101: The last stop of the protection period: Dark Forest

Feeling everyone's support, Luo Chen quickly started shouting slogans.

“Thank you all for your support. I believe that with our combined efforts, we will surely be able to live better lives.”

“The Big Boss is brilliant!”

Everyone cheered happily.

Since the Big Boss was willing to say that, it meant they were officially taken over by the Big Boss.

It gave them the feeling of temporary workers becoming permanent.

“Alright! Hurry up and eat! If you don’t eat now, the noodles will get cold!” Jiang Zhi’s wife said with a smile, interrupting the excited crowd.

“Eat noodles, eat noodles.” Luo Chen said with a smile, waving his hand.

Then everyone sat down at a dining table.

The crowd that had been gathered around dispersed, looking back every few steps.

There was no other way; the Train’s food supply had a time limit. If they went too late, they might not get breakfast.

After breakfast.

Jiang Zhi came to Luo Chen with a box, “Luo Chen, these are all the star coins, train coins, and cores on our Train, as well as nine stones whose purpose we don’t know, but Ran Feng said you know, so I’ve given them all to you.”

Luo Chen opened it and took a look, finding that there weren’t many star coins or train coins inside, and the cores were all green or lower. However, there were actually nine energy crystals.

Luo Chen didn't take the things inside, but instead asked Jiang Zhi, “Uncle Jiang Zhi, what is your mission?”

“I am a hunting messenger. I have a 40% chance of obtaining hunting rewards, and my strength increases by 40% at the same time.”

“Walker-level? Not bad!” Luo Chen nodded.

“What do you mean?” Jiang Zhi asked, somewhat puzzled.

But Luo Chen didn't explain much; he continued:

“I don’t need these things; you keep them for yourselves. Those stones are called energy crystals; they can help us increase our strength. You must keep them safe. I’ll come over tonight and help you increase your strength.”

Since it was his subordinate Train, its strength couldn’t be too weak.

Otherwise, if they encountered danger every two or three days, should he save them or not? It was better to let them increase their strength and solve it themselves, while he enjoyed the fruits of their labor from behind.

Tasks like animal breeding and mating, as well as dirtier and harder work, could also be handed over to them.

“Really?” Jiang Zhi was overjoyed to hear this. Being able to increase his strength meant that exploring for supplies would be safer, and he naturally couldn’t bear to refuse.

Luo Chen smiled and nodded, confirming… Taking the space transfer pod, Luo Chen returned to his Train.

As the hatch opened, he found Luo Wan Ning and the others gathered near the entrance.

“What are you all doing?”

“Looking for you! You were gone early in the morning, and we thought you had disappeared.” Luo Wan Ning stepped forward, curiously examining the pod, “What is this thing?”

“A space transfer pod. Last night, I got a golden core, which allows for an additional subordinate Train, so I used it for Uncle Jiang Zhi’s Train. I just went over to his side.” Luo Chen explained.

“No wonder when I called you on a holographic video call, it showed you were out of service area.”

“It must be too far!”

“Can we go over there, and can people from there come over here too?” Luo Wan Ning asked again curiously.

“Yes! Five people can ride at a time.” Luo Chen nodded, “But I’ve set permissions; no one else can use it without my permission.”

“That’s good! This way, we don’t have to worry about other men running over.” Luo Wan Ning nodded.

At this moment, the Train broadcast announced its arrival at the station.

[The Train is connecting to a Fragment World]

[Forest of Gloom, (with treasure chest)]

[Note: This world is a multi-Train world, with a total of three Trains docked]

[Train docking time: 3 hours. Train Conductors, please board the Train in time.]

[Train connection countdown: 51]

“Uh! Is it time?”

Luo Chen casually closed the hatch and looked at Luo Wan Ning, asking, “Did you buy the wood saws last night?”

“I did! But not many. Everyone knows wood saws are tools for collecting wood, so few people are willing to sell them. I only managed to buy 9 by paying a higher price.”

“That’s a bit too few! We currently have 84 people. Excluding those who are just transporting, we need at least twenty.” Luo Chen frowned.

Suddenly, he remembered seeing many wood saws at Uncle Jiang Zhi’s place earlier, and quickly said, “How about this: you ask Dongfang Yuyao to go to Uncle Jiang Zhi and borrow a dozen or so. I’ll tell him now.”

Worried that Jiang Zhi would get off the Train if he waited too long, Luo Chen immediately sent him a message.

After receiving a confirmation reply, he looked at Xue Shang and Noya again: “Same old rules, you two keep watch nearby to prevent others from attacking. I’ll go to the center of the forest to get the treasure chest.”

Xue Shang and Noya nodded, and then the group dispersed.

Luo Chen, carrying a rifle, went alone to the carriage where the flying motorcycle was parked.

Outside the window, the world was hazy, with a dark purple sky without a sun, only the world barrier reflecting a faint cosmic glow.

The forest was dead silent; even with the Train docked, crushing many trees, no animal sounds could be heard.

Luo Chen opened the carriage door, put on a racing helmet he had found earlier, twisted the throttle lightly, and shot out with a whoosh.

His target was straight for the center of the forest.

The jungle was dense, with various trees crisscrossing, making it difficult for the flying motorcycle to navigate.

Luo Chen had to raise the motorcycle’s height and travel above the treeline.

However, this also meant Luo Chen couldn't see any traces of the treasure chest through the dense leaves, so he could only find a general location to park the flying motorcycle.

After finding a branch to secure the flying motorcycle, Luo Chen began searching the forest.

The forest was quite clean, with no weeds to be seen, and the ground was covered in fallen leaves.

Without the interference of weeds, Luo Chen quickly found the only bronze treasure chest in this world.

Luo Chen opened the box, and inside were neatly arranged a white core, a green core, 24 train coins, 121 star coins, ten fragmentation grenades, and a common roasted chicken.

No energy crystals!

Luo Chen looked again, filled with regret.

It seemed energy crystals were still quite valuable.

Previously, each bronze treasure chest had yielded five energy crystals, making him think that subsequent treasure chests would also contain them. However, reality told him otherwise.

Never mind! Let’s go back!

Luo Chen closed the box, moved the treasure chest onto the flying motorcycle, and then tied it down with a rope.

Huh?

Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, Luo Chen glimpsed a large, dark mass of green figures in the distant forest, among which a few pale figures could vaguely be seen.

As the figures rapidly approached, Luo Chen finally got a clear look at them.

He saw that the group of bald, green creatures were very short, the tallest being only about 1.2 meters, entirely green, with two slender ears growing on their wrinkled heads.

Their wide-open mouths revealed a row of serrated teeth.

These are… Goblins!

The All-Seeing Eye quickly confirmed his guess.

[Goblin: From Planet Mairilan, all male creatures, reproduce by using the female bodies of other species, then devour the female body for nutrition after birth. Loyal followers of the god of fertility.]