18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 556

Stella unzipped her waterproof bag and found a remote sensor inside.

No doubt, it was for unlocking the Kindle Chest. It must have been set up before the land went underwater. Copies of the remote sensor and codes were, without exception, in the hands of the top brass of every Kindle Society.

On a whim, Stella wanted to see what was inside the Kindle Chest in Arcadia. And she acted on that impulse.

She pressed the button on the sensor and entered the code. The sturdy, heavy Kindle Chest swung open.

It looked like a massive machine. After rummaging around for a while, Stella discovered an inscription on the machine: a desalination system.

Not huge, but definitely sufficient for a base of thousands. The base was close to the coast, where the water quality was poor, and the harsh climate bred countless germs. A careless gulp could make you sick.

It wasn't just people who were affected; the land suffered too. The desertification of the alkaline wasteland made cultivation difficult, unable to retain soil or lock in moisture, creating a vicious cycle.

Daniel was visibly relieved. "Stella, with this, we'll soon have an oasis."

Seeing his smile, a warm current flowed through Stella's heart. "I'll bring it back."

The next morning, Rosie fought back her sadness and worry, mustering a smile to see the pair off. The family dog, scrappy as ever, clawed at them, reluctant to let his humans go.

Daniel and Vanessa stepped out to bid farewell. "Stay safe, and come back soon."

Stella couldn't find overly sentimental words, so she simply gave him a hug. The two hopped in the car and drove to the docks, picking up a few teammates who were on foot along the way.

The team, specially selected, was comprised of 14 individuals, all skilled in their own right. They could operate cargo ships, submarines, planes, tanks - true special forces, capable of reaching the heavens and diving the depths.

Stella admired and respected them. Oh, and I forgot to mention – the cargo ship was equipped with a helicopter.

saluted them for

Jasper took the helm of vessel 2688. The rest boarded

the box numbers recorded, they were all filled with seeds. The conditions weren't right for hoisting,

led the way, the freighter following

a DIY affair, but dinner was a communal event on the submarine. As team leader, Jasper volunteered enthusiastically, "I'm quite the chef, let me treat you guys

to military life, the team was a

relaxed. "Not everyone gets to enjoy Captain Jasper's cooking. We're on a mission, no

relaxed, and two female members volunteered to assist

only five dishes, all

rotate the cooking and cleaning duties. They chatted some more before planning to

ship

stunned. A vessel that size couldn't just be stolen. During that time, both captains and Stella had been topside. Confused, they had no choice but to return to the

late, the captain's already resting. Pick a room and get

reports made only

but inside Jasper's room, he was alert. "You

smiled knowingly, gently tucking a strand

next day, a simple breakfast of sweet potatoes and potatoes was ready. Stella

served under the commanding officer, and with

would eventually come

needed just over a day to reach the first coordinates, 500 nautical miles away. Based on

the variations, it took the sub

had it, and along with Stella and Jasper, decided to dive for a closer look. An astute team member

site. The remaining team

they descended, the light dimmed. Stella switched on her headlamp, adjusting

greater the pressure, and past a certain depth, each meter down became unbearably painful. The headlamp revealed a large, angular object – they quickly swam