18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 167

Evening was the liveliest time, when countless survivors would come out to mingle. Some would set up stalls selling barbecued food, grilled squid, octopus, seaweed, and fish. Without oil or seasoning, the taste was so pungent it could make you retch.

The barbecue was tolerable compared to the seafood soup stalls, which were even more overwhelming. They'd crush various seafood into a pot and cook it. The smell would waft three miles in the wind.

Stella may not be used to it now but in her past life, she didn't even have the opportunity to eat such food. This life was simply a stroke of luck.

There were many who could not afford to eat, their hunger gnawing at them due to their limited supplies.

Many villagers from nearby fishing villages sold water by the roadside. Even though it had the salty taste of the sea, it was still much better than directly drinking filtered seawater. However, the number of potential buyers was few compared to those who inquired. In the distance there were many people lined up at the relief station to receive relief food with their passes.

The beach was crowded with people. Whether for safety or mood, Stella didn't want to go there, opting instead to line up for rations.

The rice balls were the size of a fist, and you could get one per day for the first seven days with the card. They were made from crushed fresh seafood mixed with flour or cornmeal, shaped into balls. They didn't look appetizing, but they could fill one's stomach. Stella, Jasper, Rosie each got one.

The taste was truly unpleasant, and eating it was hard on the throat, but no one complained. This was life-saving food, after all.

Just as Jasper was about to eat, he noticed a child running towards the soldier distributing the relief food. The kid looked at him pitifully and pleaded, "Sir, I'm so hungry."

The soldier was young, barely in his twenties and looked rather thin. He held the last rice ball in his hand. It was his own meal.

Seeing the child before him, he handed over his rice ball without hesitation, giving the kid a small smile. "Eat up."

The child grabbed the rice ball, stuffing it into his mouth without even saying thank you, and then turned and ran off.

At the same time, several other children ran up, surrounding the soldier and begging for food. "Sir, I'm hungry too, please give me something to eat." They clung to him, refusing to let him go.

there was no way he could produce food out of thin air. He could only look helplessly

as if he had committed a

ten minutes, the children finally

soldier. At first, he refused. But whatever Jasper said convinced him, and he finally accepted the rice ball and

turned to Stella, her eyes questioning.

didn't stop her. "If you want to

Only when he had finished the rice ball did Rosie return, looking particularly happy.

rice ball into four parts. "Let's all have

rough, but no one wasted it. Jasper accepted his portion, chewing slowly, and after a while, he finally spoke. "Stella, do you think I'm a deserter?" Every time he saw

think so," Stella pondered. "There are many ways to serve. It doesn't have to be the way you

the leader of The Chaos, who knows how many soldiers and survivors would have been sacrificed, and the food seized could save

she looked at him intently. "Look at him, giving up his own food, and likely his own safety when danger comes, but how many people

preventing many survivors from being bitten by rats. No epidemic

old path, you will have your own way of doing things, and because of this, more

burden of this apocalypse alone. Don't put too much pressure on

tightly interlocked. "And, I believe you've done enough. You have no regrets, for your family and your country. What's left is to live well, for yourself, for your family, and for those who love you

Stella was just like him. If she hadn't met Jasper, her character might have been sharper, but

Stella and the others didn't linger. They got into

over the guarding task to Cooper and Rosie, while Stella and Jasper went to the rooftop to install

early the next morning to check fresh seafood, and then make

Stella assisted. After several hours of hard work, they had

shower and sleeping in a luxurious villa on a six-figure comfy bed, Stella still found it surreal. Oh well, she thought, just enjoy it while it lasts.

time. Stella was still half-asleep when she was awakened