18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 380

The tarp was yanked back, revealing a truck bed filled with weathered barrels caked in mud and rust. Each container looked like it had survived a bombing raid, dented here and bulging there. The warehouse worker couldn't help but wonder-what on earth was inside?

He scrubbed off the mud, chipped away at the rust, and finally, the emblem on one of the barrels came into view Titanium?

He cleaned a few more, revealing Tungsten, Beryllium...

"My God, these were rare metals-the kind the base had been scouring the earth for, with no luck. Production at the factory was hanging by a thread.

The worker's jaw nearly hit the floor. "All of this, in both trucks?"

"Yep." Stella wiped her dirt-streaked face, her voice tinged with urgency and anxiety. "Buddy, are these any good to you? We busted our backs and bet the farm to trade for these. If they're useless, we're done for." Considering the barrels' shabby state, the worker wasn't sure whether the contents were still intact.

"I honestly don't know." He got caught up in Stella's dramatic demeanor and grew nervous himself. "Hold tight, I'll get some folks from the research and testing department over here."

He dashed into the office and radioed for assistance.

After briefing the situation, he reminded them, "Yes, yes, it's two trucks full-send someone quick."

These metals were like industrial MSG-a pinch in the mix and you're golden. And this-this was a motherlode!

Twenty minutes later, a vehicle rolled up, unloading a few uniformed personnel.

As they caught sight of the two trucks' worth of barrels, their jaws dropped in shock.

The team leader, snapping out of his amazement, commanded: "Let's move, get these unloaded and sampled for testing."

The trading hub's staff scrambled to help.

Stella hurried over. "Hey, where are you taking our stuff? You haven't even weighed it yet. You aren't thinking of swiping it, are you?"

smile. "Don't worry, we're not thieves. Rare metals just need special storage. The last few years have been rough,

to get results. If it's all good, we'll need two days for the full

the cargo,

the barrels looked beat-up, when they carefully pried off the lids, revealing the refined powder inside, the experts were thrilled-the metals had

certainty about the condition of the metals, but scientific testing

the trading center's staff

bad, but that wasn't something Stella could explain to the testers. All she could

and their dog weren't idle either, joining

extreme care. When Stella and Jasper were a bit rough, causing the barrels to roll on the ground, the workers called out anxiously, "Easy there, easy! Don't

workers skipped lunch, focused on meeting the testing

scavengers and groups eager for news. Seeing the haul, they were consumed with

could secure a lifetime's worth of necessities

with feigned camaraderie. "Buddy, where'd you score this loot? Let me in

"Hey miss, need a strong arm or a loyal companion? Whether you want a beefcake or a

darkened. "Beat

was frazzled.

declared,

teeth with a

crowd lingered until Jasper, without another word, drew

dog, the group reluctantly dispersed, cursing their

workers chuckled. "Don't let it get to you. You'll get used to

like this, but with scavenging growing tougher, people were

always think they're the exception, endlessly attempting to

with these nuisances was becoming a

their dog retreated to their truck to rest and

the test results came in fresh from the lab, and the trading

Stella and Jasper to weigh their haul and log the metals. "The ones that just passed the test will be converted into credits for you. The rest, you'll get your results in two days. Just bring your receipt to claim your points." Stella was fine with that-credits with a string of zeros were easily transferred