18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 457

Cole wasn't exactly sure what was missing. "I heard it was around 30 cases," he said, "all parts for the automatic dredging ship."

The mention of the automatic dredging ship immediately brought to mind the South China Sea's island-building giant, the Tianjin.

"It seems like the parts that were lost weren't the big ones, but with machinery, even losing a single screw can prevent it from working properly."

So, the island-building project was on hold. The higher-ups were still figuring things out and keeping it under wraps. The folks on the ground, the survivors, were clueless.

After dinner, Cole thanked them and headed out.

He also lived in Area B2, not too far from Stella and the others. "Next time I get a day off, dinner's on me."

That's the way social currency worked-give and take kept things running smoothly.

Once the door closed behind him, Rosie started clearing the table while Stella sat on the couch, lost in thought. The stuff they had salvaged from the seabed could very well be parts of the automatic dredging ship. Twenty-five cases in total, which was pretty close.

But there was no way she could just go to the base and ask, "Hey, did you guys lose some parts that we happened to fish out and store in Arcadia?"

The containers were sealed, and even if they forced them open, she wouldn't recognize the contents.

"Should we return them?" she wondered aloud.

Jasper considered it. "Returning them is the right thing to do, but how we do it is the tricky part."

Hope Point's territory spanned hundreds of nautical miles and was patrolled by guard ships. It was a national base with fighter jets and warships-not some small private operation. Handing it over within the base's territory could get them caught; dropping it off outside could lead to other survivors from different countries finding it and using it for leverage or trade. Returning it was the right thing to do, but not at the expense of their own safety.

Jasper spoke carefully, "There's no rush. We're settled in at the base now; we'll find a foolproof way."

Stella agreed-her safety had to come first.

If an opportunity came up, they would return the parts. If not, they wouldn't.

Days turned into weeks, and Stella found herself lounging around at home.

Rosie, new to the workforce, faced her own challenges. Some people, seeing her youth as a weakness, tried to push her around with backhanded compliments or by trying to curry favor selfishly.

She might have been inexperienced with office politics, but under her siblings' guidance, Rosie understood the principle well-don't get played.

played" meant

could endure most things, but when

her words were clean but sharp, leaving

exchanges, those trying to take advantage of her

they learned she lived in Area B2, their attitudes changed drastically, some even

her distance from

flew by, and she came home one day, holding a bunch of greens triumphantly, "Sis, I've been made permanent

maggot farm gave out bonuses-everyone got a small serving of maggots to boost their protein intake. Everyone was overjoyed except for Rosie, who

colleagues snickered behind her back, thinking her a fool for trading protein for vegetables, expecting she'd get

protein wasn't

and Stella

greens, and Stella ate with relish, unable to help but compliment, "Mmm, Rosie, the greens you bargained

maggot farm, adding a new production line. I've been

immediately rewarded her with an extra piece

twinkled with joy. "You're always the best to

on, and

asking if she needed food

careful tending, the herbal seedlings had a high

and he had acquired

put on a bit of weight lately-he seemed

need food. "Bring me some

sure

"Sis, you're like a good luck charm. Every deal with you just brings me

trade had been a windfall, enough to keep him well-fed

haven't lost out

seeing Monkey out, she went back

survivors reached Hope Point, her siblings' workload increased, with

weekends off were

they'd get together now and then to chat,

time, Stella began to feel the tedium and irritation

an unexpected visitor

Justice would

he got straight to the point. "Stella,

Stella was puzzled. "Nitroglycerin?"