18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 578

It was well into the afternoon when Rosie finally made her way back. She had spent the day organizing a group to deliver vegetables to the military headquarters and using some credits to secure a new plot of land at the Land Management Office.

Stella asked, "So, are we planting mulberry saplings and honeysuckle on the new land?"

Rosie had it all mapped out. "Uncle Hank's advice is spot on. Once the mulberries take root, we can start raising silkworms."

Stella felt relieved and didn't pry any further. As dusk approached, she drove Rosie back home.

Nicholas and his wife showed up, and finding Stella out, he swallowed his pride and repeatedly apologized to the commander.

Daniel played dumb, keeping everything cordial. Nicholas cursed his wife under his breath and tried, both openly and secretly, to get his hands on some medication. But Daniel deftly sidestepped him. "That girl has a good heart. Don't stoop to her level. She's been out since noon and hasn't come back yet. I'll talk to her tonight."

Before Stella could return, Nicholas succumbed to acute organ failure. Disasters are unpredictable, claiming lives from the highest ranks to the lowliest survivors with simple finality.

Daniel was noncommittal about his daughter's actions; she had her own principles. But Stella spoke up, "A commander's wife, mouthing off at the hospital—clearly, they've been badmouthing us at home, or else she wouldn't have lashed out like that."

A dark heart sees darkness everywhere. The medicine had to pass through the hospital’s hands, and since she dared to administer it, there shouldn’t be any issues. The Shaw family’s lack of gratitude was one thing, but their attempt to counter-accuse was another.

Stella wasn't interested in making a name for herself in the military, so she wasn't afraid to stir the pot and expose Nicholas’s true colors. What was there to hide? If they let him plan for his son, why couldn’t Daniel do the same for his daughter? It all came down to capability.

If it came to playing dirty, Stella wasn't scared. Daniel smiled, "I trust your judgment. Do what you believe is right. Aside from personal matters, the military 'uncles' deserve our respect. As long as there are no major conflicts, we must maintain proper decorum."

Of course, Stella was always respectful. She treated others the way they treated her.

After discussing Nicholas’s fate, Stella remembered the salvaged submarine from 2023. Daniel’s expression turned serious. "They are heroes in Australia, having sacrificed themselves to preserve civilization. They deserve a dignified burial. I’ll propose erecting a monument for fallen heroes in Griffith to honor all the soldiers who have sacrificed for the nation and our community."

Stella was taken aback, but it seemed fitting.

That evening, Bran showed up just in time for dinner, announcing, "Sis, I'm on leave."

Stella was used to his antics. As long as he didn't harbor any inappropriate thoughts towards Rosie, it was all good. Seeing Bran, Rosie greeted him cheerfully, "Hey, Uncle Tony."

Bran felt a twinge in his heart, but his face remained as nonchalant as ever. Being well-informed, Bran had already heard about the hospital incident. Seeing Stella’s unfazed demeanor, he commented, "Sis, don’t feel sorry for Nicholas. A guy like that, it’s good riddance."

He wasn’t just talking. Nicholas was ambitious and capable, but his son was a different story—the rank of lieutenant was all thanks to his father's influence.

Stella glanced at him, "How do you know all this?"

"Being in a position of power, it’s one thing to be incompetent, but he was also messing around with women."

In a community where men outnumbered women, and many were single, Nicholas had the audacity to be choosy, even going after married women...

Stella was curious, "Where did you get this info?"

He stopped short as Daniel entered the room. Bran bit his tongue in pain, leaping up to salute, "Commander!"

No more mention of Dad? Stella was speechless. She had witnessed Bran’s many faces; in front of Daniel, he was a completely different person—humble, thoughtful, and always saying the right thing. His flattery was skillful enough to make Jasper envious.

Stella shot him a look, suggesting Jasper take a leaf out of Bran’s book. Jasper knew that his father-in-law had different standards for a son-in-law, and he wasn’t about to lower himself.

Bran’s flattery was so masterful that even though you knew he was buttering you up, it didn’t annoy you—it was actually quite pleasant. Not only Daniel but even Vanessa enjoyed his company.

Laughter filled the dinner table.

After treatment, Reagan’s condition was stabilized. Although confined to bed, he was already making work arrangements. Learning that the urgently needed oil had been brought back was like a shot of adrenaline that made one feel as if a bout of pneumonia had suddenly been cured. Without oil, what’s industry?

With it, the engines of our military trucks could roar to life, and the extraction and transportation of coal and limestone could speed up exponentially. Generators and other machinery would come alive, solving a myriad of problems in one fell swoop.

After receiving the report, Reagan instructed Jasper to liaise with the relevant departments to arrange the handover and unloading of the materials. Being under the weather, he delegated a significant amount of authority to Jasper, entrusting him to strategize and manage the logistics.

The 120,000 cubic meters of oil were like a lifeline of fresh blood for Griffith, with material rewards still split fifty-fifty. However, in terms of military accolades, some extra points would be considered.

If they could salvage all the oil from beneath the sea, the rewards and military honors would come faster than a rocket to the stars.

Jasper mentioned the retrieval of the 2023 wreckage, and Reagan, unaware of Daniel’s previous directives, became reflective and said, "We must honor them with a dignified burial."