Building My Empire in the Frozen Apocalypse (Riley Carter) novel Chapter 178

Chapter 178 The Rule of The World

Chapter 178 The Rule Of The World

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TartKing’s eyes were shining like she’d found a new continent. “And it looks like there are several recipes in there! I want to try

them!”

Tartking happily paid the tokens, clutching the tattered vellum scroll bundle to her chest like a precious treasure.

Aside from that little side–purchase, the three didn’t buy anything major. PineappleBeer grabbed a few stacks of High–Grade Arrows, and Riley stocked up on salt and spices.

“Thank you for your business. May we meet again.”

Good smiled as he watched them depart, then picked up his book as if the trade had been an insignificant blip in his day.

As they walked away, the mist seemed to grow thicker.

TartKing kept looking back at the glowing stall as it vanished into the fog.

2

“So… PineappleBeer.”

“Yeah?”

“Does that merchant just… sleep there?” TartKing hugged her shoulders. “It’s the middle of nowhere, surrounded by monsters.

so sophisticated and gentle–what if someone just decides to rob him?”

What if bad people show up? He looke

Riley turned her head, equally curious. In an apocalypse with zero/laws, a merchant with a mountain of loot and cash who looked completely helpless was a walking target.

Old Riley might have even considered a “five–finger discount” herself.

“Rob him?”

PineappleBeer couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “Ha! TartKing, that’s a bold thought, but I suggest you never try it.”

She stopped and turned to look at them with a serious expression.

“Among the natives of this world, NPCs like him are the ones you absolutely do not cross.”

“Why?” Riley asked.

“Because they are ‘Rule–based NPCs,” PineappleBeer said, her voice dropping as if she were afraid Good might hear. “They aren’t normal living beings; they are the embodiment of the system’s rules. Good might look refined, but I’ve never seen anyone even touch a merchant. They wield power on a fundamental level.”

“So what’s the point? If they have that kind of power, why huddle in a dangerous dungeon?”

“Who knows?” PineappleBeer shrugged. “All I know is they love Frost Tokens.”

“Wait, then why was he willing to trade tokens for our monster drops?”

“He wasn’t. The system was. You can only exchange drops through a merchant. If you horded a bag of loot but got eliminated

1/2

12:24 pm Pppp.

Chapter 178 The Rule of The World

+20 Free Coins

before you found a trader, that’s just too bad.”

“I see.” Tartking nodded taking one last look back at the fog.

Riley nodded as well. “So the trade is just the system’s way of incentivizing us to kill monsters by giving us a way to liquidate the drops.”

“Bingo.” PineappleBeer snapped her fingers. “So, just show them respect and trade normally.”

The three kept moving, chatting as they went.

However, Riley suddenly felt something was off.

It was too quiet.

Usually, there were at least some insects buzzing or distant roars. Now, there was nothing but the sound of their feet crunching on

dead leaves.

And the sky… it was getting dark far too quickly.

Riley checked the system clock.

4:30 PM”

Only 4:30?

At this time, the forest should be dim, but not like this.

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