18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 556

Stella unzipped her waterproof bag and found a remote sensor inside.

No doubt, it was for unlocking the Kindle Chest. It must have been set up before the land went underwater. Copies of the remote sensor and codes were, without exception, in the hands of the top brass of every Kindle Society.

On a whim, Stella wanted to see what was inside the Kindle Chest in Arcadia. And she acted on that impulse.

She pressed the button on the sensor and entered the code. The sturdy, heavy Kindle Chest swung open.

It looked like a massive machine. After rummaging around for a while, Stella discovered an inscription on the machine: a desalination system.

Not huge, but definitely sufficient for a base of thousands. The base was close to the coast, where the water quality was poor, and the harsh climate bred countless germs. A careless gulp could make you sick.

It wasn't just people who were affected; the land suffered too. The desertification of the alkaline wasteland made cultivation difficult, unable to retain soil or lock in moisture, creating a vicious cycle.

Daniel was visibly relieved. "Stella, with this, we'll soon have an oasis."

Seeing his smile, a warm current flowed through Stella's heart. "I'll bring it back."

The next morning, Rosie fought back her sadness and worry, mustering a smile to see the pair off. The family dog, scrappy as ever, clawed at them, reluctant to let his humans go.

Daniel and Vanessa stepped out to bid farewell. "Stay safe, and come back soon."

Stella couldn't find overly sentimental words, so she simply gave him a hug. The two hopped in the car and drove to the docks, picking up a few teammates who were on foot along the way.

The team, specially selected, was comprised of 14 individuals, all skilled in their own right. They could operate cargo ships, submarines, planes, tanks – true special forces, capable of reaching the heavens and diving the depths.

Stella admired and respected them. Oh, and I forgot to mention – the cargo ship was equipped with a helicopter.

Bran, with the on-duty soldiers, saluted them for a safe journey. "Return safely."

Cole chose two team members for the nuclear submarine, while Stella and Jasper took the helm of vessel 2688. The rest boarded the cargo ship, heading for a destination 500 nautical miles away.

Daniel had sent people before, but according to the box numbers recorded, they were all filled with seeds. The conditions weren't right for hoisting, and opening the boxes on the seabed was too difficult, not to mention that the seeds would spoil if soaked.

Cole's sub led the way, the freighter following slowly behind.

Lunch was a DIY affair, but dinner was a communal event on the submarine. As team leader, Jasper volunteered enthusiastically, "I'm quite the chef, let me treat you guys tonight."

Used to military life, the team was a bit reserved.

Cole was more relaxed. "Not everyone gets to enjoy Captain Jasper's cooking. We're on a mission, no need to be so tense."

The team relaxed, and two female members volunteered to assist Stella.

Fourteen people, but only five dishes, all hearty portions. They ate and chatted...

After the meal, two male members took on dish duty, promising to rotate the cooking and cleaning duties. They chatted some more before planning to return to the transport ship, but to their shock, the sea was empty except for the wind and the waves.

The massive ship had... vanished!

As they descended, the light dimmed. Stella switched on her headlamp, adjusting her breathing as she dived deeper.

Cole led the way, with Jasper covering their rear. A hundred meters on land isn't far, but underwater, it's a different world. The deeper they went, the greater the pressure, and past a certain depth, each meter down became unbearably painful.

The headlamp revealed a large, angular object – they quickly swam towards it. It was undoubtedly the Kindle Chest, though covered in sludge and seaweed.

The pressure was too much to stay longer, and there was no time to clean it. Stella and Jasper exchanged glances and reached for the Kindle Chest.

Then, the massive chest simply vanished. Cole, witnessing this, nearly choked on water but managed to recover quickly. They swam back to the surface.

On the way, they passed a rock covered in dense kelp. Cole hesitated a moment, then swam toward the kelp, yanking off a large handful.

The team hoisted the trio back onboard, the captain anxiously asking, “Did you find the Kindle Chest?”

Jasper remained silent, prompting Cole to break the ice with a casual, "Alright, got it."

The rest of the group exchanged bewildered glances, not knowing how to process the news. Quick on the uptake, Amelia, one of the female team members, chimed in. "Hey, Captain Cole, those sea greens you picked up look pretty fresh. Think they're good to eat?"

Cole shrugged, uncertainty lining his voice. "Well, sea greens are packed with nutrients, and these ones seem to be thriving. I doubt they've been tainted by any ancient viruses, so I figured it might be worth giving them a try."

With crops failing left and right due to climate disasters, and the nutritional value of fish sticks leaving much to be desired, the prospect of edible sea greens could offer some relief from the looming food shortage.

The team's eyes lit up with hope, as if they had stumbled upon a treasure trove. Could this be a sign? The world had been turned upside down, and now here were the sea greens, flourishing against the odds. Maybe, just maybe, it was an indication that the environment was finally on the mend.