Building My Empire in the Frozen Apocalypse (Riley Carter) novel Chapter 18

Chapter 18 Unlucky Fool

Chapter 18 Unlucky Fool

“Silver tier?”

Riley sat bolt upright and pulled up her inventory screen.

Sitting there in one of the slots was a metallic crate, silvery–white and etched with intricate patterns across its surface. It looked light–years ahead of those beat–up wooden boxes she’d been finding.

She didn’t hesitate. “Open it.”

A brilliant flash of silver light filled her vision, and suddenly her screen was flooded with item icons.

“Obtained: White Bread x30

“Obtained: Canned Beef (Premium) x20

“Obtained: High–Protein Energy Bars x20

“Obtained: 5–Gallon Purified Water x5

“Obtained: Steel x40

“Obtained: Coal x30

“Obtained: Copper Plate x10

“Obtained: Zinc Ingot x5”

Riley’s breath caught in her throat.

Any single one of these supplies would’ve started a bidding war out there.

But that was just the beginning.

“Obtained: Basic Energy Core x3(Description: A stable energy crystal. Required for upgrading to a Level 3 Shelter and powering high–end equipment. Basically, exactly what you’ve been hustling for.)”

“Three Energy Cores!”

Riley almost yelled out loud.

She only needed two to get that shelter upgrade. That meant she could level up right now and still have one leftover.

A few cards popped up next.

“Obtained: Inventory Expansion Token (+8 Slots) x1(Description: Permanently adds 8 slots to your inventory. No more agonizing over what to toss.)

“Obtained: Storage Crate Upgrade Token x1

1/3

20:14 Mon, May 4

Chapter 18 Unlucky Fool

“Obtained: Universal Weapon Enhancement Schematic xl”

And finally, three blueprints.

“Obtained: Blueprint–Reinforced Steel Spear

“Obtained: Blueprint–Heavy–Duty Animal Trap

“Obtained: Blueprint–Basic Hydroponic Grow Tray”

+35 Free Coins

Riley just stared at the haul spread across her screen. All that frustration from getting roasted by the system for being some kind of “bad luck magnet“? Completely worth it.

Bad luck? This was hitting the jackpot after a rough patch.

Meanwhile, the Server Channel was absolutely losing it over that weird achievement announcement.

Even though the system kept the actual rewards private, the notification about the “Unlucky Fool” title had been broadcast to the whole server.

“Server Announcement: Congratulations to player SpicyBurger for earning the special title ‘Unlucky Fool‘! Five consecutive days of verified bad luck! Failed to open a single supply crate in the wild.”

“LMAO no way! Even the big dogs have off days!”

“So THAT’S why she’s been selling wood non–stop! Couldn’t find crates, had to actually work for it!”

“Five days straight? That’s some next–level cursed RNG. I’ve found like a dozen

oden crates myself.”

“Wait, think about it though. How’d she keep upgrading her shelter and livfortable without finding

a single crate for five days? Is she secretly the system’s favorite?”

“Plot twist: she’s an NPC placed here to make us all feel inadequate.”

Riley didn’t even glance at the chat. She was too focused on what she’d just pulled.

First things first.

“Expand inventory.”

The moment she used the card, two fresh rows of empty slots appeared at the bottom of her inventory bar. Total went up to twenty–four. Finally, no more constant Tetris with her supplies.

Next, she grabbed the “Storage Crate Upgrade Token“.

She walked over to the big wooden crate that’d been with her since day one and used the card.

A soft glow washed over it.

The old, drafty, barely–functional wooden box transformed into a deep brown, heavy–duty storage crate with reinforced steel corners.

2/3

20:14 Mon, May 4

Chapter 18 Unlucky Fool

“Upgraded Field Storage Crate

“Capacity: 36 slots

“Traits: Permission Locked (Owner Only), Climate Controlled (Food spoilage rate reduced by 50)”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify