18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 570

As the off-duty crew gathered in the mess hall, the air buzzed with talk about the base's latest updates.

"Hey Stella, the admin office and military wing are hiring. They're even scouting locations for a new desalination plant," one of the crew mentioned.

"That's not all," another chimed in. "The excavators might be reassigned to coal mines soon, and guess what-fabric's finally hit the base store shelves. Anyone who needs it can grab some with their credits."

"With all those seeds we brought back last time, we could totally expand our farming sector," someone else added.

Everyone was filled with anticipation for the upcoming mission, hoping to return with valuable materials for the base's growth.

But reality often has a way of shattering dreams.

The first set of coordinates was a total bust; the ocean depth was a staggering 4,000 meters-territory even nuclear subs wouldn't dare venture into, let alone human divers.

It was like a cold splash of water right to the face.

"No worries, we've got more chances," the team reassured each other, although deep down they all knew the painful truth. The precious Kindle Chests they had painstakingly collected were now destined to rest on the ocean floor, possibly forever-unless some monumental event reshaped the seas.

No one wanted to face another disaster, but the disheartening results kept coming. The second chest was also in deep water, a daunting 6,000 meters down.

The third one couldn't be bad luck again, right?

12,000 meters!

The crew's morale was hanging by a thread. It felt like some cosmic joke.

The fourth chest was a bit more manageable at 600 meters. Still, it was beyond reach for their fragile human forms.

The fifth and final chest was around 300 meters deep-the shallowest of them all, but still too deep for anyone, even in diving gear.

Stella kept her cool, but even her Zen-like patience was being tested.

They couldn't return empty-handed, could they?

Daniel hadn't spelled it out, but Stella knew the stakes. None of the top brass were fools; Daniel's maneuvers were clearly aimed at supporting his daughter and son-in-law. Sure, it was for the base's growth, but that was a far cry from personal advancement.

Twelve years had passed since the disaster, and while some grieved the loss of family, they were still in their prime, capable of nurturing capable subordinates. Adopting a child or finding a godfather was no issue, especially for those with children of their own.

If Daniel had children from the start, it would have been one thing-they'd have had time to adjust. But this was a bolt from the blue.

The team couldn't afford to come back with nothing, giving others a chance to question Daniel's authority.

meters below the sea was indeed

there another way to salvage the

lasso games from her childhood, where she'd tie

rope and

if she could lasso the Kindle

her idea

plan, they had to give

Arcadia, tying a hook to one end. Using an underwater telescope, they aimed towards the Kindle Chest's last

hundred meters long, swayed with the currents and pressure, making the task of hooking

and Stella worked in tandem, with Cole signaling from

effort and their energy rapidly draining, it seemed they finally snagged

into Arcadia with

underwater pressure caused it to drop with a thud, right onto her precious medicinal garden. Stella

continue, they hastily began

for their return, hauled them up at

trio was too weary

one of the helpers as they assisted with the diving

they began to feel

Amelia dared to ask, "Did you get the

Stella nodded.

you and

the crew didn't want

a bath, rest up. We'll handle

of sleep, quietly left so as not to wake Stella and gathered the team for

head back to base or continue with the

was clear: the decision was Stella's to make. They felt almost guilty claiming any reward for

ocean depth before the disaster was over 3,000

same worry echoed among the crew. What were

seas less than 300

depth before we even teamed up. The base needs these Kindle Chests. If there's even a one in ten thousand chance, we

we can't just hope for

can't overlook other

time Stella woke, the meeting had

next day, she deployed Submarine 2688,

scoured for additional

later, a

sub alerted 2688 to