18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 388

Daniel's eyes crinkled with a smile as he took in Stella's concern.

Maybe sensing his laid-back and kind nature, Stella added a bit out of the blue, "Don't brush it off. Staying healthy is key if you're going to serve the country and its people effectively." Honestly, she admired people like him who devoted their lives to their nation.

The base was huge, practically a small town, and not everyone could handle that kind of responsibility.

Stella wasn't easily impressed-Mark, Collin, Professor Lee, and...

Given how well he managed the base, Daniel probably deserved to be on that list.

Daniel nodded, "Alright, I'll take your advice."

Hmm... That response felt odd to Stella, but she couldn't quite figure out why before she left the room.

Outside, Jasper and the two dogs were unharmed, much to her relief.

Mark escorted them downstairs, where the submarine group's instructor was waiting to drive them, and the dog, away.

When Mark got back upstairs, he found Daniel at the window, watching until Stella and the others were out of sight.

The secretary, not forgetting to remind him of an important meeting, also filled him in on personal matters. "Sir, your wife called earlier, asking about your health." Daniel pondered, "She only asked about my health?"

"She mentioned the unusual weather and was worried you didn't have enough clothes for the change. She wanted to bring some over but didn't want to disturb your work." "What did you tell her?"

"I said you were in a meeting, would later inspect the armory, and that I had to stand in for you to receive an award. Family can't enter a military zone without prior approval." Without another word, Daniel left for his meeting.

Recalling Stella's words, he instructed, "Book a doctor's appointment for a health checkup."

Mark was taken aback. The commander had been pushing himself to the brink, and although Mark often reminded him to get checked, the commander was always too caught up in endless duties, resulting in missed appointments. But now he was actually initiating it; it seemed the world had turned upside down.

it right away," Mark

...

submarine unit was stationed at a deep-sea harbor, requiring a half-hour ride on a speedboat

jacket and holding Cooper, sped over

the instructor focused on navigating, Stella leaned close to Jasper's ear and whispered, "What did Mr. Daniel ask you?" "Apart from verbal commendation, he asked where the rare metals were found and

a story about trading all their possessions for the

of the trade meant no questions asked about how many hands the goods had passed through. Jasper indicated they had cleaned out the

frowned, "He didn't ask

family, upbringing, and

said they looked like a married couple and hoped they would continue to stand

still felt uneasy, "He asked if I was interested in enlisting, and after

else, you could chalk it up to

commander make such

suspected Daniel still had doubts and his warm approach was merely a ploy to

emotions seemed genuine, which was unfortunate because the clumsy

discuss them with Jasper as the instructor was

the deep-sea dock appeared, with several dozen submarines breaching the surface, resembling dark

a fraction; the seabed was teeming with

submarine was quite large, about 164

and began briefing Stella and the others on the basic

to regulations, Cooper wasn't allowed on the submarine; pets could cause chaos and panic in emergencies,

trained him like a military dog for years. When we first got to the base, the dog

further. After all, the client

if she said it

hatch opened, and Mr. Cristian led the group

volume was taken up by built-in equipment. The actual control room was only about 323 square feet, with two rest areas, a meal room, a supply room, and a restroom. For three people and a dog, it

steel beast that could carry the "seed vault" of

the nuclear fuel propulsion of the

and Mr. Cristian started