18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 597

Partings are always bittersweet, and Stella did her best to smile. "Dr. Collin, I'm sure Willowbrook will flourish quickly. Maybe next time, it'll be us visiting you."

Deep down, she'd wanted to ask him to stay just a bit longer.

But Collin, ever the rational one, had turned her down. "With you at Griffith, I have no worries. Willowbrook needs me more."

His selflessness left Stella speechless.

Collin patted her shoulder. "Stella, people come and go. If fate allows, we'll meet again."

The time had come, and the delegation began boarding the speedboats to the offshore docks.

Mentor and apprentice hugged, and Collin picked up the backpack she'd given him, waving goodbye.

Stella watched until he disappeared from view, her heart heavy with sorrow.

Not long after, a convoy of military jeeps rolled in.

Staff Officer Daniel and others disembarked, and folks like Reagan and Nicholas came to see them off, their laughter and genuine sentiments filling the air.

Stella approached with gifts in hand. "Dad, godfather."

The gifts were plentiful: tobacco, liquor, tea, and the quick-acting heart-saving pills she had made herself.

Her acknowledgement of family ties wasn't public knowledge in Griffith, so when Stella called the staff officer "godfather," everyone was taken aback.

Before the staff officer could react, Nicholas's mouth twitched.

He felt like a fool, thinking he'd been so sly and discreet, only to find out they were all family.

His emotions churned, but as a seasoned warrior, he quickly regained his stoic demeanor as if nothing had happened.

The godfather, pleased with his gifts, grinned at Daniel. "Old Gu, this departure spans thousands of miles. You better take good care of my goddaughter; don't let anyone push her around."

"I will," Daniel assured him.

"Don't just say it; make sure you do. If even a hair on her head is harmed, I'll hold you accountable," the godfather said, though his words carried a deeper message for the others listening in.

After exchanging pleasantries, the other higher-ups also shared their goodbyes.

In the crowd, Stella searched for Rosie, who was chatting with Dylan in a corner.

Dylan held a bag of hotpot ingredients, his gaze intense as if trying to etch Rosie into his very soul.

Finally, he said simply, "Rosie, take care."

Rosie nodded with a smile. "You too, Dylan. Stay safe on your journey."

the ship, Dylan, as the staff officer's guard,

hear the

stood on the dock, waving at him

the

neither did they leave Griffith

poultry was inconvenient to transport, but they took plenty of fertilized

well as seeds for herbs

but other matters

was in the dark

the Willowbrook submarine faded into the distance, Stella drove

had to attend a meeting due to his military

was unusually quiet on the drive, seemingly lost in

said their goodbyes in the New Town Villa District, Rosie

girl. Having lived next to Dylan for years,

were different from those

didn't intrude on her young friend's

was late when Jasper returned home, and Stella was

of the military negotiations

for nothing; the two sides had agreed to a joint operation to salvage the

locations where the Kindle Chests had been lost, and they would send teams to search and

operations, and the resources found within the Kindle Chests would be

an offer Griffith

the continuation and inheritor of Australian civilization. Put simply: Willowbrook was the

Griffith was just starting out and, in both size and strength, was no match for Willowbrook.

who would

too many resources? If Griffith wanted rapid development to withstand calamities, they needed more resources. This

had anticipated this outcome and accepted it calmly, but with

asked, "No one objected to this

Staff Officer

Daniel and the staff

a deep bond forged in

ultimate goal was

Australian civilization, so

interests of both

smoothly.

there's power, there's interest, and it's never all

Stella hummed. "Nicholas?"

of his confidants stirred the pot, but

to settle things smoothly."

military leader

and had it been just an internal conflict, it would

it involved

he was