18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 23

That was true, after yesterday's turmoil, the military department promptly adjusted their strategy and decided to deploy the troops to maintain stability. Unlike the police, the military wouldn't hesitate to fire their guns. Their mission was to safeguard the nation's stability. Stella recalled that in her past life, the military had also been deployed and dealt with a bunch of troublemakers with an iron fist, which finally stabilized the situation. She observed the outside through her binoculars, and sure enough, she saw soldiers in their military uniforms patrolling on motorboats with live ammunition.

Intermittent gunshots had been going off all morning, making the world seem a lot quieter.

Lukas spent a good while disassembling and reassembling a portable gas stove. After changing several parts, he finally managed to fix it. Feeling a sense of accomplishment, he gladly offered to repair the stoves for Stella and Jasper.

Angela and Lukas invited Stella for dinner as a token of gratitude for offering them shelter. They cooked a pot of stewed vegetables and a dish of spicy potatoes. Stella had brought the potatoes, and they had already started to sprout. They had to be cut off and then blanched in hot water.

Although the meal was simple, both Angela and Lukas almost teared up. For the past twenty days, this was the first time they had eaten hot dish and had a comforting hot bath. The feeling of having a full stomach was truly wonderful, it made them feel alive again. "Stella, without you, we might have still been crammed in a shelter." Angela toasted with a glass of water, her face serious. "Today was a bit simple, but once things get back to normal, I'll treat you to a feast in a five-star hotel." "That sounds great, if we get the chance."

As they were eating and chatting, Lukas spoke up, "With the military present, it's a lot more stable outside. I heard the government is moving supplies to the department store. Citizens can purchase on a limited basis according to need. Shall we go tomorrow?" "Yes, but we have to go early."

"Also, a lot of people have been diving underwater to salvage supplies today."

Lukas continued, "The biggest supermarket near us was packed with people, but it was too deep. Ordinary people didn't have the equipment, and there were rumors of several people being swept away. Some skilled divers managed to salvage some stuff, but most of it was damaged. Even so, they couldn't bear to throw it away."

Angela sighed, "If it wasn't for Stella's reminder, we would be starving right now."

The department store opened at eight, so they set alarms for six. After a bit of tidying up, they left at six thirty. Jasper stayed behind to watch the house.

It was still dark at six thirty, but there were already quite a few people out and about. It took them an hour to reach the department store. They entered directly from the fourth floor, the waterlogged world was damp all over. Looking up, the three saw a sea of heads. The store was on the sixth floor, but the line had already reached the fourth floor. There were even people who had come the night before to queue, just to get a chance to enter. There were soldiers with live ammunition patrolling the area. Given yesterday's forceful measures, the place was bustling, but no one dared to cause trouble.

The three of them quickly got in line.

in. The doors opened on time at eight. They let in 50 people each time, giving them only five minutes. They cleared the place on time. The restrictions were very strict. Each person was only allowed

of queuing, five

with your hands but also swift on your feet. The three of them had agreed that rice and flour were the most filling. Don't touch things like instant noodles

Lukas each got

dollars a pound! It's not the time to complain about

have. It would only get more expensive in the future, and later on, when the

had a large population, and the grain would soon be snatched up. The government would continue to release more, but they would be salvaged from the water and dried. Even though it would go bad and be harmful to the body,

the 2000 dollars

skyrocketed several tens of times. The cost and risk of going out were too high. The three of them chipped in a few items and spent the 2000 dollars, but what they managed to stuff into

people were queuing outside, and there wasn't much stuff left

very intimate, holding hands, while the girl from 1202 was standing behind them. She was so

her. Stella averted her gaze coldly, pretending she hadn't seen him. They left the store and got on the rubber

Lukas suggested, "Cody lives quite close to here. Why don't we go

then. Stella thought for a moment and agreed. Other than his poor choice in women, as a friend, Cody didn't have many flaws. Stella had received help from Angela in her past life, and she only had two friends from childhood to adulthood, Lukas and Cody. If conditions

found his apartment on the 8th

that name. You've got the wrong

the three of them had helped, so it was impossible for them to have gotten to

voice didn't sound young; it probably

is it?" A boy's

they got

no matter how much they knocked,

her door, and quickly went over to ask, "Ma'am, does Cody live