"Zhang Da Mei."
After Lao Zhu left, Biao Zi couldn't suppress his curiosity any longer and immediately strode towards Zhang Da Mei: "What's your Physical Fitness Index?"
"Are you calling me?"
Zhang Da Mei turned around to face Biao Zi, slightly embarrassed: "You already know my new name? It's the first time someone's called me Da Mei, feels a bit awkward."
"My Physical Fitness Index is 18.2."
"What about yours, Biao Ge?"
"..."
Biao Zi remained expressionless, glancing at his own Physical Fitness Index of 12.1, and calmly said, "About the same as yours. You should head back to the Train. It's our team's turn to patrol and be on alert."
"Go practice a bit more in the Combat Training Virtual Space."
"Once you're ready, we'll have you start participating in ranking matches soon. Aim for a higher rank to boost Stellar's Reputation Points."
"No problem!"
The shyness on Zhang Da Mei's face instantly disappeared, replaced by a fierce glare: "I'll definitely smash their brains out!"
Then she ran back towards the Train.
Fortunately, the Combat Training Virtual Space's pod was large enough; otherwise, Zhang Da Mei might not have fit. Biao Zi watched her retreating figure and sighed softly—this girl was a natural anomaly.
As the Train developed, more and more such anomalies were appearing.
Zhang Da Mei, Li Shiji...
People like him, who weren't particularly outstanding in any area, had only managed to hold high positions because they had followed Lord Mang from the beginning. If he didn't work hard to improve, as the Train continued to develop, they would inevitably be replaced by more promising newcomers.
He had to push himself harder.
Ranking matches.
This was a mode in the "Combat Training Virtual Space" accessory that allowed players to compete with those from other Trains. Only by upgrading the accessory to level 5 could one unlock this Supermodel Effect and participate in ranking matches.
It wasn't just about competing with Trains in one region.
It was about competing with all Trains of the same level worldwide. The scope was immense, and there were bound to be many skilled players.
Take Zhang Da Mei, for example. She was naturally strong as an ox, but in the ranking matches, where combat was bare-handed, she might encounter some ruthless individuals who had made a living off underground fighting before the apocalypse. Their Physical Fitness Index, honed through years of training, might not be lower than Zhang Da Mei's.
The challenge was formidable.
In the No. 5 Women's Advanced Talent Carriage.
"This is incredible."
Yan Yao sat in her seat, staring at the semi-transparent panel in front of her, her eyes filled with awe. Then she turned to Ji Chuchu with a puzzled expression: "Chuchu, why am I still on level 3 resident treatment?"
"All level 3 and above advanced talents on the Train are currently under Lord Mang's direct orders. Lord Mang hasn't explicitly elevated you to level 3 advanced talent treatment yet, and since you've just joined the Train, you're naturally on level 3 resident treatment."
"But... didn't I already prepare to serve Lord Mang?"
"That hasn't happened yet."
Ji Chuchu gave Yan Yao a sidelong glance: "After your first time with Lord Mang, he'll promote you. The fact that you can stay in this carriage now is just because Train Conductor Zhu and the others assume you'll be promoted soon."
"When will Lord Mang summon me then?" Yan Yao asked anxiously: "This level 3 resident treatment doesn't even give me a single Stellar Coupon a month. How am I supposed to save up 50 Stellar Coupons?"
"Just wait."
Ji Chuchu turned her head slightly to look out the window, her voice tinged with melancholy: "It's been a while since he summoned me..."
"Let alone you."
"But Chuchu, why did you specifically use a Stellar Coupon to make yourself two new sets of clothes earlier? They're just ordinary clothes, not High-Precision Clothes. What's the point?"
"That's a secret weapon."
Ji Chuchu glanced at Yan Yao, a hint of a smile in her eyes, then looked back out the window. Those two outfits were the same ones she wore during her variety show appearances. If Lord Mang summoned her next time, she would wear them, and he would surely like it.
"Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis?"
Inside Stellar's Train room.
Chen Mang frowned as he received the message from Biao Zi relayed by the AI. Back then, he didn't have any major health issues, yet his treatment in the Medical Bay had cost 45,000 units of Iron Ore. Treating ALS would require at least 100,000 units or more.
A Guardian's girlfriend.
"..."
He remained silent for a while before turning to Xiao Ai, who was tinkering nearby: "Have Shan Mao Zi and his girlfriend come to my Train room."
"Understood."
Xiao Ai nodded, and the next moment, the message appeared before Shan Mao Zi and his girlfriend.
The speed of message transmission had increased countless times compared to before.
Soon—
The Train room door opened.
"Lord... Lord Mang..."
Shan Mao Zi entered nervously, not daring to look directly at Lord Mang, who was seated in the chair. He had been with Stellar for a long time, one of the earliest members since Master Kun's days.
But he had never had a private conversation with Lord Mang, let alone shared the same space like this.
He couldn't help but tremble slightly.
Behind him, a woman with faint freckles on her face stood slightly behind him, equally nervous, clutching Shan Mao Zi's sleeve.
"Hmm."
Chen Mang nodded, observing the two before smiling lightly: "Relax, I'm quite easygoing."
"Each of you take one and see if there's any reaction."
Without further explanation, he pulled out the long-dormant Special Item, the "Doomsday Marriage Certificate," from the drawer and tossed it over. As Shan Mao Zi hurriedly caught the two certificates, giving one to his girlfriend and holding the other himself, the previously unremarkable Doomsday Marriage Certificates began to emit a faint crimson glow.
"Lord Mang... what is this?"
"Good."
Chen Mang smiled, then took the Doomsday Marriage Certificates from Shan Mao Zi and opened them. Inside, three lines of text appeared.
-
「Choose your wedding level.」
1: Golden Wedding.
Requires a ceremony witnessed by 1,000 people, with three Trains of the same level attending the banquet. Food and drinks must be provided for all attendees, along with basic items like wedding dresses, red carpets, artificial flowers, and fireworks.
Successfully hosting a Golden Wedding will grant the Train 500 Inheritance Value and 20 Reputation Points.
2: Silver Wedding.
Requires a ceremony witnessed by 500 people, with food and drinks provided for all attendees. A wedding dress is also required.
Successfully hosting a Silver Wedding will grant the Train 200 Inheritance Value.
3: Bronze Wedding.
Requires a ceremony witnessed by 100 people.
Successfully hosting a Bronze Wedding will grant the Train 100 Inheritance Value.
-
500 Inheritance Value and 20 Reputation Points.
Chen Mang played with the Doomsday Marriage Certificate in his hands, remaining silent for a moment before looking up at the woman behind Shan Mao Zi and smiling: "You've been on Stellar for a while now, right? How do you feel? Has anyone bullied you?"
"No... no one."
The woman behind Shan Mao Zi, though still nervous, forced herself to stay calm, her eyes filled with gratitude: "Meeting Lord Mang in the apocalypse is Mei Jia's good fortune. If it weren't for Lord Mang, I might have been waiting to die in that safe house."
"And being able to see Shan Mao again before I die, I have no regrets left."
"Lord Mang, don't worry, I've already taken a pickaxe. I can go mining in the future. I won't let you waste resources on me."
"..."
Chen Mang frowned slightly, pausing before speaking softly: "Stellar isn't so poor that we can't support one woman."
"Xiao Ai, take her for a check-up. See how many resources are needed for treatment."
"Yes."
Xiao Ai, who had been tinkering, put down his tools and stuffed a bunch of tangled wires back into his head before standing up and looking at the woman, his voice mechanical and emotionless: "Follow me."
"Lord... Lord Mang."
Shan Mao Zi, realizing what was happening, immediately knelt down, his eyes red as he kowtowed repeatedly, his voice trembling: "If you can cure Mei Jia, my life is yours from now on. Whenever the Train needs someone for a suicide mission, I'll be the first to volunteer!"
"If I hesitate even once, you can shoot me."
"Wherever you send me, I'll go."
Chen Mang, sitting in the chair, glanced at Shan Mao Zi and said casually: "So if I can't cure her, you won't listen to me anymore?"
"No, no, that's not what I meant."
Shan Mao Zi, anxious, knelt up straight and looked at Lord Mang: "I misspoke. I meant..."
"Alright, no need to explain."
"Let's see how many resources are needed."
"125,000 units of Iron Ore."
Xiao Ai soon returned with the woman and reported the resources required for treatment.
"..."
Chen Mang glanced at the Train panel, which showed that Stellar had 327,000 units of Iron Ore—enough, but... He remained silent for a moment before looking at Shan Mao Zi, whose hope had already dimmed, and said calmly:
"Do you know what 125,000 units of Iron Ore means?"
"I know."
Shan Mao Zi, kneeling on the ground, lowered his head, his eyes red. In that instant, all hope left him. After a pause, he suddenly laughed, his voice hoarse: "125,000 units of Iron Ore could feed all members of Stellar Train for 60 days."
"Mei Jia... she's not worth that many resources."
"She's not worth that much money."
"Lord Mang, it's fine. Mei Jia can still live for two or three years. Not treating her is okay. In the apocalypse, living for two or three more years is already enough. We should save these resources for the Train's development, to make Stellar better. After all, there are so many people on the Train."
"Lord Mang."
Mei Jia also knelt down, her eyes filled with fear: "Shan Mao is right."
She had been on the Train for a while now and knew that Iron Ore was the most crucial resource for the Train's development. 125,000 units of Iron Ore—her life wasn't worth that much before the apocalypse, let alone now.
"..."
Chen Mang sat in silence for a while before standing up, walking over to Shan Mao Zi, and helping him to his feet. He patted the non-existent dust off Shan Mao Zi's shoulder and said softly with a smile:
"She's not worth that much."
"But you are."
"Xiao Ai, take her down for treatment. Be happy. In a few days, I'll personally host a wedding for the two of you. It might just be the grandest wedding in the apocalypse."
"Everyone's feeling pretty down in the apocalypse. We'll use your wedding to lift everyone's spirits."
"Go on."
As Shan Mao Zi was helped up, he was about to speak when he realized that Lord Mang had said... it could be treated? His body stiffened, and tears finally spilled from his eyes. He knelt down heavily again, his eyes red as he roared:
"Lord Mang!"
"Don't worry, from now on, wherever the Train needs me to die, if I hesitate even once, I'm a bastard."
"My life is yours from now on."
"You tell me how to die, and I'll die."
"Alright, alright..."
Chen Mang patted Shan Mao Zi's shoulder again, somewhat helplessly: "Stellar doesn't have that many suicide missions. If it ever comes to that, Stellar would probably be on the brink of collapse."
"Go on."
Soon—
Xiao Ai returned alone to the Train room, sitting down and opening his head to continue tinkering before speaking: "Lord Mang, this might be the most expensive woman you've ever bought."
"125,000 units of Iron Ore."
"That's two and a half Ji Chuchus."
"Not bad."
Chen Mang leaned back in his chair, propping his feet on the control panel, and said casually: "If we find a level 2 Iron Ore deposit, it'll only take about a day to mine that much."
125,000 units of Iron Ore for 500 Inheritance Value, 20 Reputation Points, and Shan Mao Zi's loyalty wasn't a bad deal. He had observed Shan Mao Zi before—he was the type who responded better to kindness than force, and he truly remembered favors.
As for the wedding, he would definitely choose the Golden Wedding.
The conditions for the Golden Wedding weren't too difficult for him. The only challenge was finding three Trains of the same level to attend the wedding, but that wasn't insurmountable.
Just now.
The Ziyun Train had sent him a message, saying it had successfully arrived at Shahe Plain and upgraded to a level 4 Train.
They were paying their respects.
Though he found the act of paying respects rather unnecessary—after all, even if they didn't, he wouldn't go out of his way to seek them out—but at least now he had one level 4 Train for the wedding.
Azure Dragon wouldn't work; it was a level 5 Train. He still needed two more level 4 Trains.
He would figure it out later. There was no rush.
"By the way—"
At that moment, Xiao Ai, who was tinkering in the corner, suddenly spoke up: "Train Conductor, could you make me another Mechanical Eye? One is enough, but it feels like being a one-eyed pirate, looks ugly."
"..."
Chen Mang gave Xiao Ai a sidelong glance, quickly crafting another Mechanical Eye before saying irritably: "How about I make you a set of High-Precision Clothes later too?"
"Hey, that's a good idea."
Chen Mang couldn't be bothered to respond to Xiao Ai anymore. He let out a long sigh and turned his attention to the Train panel, deep in thought. Today, the Train would rest and reorganize. In the afternoon, they would scout for Iron Ore, and tomorrow, they would start mining.
Then he would build the "Combat Training
Virtual Space" and the "Individual Exoskeleton Armor."
After that, he would craft and upgrade the remaining accessories as needed.
As for now...
"Summon Ji Chuchu."
"Wait, no... summon Yan Yao."
"Never mind—"
Chen Mang paused for a moment before tossing his cigarette butt out the window: "Summon them both."
"My temper's a bit high right now."