As the steam rose and the warm light filled the shelter, the dishes were finally placed on the table.
The rich aroma of hotpot spread through the room, making even the cold outside feel distant.
Vikram picked up his chopsticks, then glanced at Sophia. "Sit."
Sophia shook her head slightly, "Iâll eat after you, Master."
Vikram frowned. "Why?"
"Thatâs how it should be..." she replied softly.
But before she could finish, Vikram directly pulled a chair and lightly pushed her down onto it.
"I said sit. Eat with me."
Sophia was slightly startled... but didnât resist.
She quietly sat down beside him. Inside, a faint warmth spread through her chest.
Master... is treating me well...
Her resolve deepened silently.
From this moment, her loyalty toward him only grew stronger.
Just as Vikram picked up a piece of meat and started eating, a notification sound suddenly rang out.
The small group chat, which had been quiet for a while, became active again.
He casually opened it while eating.
[Director Aditya: Everyone, a notification. Later, Kashif Ali, Boss Kashif, will share predictions regarding the next extreme cold change in the group.]
[Director Aditya: This concerns everyoneâs future safety, so if conditions allow, I hope everyone takes some time to understand it.]
[Bobby: With Boss Kashif analyzing the news, how dare we not come.]
[Geetanjali: Exactly! Thankfully, Boss Kashif reminded us last time, otherwise my Shelterâs cold-weather supplies would have been insufficient.]
[Radhika: Yes, thanks to Boss Kashif. This isnât even a prediction anymoreâitâs practically a prophecy. His information is almost perfectly accurate.]
[Anjali: Boss Kashif is reliable, unlike a certain so-called Big Boss Vikram, who only knows how to flirt with other peopleâs girls all day.]
[Sunny Dalal: Which Big Boss Vikram are you talking about? So hard to guess~]
Vikramâs eyebrow twitched.
"...These people..."
He immediately started typing.
[Vikram: Damn it, you two are doing a double act, arenât you?]
[Vikram: Say whatever you want, no matter whatâLittle Divya is still mine (grinning emoji).]
As he sent that message, a faint thought of Sophia flashed in his mind, but he ignored it.
In his mind, he had already decided, Divya... would be his.
[Sunny Dalal: Stop talking nonsense. You, nobody, want to pursue my goddess? Wait ten more years.]
[Vikram: What? I already sent you the photo last time and you still donât believe it? Hahaha.]
Sophia, sitting beside him, quietly ate while glancing at him occasionally.
She didnât interrupt, but she clearly noticed how casually he spoke about another girl.
Still... She said nothing. As a maid, it wasnât her place to question.
[Sunny Dalal: That photo must have been sent by the Goddess to her friend, and you just stole it like a dog. You think you can trick me?]
[Sunny Dalal: I advise you to wake up. Donât fool yourself.]
[Sunny Dalal: Right, Goddess @Divya]
Vikram smirked slightly and typed again.
[Vikram: Little Divya, come out and prove it.]
The group instantly became lively.
[Radhika: Hahaha, wherever thereâs gossip, Iâm there.]
[Bobby: Same here. Group owner, bring me two kilos of popcorn.]
[Director Aditya: Plus one.]
A moment later, Divya finally appeared.
[Divya: Deputy group owner, arenât you going to manage them? How can you join them in making trouble?]
Inside her Shelter, Divyaâs face had already turned red.
She stomped her foot lightly in frustration. "Itâs all Vikramâs fault...!"
"All day long, he just causes trouble for me in the group!"
Meanwhile, Vikram leaned back slightly, still smiling as he ate.
Sophia silently placed another piece of cooked meat into his bowl.
[Director Aditya: Alright, thatâs enough. Letâs get back to business. Boss Kashif will now explain the changes regarding the natural disaster.]
[Kashif Ali: Hahaha, donât be in such a hurry. You young people bickering is quite amusing. I wouldnât mind watching a bit more.]
[Director Aditya: Uh... this...]
[Kashif Ali: Just kidding.]
Director Aditya, who had just been smiling, was caught off guard by the sudden shift and could only respond with a helpless expression.
[Kashif Ali: Regarding the changes in this natural disaster, I donât have too much precise information for now.]
[Kashif Ali: The only thing I can confirm is that the extreme cold disaster will continue to lower the temperature every week from here on.]
[Kashif Ali: Based on the last change, it is estimated that the temperature in the Wasteland World will drop to -40°C exactly at 12:00 tonight.]
[Kashif Ali: Itâs fine to joke around in the group, but donât joke with your own lives. I hope everyone is prepared.]
[Kashif Ali: The situation will only become more severe. Being extra prepared is never a mistake.]
As soon as Kashif Ali finished speaking, the group immediately erupted into agreement and praise.
Even Vikram gave a short acknowledgment before closing the chat.
Soon after, Lakshya Verma once again summarized the message and spread it into the public chat channel.
But this time, there was nothing new. Only the temperature drop was mentioned.
Vikram leaned back slightly, resting his chin on his hand.
"Just a temperature drop...?"
He didnât believe it was that simple.
"Last time, it hinted that Crimson Creatures would disappear..."
"Why would the Wasteland suddenly become easier?"
"Something else will definitely replace it."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Iâll wait until midnight... Missing key information is worse than losing food."
At that moment, he opened another interface and initiated a trade.
Trader: Vikram
Trade Item: Cabbage x3
Required Item: None
[Vikram: Here. The cabbage I promised you last time.]
On the other sideâ
[Divya: So much?]
[Divya: Three cabbages together are more than 10 kg... Why donât you take some back?]
[Divya: I didnât even keep the secret completely... Anju found out too.]
The trade was rejected. Clearly, she felt embarrassed accepting it for free.
Vikram smirked slightly.
[Vikram: Donât reject it so quickly. I havenât even stated my condition yet.]
[Vikram: How about this... since itâs getting colder, you can wear black stockings to keep warm... And send me a photo so I can admire it.]
Beside him, Sophia paused for a brief moment while serving him more food.
She didnât say anything. She simply lowered her gaze...
But if Vikram had looked closely, he would have noticed, a faint trace of anger hidden behind her calm expression.
Unfortunately, Vikram was completely absorbed in his chat.
[Divya: Get lost, pervert!]
[Vikram: What are you thinking? In my spare time surviving in the Wasteland, Iâve learned a bit of figure drawing. I just need some reference materialâyou can be my model.]
[Divya: Really?]
[Vikram: Absolutely!]
After a while, despite Anjaliâs teasing gaze beside her, Divya gritted her teeth, wore them, took a quick photo... and immediately removed them.
[Divya: Picture.]
"Woohoo!!"
The moment Vikram received it, his eyes lit up as if he had struck gold.
Divyaâs already slender legs looked even more refined under the black fabric, the contrast making them stand out beautifully.
At the top, where the stockings met her thighs, the slight pressure created a soft curve, paired with her shy expression, it created a strangely captivating charm.
Vikram couldnât help but grin like an idiot.
He wasnât naĂŻve.
He knew perfectly well that his excuse wouldnât fool Divya.
This... was simply mutual understanding.
She was shy. He gave her a reason. And she still sent the photo.
That alone was enough to make his mood soar.
[Vikram: Hehe... this photo is really something.]
[Divya: Donât push your luck, understand?]
[Divya: The natural disaster is about to change. Be careful. Donât just stare at photos all dayâgo check the chat channel.]
[Vikram: Yes, Officer! Mission accomplished!]
After the chat ended, Vikram finally put the device aside and finished his dinner.
Yet, due to his heightened physique and senses, he felt something... off.
As if someone nearby was... slightly upset.
He turned his head toward Sophia. She smiled gently at him. Calm. Soft. Obedient.
Vikram blinked, "...Must be my imagination."
He shrugged it off.
After dinner, he sat down on the sofa and glanced at the time.
Less than four hours remained before the next extreme cold change.
"Still some time left..." He opened the trading interface.
First, he searched for cold-resistant materials. After confirming there were no worthwhile deals, he switched to searching for crop seeds.
"Right now, I only have 200 square meters of farmland..."
"And Iâve only planted cabbage so far..."
"Thatâs not enough."
He scrolled through the listings, his fingers moving steadily.
Meanwhile, not far away, Sophia quietly cleaned the table. Her movements were still precise.
Still obedient. But deep inside, a subtle, unfamiliar emotion had begun to take root.
Vikram scrolled for a long time...
But in the end, he didnât find any seeds worth buying.
"Looks like nothing useful today..." he muttered.
Without wasting more time, he shifted his focus, "Letâs check furniture instead."
As he typed the keyword, a flood of items appeared before his eyes.
His pupils reflected rows upon rows of listings.
"Hmm... I have to admit," he said quietly, "now that material types have increased, the market quality has improved a lot."
At the very least, those ridiculous trades like sand for food had disappeared.
He continued scrolling.
Wooden chairs. Tables. Basic beds.
Most of them were... average.
Then, his gaze stopped.
"Now this... is better."
The furniture in front of him was clearly of higher quality. Soft materials. Better insulation. Comfort-focused design.
The only downside is Price. But Vikram didnât care much about that.
"Buying blueprints is pointless," he thought. "They cost almost the same, and I still have to spend materials and effort."
"Iâm not here to become a furniture merchant."
After a bit of bargaining, he quickly secured three items: Fabric Rocking Chair Ă1, Nylon Carpet Ă4, Double Bed Ă1
He stood up from the sofa.
"Letâs set this up."
First, he took out the carpets. He spread them neatly across the living room of the Decoy Shelter.
Then he placed the rocking chair near the side. It looked simple, but when he sat on it briefly-
"...Not bad." The gentle rocking motion, combined with the soft fabric, made it surprisingly relaxing.
Finally, he carried the double bed into one of the rooms. After placing it down, he pressed lightly on the mattress.
It sank slightly, soft, yet supportive. "Much better than before," he nodded.
As for the Treehouse, he didnât bother changing anything there.
Everything inside was already upgraded to blue-grade quality. For now, there was no need to replace anything.