18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 49

Both sides were cautious, wary of each other's intentions, the vast expanse of floodwater between them was the perfect buffer.

202 pounds of wild boar meat was traded for 202 pounds of fresh rice, with another transaction scheduled for 7 p.m.

Upon returning, Stella had already prepared everything: a frying pan, salt, spices, crushed chili peppers, and supplies for the night. Concerned for Angela's safety, Lukas was also asked to stay.

Upon seeing them, Drew, with a broad grin, blocked the staircase. "Where are you folks off to? Running around like this must be exhausting. How about we lend you a hand and bring everything back in one trip?"

They had a few rubber boats follow the residents on the 18th floor in the morning, but Jasper had managed to shake them off. Despite their daily excursions, the supplies Drew brought back were dwindling, causing dissatisfaction among the group members. They often compared their haul to that of the 18th floor.

"Just a few bundles of firewood, there's no need for Mr. Drew to worry." Stella replied with a tight-lipped smile, "Our resources are limited. Even if we were to bring back a few bundles of firewood, I'm afraid there wouldn't be enough to go around."

"Stella, you misunderstand. It's just a neighborly gesture. We wouldn't take your things."

"Well, we can't accept." Stella was firm. "There's no such thing as a free lunch, is there? You've already borrowed our boats; you wouldn't want to borrow our firewood too, would you?"

Drew choked on his words, his face turning green. These stubborn people, they better not fall into his hands.

The journey to Ivywood Estates was far; it took more than an hour by speedboat and was almost at the edge of the city. Ignoring the floodwaters beneath their feet, it was indeed a beautiful natural haven. Green mountains and forests could be seen, along with distinctive, chic villa clusters.

The lower terrains were already flooded, the floodwaters had already reached the front yards of the higher terrains, and everyone had been evacuated.

All the collected supplies were centralized in the highest building of the villa. There were furniture, water tanks, several unused gas cylinders, scattered boxes of charcoal, and more.

Jasper and Cody went up the mountain to bring down the wild boar, while Stella cleaned the kitchen to prepare the brine.

the wild boar was brought back, Jasper cleaned it up and cut it into thin strips according to

while Stella took out a solar energy storage box, shredder, and induction cooker

continuously stir-fried on the stove.

been braised and placed in a basin to drain. Hearing Cooper's warning, Stella put everything that shouldn't appear back into Arcadia. Cody was almost taken aback when he saw that most of

me," she

a fire to grill

the pig last time. We only had these two, and plan to finish the trade

rice, Cody breathed a sigh of relief. "Once this batch is done, we won't have to

they'd survived the extreme cold and the floodwaters had evaporated, the country's base should also be completed. If they were willing to go there, there's still a chance to survive. The three of them sat around a charcoal stove, placing the drained braised meat on the grill. When the meat loses most of its water, it grills particularly fast. Cody tasted a piece, "So

too damp; only with more salt can it be preserved

ready, they could be taken back to the 18th floor to

was brought down, and the three of them, along with the dog, ate their fill with

lucky man will benefit from

say anything, but he

The lonely Cooper ran over to

head, "I'll live with

ridiculous." Cody joked, "You

"Cooper,

over, baring its

"Ah, I was wrong. Mr. Cooper, please

not only did not let go,

laughter and noise, they continued to grill meat in the night. A pound of raw meat was grilled into half a pound of dried meat. A large bag full of it weighed several dozen pounds, plus meat sauce and braised pork. Once everything was done, it was already past three in the morning. With another trade scheduled for the morning, the group decided

there, and all they needed to do was change into their own sheets and clothes. With Cooper on night

woke up, Jasper had already completed the trade, exchanging four wild boars for over