The news of Orion's rise to the summit of the wealth ranking sparked a sensation within the train. When he began recruiting, newly awakened supranormals vied to join, quickly forming a team of a hundred. Prepared to return to the planet, he noticed new items in the market.
"A wrist communicator—allows real-time connection to the train and communication between passengers. Essential gear. This should be our must-have tool."
Orion immediately purchased one, discovering it could link to the train's public network, enabling access to vast information and remote mission requests.
"If they expand the network, this thing will be indistinguishable from a smartphone."
Damian shared the same vision, directing Fu Yao to infuse resources into the network, aiming to create a super-network for the train that would integrate all passengers.
Half a day later, shuttles returned continuously. The train advertised the wrist devices, and no one underestimated their importance, rushing to buy them. With instant communication and real-time verification of resource viability, efficiency skyrocketed.
...
Wilson's message flashed:** *"Lilith, this wrist comm is awesome!"
During her hunt, Lilith's left hand flickered with a screen, scaring off a star beast hiding in the bushes.
"Damn it, stop distracting me. Train, can this block messages?"
The wrist device, linked to the train, responded: "Specify contacts to block."
She muted not just Wilson but everyone else, planning to reconnect after finishing her hunt.
Earlier, Lilith had spotted a fox-tailed, squirrel-sized creature—the "Foxrat"—worth three star coins, a premium item. "That thing's skittish. Probably gone because of Wilson." Agile as a cat, she leaped through underbrush, masterfully using the planet's gravity.
After five minutes, the wrist device provided coordinates.
"Oh? You can track quarry too?" Actually, it wasn't the device but Damian alerting her. Since passengers mass-adopted the wrist comms, Damian gained countless "eyes" on the planet, accessing live feeds as passengers moved.
"That girl's so absent-minded. The prey's right under a broad leaf, but she misses it."
After a fierce battle, Lilith captured the Foxrat, earning three star coins. According to union rules, solo hunts remained personal; only group-gathered resources were shared.
"I need to pay off debts. Wish there were more Foxrats." As if on cue, the device marked multiple Foxrat locations. "Whoa, this is a gold mine!"
...
"Fu Yao, what products can their submitted resources make?" Damian sat in the cockpit, sipping fizzy cola, surrounded by screens displaying passenger exploits.
[Star beast brains can craft potions—some heal, others energize. Sell them in the marketplace.]
[Hides for clothing. Passengers need fresh outfits.]
[Plant and animal genes? Lab research for future: targeted enhancement potions to amplify abilities.]
"What about Foxrats?"
[Their speed makes acceleration potions. Short-term speed boosts.]
"No wonder they're pricey." All pricing came from Fu Yao's analysis, approved by Damian.
In the next half-day, union shuttles ran two or three trips, efficiency doubling. Some hunted overnight—"night" per the planet's cycle; the train knew no day-night divide.
"Top unions almost cleared debts, with surplus. Good momentum. Let's push harder."
"Announce the train's extended stay. We're not leaving yet."
"I'll rest today. Continue tomorrow."
Damian slept normally, reviewing last night's harvests first. The next morning, he piloted his personal ship, escorted by 500 robot guards and two hidden escort vessels, toward the life-bearing planet. "Too many variables. Caution is vital."
Over the green planet, he chose a temperate forest at northern latitudes, avoiding other hunters.
"Scan for local threats." His robots secured a ten-mile perimeter, ensuring safety.
[Master, I know this isn't cowardice—it's prudence.]
"I'm just cautious. Unlike others who risk daily, why should I? I've got time—centuries, millennia. Live long enough, strength follows. Fu Yao, think I'll become a god? A celestial being?"
[You will master destiny, attain true immortality.]
"Immortality's boring. A few million years? Maybe collect beauties, build a pet empire..."
[Suggestions reflect core desires, unadorned.]
He ignored the AI's quirks. Soon, Damian faced lizard-wolves. "Weird mix—lizard scales, wolf ferocity. Nature's creativity." He fought unarmed, fists bloodied, until a alert chimed:
[300 meters west: crimson bear, peak level one.]
"Perfect warm-up."
Ten minutes later, a five-meter-tall scarlet bear chased him.
"This is *peak* level one?!"
[Affirmative.]
Reluctantly, he wielded a laser gun and silver-steel blade—overkill, but effective. "Lasers cripple it instantly. Silver steel should slay level three or four beasts. Wasted on this."
[Master, external tools hinder self-improvement.]
"But the tools are mine. So it's not 'external'."
He grumbled, ordering Fu Yao to find more level-one foes.