"Someone's Already Trying to Buy It?"
Nova raised an eyebrow, surprised by the trade offer. Quickly, he accessed the interface to check.
Buyer Message (Unnamed Shelter):"Hey, I'd like to trade two buckets of instant noodles for your ice water. Please accept my offer."
Two buckets of instant noodles? If rationed properly, that could last about three days. Nova stroked his chin thoughtfully but didn't reply immediately. He decided to wait. After all, each trade had a maximum duration of 24 hours, and he wasn't running low on food just yet. With the trade platform open, Nova could keep swapping ice water for food. In this scorching heat, there was nothing more valuable than water.
[You have new trade notifications. Please respond soon!][You have new trade notifications. Please respond soon!][You have new trade notifications. Please respond soon!]
The notifications came in fast and furious, catching Nova off guard as he quickly checked them.
Buyer Message:"Hey, are you there? I have a consumable item. Want to trade?"
Buyer Message:"I've got a big bottle of sweet liquid. I'll trade it for half of your ice water. You won't regret it!"
Buyer Message:"How about cigarettes? Three packs of Huazi. I'll buy half a bottle of your ice water for sure. This stuff is going to be a hot commodity!"
Buyer Message:"Hey big brother, fresh new lingerie, seven colors in total. Hope you like them~"
Nova blinked, confused. What in the world?
Lingerie? In the middle of an apocalypse? Was this some kind of strange cyber seduction tactic? Sure, the situation was desperate, but wasn't this a little too far?
He was too lazy to respond to these bizarre offers. Yet, the notifications kept flooding in. Everyone was eyeing his half-bottle of ice water. It was a lifesaver—a magical item that could lower body temperature by 5 degrees. In this brutal heat, it could mean the difference between life and death.
Some were smart enough to understand its value, but they were hoping for a deal. Nova wasn't in any rush to trade, so he decided to filter his preferences. Only food and weapons would be considered. Any other offers would be blocked.
Once he made the adjustments, the spam messages dropped significantly. Hours later, Nova found something worth his attention.
Buyer Message:"Plant Bread: D-grade consumable. Eating it provides basic nutrition for the day and restores some stamina, but you'll still feel hungry. How about it? Two magical breads for your half-bottle of ice water. You won't regret it."
Now this was interesting. The buyer claimed the bread was "magical," just like his ice water—a special item from their shelter. Swapping magical ice water for magical bread seemed like a fair deal. Each party gets something they need.
Without hesitation, Nova accepted the trade request and confirmed the transaction. Moments later, a notification chimed.
[Ding! Your order has been successfully completed!]
As the message appeared, Nova saw the details of the "Plant Bread" listed in his shelter's interface. He opened his hand, and two palm-sized loaves of golden-brown bread appeared in front of him, releasing a tempting aroma.
Nova couldn't resist. He took a bite.
"Mmm, not bad. It's sweet."
He savored the flavor. The bread was surprisingly tasty, and it delivered the effects promised. But then, a thought crossed his mind.
"Wait a minute."Nova glanced at the remaining loaf. "My talent provides the most urgently needed item every day. The first reward was ice water, so the next one is likely food-related..."
Nova's mind raced. "If I trade enough ice water for food, will my next reward be different?"
"If it changes, can I control what I get?"
Suddenly, the full scope of his talent became clearer. Each person's shelter had its own unique talent, and in this apocalypse, survival depended on managing it wisely.
Without wasting time, Nova went over to the freezer, pulled out five bottles of ice water, and listed them for trade. This time, he set "food" as his only requirement.
Within just two hours, his trade listing was flooded with requests—instant noodles, biscuits, canned goods. Nova focused on items that were easy to store, preferring large quantities over specialized goods.
Once the trade was completed, he received a massive stockpile of dry foods that filled his bathroom. The variety was impressive. With careful rationing, he could survive at least half a month.
"That solves the food problem," Nova thought, sitting back with a sense of satisfaction. "Now, let's see what tomorrow's reward will be."
His plan was clear. Stay inside, keep using his shelter talent, and hoard whatever rewards came his way. As long as nothing catastrophic happened, he'd remain safe.
He collapsed onto the couch, scrolling through the Jinling City chat channel. The whole city had lost power and water, and communication systems were down. His only form of entertainment was observing the chaos through the chat.
Nova intended to remain a quiet observer, but when he opened the chat, he froze. Most of the city was calling for him.
"Ice Water Guy, are you there? Please send some ice water, price is negotiable!"
"Ice Water Guy! I missed out earlier, I can offer more food!"
"@Ice Water Guy, big brother, I risked my life to get free stuff from the supermarket. Please trade a bottle of water!"
Nova stared at the messages in disbelief. They were all calling for him. They wanted his ice water.
Some people, clearly behind the times, were even asking:
"Who is this Ice Water Guy? Are there still internet celebrities in the apocalypse?"
One person quickly explained:
"Ice Water Guy is cooler than any celebrity! He was selling ice water on the trade platform earlier. That stuff lowers your body temperature. If the heat reaches 70°C, a bottle of ice water could save your life!"
The chat exploded with excitement, and soon, the nickname "Ice Water Guy" was on everyone's lips.
"Celebrities? Are you kidding?" someone typed. "Ice Water Guy is practically a saint!"
Nova sucked in a sharp breath. "Humans are insane."
Despite the constant calls, he remained mysteriously silent, disappearing from the chat. All that was left were those who'd managed to score a bottle of his precious ice water, now flipping it for profit.
"Special Ice Water! 10 boxes of noodles minimum! Highest bidder!""Ice Water Guy's ice water is back up for trade—bring food or... a gentle girl.""One sip of Ice Water! Personal test: even a small sip can cool you down! Special price: 5 packs of noodles or 5 bottles of regular water!"
Nova grinned coldly to himself.
"I'll hold on to my ice water for now. The market will only get hotter when everyone runs out."