Building My Empire in the Frozen Apocalypse (Riley Carter) novel Chapter 55

Chapter 55 Parting Ways

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Riley took a sip of water, a wry smile touching her lips. “Back before all this? I ran a hardware store.”

Thinking about those so–called family members who’d hounded her over insurance money until she had nothing left, her eyes turned cold.

The two talked a little longer, then both glanced over at PineappleBeer, who’d stayed quiet the whole time.

“Hey, PineappleBeer,” TartKing asked, curiosity getting the better of her. “What about you? What did you do before? You fight like a pro–were you some kind of undercover operative or something?”

Pineapple Beer had been leaning against the wall, eyes shut. At the question, her long lashes fluttered slightly.

She opened her eyes–empty, unreadable.

“Nothing worth mentioning.”

Her tone was flat, final. “That life is over.”

Riley and TartKing exchanged a look and knew better than to push.

A short while later, Pineapple Beer suddenly stood up, adjusting her gear.

“Time’s just about up.”

She checked her wrist. “Five more minutes and this chamber resets. We should move.”

Riley got to her feet too, brushing dust off her pants.

“Let’s go.”

The three of them stepped out of the stone room and back into the deep, dark corridor outside.

Almost immediately, they reached a fork. Walking side by side just moments before, they now hesitated.

Pineapple Beer didn’t so much as glance at the map in Riley’s hand. Without pause, she turned

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Chapter 55 Parting Ways

left into the passage.

Riley stiffened.

She looked down at the Tattered Dungeon Map. That wasn’t the way to the safe zone.

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According to the markings, that path led to another red dot on the second level–which meant another boss room.

“Wait.”

Riley called after her. “Aren’t we heading to the second–floor safe room? That’s just a boss chamber that way.”

“I know,” PineappleBeer replied without turning or slowing down.

“You know and you’re still going?!”

Riley couldn’t believe it. “We’re not even at full health, and we’ve already scored plenty of loot. There’s no reason to take a risk like this!”

TartKing was starting to panic too. She quickly scrolled through her inventory.

“Yeah, PineappleBeer! I’m running low on sweets–I’ve only got seven of those healing cream cakes left!”

PineappleBeer stopped and looked back at the two of them.

“Thanks,” she said, her voice low. “But I have to go. I know what I’m doing.”

With that, she offered no further explanation. She moved–like a shadow slipping into the dark tunnel–and vanished in an instant.

Only her soft echo lingered in the air.

“Catch you later.”

Riley stared after the disappearing figure, her brow deeply furrowed.

What was this woman hiding?

With a sigh, Riley turned away.

“Her call.

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Chapter 55 Parting Ways

“If she won’t listen, all we can do is hope she makes it.”

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She turned, checked the map again, and eyed the right–hand path–the relatively safer route.

“Let’s get moving too. No point wasting time.

“Our job is to stay alive and pick up what we can along the way. Let the top–ranked players worry about life–or–death battles.”

*****

For the next few hours, Riley and TartKing settled into a steady, cautious looting rhythm.

Without Pineapple Beer–their damage powerhouse–and with TartKing’s supplies running thin, they took it slow but steady.

“Defeated Corrupted Zombie, XP +6

“Defeated Ghost Mage, XP +8”

Even split, the experience was decent. Riley’s XP bar crept noticeably toward the next level.

TartKing managed to hit level 3 as well.

“Boss! Over there–is that a chest?”

TartKing suddenly pointed toward an inconspicuous corner, voice buzzing with excitement.

Riley followed her gesture.

Half–buried behind rubble, she could just make out a corner of tarnished bronze metal.

“You’re kidding.”

They hurried over and pushed the debris aside.

Sure enough, a bronze chest sat there, silent and waiting.

“Let me try my luck!” TartKing rubbed her hands together eagerly and lifted the lid.

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