18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 390

Jasper double-checked, and sure enough, there were no hidden cameras on the submarine.

Just to be on the safe side, Stella decided to head into Arcadia.

Despite Mr. Cristian's warm and genuine demeanor, Stella and Jasper hadn't let their guard down over the past few days. They hadn't noticed any suspicious behavior from him either.

Even when the submarine, code-named 2688, slipped into the sea, they didn't spot anyone tailing them.

"Why do you think Mr. Daniel was talking in riddles?" Stella pondered.

His smile was disarming, and if it weren't for his authoritative presence and the fact that he was older, Stella might have suspected he had less-than-honorable intentions, like an old fox chasing young chickens.

She admitted her thoughts might be narrow-minded, but it all felt so bizarre.

Maybe harboring secrets made everyone seem like a wolf in sheep's clothing.

It was strange indeed, but Jasper couldn't figure it out either. "Let's just stay on high alert," he suggested.

Regardless, the submarine was now in their possession.

Next, they had to strategize how to handle the cataclysmic event they referred to as the "Great Collision." Without a plan, they would be flying blind when it hit.

Cars, yachts, cruise ships, planes, armored vehicles, submarines - Stella felt like she could summon a genie with all the modes of transport at their disposal. But facing a natural disaster of unprecedented scale, they needed a cunning plan. Losing meant certain death. Survival was no place for arrogance or pride; they needed to stay humble to avoid a fate like the one in the old tale of the horse race.

Stella mused, "With all the people in the Kindle Society, if land, sea, and air routes are compromised on the day of the Great Collision, what do we do?"

Jasper thought it through. "The ocean covers 70% of the Earth, and it'll bear the brunt of the impact. The biggest danger is tsunamis, and once a person falls into the sea, their chances of survival are pretty much zero..."

The sea would bring tsunamis, while the land would be hit with earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, with dangers lurking everywhere.

the sky seemed

only relative because tsunamis, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions

could lead

suggested they take to the skies in a plane at the first sign

parachutes. We'll wear them in

together, take shelter in Arcadia during the quake's shockwave, and then

what came next, the land wouldn't sink instantly. The outer edges would shatter upon violent impact, while the interior

words, survivors would

maintained a healthy respect for the ocean's power. There would be time to

finalizing their plan to take to the skies first and then seek refuge in Arcadia if needed, Jasper and Stella got some much-needed

in the ocean to ensure there were no issues before they approached the deserted

and Cooper boarding first, and then Stella and Jasper dove into the

the Kindle Society, and it took nearly half an

they switched to a car to return to

was over 300 kilometers on rough terrain, often requiring detours, and

base, Stella was extra vigilant, but they

were not military

as they weren't the military, Stella

she exchanged for hundreds of oxygen tanks, wanting to stock up on gasoline or diesel, too. Unfortunately, the base wasn't selling in bulk, so they had to

large trucks could carry 70 tons of coal, enough

the coal yard wasn't on the base, so she'd have to drive there and

planned to pick up the

she was about to head back, her radio crackled to life with an excited voice: "Sis, I made

was Bran, no doubt, his voice tinged with a mix of exuberance and a

Stella let out a sigh of relief.

want to treat you and the brother-in-law to

joy needed to be shared, and since Stella had returned half of the medicine, he had exchanged some for credits, enough to afford a

was finding a place to cook, and his culinary skills weren't up to

credits left, which she probably wouldn't need anymore, so she generously offered: "You're my brother, so save those credits for yourself. I'll treat you to dinner to celebrate your honorable