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.

meant not

endure most things, but when push came to shove, she wasn't afraid

her face, her words were clean but sharp,

those trying to take

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

kept her distance

holding a bunch of greens

gave out bonuses-everyone got a small serving of maggots to boost their protein intake. Everyone was overjoyed except for Rosie, who was visibly distressed, just as someone from the gardening

behind her back, thinking her a fool for trading protein for

protein wasn't

doing well, and Stella was pleased. "We'll have them stir-fried

greens, and Stella ate with relish, unable to

more good news. "Sis, they're expanding the maggot farm, adding a new production line.

extra piece of chicken,

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

on, and another month

asking if she needed food

high survival rate, and he had managed to trade some

he had acquired quite a few

on a bit of

need food. "Bring me

sis. I'll make sure to bring you

grinned sincerely. "Sis, you're like a good luck charm.

windfall, enough to keep him well-fed

laughed. "I haven't lost out

out, she went back to

reached Hope Point, her siblings' workload

with weekends off were laughable if taken

and others were off work, they'd get together now and then to chat, but such occasions were

nothing but time, Stella began to feel the

when an unexpected

anticipated Justice would come

ever when he got straight to

Stella was puzzled. "Nitroglycerin?"