18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 322

Austin had seen so many high society ladies like this, and he wasn't one to be easily impressed. A few pleasantries were usually all it took to send them on their way.

spare the time to mentor her, a sort of tuition fee.

Every week, Stella made her way to the serene town of Swan Hill. If Collin was too tied up to accompany her, she'd seek out Hugh. She never showed up empty-handed, sometimes bringing a bag of cornmeal, other times a sack of stale bread-gifts for whoever could After several visits without a glimpse of Collin, Stella couldn't help but ask, "Hugh, what's been keeping Dr. Collin so busy these days?"

"Word has it that the eternal night might be drawing to a close. There's been a catastrophe up north, and it might just ripple down here. Dr. Collin's been run ragged these days, working closely with Dr. Garcia-sometimes they barely have time for a meal." Dr. Garcia? That must be the old professor who cracked the smog virus.

Feigning nosy, Stella prodded further, "What kind of disaster struck up north?"

Hugh, with a gifted and alert apprentice like Stella, had no reason to hide the truth. "It hasn't been announced yet, but the news leaked from the capital. That cursed place, notorious for its nuclear waste mismanagement, was hit by the strongest earthquake in a millennium. An undersea volcano erupted, swallowing the entire country in no time."

To obliterate a nation, the volcanic eruption had to be colossal, and unimaginable amounts of ash must have been spewed into the air.

Stella felt a cold shiver run down her spine. The smog was coming. The sudden demise of that nation was the harsh reality behind the smog disaster.

Growing anxious, Stella asked, "Is there any way to predict what sort of virus the smog might carry?"

Hugh's expression was one of concern as he explained, "The finer the volcanic ash particles, the deeper they penetrate the respiratory tract. Once inhaled, they accumulate in the respiratory system, leading to numerous diseases. Exposure to coarse particles can harm the respiratory system and trigger asthma. Fine particles may cause heart and lung diseases, respiratory infections, reduced lung function, and pose significant risks to the elderly, children, and those with preexisting heart and lung conditions."

ash caused severe damage to building exteriors. If a storm or rain came, the wet,

worry too much. The research institute has been cultivating medicinal herbs for such events for years now.

she packed her

floor, she saw Collin emerging from the glasshouse, accompanied by a few students and a septuagenarian. He was lean, with graying hair but appeared

him, "Dr. Collin,

see you.

Garcia upstairs and instructing his assistants, Collin finally approached her. "I'm sorry, I've been swamped lately. I haven't even had time to see you when you

can figure things out on my own. Don't let me hold you up from important

still pressed for time, got straight to the point. "I heard about the volcanic eruption in the island nation. The ash could spread our way, and although we're far, we might face a smog disaster. We don't know what diseases the smog will bring, but we're in for a tough fight-it's time to test our mettle as medical professionals. After years of calamities,

mind buzzed, and it took her a moment to

been looking for a reason to get involved. To win this

at all times. As soon as the smog hits and we

in her throat. The disasters destroyed most of the

Austin, "Austin, is there any way to get hold of

the disasters. Even if we did

medicinal herbs, thankful for the abundant mugwort she had grown. Turned into moxa, it could serve as an antimicrobial

nodded, "Yes, that's

to join the research team but expressed concern for Jasper, Rosie and the dog. "Maybe we could all go together

the smog virus remained unchanged and the two crucial herbs were prepared, this battle