Chapter 27: True Colors

Chapter 27: Chapter 27: True Colors

So what?

Seraphina Sinclair replied, "Got it," once again clearly rejecting Pretty Guardian’s request to buy the compass.

What was hers was hers. There was no way she was handing it over.

As for Hadoruk’s sister... what did that have to do with Seraphina Sinclair?

Everyone has their own fate.

Seraphina Sinclair did have one Healing Potion, but it was her only one. If she played the good Samaritan and gave it away today, what would happen if she got bitten by a Rotting Corpse tomorrow? Would another good Samaritan come to save her?

Regardless of the answer, Seraphina Sinclair wasn’t about to gamble with her own life.

Because it wasn’t a gamble at all. It was just plain stupid.

Seraphina Sinclair closed the chat window.

No more private messages popped up today. Seraphina Sinclair spent a quiet afternoon.

When it was time for dinner, she debated for a moment before finally deciding to break out a box of self-heating rice.

’In this godforsaken place, I could die at any moment.’

’What was that famous quote again? The greatest tragedy in life is dying with money left unspent. Applied to this world, wouldn’t that be dying with a hoard of uneaten food?’

’That would be truly tragic.’

If that really happened, Seraphina Sinclair wouldn’t be able to rest in peace, even as a ghost.

’Good things should be enjoyed sooner rather than later.’

She started heating the self-heating rice and, while waiting, idly scrolled through the regional channel. It was dinnertime, and quite a few people were showing off their food.

"(Image) What do you think? Bread soaked in hot water! Hot water!!! Who understands the value of the word ’hot’ right now!"

"I feel you! (Image) Because I’m doing the same thing! I gotta say, it tastes so much better after soaking! It’s still hard, but at least it tastes like bread, haha! The taste of bread! I’m so moved, boo-hoo."

"Is the person above doing okay, mentally?"

"Food isn’t all that great anyway, really. All I have left is a sheet of Digestive Tablets. Have I complained? I’m still eating them for dinner, aren’t I?"

"Here it comes! The ’unsolvable riddles’ series. If you poison a venomous snake with its own venom, will it die? If you use an electric eel’s electricity..."

"What are you guys even talking about! Is this really the time for that?"

"You young people think so fast. I’m an old man, I can’t keep up. Let me show you my dinner. (Image) Toasted bread slices. My bread is different from yours; it was soft to begin with. After toasting, it’s crispy and fragrant!"

Most people’s food was still bread. Just as Seraphina Sinclair was lamenting the harsh living conditions, she suddenly saw a message from someone she knew.

[Pretty Guardian]: (Image) Day three of the Black Fog era. Eating instant noodles. They’re warm and taste pretty good.

Seraphina Sinclair clicked on the image to take a look. It was indeed instant noodles, but the seasoning packet hadn’t been added yet. The noodles were also a bit overcooked, stuck together in a clump that looked completely unappetizing.

Seraphina Sinclair was a little disgusted, but everyone else gave Pretty Guardian plenty of face.

"This is definitely a ’big shot’s diary’!"

"You can already eat instant noodles? I’m so jealous, tears of envy are streaming from the corners of my mouth."

"A few days ago, I wouldn’t have given instant noodles a second glance. Now, I can’t tear my eyes away!"

"Why didn’t you add the seasoning packet before posting? Even if I can’t eat it, I can at least lick the screen!"

Seraphina Sinclair frowned and leaned back a little. ’Isn’t that a bit too disgusting?’

"Those noodles are cooked really badly! Hurry up and add the seasoning! A little longer and they’ll turn into mush! It’s going to be a pot of porridge! At a time like this... cooking like that is a total waste of precious food! I can’t watch!"

"Haha, truly a case of the eunuchs worrying more than the Emperor."

"What does it matter if she adds it or not? It’s not like you can eat it."

"I’m a beggar! But I’m not begging on my knees! @Pretty Guardian, I demand to see it with the seasoning packet!"

[Pretty Guardian]: It’s not that I’m not adding it. The instant noodles are literally called ’Instant Noodles Without a Seasoning Packet’. There’s nothing to add.

So that was it.

The tone of the regional channel changed instantly. The more they had been fawning earlier, the more disgusted they were now.

"Get that away from me. Who eats plain boiled instant noodles?"

"Worse than my bread. And you have to cook it, what a hassle."

"That’s not what you all were saying a minute ago, ahahaha!"

"The seasoning packet is the soul of instant noodles! With the seasoning, even a dog would have to stop for a sip of the broth. But without it... sorry, I’m not familiar with that kind of food."

"When it comes to changing faces, you guys are definitely the champions."

Having enjoyed the show, Seraphina Sinclair found that her self-heating rice was ready. She lifted the lid, fanned away the rising steam with her hand, and also snapped a picture to post.

She didn’t add any text.

’That’s how low-key people are. A picture is enough. Words are too ostentatious.’

The regional channel fell strangely silent for a second, then instantly exploded!

"HISS HISS! What is this! Food! Food! Food! I’m coming!"

"I was seriously stunned when I saw the picture. Then I saw the ID, and damn it, it’s that Blacktiger Ford guy again. Let me just ask, how good is your food situation, really?"

Seraphina Sinclair tilted her head and thought about it seriously for a moment. She wouldn’t dare say her food situation was *great*, but if she had to describe it... it would probably be that she still had no idea what the terribly tasting compressed biscuits and bread were like.

Thinking about it, she suddenly felt her food situation was a little *too* good. Compared to the other people on the regional channel who were struggling to survive, she was practically on vacation.

’Vacation is good. Vacation is great.’

Seraphina Sinclair picked up a piece of potato and swallowed it with the not-so-tasty rice.

To be honest, in her previous life, she had been rather disdainful of the instant rice in these self-heating meals.

But look at the times now!

Is this rice?

This is a delicacy!

’Just look at how envious everyone in the regional channel is.’

"I really want to eat that. Give me a bite, boss!"

"Brother Ford, we’ve known each other for a long time, don’t you remember? When we were kids, you played at your house, and I played at my house! Surely our years of friendship are worth more than a single bite of self-heating rice?"

"You should really read back what you just wrote."

"I’m dying of craving! Dying! It’s been three days! Three whole days! Do you have any idea how I’ve spent these last three days? I haven’t tasted a single grain of salt! No flavor at all!"

"Actually, there is some. Starch breaks down into a slightly sweet taste."

"The person above seems to be having their last fantasy before going crazy from cravings."

"@Blacktiger Ford, give me a bite, just one bite, just one bite, just one bite!"

"You want a bite? Fine! Then I want a bite too!"

"You want a bite too? Okay! Then I *definitely* want a bite!"

"Get in the back of the line! @Blacktiger Ford, boss, bestow your charity on me first!"

The last message was a voice note. Curious, Seraphina Sinclair played it. It was a man’s voice. The first half was extremely aggressive, but the second half was pitched so high it almost sounded like a woman’s.

Seraphina Sinclair shivered. Today, she had once again witnessed the true colors of these people.