18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 150

Stella had quietly tested it before, and it didn't work when she tried to fetch a propane tank. Now,,there was no problem when collecting things in the water bucket. Whether she could collect things underwater or not was likely linked to the depth of the water, the pressure, and her mental strength. So, it was really hard to say.

"With the severe damage from the earthquake, the city has turned into ruins, and the base would also be affected. We need a lot of building materials and metals for reconstruction or technological development. We need to be prepared in advance," Jasper said.

Many factories were submerged in the floodwaters, but with the ongoing heatwave, they would gradually emerge from the surface.

"I'm not sure if I can collect it, but I can try," she added.

Stella wanted to gather a lot of building materials to donate to the local government. By doing so, she hoped to secure a slot for a new home in the rebuilt city after the earthquake. That was the only way to ensure a safe life.

Living in the suburbs or deep in the mountains was not an option. It would only lead to a quicker death.

With the drastic reduction in population due to the earthquake, the living conditions were getting worse. The safety patrol coverage of the local government was also shrinking. Areas not covered by the patrol would become a paradise for the lawless.

Both had the same goal, and they exchanged knowing smiles.

Just as Jasper was about to lean in for a kiss, their walkie-talkie suddenly rang. Stella suppressed a laugh and pushed him away lightly.

Lukas sounded excited on the other end, "Jasper, the government has announced the location of the base. When are we going?" Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

Knowing that Lukas and his group were planning to go to the base, Jasper glanced at Stella. When he saw that she wasn't particularly surprised, he said, "Sorry, Stella and I have no plans to join the base."

There was silence on the other end, and nobody spoke for a while. Then, there was a knock at the door. Everyone from Room 1803 came over. They couldn't understand why Stella and Jasper were unwilling to join the base. They were worried that if they arrived late, there would be no slots left.

After all, they couldn’t stand a chance against a group of people. The living conditions were getting tougher, and no matter how strong they were, they couldn't fend off everything. One day, those people would become desperate and attack the 18th floor.

Even if the base wasn't as good as they imagined, it was still much better than outside. At least, they wouldn't have to live on the edge every day.

"Jasper, why?" They asked. They couldn't comprehend why the two of them were unwilling to choose the base.

It was hard to explain in a few words. Jasper invited the occupants of 1803 in, and sitting next to Stella, he began explaining in a serious tone, "Before I retired, I was a SWAT officer. I know the military and police systems better than you do."

He compared the military base with the official base, and gave a detailed analysis to the three of them, "The disaster came suddenly. The base is still under construction. There's a lot of work to do if you go there now, but they also lack survival supplies. If you want to be full, it's going to be tough. You'd probably be able to get by if you're doing heavy physical labor.

“Stella has Cooper, and I have Rosie. She's still growing. It's not realistic for two people to support four mouths with labor work.

“Staying in the city is a bit risky, but the city has a complete industrial infrastructure, and it's easier to gather professionals from various fields. It's also faster to rebuild, so Stella and I plan to stay."

After hearing Jasper's analysis, Cody's and Lukas's eyes lit up. But then they seemed to remember something and their expressions turned somber.

Stella suddenly got it. No wonder these two had been downcast these past few days. They were planning to leave.

If she remembered correctly, Angela's hometown was Lincoln. Despite her optimistic nature, she wasn't loose-lipped. Over a year had passed since the disaster, and she had never mentioned wanting to go home. But of course she would miss home.

As the water level dropped day by day, it seemed she was preparing to go home and had discussed it with Lukas.

Lukas was an orphan, with no home or attachments. He would undoubtedly choose to go with Angela.

As for Cody, to be realistic, he wouldn't get far on his own. So he had to make a choice.

But whether he stayed or left, he seemed to be the third wheel.

Stella actually hoped he would stay, but as an orphan, he was more sensitive. And since she and Jasper were a bit colder in temperament, he would probably feel more comfortable with Lukas and Angela.

However, after all, he had grown up in Griffith. If it had been before the disaster, going to another city wouldn't have mattered, but now, it meant unknown risks and uncertainty about the future. And besides, he would be going as the third wheel.

So, of the three, he was the most conflicted.

Actually, Lukas would rather not leave if he had a choice; the two of them especially hoped they could stay and join the base together.

Angela also wanted the two to move together, as she was satisfied with the current situation. Once she found her family in Lincoln, she would also try to get into a base. But she knew that Stella and Jasper were capable and had more options.

In the end, they had to vote.

The result was inevitable. People from 1803 chose the base, while Stella and Jasper decided to stay.

Still, Lukas was unsure about the future, "Jasper, do you think it's better to join the official base or the military base?"

They had food, but not a lot. To get into a military base, each person needed 50 kilos of grain, which felt like cutting off their own leg.

"It depends on your choice. The official base is more free, while the military base will be safer. Each has its pros and cons."

Jasper couldn't give advice, but as a friend, he reminded them, "Once the water recedes, it would be best to find a car before you leave. Walking to the base is not practical."

Once the news came out, many survivors with supplies would pack up their belongings and head for the base.

No one knew who had supplies when everyone’s in their home, and roadside robbers wouldn't get much, but those moving their nests would be a different story.

Survivors moved quickly, but there were more robbers. They would set up traps along the road to the base, waiting to harvest the survivors' supplies.

Even Angela had forgotten about this. Reminded by Jasper, their faces turned serious. Cody looked worried, "After the flood and extreme cold, cars have been soaked in water and frozen for a year. Can there still be good cars?"

Jasper couldn't guarantee anything. He could only give the best advice he could for Stella's sake, but he couldn't interfere with their decisions.

"We'll take it one step at a time," Stella chimed in. "Going to the base in a rubber boat is not realistic right now. There's garbage and corpses everywhere, and it's easy to get infected with diseases. If you encounter robbers who shoot your rubber boat and sink it, you won't have a way to escape."

In her previous life, she had encountered those who had fled with all their belongings, only to return empty-handed.

They were robbed just outside Griffith. It’s just lucky that the robbers still had a shred of conscience left. They only wanted supplies, not lives. If they met heartless robbers, they wouldn't even have a chance to survive.

Feeling heavy-hearted, the people from 1803 got up and left.