18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 564

When Stella walked in, Daniel's face lit up with a warm smile. "Stella, you're back."

Stella nodded, "Yeah."

There was a brief, awkward pause before Daniel continued, "You've lost some weight."

Team missions often meant you couldn't just feast all the time.

But Stella was upbeat, "I'm doing alright."

She led him inside and asked with genuine concern, "How have you been feeling lately?"

"Your Aunt Sue has been giving me acupuncture daily, and the medicine you left has kept me in check. I'm almost back to my old self."

Stella took him to Arcadia for a follow-up. The CT scans showed the pneumonia was gone, but some damage was irreversible. They'd have to be careful moving forward.

After running all the necessary tests and treatments, Daniel couldn't hide his good mood. "How was your trip?"

"Eventful but safe."

Stella gave a brief rundown of the mission, including how they'd salvaged 26 crates of fabric.

The fate of the 21 trucks' worth of essential supplies they'd collected before the land sank would depend on how the military handled these materials. Deciding whether to hand them over could wait.

Daniel had returned early, so the special team's salvage report hadn't reached him yet.

But it was clear that these supplies were key for Australia's recovery. Whoever collected them deserved generous compensation, including those who gathered resources on land.

Over the past month, his workload had lightened, but his concern for his daughter and son-in-law had only grown.

Seeing Stella safe now, he could finally relax.

Not one for emotional displays, Daniel said, "I've learned to cook a few dishes. Come over for dinner tonight."

Stella didn't argue, "Do you need anything? I can bring it."

"No need, Rosie drops off supplies every few days."

braved the question, "Dad, Bran hasn't been too much of a

of

Stella struggled, her toes curling in embarrassment, "he can be quite blunt,

up, Daniel's tone was light, "I've met him a few times. He's quite measured in his words. He's a sharp and entertaining young

Measured?

Stella stood silent. What on

Rosie returned

rushed over, hugging

carried the scent of sweat,

like sunshine,

work

"It was tough at first,

work the

I have to

was skeptical. She remembered their last

wouldn't easily respect her, not just for a

wasn't just jealousy but also disdain

attitudes made for a

the fields herself. Despite her age, she worked as

her crops and farming techniques inside and out,

to report on the farm. "Sis, I've started two acres of mulberry seedlings, medicinal herbs, hay, and five acres of greens. We're also growing potatoes, cotton, sweet potatoes, and corn. Everything's sprouted, and we've already harvested the greens once. We've traded the excess for credits at the base, which we can use to buy more land. When the mulberries are mature enough, we'll transplant them outdoors. The weather's been good, so the other

it was a drop in the bucket. They needed to

cycles, integrating greens with

they could harvest greens

mixed with a hint of anxiety. "Sis,

calm,

maggots. They're keen but want a stake in it, offering land and maggots and help

base. Ordinary survivors could only

greenhouse, and the prospect of live poultry,

strange if they weren't

military-operated, presenting them

a moment, "Have you told

Uncle Daniel. He's in favor, but I

share with

wasn't just Daniel's to