My Apocalypse Train

Translator: AnubisTL

"How much do you need?"

Chen Mang looked at the message from the Bloodthirsty Mad Bull Train on the Train Radio. After a rough calculation, he realized he needed to upgrade his Spider Leg to Tier 13 to traverse a 90-degree slope freely. That meant he needed a total of:

8100 units of Tier 1 Fine Spider Silk.

After he sent the number, there was no reply for a long time. Finally, a private message arrived.

"Bloodthirsty Mad Bull Train: 'I don't have that much. I only have 1,500 Units of Tier 1 Fine Spider Silk, all dropped by man-eating spiders I killed. But a few trains went to Taiping City a few days ago to hunt man-eating spider cubs. They should have some Spider Silk too. Let's meet at the Gathering. What do you plan to trade?'"

"..."

Chen Mang glanced at his Train Panel. He realized he didn't have much to offer in trade. He couldn't bear to part with his slaves, and he was short on resources himself. The only thing he could offer was the car blade fragment.

When attached to a pickaxe, this fragment could pierce the defenses of Tier 3 and even Tier 4 Monsters.

While it only pierced defenses, not necessarily dealing significant damage, it was still an Overpowered item.

However, he didn't want to reveal it, as it would expose too much information.

Suddenly realizing he had nothing suitable to trade, he hesitated for a moment before replying: "Let's discuss it at the Gathering. The Train Token might be a possibility, but I need to check its market value first."

Late at night, the world was silent.

Chen Mang stopped paying attention to the Train Radio. He'd have to spend the night here. He wondered where the headlight on that Tier 2 train with the DJ had come from. It wasn't among the 12 craftable train components.

The train currently held 1230 Units of Iron Ore.

He'd already planned how to use it.

First, he'd craft all the essential train accessories. Then, he'd gradually upgrade them strategically.

Since he'd decided to attend the Gathering in seven days, he needed to craft a few Third-Rate Heavy Machine Guns and mount them on the carriage roofs. Whether or not he had bullets didn't matter; outsiders wouldn't know how many rounds he had stockpiled inside.

At least having a few of these would significantly increase his deterrence, preventing petty thieves from targeting him.

The Heavy Machine Gun Bullet Production Line alone required 500 Units of Copper Ore to craft. He only had 10 Units of Copper Ore on the train, nowhere near enough.

As for tonight, he spent a total of 1100 Units of Iron Ore to craft three accessories:

Train Auxiliary AIResource Detection RadarBasic First Aid Kit

The first two were Green Grade accessories, while the last was White Grade.

After creating the Train Auxiliary AI, a new screen appeared on the control panel. This AI would assist the train conductor during travel and encampment, providing information such as the degree of slopes ahead, real-time monitoring of the train's components for damage, and accurate data on monsters within radar range.

A rather useful Accessory.

Like the Target Acquisition Radar, the Resource Detection Radar had a Tier 1 detection range of 1,000 meters. When it detected a resource point within this range, it would emit an alert and display the location on the screen. So far, it hadn't detected any resource points nearby.

The Basic First Aid Kit cost only 100 Units of Iron Ore to craft.

It was a single-use item.

Inside were basic bandages, antiseptic solution, spray, and a suture kit, primarily for treating external injuries. It also contained painkillers and fever reducers.

There wasn't much—enough for about three people.

Later, he'd disinfect Biaozi's wound. It would show the train conductor's care, even though the current season's temperature made infection less likely. Still, prevention was always best if possible.

Finally—

He spent another 100 Units of Wood to create a new accessory: the Clothing Customization Production Line.

This was the last of the Wood on the train.

His current clothes were starting to smell faintly foul, and he hadn't had a clean change of clothes. After building the Production Line, he placed it in the 2nd Cargo Car.

This Production Line would tailor clothes to each person's exact measurements, with over a dozen styles to choose from. The price was uniform: 10 Units of Wood per outfit.

However, he was currently out of Wood, so he had to put the project on hold for now.

He'd have to make do with his current clothes for a few more days. He'd wash them the night before the Gathering and let them dry outside for a day—they should be dry enough by then.

It didn't matter how he looked at home, but he needed to maintain a presentable appearance when out and about.

In the apocalypse, having decent clothes was a subtle indicator of one's strength.

After finishing, Chen Mang picked up his Basic First Aid Kit and walked through the 2nd Cargo Car to Living Car No. 3. Inside, Biaozi was locked in a push-up competition with another young man.

The other thugs around them were jeering and egging them on.

When Chen Mang approached, the noise immediately died down. Biaozi scrambled to his feet, his face a mixture of embarrassment and awkwardness. He mumbled, "Lord Mang."

"Hmm."

Chen Mang waved his hand, signaling everyone to relax. Then, carrying his Basic First Aid Kit, he walked over to Biaozi. "Roll up your sleeve. I'll disinfect and bandage your wound to prevent infection."

"This..."

Biaozi's lips twitched slightly. He glanced sideways at Wildcat, feeling awkward. He really wanted to say his wound had already scabbed over—what was the point of applying medicine now?

Rolling up his sleeve would expose the truth.

But he couldn't disobey Lord Mang's order. Gritting his teeth, he slowly rolled up his sleeve and peeled away the bandage.

"..."

Chen Mang stared at the neatly scabbed wound on Biaozi's left arm. He glanced at the man in the carriage who had initially refused to submit to Biaozi but was now getting along well with the others. He immediately understood everything.

He took out the disinfectant spray from his Basic First Aid Kit and gave the wound a symbolic spritz. After applying a fresh bandage, he patted Biaozi's shoulder and said softly, "Be careful next time you're on an outdoor mission."

"Alright, you guys keep playing," Chen Mang said before returning to his locomotive cabin.

The neat wounds were clearly not caused by a creature like a zombie wolf. They looked more like self-inflicted cuts from a car blade fragment, which didn't bother him much. There wasn't much entertainment to be found in the wilderness anyway.

Back in his locomotive cabin, Chen Mang had nothing else to do. He had already memorized the information in the newbie guide. Feeling sleepy, he lay down on his bed and drifted off to sleep.

If he had to name an entertainment activity, it would probably be the adrenaline rush of narrowly escaping death from a monster's jaws.

In his drowsy state, a thought suddenly struck him: he hadn't yet offered incense to Master Kun. Master Kun was a good man who had given him such a generous newbie gift. He really should express his gratitude.

Ah, well, I'm too tired today. I'll do it tomorrow.

(End of the Chapter)

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