Survival Queen of the Frozen Wastes novel Chapter 226

Chapter 226 The Wealth of the Mine

“It’s those chests that just won’t open!”

Joseph rubbed his hands together sheepishly. “I figured they must be valuable, so I wanted to bring them to you. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get them to budge. Not even an axe would dent them.”

Riley glanced at the objects.

Sure enough.

Two Bronze Chests.

In the hands of a native, these were nothing more than unbreakable rocks. It was a system rule -only survivors like her had the clearance to unlock them.

“Nice work, Joseph.”

Riley didn’t hold back her praise.

“Set them down. I’ll handle the rest.”

Riley tapped the interface with a finger.

“System: Two Bronze Chests detected. Open?”

“Open.”

Two faint ripples of light shimmered as the lids popped open automatically.

Joseph and his crew stared with wide eyes, holding their breath. In their eyes, Riley hadn’t even touched the boxes before they opened themselves!

Riley scanned the drops.

From the first chest:

“Obtained: Coarse Flour x 11 lbs”

“Obtained: Iron Nails x 20”

“Obtained: Water Storage Vat x 0.5 gallon”

1/4

From the second chest:

“Obtained: Windproof Lighter (Refillable) x 1”

“Obtained: Common Blanket x 1”

‘Obtained: Lumber x 10″

“Obtained: Stone Stove x 1”

It was all basic supplies-little more than pocket change for someone at Riley’s level.

Still, she picked up the Windproof Lighter.

“I’m taking this.”

She had fire-starters, but this was more convenient, and she lacked high-end tools in that

category.

As for the rest…

Riley pushed the bag of flour, the water vat, the blanket, and the nails toward Joseph.

“These are yours now.”

“What?!”

Joseph stood frozen in shock.

“My lady… this…” Joseph fumbled for words, unsure of how to react.

“Just take them.”

way, check your room

Riley stood up and brushed the coal dust from her clothes. “By the when you get back. I put some furniture in there. Stop sleeping on the floor; you’ll get rheumatism.”

“Furniture?”

The three men exchanged confused looks, wondering when Riley could have possibly moved anything in.

Once they had rested enough, the group got back to digging.

Two hours passed.

2/4

Chapter 226 The Wealth of the Mine

+20 Free Coins

Riley looked at the mountain of coal at her feet. Between her own efforts and the crew’s, they’d pulled at least five or six hundred units.

“That’s enough for today.”

Riley stretched her back. “We’ve got plenty of coal for now. Spend the rest of the day however you like. Clean up your room and get some real sleep.

“If you find any more of these chests on patrol, even the wooden ones, bring them back. You can hand them to the treant back at camp.”

“Yes, my lady!”

The three natives shouted in unison, their voices echoing through the mine shafts.

At this moment, Riley was more than just a powerful Wizard to them; she was a merciful Lord, their only savior in this frozen purgatory.

She watched Joseph and his nephews leave before heading out with Neeko.

The three men practically sprinted back to the stone guardroom.

The moment they pushed the door open.

“Good lords…”

Rod let out a startled gasp.

Two sturdy bunk beds and thick wardrobes stood against the walls, and a small oil lamp had been thoughtfully placed on the center table.

What moved them most was the cast-iron stove; Riley had even pre-installed the chimney. Once lit, the room would be a haven of warmth.

Back at Riley’s shelter.

“Current Stock: High-Quality Anthracite x 622”

There’s nothing like owning the mine to keep the mind at ease.

Riley clapped her hands in satisfaction.

3/4

Chapter 226 The Wealth of the Mine

+20 Free Coins.

Even after the massive trade with GoldenAbacus, her energy reserves weren’t just stable-they were growing steadily thanks to her three hardworking laborers.

After a quick inventory check, she organized the Refined Steel Ingots and Electronic Components she’d traded for. She glanced at the big TV on the wall, thinking about asking Little Tree to build a stand and organize the messy wiring.

Just then, the portal in the courtyard flared with a familiar blue radiance.

Whirrr-

The spatial ripples settled, and a familiar figure stepped through.

It was TartKing.

She was holding two large, insulated food containers and shouted toward the house the moment her feet hit the ground.

“Riley! Neeko! You guys home?”

Minutes later, the aroma of a home-cooked meal filled the dining room-the real deal, with that unmistakable scent of seared steak and peppers.

“Is this…”

Riley’s eyes brightened as she looked at the two dishes on the table.

One was Sautéed Beef and Peppers. Though the beef was cut into uneven strips-some like toothpicks, others like fingers-the green peppers looked incredibly vibrant under the lights.

The other was Garlicky Greens, crisp and bright with shimmering oil.

4/4