Coldsnap: The Billionaire Alpha's Fated Pregnant Princess (GL)
Chapter 91 - Need For More Testing

Chapter 91: Chapter 91 - Need For More Testing

On the first page of the [Equipment Reviews] listings was a post titled [Secure Cache Solutions for Extended Area Operations]. It detailed the use of shipping containers as shelters and storage facilities, and I found myself reading it out loud.

"Shipping containers (20ft TEU) provide optimal security-to-cost ratio. Steel construction resists most breaches and is easily concealed with proper camouflage techniques. Interior can be modified for either extended habitation or pure storage."

Photos showed these ’containers’ buried halfway into hillsides and camouflaged with local vegetation... repurposed as reinforced safe houses. Some had been outfitted with bunks on the end, weapons racks, and even primitive plumbing.

> While it looks very rugged, even compared to the log cabins of the Duskpaw it does not seem so different. But they are a lot larger than I even imagined and I wouldn’t even be using it for this purpose... <

The Stash’s limitation had been pretty clear. One item at a time simply wasn’t efficient enough for what I needed to accomplish, but the thought of something this big filled with items and being able to stay secreted away?

"I’d feel like one of the fantasy story dragons with a whole hidden hoard of my own..."

While the photos within were sort of interesting, ultimately it was the [Exchange Network] posts that provided what I needed right now. Many of the items included notes at the end for [HDD exchange protocols].

Apparently referring to a method that is known as ’hunter dead drops’, according to a quick search on the forum. The explanatory post spoke of anonymous transactions that some of the spy novels Helene once read also described.

The same way of exchange was available on one special listing: [Modified Cargo Transport Unit (20ft TEU)] with an accompanying photo of a shipping container that had been reinforced with additional steel plating around the door.

The seller, using the username [BoundaryKeeper], had the ’verified’ status that the application gave to important hunters... and high ratings on their profile.

"This could be exactly what I need."

After considering for another moment, with Vrika just giving me a stare that claims I was going to do whatever I wanted anyway... I composed a brief private inquiry. Mimicking the terse, professional tone I’d observed in other exchanges.

I kept it simple - just asking about remaining availability and price terms, as they were not listed on the posting. My finger hovered over the send button, knowing that this would be crossing a further line.

Not just passively reading, but actively engaging with these people using a dead man’s identity. I’ve been so worried about racking up debt... but this would likely be a clear crime, even outside of their sense of organization...

> Is there another way, though? <

I considered the alternatives once again. Conventional suppliers would no doubt require identification, physical delivery to an address, and maybe even usage explanations I couldn’t provide.

Deeper ’black markets’ for these things, if they exist, would be potentially more dangerous. While I don’t know where these hunters obtained their goods, I have to believe that the Alphas...

"No, you silly fox. You just believe that she wouldn’t let them deal in stolen goods, even though you have no reason to believe it."

With a deep breath, I pressed send and the message disappeared into the software application’s system. Quickly closing the app and sitting the phone down, I decided to check for responses tomorrow.

But my head was still spinning, so I busied myself hooking up the power bank on the charger this time. I’m not sure I’ll need it soon, but it would be better to fill it than not, right?

I glanced at the journal still on the bed, thinking about the grumpy old hunter’s complaints about passwords and technology. He’d written so mockingly about them being stolen.

"Even in my world, they stress to be careful what you say when it comes to curses. Words have power in the most silly ways, when idle deities take an interest in them."

⧖ ☾ ❄ ☽ ⧖

I checked the time when I rolled over and saw it was an awful, still dark 4:36 AM. Early enough that much of the city would still be quiet... but ’late’ enough that I could move around without appearing completely suspicious.

And I was restless, which was making Vrika so. We would never get back to sleep now.

"There are jobs and tasks that need done, even so early. At least I would not be stopped unduly."

Decision made, I dressed quickly in the darkest clothing I owned with a single tote carrying the knife and room key. My first step should be to test whether such a large container truly would work with the Stash ability, instead of taking it for granted.

I’d need to find one to attempt the real test... and Helene’s memories had provided me with an ’easy’ solution. The predawn air as I exited my room was chilly as I avoided going anywhere near the main lobby.

After getting far enough away, I looked up the location I sought on my phone and began the long footbound journey. Halfway there, I decided to grab something to eat instead of toughing it out until my test was done.

The fast food restaurant’s drive-thru was one of the few businesses operating regularly at this hour, but the sign at the door said the lobby opened at 5AM. Which only made me wait a minute or two until a worker unlocked it, slightly late, as they saw me standing there.

Since I only got so much rest, I decided I would try a coffee and the cheapest breakfast sandwich item on the menu. My stomach growled in expectation despite my focus on the mission ahead.

Five minutes later, I sat at an outdoor table, examining the small plastic car that had for some reason come with my meal. It was crudely made but recognizable as a miniature sports car, its red paint glossy under the restaurant’s harsh lighting.

"I thought these things came with children’s lunches only... at least according to her memories."

I sipped on the coffee, its bitter flavor making me grimace as I watched the street for any signs of activity or evidence of being followed. A delivery truck rumbled past, an early jogger in reflective gear that never turned while striding past...

No one at all paying attention to a lone woman having breakfast. When I was certain no one was looking, I activated the Stash and placed my hand over the toy car.

But the blue outline turned white immediately and blue foxfire surged back toward the center of my vision, forming a message I hadn’t expected.

| LIMIT: Vehicles Prohibited |

I blinked in surprise, before shifting my hand away and looking at the toy that remained on the table. A piece of plastic only shaped into the mere idolization of a car was actually classified by the system as a ’vehicle’?

"You’ve got to be kidding me."

> This is absurd. The con man behind this can’t possibly be that literal. Then again... <

There was the fact that a glass of water counted as a single item, a backpack could be stored with everything in it. That pretty much proves already that it has a weird sense of ’exact’ meaning.

I finished my meal quickly, tossing the wrappers in the trash but keeping the toy car. The rail yard was my next destination - the only place I could think of that I might find some storage containers just sitting around...

But with a new ’limit’ being shown to me, it makes me feel like I should test some things further.