18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 194

So it was settled. Jasper took his leave to rest.

The next day, Bryce sent out a messenger to arrange negotiations with Alpha Outpost, while Stella asked him for some dynamite and gasoline.

"Stella, what do you need these for?" he asked, feigning ignorance.

Not one to beat around the bush, Stella replied, "We can't have our dog unprepared. What if he gets tired halfway or drops it in the wrong place?"

"Oh, right, almost slipped my mind." Bryce quickly made arrangements, but not without adding a word of caution. "This stuff is dangerous. What if the dog runs around the base with it and someone who's not careful takes a shot? It could be disastrous. How about we practice with mud first, and use the real stuff when it's showtime?"

"That works," Stella agreed. "But don't forget about the sniper rifle. We can't be expected to supply both the manpower and the weaponry now, can we? Besides, we don't have access to that kind of gear."

"No problem, I'll figure something out."

Sly old fox, always on guard.

In the evening, Bryce watched from the veranda of the mansion as Cooper, the dog, ran, crawled, and jumped around with the mock dynamite, attracting the attention of the entire base. Even Bryce was itching to own such a fine dog.

Alpha Outpost must have taken a considerable hit as well, as they agreed to the negotiations. However, they insisted on setting the location. This didn't sit well with Bryce, but considering his ultimate goal wasn't negotiation but annihilation, he finally agreed to their terms.

However, the terrain was disadvantageous for them, making it impossible to set an ambush in advance.

"Did you find the sniper rifle?" Jasper asked after surveying the area.

After some effort, they managed to acquire one through special channels. It wasn't the latest model, with a range of only about 1800 meters, but it was more than enough for Jasper.

Jasper wasn't in favor of setting an ambush ahead of time. If they were going to negotiate, it should be done out in the open to attract the attention of the other party. Any sneaky actions would only make them suspicious. In the end, Bryce agreed.

The negotiations were set to take place two days later, but Jasper asked to leave a day early.

Alpha Outpost was composed of disgraced exiles, and they might think in sync with Jasper. Therefore, he wanted to plan and set up in advance to avoid being caught off guard.

As Jasper was the key to the operation, it would be embarrassing if anything were to hinder him.

Bryce quickly came up with a solution. "Rosie is still young. If a battle breaks out and limbs start flying, it could traumatize the poor kid, don't you think?"

It was clear that he was worried they might have ulterior motives and take Rosie hostage. If they disagreed, they would not only be unable to leave the base, but they might also lose their lives.

Jasper was prepared for this. "No problem. But Rosie is a bit timid. I don't want her to get hurt before I return."

Bryce readily agreed. "Don't worry, Rosie is such a darling. I'll make sure she's well taken care of and won't lose a single strand of hair."

No one was a fool. Bryce was a cunning fox who took advantage of the situation. Without his tactical position, how many people would be willing to risk their lives for him?

When they got back to their quarters, Jasper told Rosie the truth. "Rosie, Stella and I have to go out tonight and won't be back until tomorrow. Can you stay here by yourself?"

Rosie didn't want to be alone. "But I want to stay with you guys."

"We have a mission. It wouldn't be convenient if we took you with us." Jasper touched her head. "Don't be afraid. Wait for us to come back."

Although Rosie was reluctant, she agreed. "Jasper, I'll take care of myself."

Stella began packing, and Jasper handed Rosie a silenced pistol, hinting for her to hide it well.