A green-grade accessory blueprint: [Oxygen Generator].

Chen Mang studied the blueprint with mixed feelings. While he didn’t exactly approve of the young captain’s methods, the kid had done him a huge favor. With this, oxygen would no longer be a concern.

Not only could they mine deep within caverns without worrying about air supply, but the four "refrigerators" crammed with slaves would now have a steady flow of oxygen. He wouldn’t need to build any more dedicated slave carriages. From now on, all new slaves would be packed into the refrigerators. The four existing slave carriages would be repurposed as premium quarters, a luxury only Tier 1 slaves could enjoy.

Crafting the component required 500 units of iron ore. Not too expensive.

He immediately spent the 500 units, manufacturing an Oxygen Generator in the #10 Goblin Slave Carriage. He then spent another 9,000 units to upgrade it to Level 10.

Each upgrade increased its oxygen output, but also its energy consumption.

A Level 10 Oxygen Generator was powerful enough to produce breathable air for 1,000 people in an oxygen-deprived environment. Its power system was linked to the main generator, making it a significant energy drain when active.

A fully charged Level 1 Energy Stone could power a Level 1 train for 100 hours, or the current Stellar for about 60 hours. On a Level 1 motorcycle, it would last for 100 consecutive days.

The train had several energy-consuming components, but most didn’t need to run constantly. The energy stone currently in the generator still had 37% capacity.

Upon reaching Level 10, the Oxygen Generator also unlocked two Advanced Effects.

[Oxygen Generator Level 5 Advanced Effect]: The Oxygen Generator can be linked to the "Train Auxiliary AI." The AI will automatically control the oxygen output based on the oxygen levels in the environment. (Requires the "Train Auxiliary AI" green-grade component to be fully upgraded).

[Oxygen Generator Level 10 Advanced Effect]: Continuously analyzes the ambient air quality and syncs the report with the Train Auxiliary AI.

"Hmm."

Chen Mang raised an eyebrow. Not bad. Both effects were quite useful.

He left the control car and walked through the carriages to the No. 10 Goblin Carriage. In the corner sat the Oxygen Generator. It looked something like a large bubble machine used by wedding companies, with a massive nozzle. When activated, it would spew out large quantities of oxygen.

It was already running. At its current output, running it for 24 hours would drain a Level 1 Energy Stone by about 50%, a daily cost of 250 units of iron ore. It was a power hog compared to other components, but it was still cheaper than feeding the slaves.

Whirrr...

With a low hum, the machine began its work, and a stream of oxygen flowed into the cavern.

Nice. I guess you could call this ’aerobic’ exercise.

Chen Mang chuckled at his own joke. He glanced around, looking for someone to share it with, but everyone was busy. Only Lao Zhu noticed him, but his expression was one of solemn respect. Chen Mang just pursed his lips and waved him off, then walked back to the control car alone.

Might as well finish the movie he’d started earlier.

—-

"Phew."

Among the slaves, a young man sidled up to Uncle Li, glanced around cautiously, and whispered, "Uncle Li, you said you had a plan to move up once new slaves joined. How’s that coming along?"

"Wait a little longer."

Uncle Li swung his pickaxe, striking the iron ore with a heavy thud. He shook his head. "Haven’t found the right kind of idiot yet."

His plan was simple. He would find some fool among the new slaves, preferably one trying to incite a rebellion. Then, just as the chaos began, he and the young man beside him would crush the uprising, demonstrating their capabilities and catching Boss Mang’s eye.

But...

Plenty of new slaves had arrived, yet none of them seemed to have any intention of starting a riot.

It was awkward. In other train crews he’d been a part of, rebellions were a regular occurrence. Why was this place so quiet?

Without a riot, how was he supposed to stand out?

Talent was like a turd. It had to poke its head out of your asshole for people to see it. Otherwise, you could be full of shit, and no one would ever know. In a dog-eat-dog world like the apocalypse, making a name for yourself was even harder. You had to time it perfectly; forcing the issue was just dangerous.

"Oh."

The young man scratched his head. He didn’t have any bright ideas himself. His strategy was to stick with Uncle Li. He wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed, so his solution to problems was always to follow a smart guy and pick up the scraps.

Mining was grueling work, and chatting helped pass the time.

"Hey, Uncle Li... have you ever been with a virgin?"

"..."

Uncle Li shot the young man a blank look and went back to swinging his pickaxe.

The young man didn’t seem to mind, muttering to himself as he worked, "Before the apocalypse, I had a serious thing for virgins. Every time I went on a blind date, I’d ask if she was one. They always called me a pervert. Like it was some deeply offensive question. I wasn’t discriminating against non-virgins, I was just trying to filter my options. Is that any different from them asking if I had a car or a house?"

"I just couldn’t accept it. I wanted a completely pure relationship. Then the world ended, and I still hadn’t found one."

"Now, after the apocalypse, it’s impossible. Uncle Li, you think I’ll go my whole life without ever finding a virgin?"

"Sigh."

Uncle Li let out a weary breath. "It’s not that the question is offensive; it’s that you have no emotional intelligence. It’s like when you were a kid and you failed a test, and a relative asks for your score. Would you be in a good mood?"

"Besides, here’s some advice from a middle-aged man."

"Relationships shouldn’t be ’pure’."

"A perfectly clean thing is ruined by the tiniest speck of dust. But on something that’s already a bit messy, another stain barely stands out. Who can guarantee they’ll stay ’clean’ their whole life? Better to just find someone who’s already a little messy. That way, if something happens, it won’t be so painful."

"As for that virgin complex of yours..."

"I got over mine when I was sixteen."

The young man’s eyes flickered with confusion. "Is there a trick to it?"

"Nope."

Uncle Li shook his head. "It was when I realized that none of the girls I liked were virgins. I just accepted it. In this day and age, a virgin is a rare find indeed. If you can’t change the world, you change yourself."

Just then—

"I-I-I am!"

A woman who was at least six feet tall and built like a brick house, carrying a pickaxe over her shoulder, poked her head between the two men. Her face was flushed with a mix of excitement and shyness. "You two got me all flustered…"

"I’m a virgin."

"So, uh, little bro... You want it? My virginity, I mean."

"..."

The young man stared, dumbfounded, at the brawny woman. He mumbled in a daze, "Such a... strong woman."

"Sis, I’ve got a pickaxe here. Maybe you’d like to borrow it."

"I’m still young."

"My mom says I’m not old enough to date. Could you... Maybe stay away from me?"

"Oh," the middle-aged man beside him—Uncle Li—commented dryly, glancing at the woman. "Well, if it’s her, I’m not surprised."

The words had barely left his lips when the woman’s shy expression vanished, replaced by a thunderous scowl. She shot up, her right hand lashing out and grabbing Uncle Li by the collar, lifting him into the air like a chick.

"Explain," she snarled, "what the hell you meant by ’not surprised’?"

Panic flashed in Uncle Li’s eyes. His limbs flailed helplessly in the air, his collar choking him so tightly he couldn’t utter a sound.

"You—"

"What do you think you’re doing?!"

The young man’s face changed. He jumped up and grabbed the woman’s right arm, trying to pull it down. After a few failed attempts, he wrapped both his arms around her bicep, his feet leaving the ground as he tried to use his entire body weight to force her arm down.

And yet…

It was useless.

After a few more fruitless attempts, the young man gave up, treating her powerful arm like a pull-up bar. He did three quick pull-ups, then dropped back to the ground and dusted himself off with a long sigh.

"Uncle Li, I did my best."

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