Chapter 144: Leaving, Breeding Chaos

Chapter 144: Chapter 144: Leaving, Breeding Chaos

After the trade was complete, the two didn’t linger. They turned and began the difficult trek home, their feet sinking deep into the thick snow with every step.

The sky gradually brightened. Although the blizzard raged on, visibility had improved slightly.

Along the way, Seraphina Sullivan saw more people venturing out into the blizzard. Many were pushing carts, struggling to move along roads not yet completely buried by snow. Most seemed to be heading toward the hospital.

However, the hospital was now being managed by the military in the wake of the disaster.

Clearly, the sudden, severe cold had already caused a great number of medical emergencies.

’Ugh, the pigeon problem still isn’t solved...’

Seraphina Sullivan sighed. Her "Bombing Pigeon" project couldn’t be shelved just because she lacked a carrier.

She instinctively glanced down at her right hand.

Now, in addition to the Transformation Ring that could alter her appearance, her finger wore another ring: the sleek, silvery-white Pelican’s Eye.

The two rings shimmered with different lusters on her slender finger.

Just as Seraphina Sullivan and Sean Chandler were struggling back through the blizzard, the sharp sound of shattering glass suddenly rang out from not far ahead, immediately followed by a woman’s terrified scream.

Seraphina Sullivan immediately looked toward the sound. Through the swirling snow, she saw a figure clutching a large bundle leap out of the broken window of a long-closed storefront. The person landed, didn’t pause for a second, and sprinted deep into the streets at a speed far beyond that of a normal human.

Immediately after, a middle-aged woman, shivering violently from the cold, stumbled out of the broken window in pursuit. She stared in the direction the robber had vanished.

She cried out in despair, "Robbery! He stole my food! That was the last of our family’s rations! Help me!!"

However, by the time Seraphina Sullivan tried to get a clear look at the robber, they had already vanished without a trace into the white expanse of snow and around the street corner.

That speed was definitely not something an ordinary person could possess.

’A Player?’ Seraphina Sullivan’s heart sank a little.

Her own supplies were plentiful, so she hadn’t fully realized that for the vast majority of ordinary people, the food shortage had become an imminent survival crisis, one that was already starting to trigger vicious incidents.

’This won’t do,’

Seraphina Sullivan was instantly on high alert. ’People are already resorting to robbery for food. I have to be more careful. I can’t let anyone see that I have plenty of food, or I’ll easily attract jealousy and danger.’

With heavy hearts, the two returned to their residential complex, just in time to see a military vehicle driving away, its tires crushing the snow.

Seraphina Sullivan didn’t think much of it at first. But when she got home and opened her phone, she saw the property management group chat had exploded with messages and realized that was the vehicle Justin Brooks had sent to pick up his mother.

’It’s good they picked her up,’ Seraphina Sullivan thought, relieved. ’If Miss Webb had stayed here, she definitely would have been guilt-tripped by those who’ve lost their senses, and her personal safety might have even been threatened.’

Sure enough, the group chat immediately flooded with all sorts of sour and even malicious comments:

[Why is she the only one who gets picked up by the government? When are we going to be rescued? The supermarkets are closed in this cold, what are we supposed to eat? Air?]

[Her son is an official Player, of course she gets special treatment! Guess we just weren’t born so lucky!]

[Gossip alert! I heard the main target of that crazy Player who attacked our complex was Justin Brooks! We were all just dragged into it because of him! He should compensate us for our losses!]

[What?! If that’s true, we just let them leave like that? They’re getting off way too easy!]

Seraphina Sullivan watched these increasingly out-of-control comments, shaking her head helplessly, not knowing what to say.

Human selfishness and blame-shifting were magnified infinitely in desperate times.

She turned off her phone, no longer paying attention to the commotion outside.

She took the recently acquired Flavor Isolator from her pocket. After activating it and placing it in a corner of the living room, an invisible barrier quietly formed, perfectly sealing off all scents from the inside and out.

Then she took off her heavy coat, ready to make something hot to warm herself up.

’It’s so cold, perfect weather for hot pot.’ In a good mood, she took out a hot pot base she had stockpiled earlier. She boiled some water to dissolve it, and the rich aroma of beef tallow instantly filled the room.

But thanks to the Flavor Isolator, not a single wisp of the scent escaped outside.

Next, she brought out various frozen meat rolls and vegetables and began to enjoy a warm meal amidst the ice and snow.

Seraphina Sullivan also summoned Flora and Moe from the Scavenger’s Farm, letting them experience the atmosphere of a "family hot pot."

Of course, as a plant, Flora had no interest in hot pot. Seraphina Sullivan had still prepared its special "meat" collected from the Animal Slaughterhouse instance.

Although Moe mainly relied on the Energy from special ores, it was also curious about new foods. It carefully tried a boiled meatball, its dark green eyes sparkling.

Sitting around the steaming hot pot with Seraphina Sullivan and Sean Chandler, they felt a rare sense of warmth and happiness in this frozen, apocalyptic world.

The world outside, however, was far from peaceful.

This sudden, drastic drop in temperature was the last straw that broke the back of social order.

Just as Dexter Luther had said, chaos began to fester.

Some Players with Power and malicious intent began to take the opportunity to form factions and build their own forces, attempting to carve out territory in the chaotic world and even openly plundering supplies.

But the nation’s power was still strong and swift.

On one hand, the government dispatched the army and teams of Players to forcefully suppress violent incidents across the country and eliminate lawless gangs.

On the other, they also began to organize a nationwide rescue effort with all their might, mobilizing every possible resource.

Online, official announcements once again dominated the conversation, soothing public anxiety: [All citizens, please remain calm, stay in your homes, and avoid going out as much as possible! National rescue forces are working hard to overcome difficulties and are transporting emergency supplies to all regions! Large-scale Shelters are being constructed and improved at an accelerated pace and will be able to effectively withstand various natural disasters in the future! As long as we stand united and overcome these difficult times together, we will surely pull through!]

Even as the government worked to maintain order, shadows were stirring in the corners.

In Seraphina Sullivan’s residential complex, Keith Griffith’s home quietly received an unexpected visitor, one bundled up tightly against the cold.

In this weather, everyone was dressed this way, so the person didn’t attract much attention.

"Morton, you’re here." Keith Griffith nervously closed the door.

The man called Morton took off his thick hat and scarf, revealing a lean face tinged with a vicious aura. It was the same Morton that Keith Griffith had contacted before.

Gene Morton.

"Yeah. You called me over in such a hurry. Found a suitable ’mark’?" Gene Morton rubbed his hands together, his tone filled with his usual greed. "In this god-awful weather, nighttime is the perfect time to make a move."