The obese man was none other than Master Kun.
The former Train Conductor of Chen Mang's train.
At this moment, the train's locomotive was packed with a total of ten people.
A man holding a baton hesitantly whispered, "We've already abandoned the carriage with the heavy machine gun. Our locomotive has almost no offensive capabilities. Should we use the 'Vehicle Blade' blueprint now?"
"At least it would give us some means of attack."
If Chen Mang were here, he would immediately recognize this man. He was the one who had ordered the thugs to beat him with batons in the Slave carriage.
This man was Master Kun's trusted confidant.
Master Kun couldn't bring all his thugs, so he only took his most trusted ones. Besides these six thugs and Master Kun, there was also a Deputy Train Conductor in the locomotive. The remaining two were Master Kun's women.
Though attractive, their faces were full of the look of having narrowly escaped death.
Though they were thugs, being trusted confidants, they were well aware of Master Kun's blueprints—information that ordinary thugs could never access.
Master Kun glanced at the white component "Vehicle Blade Blueprint" on the table and shook his head: "It takes 500 units of Iron Ore to craft this component. Even though it's a white component, its crafting cost is higher than some green components."
"Currently, we only have a little over 200 units of Iron Ore in the train. Not nearly enough to craft it."
"We don't even need this. It's just a beginner's train. They don't even qualify to craft the most basic 'Weapon Production Line.' Whether it's external vehicle weapons or individual firearms, you need at least a Level 2 train to craft them."
"What kind of offensive capabilities can a Level 1 train have?"
"We all have guns. As long as we find them, we can easily take them down. They're just a bunch of Slaves. Once we kill the leader, there's no risk."
The middle-aged man who made the suggestion didn't say anything more. He just looked down at the pistol and baton in his hands, feeling a faint sense of unease.
He hadn't heard of him, but he had a strong feeling that this person might be the leader of the Slaves he had appointed in Carriage No. 7!
A ruthless man, he had a deep impression of this person.
With just a few of them and a few guns, would it really be okay?
He didn't know how these people survived the Corpse Tide, but since they did, it wouldn't be too difficult for them to scavenge some guns and bullets from other abandoned carriages. Why did Master Kun seem so fearless?
The man suddenly realized something and exclaimed excitedly in a hoarse voice: "Master Kun, I understand now! Even if they found pistols and bullets, those guns were produced by our train. They can't harm you!"
Master Kun pulled the woman beside him into his arms and grinned with satisfaction: "Took you long enough to figure it out? But it's not too late. Did you really think I'd charge in recklessly?"
"Those who survive long in the wilderness aren't fools."
"With these Slaves, rebuilding won't be a problem. I just hope that Chen Mang heads to the mines and doesn't get scared and run around the wasteland, making it impossible for us to find him and letting someone else take this fat prize!"
The man nodded in deep agreement. Normally, a Level 1 train would be lucky to have ten Slaves. Often, even the Train Conductor had to personally dig for ore. A Level 1 train with no offensive capabilities and a hundred Slaves was indeed like a wandering piece of fat in the wasteland.
The sun was gradually setting, nearing dusk.
Beside the Iron Ore, the train sat steadily parked. Inside the train, Chen Mang was busy exploring various information and studying vehicle components. Each train had its own strengths and focus.
For example, some were fast, some had strong firepower, some had thick armor, and some were highly maneuverable.
His vision was an all-rounder. He was currently researching these components, along with the various information and rules in the beginner's guide.
Meanwhile, Lao Zhu was in Carriage No. 3, sorting and storing minerals and daily supplies. The remaining ten thugs, now armed with rifles, stood guard and patrolled the perimeter.
These ten people had been Slaves that morning but had become rifle-wielding thugs by the afternoon. The change in their status and treatment made them walk with a swagger despite their gaunt, malnourished appearances, eager to show they were different from the Slaves.
It was reminiscent of the middle class in peaceful times, trying hard to show they were of a different class than ordinary people.
Once people reach a certain position, they strive to act the part. Though it might seem awkward at first, over time, they settle into it.
Chen Mang suddenly noticed a train locomotive in the distance, speeding towards him at a rapid pace!
He immediately stood up from his chair.
Grabbing a Telescope, he looked through the glass towards the distance.
"They're really here!"
Chen Mang's expression changed slightly. He immediately picked up the walkie-talkie and ordered all the thugs to board the train and prepare for battle. This locomotive was most likely the one from the train he had been on before. After all, it was rare for a train to have only a locomotive.
Even he had three carriages now!
The other party's approach clearly indicated they intended to collide at full speed. Since they were a Level 2 train, their armor would undoubtedly be thicker than his Level 1 train. A direct collision would either shatter his train or flip it over!
They had to move behind the mine.
As long as the other party couldn't collide directly with them, they still had a chance!
Chen Mang made his decision. He immediately maneuvered the train behind the small, several-meter-high earthen slope, preparing to play a game of cat and mouse. But
After a few dozen seconds,
He noticed the other party's speed was gradually decreasing.
Chen Mang was slightly stunned, finding it hard to believe. Why were they slowing down? Didn't they plan to collide directly? If they didn't intend to collide, what kind of attack could a locomotive have? It didn't seem to have any external offensive components.
Suddenly, he realized with a strange expression. Could it be that Master Kun thought his train was newly crafted and thus had no offensive capabilities, wanting to capture them alive to minimize casualties and take them back as Slaves?
At the same time, did he want to keep his train intact so he could link their carriages directly to his own train?
Though it was hard to believe,
Judging by the gradually slowing locomotive, it was clear that this was indeed their plan. Theoretically, this maximized Master Kun's benefits, but it also maximized the risks.
Understanding this, Chen Mang immediately spoke urgently into the walkie-talkie: "Lao Zhu, find something to cover the heavy machine gun."
"Everyone, wait for my command before firing!"
A Level 1 train indeed had no offensive capabilities. Among the thirteen "Vehicle Components" that could be crafted, none were related to attack. The only defensive component, "Carriage Steel Armor," required a full 1000 units of Iron Ore to craft.
Master Kun's decision, under normal circumstances, was correct.
In this world, many abnormal things often happened.