"So this is how Train Coins are obtained?"
"Four pieces, in that case."
Ye Qiyan opened the Train Details, and the options that appeared after the upgrade were still there.
He spent three Train Coins to purchase the Basic Reservoir Blueprint and an hour of train docking time, leaving him with only one Train Coin. If he could encounter another Treasure Chest at the next station, he might just gather enough for the acceleration device.
Seeing the train's departure countdown change to 1:15, Ye Qiyan turned his attention to the rewards he had obtained from the Treasure Chest.
The Colt M1911, compared to the ordinary firearms from the Armory, was crafted with such precision that it could be considered a work of art.
"It seems like all guns in this world can use the same type of bullets."
He loaded a magazine with Basic Bullets and aimed the muzzle at a wooden crate outside the carriage.
Pulling the trigger, the wooden crate was instantly shattered into pieces.
"What the... this power isn't right!"
Rubbing his slightly sore hand, Ye Qiyan looked at the gun in his hand with a surprised expression.
They were all handguns, yet the ones in the Armory, firing the same bullets, had at most half its power.
"If I were to Sublimate it..."
Ye Qiyan quickly shook his head to dismiss this dangerous thought for now.
Sublimation wasn't something to consider at the moment.
His physical and mental energy were nearing their limits; it would be better to wait until he recovered.
Stowing away the handgun, Ye Qiyan turned to inspect the two blueprints he had just acquired through the Control System.
[Basic Reservoir Blueprint]
[Stores water sources, preventing spoilage and evaporation for ten days]
[Requirements: Metal: 10 kg, Mechanical Parts: 20]
[External Garbage Collector]
[Collects garbage within the platform, automatically returning to the collector before leaving the platform]
[Requirements: Metal: 30 kg, Mechanical Parts: 100]
[Optional: Add 300 Mechanical Parts for special modification]
[After modification, collected garbage can be automatically disassembled into usable materials at the Workbench]
"It seems like I can build them both."
Ye Qiyan murmured to himself as he looked at the total resources he had collected.
[Wood: 210 kg]
[Metal: 60 kg]
[Mechanical Parts: 220]
The resources were sufficient, but if he built these two, the first carriage unit would have to be temporarily put on hold.
"Let's wait."
He wasn't in a hurry; with more docking time available, he decided to take a good rest.
With one hour left on the departure countdown, Ye Qiyan opened the Trading Platform.
The Trading Platform had special rules.
All Train Conductors at the platform couldn't place anything on the platform; only after leaving could they sell items.
This rule was likely set to prevent people from transferring station resources through platform trades, thus bypassing storage space limitations.
However, purchasing items wasn't restricted by this rule.
In other words, Ye Qiyan, who was currently at the platform, could buy items placed on the Trading Platform by other Train Conductors who had left.
But this rule seemed too foolish, as it didn't restrict private trades between Train Conductors, nor did it limit purchases by people at the station.
Such an obvious loophole hardly seemed like something an entity capable of creating this train survival game would leave behind.
Was it a hint that the rules could be ignored to some extent?
Ye Qiyan didn't dwell on it; he had only one task next.
Trade for metal.
As for what to trade?
His gaze swept over the Basic Rifle and compressed biscuits beside him.
At times like this, what people lacked most was a sense of security.
And what could provide that sense of security? Weapons and food were among them.
"Nothing?"
Ye Qiyan kept refreshing the Trading Platform. Although some people had put up the metal he needed, the quantities were too small, and the prices were outrageous. Clearly, these people weren't serious about trading.
"Everyone's just watching."
He opened the Chat Room.
Other Train Conductors had already left the first station, and the chat box was scrolling wildly.
["Brothers, how was your haul at the first station? I searched a junkyard for half a day and found nothing valuable except a pile of old tires. It pissed me off, but I did get a lot of rubber from dismantling the tires. Anyone interested, PM me!"]
["Be content. My first station was a grassland. Nothing but grass, and you couldn't even walk on it. It was all black mud with a terrible stench. Disgusting."]
["Grassland is good; black soil is valuable."]
["What's the value? Can you eat it?"]
["Black soil can be used for planting. It's very useful."]
["Pfft, I thought you could eat it. What's the use? In such a small space, can you really grow anything? What a joke."]
["Anyone selling Mechanical Parts? I have a blueprint that needs them."]
A blueprint was posted in the chat room, causing a stir.
[Basic Mechanical Fishing Rod]
[Enables automatic fishing]
[Requirements: Mechanical Parts: 20, Metal: 1 kg]
["Wow! What's this, a blueprint? Why don't I have one?"]
["Just lucky, I guess. But is it okay to post this in the chat room?"]
["Pfft, you guys clearly don't have blueprints. This is just a screenshot. Only those with the blueprint can manufacture it. Friend, I have Mechanical Parts, 20 of them. I only want the bread and water you got at the start."]
["Shameless! Wanting bread and water for 20 Mechanical Parts. Dream on. I'll give you parts for just one bread!"]
["I'll take half! But I only have fifteen Mechanical Parts..."]
["It's just a fishing rod. What's so special about it?"]
Not many people had fruitful hauls at the first station.
["Anyone selling water? I'm dying of thirst..."]
["Did anyone find a Treasure Chest?"]
["What's a Treasure Chest?"]
["Uh, nothing. Forget I said anything."]
["Damn, I hate it when people don't finish their sentences. In times like these, withholding information is inhumane!"]
["Exactly, we're all trying to survive. What's wrong with helping each other out?"]
Some people started condemning the person who mentioned the Treasure Chest, their ugly faces evident even through the screen.
The person eventually couldn't withstand the malice and, moments later, posted a screenshot of the Control System.
[Opening Level 1 Treasure Chest]
[Obtained Train Coin: 2 pieces]
[Obtained: Healing Ointment]
[Obtained: Level 1 Blueprint: Aluminum Heat-Insulating Pad]