Train Survival: I Can Evolve Everything!

"So, the time has finally come."

The Smiling Mask recovered from his surprise.

He looked at Ye Qiyan and made a gesture of invitation.

"You remain the first to arrive at the trading platform. Truly an outstanding Train Conductor."

"If I could be first last time, wouldn't it be quite embarrassing to fall behind others this time?"

Ye Qiyan stepped out of the train.

"I'm here to fulfill our agreement."

Even through the mask, it wasn't difficult to discern the Smiling Mask's emotions from his slightly trembling body.

He remained silent for a moment before suddenly letting out a relieved laugh.

The Smiling Mask's tone carried a hint of madness.

A black tear fell from beneath his mask.

Extending a slender hand that had been reduced to bare white bones, he removed his mask. Beneath it, what was once an already twisted face had now completely lost any human features, leaving only a single vertical eye in the center.

"I've tried. I've struggled. The result is... the curse has deepened. I've become completely unable to die. In this world, only high-level items obtained by high-level Train Conductors at high-level platforms might have the power to grant me release. But, with all due respect, although you possess considerable ability and talent, you cannot obtain those powerful items at this current time."

Replacing his mask, the Smiling Mask bowed apologetically.

"But when your level becomes sufficient and you obtain high-level items, you will no longer be able to find this low-level platform. This has become an inescapable cycle that cannot be broken."

"Apologies. My face now reduces people's mental state simply by being exposed to air. Let's not speak of that agreement anymore. Come, respected Train Conductor. I will take you to the trading hall where today's sale items have been prepared. After your purchase, rest well and please continue your journey."

He turned to leave, intending to open the trading hall.

But Ye Qiyan didn't follow. He remained in place, watching the Smiling Mask's slightly hunched back, and spoke:

"What if I said I have a way to grant you release?"

"?"

The Smiling Mask's steps halted. After a long moment, he slowly turned his head, black energy dissipating from his body.

"You... must be joking."

Ye Qiyan snapped his fingers, and the Hunt-Patrol Mech-Dragon flew out from the Armament Space.

Even without activating any modes, the Hunt-Patrol Mech-Dragon maintained a level 10 status in its normal state.

"What do you think of it?"

Gazing up at the Hunt-Patrol Mech-Dragon, the Smiling Mask's body trembled continuously. Beneath his black cloak, he slowly raised a bony claw as if wanting to reach out and touch it.

"You actually... possess such a high-level weapon? How is this possible? Clearly your train level shouldn't exceed level 6?"

"Nothing's impossible. A level 10 weapon should be sufficient to grant you release, correct?"

The Smiling Mask nodded slowly.

More tears fell from beneath his mask onto the ground.

"Sufficient, sufficient... Its level is sufficient to overwhelm the curse upon me... Heh... Finally, finally I can be released? Finally, this day has come? Finally I can leave this prison that has confined me?"

After countless years of imprisonment, as long as he remained at this Forward Station, he would be affected by this endless curse.

He was human, at least he once was human.

And being human, he yearned for freedom.

Suppressing the excitement in his heart, he pointed toward the trading hall.

"Please follow me. Although I was punished after last time and cannot provide you with more items, I will find a way to change this platform's most precious item to be part of today's transaction. If you possess sufficient Train Coins, you must purchase that item!"

The Smiling Mask extended his bony claw, grasping Ye Qiyan's hand as if to pull him toward the trading hall.

Clearly, he was already impatient to die.

"Don't rush. There's one more thing I need to confirm with you."

"I'll tell you everything I know!"

"If I can help you leave this platform alive, what would happen to the curse upon you?"

"This platform represents the curse. If I could leave, the curse would naturally stop affecting me. Although I couldn't restore my original appearance... Why do you ask? Leaving is impossible. Absolutely no one can accomplish this."

"What if I could?"

"Please don't joke about this??? This... this is absolutely impossible!"

Ye Qiyan freed his hand from the bony grip.

"So, it's just a hypothetical. If successful, I could send you somewhere in the wasteland. Though I'm not certain what kind of place it would be, it would still mean leaving here, correct?"

The third ability of the Blasphemy Card·Anchor: Banishment.

Remove all anchors and banish someone to some location within the Endless Wasteland.

This was actually the best solution Ye Qiyan had conceived before entering the platform.

Even though the Smiling Mask's appearance had been ravaged by the curse to such an extent, as long as he lived, there was hope.

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Please don't speak such words. This is blasphemy against the divine! How could its curse be removed?"

Blasphemy?

Well, this indeed was blasphemy.

Ye Qiyan took out a White Forest Fruit and tossed it to the Smiling Mask.

"This is your own choice. Try it, and you might live. If you don't try, then let my Mechanical Dragon grant you release. You decide. But before that, let's go to the trading hall so I can purchase the items. Think carefully about it."

He remembered the direction to the trading hall clearly.

Arriving at the entrance, he looked back at the Smiling Mask who still stood in place and waved.

"Open up. Let me see what this platform's most precious item is."

"..."

The Smiling Mask silently approached and nodded.

"You're right. This is my final duty. Please wait a moment while I go replace the transaction items. Do you... possess sufficient Train Coins?"

"Of course. I'm quite wealthy now. Bring out the most expensive item you have here."

Including the 5 coins Zhao Lin gave him, he now possessed a full 115 Train Coins. No matter how expensive it was, he could afford it.

"It seems you've gained much from the previous stations, heh~ You really are the most special, most talented Train Conductor I've ever met."

The Smiling Mask disappeared into a dark side door. Several minutes later, he emerged from the side door, black energy swirling around his entire body.

It wasn't difficult to notice that his body had become even more twisted, and he was clearly in extreme agony.

"Re-replacement successful... Apologies, please proceed to the innermost part of the trading hall yourself. That item is inside. I cannot accompany you for now..."

The curse had deepened.

If he didn't know that Ye Qiyan could grant him release, he would never have done such a thing.

Watching Ye Qiyan's retreating back, the Smiling Mask leaned on his long-handled scythe, barely managing to stand somewhat straight, and murmured to himself:

"That item, as payment for granting me release... I hope it will satisfy you."

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