Chapter 139: New Extreme Weather Appears on Azure Star

Chapter 139: Chapter 139: New Extreme Weather Appears on Azure Star

Seraphina Sullivan looked around the home she had lived in for so long, murmuring to herself:

’Perhaps... continuing to live here really is a problem. With neighbors like these, today’s incident will definitely not be the last. Suspicion, jealousy, guilt-tripping... there will only be more of it in the future.’

’I have the Scavenger’s Farm now—a perfectly safe, portable, private space. A fixed residence doesn’t seem necessary for me anymore...’

’What’s the difference where I live? Perhaps it’s time to consider moving somewhere quieter, safer, or... more hidden.’

A plan to leave began to quietly form in Seraphina Sullivan’s mind.

The Player conflict, the Insectoid Monster attack, and the subsequent neighborhood drama that took place in Seraphina Sullivan’s district in Vorlag City soon spread through local networks and by word of mouth, even sparking controversy in some circles.

Some condemned Sean Chandler for being too ruthless, while others believed his actions were a necessary response to the crisis. Still others felt extremely uneasy about the existence of Players as a group.

However, these controversial discussions were quickly and intentionally suppressed by the authorities.

In this critical period, maintaining social stability and preventing the spread of panic was the top priority. The authorities didn’t want the issue of Players to escalate and incite greater chaos.

The most pressing task for society at the moment was the recovery and reconstruction effort following the torrential rains and floods.

More than a month of extreme weather had dealt a devastating blow to agricultural production, supply warehousing, and logistics across all regions.

Although the floodwaters were receding, countless farms had been submerged. Large quantities of reserve grain and supplies were soaked and contaminated, rendering them completely inedible.

This plunged many cities into a state of severe shortages, especially of food and clean drinking water.

The sharp decline in vital resources rapidly intensified social tensions.

Looting of supermarkets and warehouses, violent conflicts, and even deaths over a single bite of food occurred with increasing frequency across the country.

Order was teetering on a fragile edge.

However, the escalating chaos and supply shortages of the outside world seemed not to affect Seraphina Sullivan’s personal rhythm.

She paid little attention to the online arguments and news of distant violence, instead remaining contentedly in her Scavenger’s Farm and its kitchen, focused on a matter of utmost importance.

Making and storing delicious food.

Looking at the mountain of potatoes piled up in her storage space, Seraphina Sullivan began to plan in earnest.

’Hmm... with this many potatoes, I need to figure out how to turn them into all sorts of delicious foods that can be preserved long-term.’

She tied on an apron, talking her plan through to herself. ’First, I can fry up a huge batch of pork-crackling fries; they’ll be crispy and will keep for a long time. Then I’ll make a few big pots of braised potato chunks—that rich, dark, and savory sauce is the best for serving with rice.’

’Oh, right, I can also make sweet and sour potatoes. They’re sweet, tangy, and great as an appetizer. Wavy Potatoes would be good too, tossed with seasoning they’re so fragrant... I can also prepare some mashed potatoes for a convenient, ready-to-eat option.’

It was as if she intended to try every potato recipe she knew, transforming her abundant supplies into a more diverse and shelf-stable array of food to fully prepare for the lingering uncertainties of the future.

The kitchen of the farm soon filled with all kinds of tempting aromas, creating a stark contrast to the increasingly tense struggle for survival in the outside world.

Just as Seraphina Sullivan was leisurely savoring a batch of freshly made Wavy Potatoes, her phone suddenly started ringing.

She glanced at the screen and was somewhat surprised. It was that guy, Dexter Luther.

The thought that this was the same guy who’d used an item to trick her into the dangerous Petrification Apocalypse instance made Seraphina Sullivan fume.

If the rewards from that instance hadn’t been so incredibly lucrative, she would have settled the score with him long ago.

Seraphina Sullivan answered the phone, slightly annoyed. Before she could even speak, Dexter Luther’s familiar, boisterous voice came through:

"Whoa! Seraphina Sullivan! You got a boyfriend and didn’t even tell me! And he’s a total badass! A Player, no less! I saw that video online—he’s ridiculously fierce!"

His tone was exaggerated, but then he lowered his voice, offering a friendly, conspiratorial reminder. "But hey, buddy, I gotta warn you. Being a Player is a hot commodity in the Doomsday Game. They can travel freely between instances, they see a lot of stuff, and there are plenty of temptations out there. You’d better keep a close eye on your man. You never know, he might get snatched away by some powerful female Player in an instance one of these days!"

Listening to him ramble on, Seraphina Sullivan caught the hidden implication in his words. Her brow furrowed slightly. "What’s that supposed to mean? What have you heard?"

"Heh heh."

Dexter Luther chuckled smugly on the other end of the line.

"You might not believe this, but I ’have a friend’ who’s also a Player. He saw your guy in an instance before, and at the time... ahem, your man had a pretty homely-looking woman with him. Now, she definitely wasn’t as pretty as you, but you know how guys can be... Anyway, you should pay more attention!"

Seraphina Sullivan: "..."

She was instantly speechless.

’That "homely-looking woman" Dexter Luther mentioned... was almost certainly me, using the Transformation Ring to alter my appearance!’

And Dexter Luther’s painfully obvious "I have a friend" routine made her want to roll her eyes.

"Oh, really?"

Seraphina Sullivan let out a knowing, cold laugh. "’I have a friend’? Dexter Luther, you’re not very good at playing dumb."

"Hey, don’t worry about that!"

Dexter Luther seemed a little embarrassed and quickly changed the subject. "The point is, my ’friend’ happens to have some extra items he can’t use. He was wondering if that expert boyfriend of yours has any spare items or things he doesn’t need? We could do a private trade. It’d be mutually beneficial!"

He had finally revealed his true intentions.

Seraphina Sullivan’s mind raced. She neither agreed nor refused, instead replying in an ambiguous tone, "I can’t say for sure if he has any extra items. I’d have to ask him. But... we could meet up. I’ll have him talk to you in person then. How does that sound?"

She planned to meet with Dexter Luther first, using the opportunity to sound him out.

The moment Dexter Luther heard he had a chance to trade face-to-face with that "badass," he readily agreed. "Sure! No problem! You pick the time and place. Just text me when you’ve decided!"

After hanging up, Seraphina Sullivan was lost in thought.

With the arrival of the Doomsday Game, all kinds of resources—especially item trades and information exchange between Players—were indeed becoming increasingly important.

She also needed to make more preparations before the next instance opened, both in terms of supplies and intelligence.

However, not even Seraphina Sullivan could have predicted that the world’s next upheaval would come so quickly and so violently.

Within the borders of Arkadia, the global torrential rains had finally been brought under control, thanks to the Child of Weather operating at full capacity. The floods were slowly receding, and people had just begun to see a glimmer of hope for rebuilding.

But no one could have imagined that a far more terrifying, more extreme cataclysm would suddenly descend without any warning!