18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 564

When Stella walked in, Daniel's face lit up with a warm smile. "Stella, you're back."

Stella nodded, "Yeah."

There was a brief, awkward pause before Daniel continued, "You've lost some weight."

Team missions often meant you couldn't just feast all the time.

But Stella was upbeat, "I'm doing alright."

She led him inside and asked with genuine concern, "How have you been feeling lately?"

"Your Aunt Sue has been giving me acupuncture daily, and the medicine you left has kept me in check. I'm almost back to my old self."

Stella took him to Arcadia for a follow-up. The CT scans showed the pneumonia was gone, but some damage was irreversible. They'd have to be careful moving forward.

After running all the necessary tests and treatments, Daniel couldn't hide his good mood. "How was your trip?"

"Eventful but safe."

Stella gave a brief rundown of the mission, including how they'd salvaged 26 crates of fabric.

The fate of the 21 trucks' worth of essential supplies they’d collected before the land sank would depend on how the military handled these materials. Deciding whether to hand them over could wait.

Daniel had returned early, so the special team's salvage report hadn't reached him yet.

But it was clear that these supplies were key for Australia's recovery. Whoever collected them deserved generous compensation, including those who gathered resources on land.

Over the past month, his workload had lightened, but his concern for his daughter and son-in-law had only grown.

Seeing Stella safe now, he could finally relax.

Not one for emotional displays, Daniel said, "I've learned to cook a few dishes. Come over for dinner tonight."

Stella didn't argue, "Do you need anything? I can bring it."

"No need, Rosie drops off supplies every few days."

Thinking of Bran's antics, Stella braved the question, "Dad, Bran hasn't been too much of a handful, has he?"

"Too much of a handful?"

"He... well," Stella struggled, her toes curling in embarrassment, "he can be quite blunt, and I was worried he might upset you."

When Bran came up, Daniel's tone was light, "I've met him a few times. He's quite measured in his words. He's a sharp and entertaining young man. If he stays grounded, his future is bright."

Measured?

A bewildered Stella stood silent. What on earth had happened?

At dusk, Rosie returned from the farm.

"Sis!" She rushed over, hugging Stella tightly. "You're finally back."

Rosie carried the scent of sweat, not unpleasant.

Her smile was like sunshine, utterly warm and inviting.

"How's the work on the farm?"

Rosie, always hardworking, admitted, "It was tough at first, but I'm used to it now."

"Do you work the fields yourself?"

"Yes, I have to set an example."

Stella was skeptical. She remembered their last conversation. Rosie was young and inexperienced.

The hired hands, having survived the apocalypse for years, wouldn't easily respect her, not just for a few pounds of rice.

She had no objections to partnering with the military.

Regardless of who was in charge, it was inconceivable for civilians to have meat at every meal while their leaders went hungry.

Such a system was unsustainable and unhealthy.

Even if the military hadn't reached out, Stella would have sought out a partnership eventually.

Being alone at the top wasn't ideal; she didn't want to make enemies before gaining power. The military wouldn't be too harsh on Daniel. Giving them a stake meant swift base development, a win-win situation.

"How much of a share are they asking for?" Stella inquired.

"They started at half, but I think anything over 20% is too much."

"Don't rush to agree. I'll discuss it with your brother."

Rosie had been stalling, using the limited number of poultry as an excuse.

It was hard to imagine one person juggling so much.

Stella, concerned, asked, "Are you too tired?"

Tired, yes, but Rosie loved the sense of purpose and recognition.

More than just running a farm, she was integral to the base. With the prospect of a breeding farm, the hope for a better life reignited in everyone's hearts.

"Thank goodness for Ron and Poppy, they've been a huge help."

At the mention of the pair, Stella couldn't help but think of Bran, her brow furrowing in concern. "And Bran? What about him?"

"He's been really attentive, showing up quite a few times to pick up me and Poppy after work, worried about us walking alone at night."

It wasn't that Rosie was full of herself or reading too much into it, but the base had plenty of guys...