Train Survival: I Can Evolve Everything!

"Brother Qiyan, I've been meaning to ask - aren't you worried about leaving your train parked at that church? What if it gets stolen?"

Walking through the square's vendor stalls.

Hearing Zhao Lin's question, Ye Qiyan—who was examining a silver Desert Eagle pistol—answered without turning his head:

"Don't worry, I've been keeping an eye on it."

"Keeping an eye?"

Zhao Lin didn't understand, as she couldn't see Ye Qiyan's system interface.

Thus, she didn't know that the surveillance feed from the Surveillant Device in Ye Qiyan's train was constantly within his control.

"This gun is only Level 2, right? Do you have anything higher grade?"

The ronin stared with dead fish eyes, answering in a voice so lazy it seemed like he might fall asleep standing up:

"So what if I am?"

"Oh, no wonder. You don't know the rules of the City of a Thousand Stars yet."

The ronin yawned, scratching himself inside his clothes.

"The City of a Thousand Stars only sells items up to Level 3 to the public. If you want higher-level equipment, you'll need to join a major guild to purchase it. Besides those guilds, selling items above Level 3 anywhere else is illegal."

"Why such a rule? Level 3 items aren't that hard to obtain, are they?"

The ronin paused his scratching, giving Ye Qiyan a strange look.

"You kid must have pretty good luck if you think Level 3 items are easy to get. Whatever. Are you buying? If you purchase this gun, I'll share some veteran experience with you."

"How much?"

"4 Train Coins. It's a bargain."

After the exchange of money and goods, the ronin's lazy face finally showed a hint of smile.

"Finally sold it. 4 Train Coins, heh. Time to visit Technician No. 8 for some proper relaxation."

He turned to leave but was stopped by a hand on his shoulder.

"Senior, aren't you forgetting something?"

Knowing he couldn't escape, the ronin sighed helplessly and pointed toward a teppanyaki stall not far away.

"Let's talk over there. We can grab some food too."

Following him to sit at the teppanyaki stall, the owner exchanged meaningful glances with the ronin for a moment.

"Alright, alright, they're not here for you to rip off. Three cups of... oh, do you two drink?"

Zhao Lin politely shook her head.

"Let's just get to the main matter."

"Tch, boring. Then just one cup. Make it warm."

While waiting for the drink, the ronin spat out the straw from his mouth and flicked his fingers through the air.

A friend request appeared in Ye Qiyan's vision.

"I sent friend requests to both of you. When you get back, you can... eh, you have a system-bound Module?"

Seeing one friend request already accepted, the ronin was taken aback.

"Impressive. Are you really a newcomer? No, you must be, otherwise you'd know the City's rules. Tsk tsk tsk, this is my first time seeing a newcomer with a Module, and a system-bound rare one at that. Back when I..."

"Senior Kimura Yuujin, perhaps we should focus on the main matter."

Kimura Yuujin—that was the name on the friend request.

"Just call me Kimura. Ah, what a hassle. If I hadn't sold you that gun..."

A cup of warm wine was delivered by the stall owner. Kimura took it and downed it in one gulp, and the previously extremely dejected man actually seemed more alert.

"Flame Stone?"

Zhao Lin answered from the side.

"Right, Flame Stone. That thing can only be obtained from stations above Level 4. But newcomer Train Conductors can only reach Level 3 at most. So where are you supposed to get Flame Stones?"

Kimura pointed upward.

"Heh, so that's why newcomers like you need to obediently join a guild, follow their arrangements, and exchange resources and contributions exceeding the value of a Flame Stone to get one. Only then can you upgrade your train. Then the next level will have other hard requirements, and the cycle repeats. In the end, you just become workhorses laboring for those masters upstairs, heh heh heh."

"..."

Where there are people, there will be conflicts; where there are conflicts, there will be unscrupulous enterprises.

Those words really rang true.

But still, this seemed somewhat unreasonable?

"Then how did the first batch of Train Conductors reach Level 4? They couldn't have exchanged for Flame Stones from others, right?"

"How should I know? But Flame Stones aren't completely exclusive to exchanges with them—that's just the easiest method. When your train reaches Level 3, there's a small probability of entering a higher-level station. If you can find a treasure chest there, you still have a chance to obtain Flame Stones."

At this point, Kimura Yuujin suddenly laughed self-mockingly.

"But then again, a Level 3 Train Conductor would struggle just to survive in a higher-level station, let alone find treasure chests. That's completely wishful thinking."

Downing the remaining wine in his cup, Kimura Yuujin slumped onto the table and began snoring loudly.

Ye Qiyan didn't care whether he was pretending to be asleep or not, but still paid for his drink before getting up to leave.

Shortly after the two left, the teppanyaki stall owner patted Kimura Yuujin's head.

"Wake up, they're gone. No need to pretend."

Kimura Yuujin sat up, completely devoid of his previous drunken demeanor, instead looking even more dejected.

The owner handed him a plate of stir-fried liver, answering calmly:

"Nine years since we abandoned our trains and bought permanent residence permits."

"..."

"What? Seeing newcomers makes you want to adventure again? Don't forget why we chose to escape. Do you have the courage to venture into that wilderness again? Give up—we're all afraid of death."

"Tch..."

Tossing down a handful of Thousand Stars Coins, Kimura Yuujin turned and left.

Only his figure seemed somewhat more hunched over than before.

"Brother Qiyan, does that mean we really can't reach Level 4? Or should we find a guild to join?"

Ye Qiyan and Zhao Lin left the stall area and exited the square.

Just as Kimura Yuujin had said, there were no items above Level 3 here.

"He did say there's still a chance to find Flame Stones in treasure chests even without joining a guild. With your luck, you might find one at the next station."

"Hehe, that's true too."

Thinking about her luck returning at the next station, Zhao Lin immediately felt less upset.

"Don't worry, Brother Qiyan. If I find two Flame Stones, I'll sell you one at a friendly price."

"Should I thank you for that?"

"That works too."

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