's not a big deal to share it. But without the proper Life Modules, it's hard to implement."
"Right."
Er Dan nodded, frowning as he thought deeply. "But it's given me some inspiration. I'll go back and see if I can come up with some incentive system too."
Then.
He took a deep breath, his eyes filled with admiration and helplessness as he looked at Chen Mang. "I've made a fool of myself in front of you, bro. I lost some face in your maze. I came here to vent, but I didn't expect that even though you're only a Level 4 Train, you're stronger than me in every way."
"No wonder you're the first Mechanical Train with S-grade potential in the Shahe Plain."
"Even in terms of women, I can't compare."
At that moment—
The door of Carriage 5 opened again, and Yan Yao, wearing a tank dress, walked down with a smile. She went to Chen Mang's side and knelt down, her voice filled with shyness as she whispered, "Lord Mang."
"Yan... Yan Yao?!"
Er Dan's eyes flashed with shock again. "You're that celebrity from the entertainment industry with the big background? You... Chen... Chen Mang, you..."
But the most stunned wasn't Er Dan—it was Ji Chuchu.
Ji Chuchu looked at Yan Yao, who was sitting on the other side of Lord Mang, completely bewildered. She was even wearing her clothes! Didn't you say last night that you'd rather go mining? How did you change so much in just one night!
Soon, Ji Chuchu figured it out. She gritted her teeth, cursing in her heart, calling her a scheming bitch.
She even took a shower and used her lipstick!
Are you out of your mind?!
Chen Mang glanced at Yan Yao, who was kneeling beside him, and gave her a once-over. Her beauty was on par with Ji Chuchu's, but while Ji Chuchu's beauty evoked a sense of pity, Yan Yao's was more aloof.
He then looked at Er Dan, whose jaw was practically on the floor, and couldn't help but laugh.
"You know them too?"
"They're big celebrities! Who doesn't know them!"
"Not bad." Chen Mang glanced at the countdown on the screen. "The countdown's almost up. Looks like it's just our two trains this time. Let's head back."
With that.
He stood up, bid farewell to Er Dan, and walked toward the train cabin with Xiao Ai, leaning on his cane. The others returned to their respective carriages.
"What's going on with you?"
Inside Carriage 5, Ji Chuchu crossed her arms and looked at Yan Yao in disbelief, unable to stop herself from raising her voice. "Are you out of your mind? Didn't you say last night that you'd rather go mining?"
"..."
Yan Yao lowered her head, a bit embarrassed. "I admit I was a bit stubborn last night. There were too many people in the Refrigerator. I couldn't sleep all night. I thought... it's more comfortable staying in this carriage."
"Why did you decide to come down?"
"After the Residents' carriage opened, I saw you sitting next to Lord Mang. I thought if I went down too, Lord Mang would look even more impressive, and he'd probably like me more. Plus, it was my first time seeing him. He's much more handsome than I imagined. So I went to your carriage, took a shower, and put on your clothes before coming down."
"Wait—"
Ji Chuchu took a deep breath, still unable to understand. "Did someone give you advice?"
"Yeah."
Yan Yao threw herself into Ji Chuchu's arms, her eyes filled with guilt as she gently bit Ji Chuchu's ear. "A minor celebrity from before the apocalypse gave me some advice. Then I found out that you were the one who begged Lord Mang to come to Sand River City to save me."
"Thank you."
"If it weren't for you, I'd have been waiting to die after the food ran out."
"Good that you know."
Ji Chuchu pushed Yan Yao away, annoyed. "Do you know how much courage it took for me to beg Lord Mang? After saving you, you were still reluctant. You need to adjust your attitude."
"So what now?" Yan Yao hesitated. "Should I go report to Lord Mang?"
"No, he'll call for you when he needs you."
"Does Lord Mang like you?"
"He likes me. Lord Mang has only called for me."
"I mean romantically."
"..." Ji Chuchu looked at Yan Yao in disbelief. "Are you out of your mind? Don't tell me you've decided after one night to climb the ranks and become the second-in-command? If you've got the skills, fine, but I'm worried you'll get yourself killed."
"This is the apocalypse, people die. You don't think that if you divorce, you'll get half the assets, or if you break up, you'll get half the train, do you?"
"No, I'm just asking. I'm not that stupid, Chuchu. Does Lord Mang have any quirks?"
"Yeah, he likes watching variety shows."
"..."
Sitting in the train cabin, Chen Mang calmly watched the countdown on the screen approach zero.
The moment it hit zero.
The countless gears in the Tower of Heaven suddenly stopped turning, and a crisp clicking sound rang out. After a three-second pause, the gears began to spin wildly again.
Then—
On the massive platform at the top of the Tower of Heaven, eight large platforms suspended by steel cables slowly descended from the sky until they touched the ground.
Chen Mang exchanged a glance with Er Dan, who was in the Azure Dragon Train's cabin.
Then, they each maneuvered their trains onto the platforms in front of them.
The platforms were long enough to accommodate trains with over thirty carriages.
Once the trains were in place.
Several clamps emerged from the bottom of the platforms, firmly securing the train wheels. After a three-minute wait, the platforms began to rise slowly.
Chen Mang looked out the window at the shrinking scenery, feeling a mix of anticipation and nervousness about what awaited them on the platform above the Tower of Heaven. This was his first time entering a Fortuitous Encounter map, so he couldn't help but feel a bit tense.
About five minutes later.
The platforms, pulled by the steel cables, ascended to the five-thousand-meter-high platform. With the sound of gears, the platforms seamlessly merged with the platform, leaving no visible gaps. The clamps on the platforms slowly retracted.
They had officially arrived at the top of the Tower of Heaven!
This was the Fortuitous Encounter map of the Tower of Heaven!
"Huh?"
Sitting in the train cabin, Chen Mang narrowed his eyes as he took in the scenery on the platform. The first thing that caught his eye were eight straight, long roads designed for trains, stretching several hundred meters. At the end of these roads was a—
Massive Mechanical City!!!
A city composed of countless mechanical parts, gears, and more, it appeared long abandoned, devoid of any signs of life.
The first impression was desolation.
The second impression was... power!
On the countless skyscrapers of this Mechanical City, one could clearly see numerous massive anti-aircraft guns mounted on the rooftops. However, it seemed as if the city had suffered a devastating attack, with many buildings collapsed into ruins.
Not a single corpse was in sight.
Nor was there any greenery.
If a city has no greenery, it exudes an overwhelming sense of coldness. This city was exactly that.
"Phew..."
Chen Mang exhaled softly, his hands resting on the control stick. If the mission of this Fortuitous Encounter map was to navigate through this fully armed Mechanical City.
Then he only had one thing to say.
Can I apply to withdraw? He's done playing.
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