18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 583

Miss Salvage's reputation was the buzz of the base, not just for her sudden wealth but for her skyrocketing military rank. The single ladies at the base were all aflutter, eager to snag one of these golden bachelors. Marrying one of them promised a life of comfort and security.

Determined to make connections, they pulled out all the stops. Take Jake, for instance. He was just strolling down the street when a woman recognized him and started chasing him, insisting they could get married right away-and not just any marriage, but one that included starting a family. Poor Jake almost twisted his ankle trying to get away. He was chased for three whole blocks.

Jake wasn't the only target; the whole team was swamped with attention. Hopefuls loitered outside their homes, hoping for a chance encounter. The team shared their tales, finding the situation both annoying and amusing.

Stella, happily married, didn't have these issues. As she picked cotton and munched on popcorn, she teased, "So, do you guys want to get hitched or not?"

She stuffed her bag with cotton, sneakily mixing in Arcadia's yield to boost her haul. Without exception, Jake and the others shook their heads. Despite envying Stella and Captain Hawke's loving relationship, they lacked the confidence to find partners amidst the chaos of the apocalypse.

First off, the unpredictability of human nature made finding true love seem impossible when even basic needs were a struggle. Who among those approaching them after their windfall didn't have an ulterior motive? Plus, they were picky.

And if they did find someone, their work was too sensitive. Any accidental leak could be disastrous for Stella. They hadn't forgotten why the Salvage Squad was formed. Their greatest value was helping the base grow stronger.

So, they decided to hold off on finding partners until after their mission was complete and life at the base stabilized. If it was meant to be, it would happen; if not, so be it.

it and carted it off. The mill, set up in time for the cotton harvest, was easy to operate

cotton would serve as practice. They hoped to weave some fabric from it. After resolving the previous clothing crisis with 26 boxes of fabric, mastering textile production was the next step. Once cotton

cotton harvest, even the stalks were put to use for windbreaks and

for a homemade hot pot feast at the farm. Ginger, scallions, garlic, chili, and greens-all fresh from the farm. Stella even brought out a freshly slaughtered chicken,

with Stella means there's always meat on the table," Jake

once I hit the jackpot, I'll have you feasting on

and Poppy over. Although there wasn't much meat to go around, the atmosphere was electric. It had been years since any of them had enjoyed a hot pot. The fiery chili

work, they couldn't have meat at every meal, but sweet potatoes, potatoes, and corn kept them full. Stella mixed chopped chili peppers and garlic with fermented black beans and steamed them to make several jars of chili sauce. One-third was kept at the farm, another third went to the transport ship,

the higher-ups' spouses visited, she handed out jars, saying,

their fourth sea voyage, the team visited the newly erected monument, right after the brass had their ribbon-cutting ceremony. Stella brought a bouquet of clover flowers grown in the greenhouse. Without pre-disaster

greenery, despite the vast expanse of brown wasteland stretching beyond. But Stella believed that one

team dined like kings while keeping up appearances of modesty, with a pile of points they couldn't spend. They were survivors of many storms and remembered why they had been brought together, knowing well who they

the difficulty of the salvage operation. After two more trips, they had scoured the ruins within a

knew it, Stella had been at Griffith Base for a year. Over the course of that year, the climate had been wildly unpredictable, ranging from torrential rains and scorching heat