18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 305

Jasper remained the picture of calm, "Everyone's got a bit of a gambler in them. Remember when you hoarded those cruise ships and yachts? Weren't you gambling too?"

"I'm not like them," Stella rubbed her temples, her voice weary. "I have my little tricks up my sleeve with Arcadia. I can hide when danger strikes, but they've only got their skin and bones." This was sheer madness.

"But this is their choice," Jasper said calmly. "Kitty's always been in this game, Angela's been through a family tragedy, and Lukas and Cody have had their share of agony."

Policing the streets was always a gamble with their lives; this time, they were just upping the ante.

"They bust their backs and can only afford to live in the slums. When they owned a home, but they were crammed in tiny apartments, only to have their peace shattered by thugs at nightfall. Now they're all holed up in your place, while we're living it up in our mansion, feasting on steak and sipping fine wine. How could they possibly stay cool-headed?"

It wasn't about envy or resentment. They were just ordinary survivors who had weathered five years of calamities. Who wouldn't have some psychological scars?

Backed into a corner, they were indeed risking their lives.

Lost the bet, and it's a worthless life gone. If they won, it's a life of glory and wealth.

Jasper made sense, and Stella, if she failed to understand them, would have bluntly stopped them rather than urging them to think twice.

In the end, it boiled down to the concern of a friend, feeble though it may be. It wasn't right to feast while telling them to be content with porridge and not to gamble with their lives for a better tomorrow. It was easy to talk without bearing the pain. However, watching friends you had grown up with gamble with their lives, knowing full well they might die, was heart-wrenching.

"Stella, everyone has their way of living," Jasper said, taking her hand. "As friends, we don't want them risking their lives, but if they've made up their minds, we really can't stop them."

...

of anxious waiting, Cody finally radioed in. "Stella, the four of us scouted the mountains thoroughly. There's a group of

laughter in his voice. "If we don't make

to go

and get them. And remember, survive

call, Stella rubbed her face vigorously, taking deep

from downstairs. Looking from the balcony, to her surprise, she found the Porras family's Rolls-Royce, with Derick standing

What could they want at a time

open the door. Derick held the car door open, "Stella, Mr.

had come in

but courteous, got into the

world and a national tycoon, even after five years of disasters, his presence and poise remained. "Stella, have you heard about my

gathered a bunch of bounty hunters. Whoever rescues him gets 10,000 pounds of food. I know you

sure with your guidance, he'll return safely. The reward is tempting, but our

wouldn't need to make a house call. "Stella, there's no need for modesty. If you feel the reward is insufficient, feel free to name your price. Anything within my power,

can only do so much,

aware of what she and Jasper could handle.

response, Shane

those people living in Building 50,

reality. Disasters hadn't taken Bran's life, but in the end, he

Shane off, Stella went back to

served, three humans and a dog at the table, when she brought up Cody and the others' decision to proceed

people in a cave, with the loot and captives, means it's probably spacious, maybe even a cavern system with complex structures and multiple exits. Lobbing bombs and incendiaries from outside won't do much." Stella

grenades;