What interested him the most was naturally the Special Item, the "Badge."
-
「Special Item」: Hero's Badge.
「Item Effect」: When worn, this badge will calm your fear in desperate situations, filling you with courage.
-
"Hmm."
Chen Mang toyed with the badge in silence for a while. It wasn't as useful as his "Salted Fish Hairpin," which allowed him to breathe underwater for ten minutes. He couldn't think of any situation where he'd need this badge.
Desperate situations?
He usually kept his cool in desperate times.
He decided to keep it for now, perhaps to reward someone in the future.
As for the card, it was quite a surprise.
-
「Special Item」: Laboratory Access Card.
「Item Effect」: When in the "Core Nuke" Fortuitous Encounter map, this card can be used to open a certain laboratory door within the map.
-
Another Special Item, though it would be useless for now. He had never heard of a Fortuitous Encounter map called "Core Nuke." Still, it was a good item to have. If he ever stumbled upon that map, this card could bring him more opportunities.
But the name...
Core Nuke.
Why would anyone throw a nuke into the Earth's core? What's the point of that?
Finally, the blueprint given by the Train Conductor of the "Only Love One Person" Train was quite satisfying.
「Tea Production Line」.
Great, another beverage for the Train.
He immediately spent 11,000 units of Iron Ore to craft this Accessory and obtained two Supermodel Effects. The Accessory itself didn't change upon upgrade.
-
「Tea Production Line Level 5 Supermodel Effect」: Suppresses phlegm.
「Tea Production Line Level 10 Supermodel Effect」: Long-term consumption slightly increases mental strength.
-
"Great."
Chen Mang couldn't help but smile. This guy really gave him a big gift. This was the first food item in the Train that could increase mental strength. Piloting the "Leech" Mecha required high mental strength, and currently, only Li Shiji in the Train could meet the requirement.
But Li Shiji was a logistics personnel and didn't have much talent in combat.
Future Mecha would have to be handed over to someone else.
He remembered that the third team captain's mental strength was 13.9, just a step away from the minimum requirement of 14.0 to pilot the Leech. With the tea and the map designed by Li Shiji, he could soon reach that requirement.
This guy was really generous.
He wondered if the guy would still have given him this Accessory if he knew its Level 10 Supermodel Effect could increase mental strength.
Oh, he probably would.
After all, that guy probably didn't have 7 Murphy Stones, might not even have the "Leech" Mecha Blueprint, and possibly didn't even have a "Crimson Heartstone." He had been in the Shahe Plain for so long and hadn't even seen a Crimson Heartstone mine.
This kid.
Even though he's a Level 6 Train, he still gives off a pitiful vibe.
At that moment—
Doba and Mundo arrived outside the Train and knocked on the door.
"Come in."
Chen Mang turned his head to Mundo. "Open your Inheritance Value Shop again. Let me take another look."
Mundo's expression turned serious, and his eyes turned cold.
"Foolish human, congratulations on encountering the mysterious, elusive, and great Black Market Merchant. You can—"
"Stop!"
Chen Mang glared at Mundo. "Can we skip the monologue?"
Mundo, who had just realized what was happening, instinctively took a step back, hiding behind Doba, and whispered, "...Sure."
"Great Human Prophet, please forgive him."
Doba quickly explained, "He's only regained part of his intelligence. The program in his brain is deeply ingrained. He—"
Chen Mang waved his hand, not saying much, and turned to the floating Inheritance Value Shop, casually saying.
"It's fine."
"From now on, change that 'Great Human Prophet' prefix."
"Don't you find it awkward?"
"Just call me Lord Mang or Train Conductor, got it?"
"Got it, Lord Mang."
In the Inheritance Value Shop, apart from the previous four items, six more valuable items had appeared.
1: Random Blue-grade Accessory Blueprint, 400 Inheritance Points.
2: Can choose from (Defense, Attack, Life, Speed, Miscellaneous) types, random Blue-grade Accessory Blueprint, 600 Inheritance Points.
3: Special Item "Class Change Token," 500 Inheritance Points.
4: Doomsday Marriage Certificate, 300 Inheritance Points.
5: Special Item "B-Level Difficulty Skip Coupon," 500 Inheritance Points.
6: Special Accessory "Desert Oasis," 500 Inheritance Points.
"..."
Chen Mang stared at these six options in silence for a long time without speaking. Normally, you had to make a choice within one minute, or the opportunity would be lost. Of course, this restriction didn't apply to him.
Even though the panel would disappear after a minute.
He could just summon it again.
Now he understood why people would buy and sell children. For example, the children Er Dan brought back from that abandoned Train. Those children hadn't been granted Train Crew status on their original Train, meaning the Inheritance Points didn't go to that Train, allowing Er Dan to pick up this bargain.
The original Train was planning to sell these children, essentially selling Inheritance Points directly.
The items in this Inheritance Value Shop were all too good.
He wanted every one of these six items.
The Special Item "Class Change Token" was something he had never seen before. Normally, when a Train levels up from Level 3 to Level 4, it has to choose to become a Flesh Train or a Mechanical Train. But with this item, even if you're a Level 6 Mechanical Train.
You can use this item to change into a Level 6 Flesh Train.
It gives you a second chance to choose.
He didn't need this, but if he sold it, it would definitely fetch a high price. After all... an S-Level Potential Flesh Train could use this item to become an S-Level Potential Mechanical Train!
It's a shortcut!
The Class Change Quest for Mechanical Trains is much harder than for Flesh Trains.
Of course...
Achieving S-Level Potential in a Flesh Train is also very difficult.
He also really wanted the Doomsday Marriage Certificate. If he could find a truly loving couple, it would be a net gain of 200 Inheritance Points. The downside is that it would take too long to sell. In a doomsday environment, finding a couple that the "Doomsday Marriage Certificate" would recognize isn't easy.
Before the apocalypse, in a peaceful environment, business was all about liquidity.
Profit margins could be smaller, but it was important to keep goods moving quickly, ideally without even passing through your hands.
Especially after the apocalypse.
It's better to get stronger quickly. Holding onto goods for too long, who knows what could happen.
Special Accessory "Desert Oasis."
An extremely special Accessory, with no grade distinction. A Train equipped with this Accessory is more likely to encounter entities like the "Black Market Merchant."
How to choose...
"..."
After a long silence, Chen Mang finally made his decision and turned to Mundo. "Give me 60 White-grade Accessory Blueprints."
No need for all these fancy options!
Just buy him 120 Supermodel Effects!
Even if 100 of them are useless, there are still 20 Supermodel Effects that can be used. Isn't that more cost-effective than any other Accessory?
With the "Infinite Upgrade" Level 0 privilege, White-grade Blueprints are the more, the better. Upgrading costs are low, and you get two Supermodel Effects right away. Is there anything more cost-effective than this?
However...
"You can only exchange for a maximum of 5 White-grade Accessory Blueprints."
"..."
Chen Mang sighed lightly and immediately spent 50 Inheritance Points to exchange for 5 White-grade Accessory Blueprints. After some thought, he spent another 500 Inheritance Points to exchange for the Special Accessory "Desert Oasis."
He still had 50 Inheritance Points left, which he would save for later.
He waved his hand, signaling Doba and the others to leave.
Then he looked up at the control panel screen. On the three-dimensional map of the Train, a small, cute dog tail grass suddenly appeared on top of the Train. This was the Special Accessory he had chosen.
No materials were needed to craft it.
It couldn't be upgraded.
The panel only showed one effect.
"It will attract more special passengers to you."
"Fine."
Chen Mang took off his clothes and headed to bed to rest. Encountering a few more special passengers like the Black Market Merchant would be great, especially if they were all Goblins. Then he could have Doba talk them into staying and becoming residents of the Train.
"Hmm."
Lying in bed, Chen Mang thought about today's wedding scene and remained silent for a while before casually grabbing a Redheart Nut nearby and popping it into his mouth, softly saying.
"Xiao Ai, call Ji Chuchu over."
"Tell her to stop by the No. 4 Production Line on her way and have a wedding dress custom-made for herself. High precision."
"Yes."
"Lord Mang."
Ji Chuchu, wearing a wedding dress and veil, knelt obediently by Chen Mang's bedside in the Train's interior.
Chen Mang glanced at Ji Chuchu, then opened the screen and played the variety show Ji Chuchu had participated in again.
After a while.
He patted the bed.
"Get up here."
"..."
The night breeze blew through the Train.
The bed shook.
The stars in the sky flickered like groggy workers forced to get up early.
Morning came.
"Phew."
Chen Mang stretched lazily, feeling refreshed, and began browsing the Train Log from last night.
Another peaceful night.
There were slightly more monsters last night, with a group of Zombie Wolves attacking. One of the Zombie Wolves was Level 5, but they all died horribly without causing any trouble.
Time to prepare to head to the Yellow Zone, "Zombie Basin."
He sat at the control panel and looked at the five random White-grade Accessory Blueprints he had exchanged from the "Inheritance Shop" yesterday.
One blueprint particularly satisfied him.
「Cigarette Production Line」.
With this Accessory, cigarettes in the Train would no longer be a non-renewable resource. The cigarettes in the Resident Store would never run out again. Many residents were keen on buying cigarettes with Stellar Coupons.
Not because they were addicted.
But because lighting a cigarette after work made them feel like workers in a peaceful era, rather than Slaves in a doomsday.
He spent 22,500 units of Iron Ore to upgrade all five White-grade Accessories to Level 10, gaining 10 Supermodel Effects at once.
Apart from the Cigarette Production Line, the other four White-grade Accessories were:
-
「Rice Noodle Roll Production Line」,「Handheld Game Console Production Line」,「Coffee Production Line」,「Pork Knuckle Rice Production Line」.
-
"Great."
Chen Mang was quite satisfied with these five Accessories. They were all Life Modules that improved living standards. They just came a bit late; otherwise, they could have elevated the wedding's atmosphere yesterday.
Especially the Pork Knuckle Rice.
He had a soft spot for Pork Knuckle Rice. In his previous world, Pork Knuckle Rice had provided him with the motivation to keep going on many late nights.
Including the Handheld Game Console Production Line.
Residents could have more entertainment options, and this could also be sold in the store.
The Supermodel Effects for the "Coffee Production Line" and "Pork Knuckle Rice Production Line" were both none.
The other Accessories had Supermodel Effects.
-
「Handheld Game Console Production Line Level 5 Supermodel Effect」: More game genres.
「Handheld Game Console Production Line Level 10 Supermodel Effect」: Can be played multiplayer.
「Rice Noodle Roll Production Line Level 5 Supermodel Effect」: Can choose between egg, meat, or crab fillings.
「Rice Noodle Roll Production Line Level 10 Supermodel Effect」: None.
「Cigarette Production Line Level 5 Supermodel Effect」: Can choose between "Regular Tobacco," "Premium Tobacco," or "Rare Tobacco."
「Cigarette Production Line Level 10 Supermodel Effect」: Slight pain relief effect.
-
Chen Mang leaned back in the control panel chair and let out a long breath, stretching lazily before getting up and stretching his limbs. He was quite satisfied with these Accessories.
Living standards had improved significantly.
Finally, no more of that damned Roujiamo!
After eating it for over two months, he felt a headache just thinking about it.
In a while, he'd slaughter a chicken and have a Private Kitchen meal. He actually wanted to eat fish, but fish was hard to come by, and there were no fish in the Breeding Carriage.
He immediately turned to Xiao Fang, who was holding a plate of hot Roujiamo.
"Go to Carriage 4 and bring me a bowl of Rice Noodle Rolls."
"Wait, make it three."
"One with meat, one with egg, and one with crab."
"Take all the cigarettes in my car and put them in the Resident Store. From now on, when you see the cigarettes running out, replenish them from the 'Cigarette Production Line' in Carriage 4, using Rare Tobacco."
"And make me a cup of tea."
All White-grade Accessories, so the production costs were cheap, almost negligible. If the Train were still at Levels 1 or 2, there might have been some pressure, and he wouldn't have spent Iron Ore to craft these Life Modules that improved living standards.
But for him now.
It was like a drop in the bucket.
The Tra
in's daily fixed expenses were already substantial, such as daily food and necessities for all residents, as well as accessories like the Oxygen Generator, Central Air Conditioning, and the constantly active Targeting Radar and Resource Detection Radar.
And the tobacco. For Regular Tobacco, producing one pack of cigarettes only required 1 unit of Iron Ore. At this price... he was ready to become a tobacco king.