18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 160

What the hell? It was tough enough to survive, now they gotta deal with these punks on their own turf?

On foreign soil, you'd keep your head down and try to scrape by, but here they were, brazen as ever.

In a dim corner, several men were relentlessly kicking three people lying on the ground, spouting insults in a harsh, foreign language.

There were those with swords, guns, and baseball bats.

Murder was as easy as turning your head, but they continued to beat them, becoming more and more excited, revealing their ugly and twisted human nature. The pleading screams only served to further stimulate them, their blows becoming heavier and heavier.

One of them lifted his blade, his face twisted in a savage grin as he brought it down.

"Shick."

Their bloodlust had blinded them to the danger lurking in the shadows.

His blade hadn't even fallen before the man was skewered like a s'more on a stick. Stella didn't hesitate, pulling her blade free and lunging for the second one.

Jasper was even quicker, swiftly disarming a punk and snapping his neck, before kicking another one aside.

The two of them dispatched the five punks with efficiency, not even giving them a chance to whimper for mercy.

A flashlight illuminated the beaten figures on the ground. They were a sorry sight, their faces smeared with blood, all but unrecognizable.

Out of a sense of humanity, Stella asked, "Are you guys okay?"

The harsh light of the flashlight was blinding, and one of them instinctively raised a hand to shield his eyes, his lips trembling. "It's you?"

His voice was groggy, but Stella recognized it-Monkey. Wait, why the hell was he here too?

the area with her flashlight, spotting a water tanker parked

his feet, wiping the blood off his face as he exclaimed, "Wow, you really

hastily helped the man next to him up. The man was tall,

this is the woman I told you about. She's really tough. If she hadn't

with short hair. His face was honest and straightforward, but his eyes held a worldly cunning that suggested he wasn't a simple man. Of course, anyone

off his face and gave Stella

"It was nothing."

they were okay, Stella, who was worried about Cooper and Rosie back home, didn't linger and turned to

man called out to them. "I'm Austin. I don't even know the names of our saviors. Where do

it wasn't common to ask for personal

"You're asking a lot of questions. Are you planning to repay

"Of course, we need to repay your kindness. What do

for her reply, he turned to Monkey. "We did get a

to him. "Boss, she doesn't need

a truckload of fresh water to your place

water was around 20 tons, enough to last for months

"Boss, she doesn't look

was agreeable. "Tell us what you want. As long as it's within my power, I'll make

her mind. "I have a client who's interested in antiques, paintings, and precious metals. Could you help me find some?" Austin knew she was formidable from Monkey,

all she wanted were these? Sure, antiques and paintings were valuable, but only in prosperous

antiques, paintings, and gold, hoping to make a fortune once everything was over. Now, the 500,000 paper bills from the girl were still in

woman was odd. Whatever she stocked up on seemed to skyrocket in value.

Austin readily agreed. "What kind of antiques, paintings, or precious metals are you looking

no specific requests. "Anything will do, as long as it's old and

address, simply gesturing to

of them left quickly, disappearing into the darkness, and taking the guns

over the guns to Stella, who tossed them

get robbed, which meant the outside world was dangerous. Stella decided to hold off on selling water for now and see if Austin could find what she wanted. Her main goal was to expand Arcadia; everything else was