CHAPTER 510: CHAPTER 277: RESTART?_3

"I’m okay, I have a gun. Anyone who disobeys gets killed."

"I thought the Train Captain wanted to create a place like Eden where everyone is equal."

"Have I ever said that I’m pursuing equality for everyone?"

"Doesn’t seem like it."

"That’s something for the distant future. Let’s decide it based on resident numbers for now. The earlier the number, the higher the seniority."

"The elite?"

"That’s right."

"Those who join later might not accept it."

"Those who don’t accept it will die. The earlier ones bore the brunt for the train, so why shouldn’t they be the elite?"

"True."

"Usually, it’s best not to erect any signboards because once you do, others will use them to demand things from you. I’m not here by election; I hate that stuff. The train can only have my voice. If there’s another, that voice must die."

"..."

"Why aren’t you speaking?"

"I’m afraid I’ll die."

"Do you think you’re very funny?"

"I’m sorry."

In a drowsy state, Chen Mang’s eyelids slowly drooped uncontrollably, and he fell asleep.

...

"Sigh."

In Carriage No. 2 "Mecha Research Center," Ai, sitting on the ground, let out a soft sigh and started dimming the lights inside the train to create a suitable atmosphere for sleeping after seeing Chen Mang fall asleep.

He had modified many small accessories for himself to express his emotions.

Although the Train Captain thought these minor functions were useless,

he believed that expressing one’s emotions is very important.

For example...

He installed some coils next to his mechanical eyes to give a reddened eye effect, and also added functionalities for sobbing, sighing, happiness, and other emotions.

The Train Captain seemed a bit restless tonight.

It was quite obvious. In the past, the Train Captain wouldn’t waste words with him, or maybe tonight, the Train Captain considered him a friend to confide in. Thinking about it, the train seemed quite pitiful, having no friend to talk with, although the Train Captain appeared very strong and didn’t need others to provide emotional value or recognition, he continued on resolutely.

But... when facing the unknown, people always feel a bit anxious and uneasy.

When they were still weak, the Train Captain never showed emotions of concern over these issues. As the train improved, the Train Captain finally couldn’t help but reveal his worries.

Indeed.

The universe is so vast. After the Constant Star Train left the planet, how should it survive?

No one inside the train worried about this issue. Everyone almost fanatically believed that Master Mang could definitely solve this problem, that there was no problem Master Mang couldn’t solve. But only the Train Captain knew deep down he really didn’t have the answers.

Many times.

Those in power feel fatigued not only from the challenges ahead but from the trust of their subordinates. The stronger the trust, the heavier the fatigue. Those determined looks of trust eventually transform into the word "responsibility," pressing down on the Train Captain’s shoulders.

Any person, even a heinous one.

When expected by someone, there’s an unconscious desire not to disappoint, to meet that expectation. However, many times, circumstances cannot change by mere will.

And the Train Captain could only say these things to him and no one else.

If others knew that even the Train Captain felt uncertain, the people’s morale on the Constant Star Train would scatter. Once scattered, it would be very hard to gather again.

"Sigh, it’s tough being human."

"Luckily, I am AI."

Ai sighed under his breath again, then glanced towards the "Robot Research Center" where a dumb-looking rabbit was staring at him and said irritably, "Get back to work, Xiaoyi. Stay out of adult matters."

...

"Huh?"

Old Pig, wandering into Carriage No. 10 "Film and Television Base," looked at the brightly lit interior space and the panda-eyed Zhang Yiren with some surprise, "Why aren’t you asleep yet? You don’t need to mine; you just shoot movies. Why do you seem so busy?"

"Just shoot a movie?"

Exhausted and in a daze, Zhang Yiren slightly froze, looked up at Old Pig, and couldn’t help but speak in a voice tinged with a sob, "Pig Train Captain, I... I... your leaders just make a decision, and we have to execute it."

"I only planned to shoot this period drama, and then you brought a bundle of hair, saying it’s suitable for a horror film. You said we could shoot a long-haired female ghost crawling out of a TV."

"Then you said there are 40 fighter jets parked next door, so we can shoot a war film."

"Master Mang asked me to shoot a zombie film quickly."

"And a few days ago, you asked me to produce a variety show where someone thinks they’ve traveled through time, and I also have to draft scripts for that show. Master Mang also wants me to write two love scripts, each with dual protagonists, requiring detailed writing from both perspectives."

"Pig Train Captain..."

"How can I not be busy?"

"..."

Old Pig frowned, "Are you implying that Master Mang and I have issues with our work arrangements? That our management is problematic?"

"That’s not what I meant, Pig Train Captain..." Realizing his mistake, Zhang Yiren quickly shrank his neck and whispered.

"Young man, endure some hardships now. The more you endure now, the more blessings you reap later on."

Old Pig walked up and patted Zhang Yiren’s shoulder meaningfully.

"I’ll let you in on a little secret."

"In the future, when there are enough people on the train, Master Mang plans to set up a market economy. So that means, by then, the films you shoot will be shown in limited venues like fridges or the Gate of Space, and residents will need Fixed Star Coupons to watch."

"Think about it."

"If you establish your fame now, and by then, you’re the only moviemaker on the entire Constant Star Train, how much money would you make?"

"I wouldn’t say this to just anyone, but I see you’re a promising lad, so I’m telling you."

"This..."

Zhang Yiren froze for a bit, picturing that scenario in his mind. He had no doubts about the future of the Constant Star Train. He believed that if all trains on Water Blue Star perished, the Constant Star Train would be the last to fall.

If that moment of market economy truly arrived...

He would monopolize the movie industry on the Constant Star Train, and with the fame accumulated over these days, he could earn a significant amount of Fixed Star Coupons—almost instantly climbing to the middle class of the Constant Star Train.

His previously fatigued and fearful complexion seemed as if it had received a shot of adrenaline, instantly turning rosy like a dying ember. Excited, he looked at Old Pig, straightening his back, "Pig Train Captain, now I understand."

"Rest assured."

"I will spare no effort in completing every task assigned by the higher-ups!"

"Ahem."

Old Pig cleared his throat lightly before softly saying, "Remember not to tell others about this. I haven’t told many, just a trusted few. Loose lips sink ships. My duty is to manage the underlings for Master Mang well. As long as everyone lets me fulfill my duties to Master Mang, I’ll treat everyone well. If you guys get me into trouble and make me get scolded by Master Mang, you won’t have it good either."

"But writing scripts is indeed a mentally exhausting task. You can’t handle it all alone."

"There’s someone in the train who also writes. I’ll get him to help you; he can be credited as a screenwriter."

"That’s fine, no problem."

Zhang Yiren looked excitedly at Old Pig’s retreating figure, but soon a slight sense of reminiscence came as he glanced at the leading actress next to him, who was getting more popular with each of his films.

If the Constant Star Train ever held tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, or even millions of people,

this person would be incredibly famous.

Could it really be that they’d become the first star after Doomsday?

He really hadn’t considered it.

The world was clearly at its end.

His career path became smoother, and life goals became clearer, living even better than before. Was this doomsday good or bad?

...

"Huh?"

In the Resident Carriage, a young man sitting under a pavilion with bloodshot eyes looked incredulously at Pig Train Captain, his voice trembling, "Pig Train Captain, what do you mean by I should write twenty thousand words every day?"

"After writing twenty thousand words every day, I feel like I’ve been violated by a sow. My brain completely can’t think, and it’s very painful."

"You..."

"Don’t rush."

Old Pig sat beside him and gently said, "Let me tell you a secret. Master Mang has shared that when there are enough people on the Constant Star Train, a market economy is coming. By then, your novels won’t be read by everyone, and they’ll need to pay to read them."

"Think about it."

"You’re the only writer on the train, and you’re already quite famous. By then, so many people will pay to read your books. How much will you earn?"

"You can even help Zhang Yiren over there, take credit as a screenwriter, gain more fame, and make even more money later on."

"One shouldn’t just look at the road underfoot but occasionally lift their eyes to see the distance."