18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 331

Several volunteers had tried the new drug, and aside from those with severe illnesses who succumbed, the virus was eradicated from the bodies of the other patients. However, the extent of the side effects varied.

The research institute was in a quandary. After much deliberation, they decided to draft an honest report and send it up the chain of command.

The drug was in short supply, and officials from cities across the nation had been sent out to search for more, all returning empty-handed.

The decision between preserving quality or quantity was not one the institute could make. If given a choice, no one would want to give up.

Dr. Garcia had spent a sleepless night after submitting the report, and by the next day, his hair had turned significantly grayer.

Stella sat in her dorm, her expression a complex mix of emotions.

Jasper, guessing at her thoughts, sat down beside her and said, "Our illness is cured. What do you plan to do with the remaining herbal remedies?"

Indeed, when Stella had anonymously donated the medicine, she had been cautious and held back a portion. It wasn't that she didn't trust Evan or the institute, but rather she knew that without the final right answer, one often had to traverse countless detours. And these detours could very well deplete the precious herbs. Once depleted, death would be the only certainty.

In her past life, repeated drug trials had led to desperation, and Dr. Garcia's team had been forced to venture out in search of new medicines.

Perhaps by fate, they had eventually found the right one. But Stella was still haunted by the tragic events of her past life, including Jasper's untimely death. So, she was torn.

She looked at Jasper and asked, "Do I bring them out, or do I not?"

Jasper didn't answer directly but pondered for a moment before saying, "The herbs are from your Arcadia gardens. It's up to you whether to share them or not."

He paused briefly before adding, "But what if one day the disaster is over, and the world finds peace again? If we have children, who's going to teach them to read? When they fall ill, who will heal them? Maybe you could teach them about literature, medicine, and survival. But as the disaster escalates, with humanity dwindling and civilization collapsing, those who survive will be raising offspring who know nothing but a savage fight for survival. How will our descendants fit into that world?"

Stella extracted the key point, “Are you thinking about having kids?”

"I'm just saying, if there's a chance to survive, it's up to you if you want to have them. It doesn't matter if you don't. We'll grow old and die, and Rosie is much younger. When the disaster's over, wouldn't you want to find a vibrant civilization, travel the world, and find the perfect place for us to settle down?"

Stella was silent for a long time before nodding, "Let's go back to Griffith."

The extra medicine would be of no use sitting in Arcadia, especially since more was continuously growing. They set out for Griffith under the cover of night.

The smog had worsened over the past month, with visibility now less than ten meters.

After ensuring it was safe, Stella, her face masked, unloaded the herbs near the police station and honked the car horn. By the time the officers rushed out, the Hummer had vanished into the fog.

Seeing the pile of herbs, they were first shocked, then hurried to the office, "Evan, more medicine has arrived. It looks like it's from the same people as last time. Should we send it immediately to the Swan Hill Institute for Herbal Medicine?"

Evan, relying on an oxygen tank to breathe, gasped, "Wait, let me ask the higher-ups."

Every city knew that medicine was scarce. To ensure the survival of more citizens, even the most cooperative officials would resort to desperate measures to procure drugs when faced with life and death.

Resources were limited and it was a case of the squeaky wheel getting the grease; officials had their priorities.

Covering his oxygen mask, Evan headed to the city hall.

Two hours later, the military was instructed to deliver the herbs to the Swan Hill Institute for Traditional Medicine. Accompanying the transport was Deputy Secretary Mark, responsible for ensuring the return of the virus-eradicating medicine.