Survival Queen of the Frozen Wastes novel Chapter 264

Chapter 264 Hidden Scheme in World Chat

“Cheers!”

Clear clinking echoed through the warm little living room.

At that moment, even the howling wind and snow outside felt softer.

In this cruel, hopeless world, a hot meal and a small group of trusted friends to chat with was pure bliss.

A warm feeling swelled up in Riley’s chest as she stared at everyone around her.

This was exactly why she hoarded supplies and chased strength relentlessly.

It was never just about staying alive.

It was about living with dignity, warmth, and hope.

“Hey.”

Riley swallowed a sip of soup and suddenly remembered something.

“I saw the dough kneader in the kitchen earlier, and an idea popped into my head.”

“What idea?” TartKing asked curiously.

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“We’ve got top–tier kitchen equipment, tons of flour, and massive stockpiles of ingredients.” Riley set down her fork, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes. “Why not start a side business?

“Like opening the only apocalypse restaurant or dessert shop on the entire server? Survivors are getting richer lately. You’d make a fortune.”

TartKing shook her head.

“I thought about that at first, honestly. I even sold desserts for a little while. The problem is time and output.

“I have to gather supplies every single day to keep my bonfire burning. I also need to upgrade my gear nonstop to survive tougher dungeons. I barely have any free time left over.”

“That makes sense.” Riley nodded.

“I’m glad I took in those native villagers. If it doesn’t work now, it might later. My wheat fields are coming along nicely. I can supply you with steady flour shipments down the line.”

“That’d be amazing!” TartKing’s face lit up. “I’ve always dreamed of opening my own bakery. I never got the chance back on Blue Star. Imagine having my own shop out here in the snowfield.”

Riley smiled. “Your cooking just keeps getting better. You could open a restaurant with a mix of classic comfort food and creative gourmet dishes.”

“You’re right!” TartKing’s eyes sparkled. “Does that make me a well–rounded chef who can pull off every style? That sounds amazing!”

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2:34 pm

Chapter 264 Hidden Scheme in World Chat

“Greetings, Chef Tart.” Riley teased her playfully.

“Haha!”

Laughter filled the cozy room once again

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After finishing their meal, none of them rushed to leave. They leaned lazily on the sofa, digesting their food and chatting casually.

“Huh?”

TartKing, who had been scrolling the world chat, suddenly sat up straight with a slight frown.

“Burger, Pineapple, take a look at world chat. Something feels off.”

“What’s going on?”

Riley and Pineapple Beer leaned over beside her.

The sudden treasure chest airdrop event had just ended. Some survivors bragged about rare blue–tier gear drops, while others complained about pulling nothing but plain bread. Some argued about the long–standing bad blood between the WarWolf Guild and the Sanctuary Guild, with bitter enemies hurling insults at each other in the public channel.

Most survivors had gained decent rewards from the event, leaving the overall mood cheerful and relaxed.

Beneath this peaceful surface, however, a hidden undercurrent was brewing.

[World Chat]

“Anyone else notice fuel prices going up again?”

“It’s always rising. It dipped a little after the last crazy spike, but prices are still way too high.”

“A ton of people lost credits betting on the last price surge.”

“Has anyone else noticed how common small electrical appliances are in these treasure chests?”

“Right?! Blueprints for electric heaters and heated carpets are dropping like trash. Their prices crashed hard.”

“That’s obvious, isn’t it? Everyone’s fine with bonfires now. Those electric gadgets are useless dead weight. They drain too much power for barely any benefit. Coal and lumber are the real hard currency. I’d sell those fancy blueprints while people are still buying, stock up on fuel, then buy the appliances back after temperatures drop.”

Riley narrowed her eyes after reading these comments. She recognized this familiar manipulation tactic instantly.

“This public opinion push is way too deliberate.”

PineappleBeer let out a cold snort.

“Someone’s definitely pulling strings behind the scenes. That guy called ‘LogicalAnalyst‘ was praising the Golden Rose Chamber of Commerce for fair prices just a few days ago. Now he’s suddenly teaching everyone how to trade?”

“The Golden Rose Chamber of Commerce… It’s always them.” Riley’s tone turned grim.

“These people are ruthless. They hyped up lumber prices before, and now they’re crushing appliance blueprint prices to hoard fuel

2:34 pm

Chapter 264 Hidden Scheme in World Chat

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at a low cost. They’re tricking regular survivors into selling their goods. Orice the cold wave hits, they’ll resell fuel at an outrageous markup and bleed everyone dry.“.

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