18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 322

Austin had seen so many high society ladies like this, and he wasn't one to be easily impressed. A few pleasantries were usually all it took to send them on their way.

Every week, Stella made her way to the serene town of Swan Hill. If Collin was too tied up to accompany her, she'd seek out Hugh. She never showed up empty-handed, sometimes bringing a bag of cornmeal, other times a sack of stale bread—gifts for whoever could spare the time to mentor her, a sort of tuition fee.

After several visits without a glimpse of Collin, Stella couldn't help but ask, "Hugh, what's been keeping Dr. Collin so busy these days?"

"Word has it that the eternal night might be drawing to a close. There's been a catastrophe up north, and it might just ripple down here. Dr. Collin's been run ragged these days, working closely with Dr. Garcia—sometimes they barely have time for a meal."

Dr. Garcia? That must be the old professor who cracked the smog virus.

Feigning nosy, Stella prodded further, "What kind of disaster struck up north?"

Hugh, with a gifted and alert apprentice like Stella, had no reason to hide the truth. "It hasn't been announced yet, but the news leaked from the capital. That cursed place, notorious for its nuclear waste mismanagement, was hit by the strongest earthquake in a millennium. An undersea volcano erupted, swallowing the entire country in no time."

To obliterate a nation, the volcanic eruption had to be colossal, and unimaginable amounts of ash must have been spewed into the air.

Stella felt a cold shiver run down her spine. The smog was coming. The sudden demise of that nation was the harsh reality behind the smog disaster.

Growing anxious, Stella asked, "Is there any way to predict what sort of virus the smog might carry?"

Hugh's expression was one of concern as he explained, "The finer the volcanic ash particles, the deeper they penetrate the respiratory tract. Once inhaled, they accumulate in the respiratory system, leading to numerous diseases. Exposure to coarse particles can harm the respiratory system and trigger asthma. Fine particles may cause heart and lung diseases, respiratory infections, reduced lung function, and pose significant risks to the elderly, children, and those with preexisting heart and lung conditions."

These were merely the physical damages; the environmental impact was obvious. Besides creating smog, the ash caused severe damage to building exteriors. If a storm or rain came, the wet, heavy ash could collapse roofs.

Hugh tried to reassure her while continuing the lesson, "Don't worry too much. The research institute has been cultivating medicinal herbs for such events for years now. You've got to have faith in our doctors—they'll overcome this challenge."

Stella nodded, "Yeah, I believe you guys can pull it off."

After the session, she packed her things and left.

Reaching the ground floor, she saw Collin emerging from the glasshouse, accompanied by a few students and a septuagenarian. He was lean, with graying hair but appeared lively and robust.

Stella greeted him, "Dr. Collin, it's been a while."

Collin was pleased to see her, "Stella, good to see you. Just a moment, I have something to discuss with you."

After seeing Dr. Garcia upstairs and instructing his assistants, Collin finally approached her. "I'm sorry, I've been swamped lately. I haven't even had time to see you when you visited."

"It's alright, I can figure things out on my own. Don't let me hold you up from important matters," Stella replied understandingly.

Collin, still pressed for time, got straight to the point. "I heard about the volcanic eruption in the island nation. The ash could spread our way, and although we're far, we might face a smog disaster. We don't know what diseases the smog will bring, but we're in for a tough fight—it's time to test our mettle as medical professionals. After years of calamities, we've lost many great talents. Our mission is daunting. News has reached every city, and they're gathering medical staff urgently. Soon, the remaining medics from Phoenix Bay, Raven Port, and Mount Barker will converge on Swan Hill to face this battle together. We must win, or the disaster will be unimaginable. Stella, are you interested in joining us?"