18 Floors Above the Apocalypse
Chapter 305

Jasper remained the picture of calm, "Everyone's got a bit of a gambler in them. Remember when you hoarded those cruise ships and yachts? Weren't you gambling too?"

"I'm not like them," Stella rubbed her temples, her voice weary. "I have my little tricks up my sleeve with Arcadia. I can hide when danger strikes, but they've only got their skin and bones." This was sheer madness.

"But this is their choice," Jasper said calmly. "Kitty's always been in this game, Angela's been through a family tragedy, and Lukas and Cody have had their share of agony."

Policing the streets was always a gamble with their lives; this time, they were just upping the ante.

"They bust their backs and can only afford to live in the slums. When they owned a home, but they were crammed in tiny apartments, only to have their peace shattered by thugs at nightfall. Now they're all holed up in your place, while we're living it up in our mansion, feasting on steak and sipping fine wine. How could they possibly stay cool-headed?"

It wasn't about envy or resentment. They were just ordinary survivors who had weathered five years of calamities. Who wouldn't have some psychological scars?

Backed into a corner, they were indeed risking their lives.

Lost the bet, and it's a worthless life gone. If they won, it's a life of glory and wealth.

Jasper made sense, and Stella, if she failed to understand them, would have bluntly stopped them rather than urging them to think twice.

In the end, it boiled down to the concern of a friend, feeble though it may be. It wasn't right to feast while telling them to be content with porridge and not to gamble with their lives for a better tomorrow. It was easy to talk without bearing the pain. However, watching friends you had grown up with gamble with their lives, knowing full well they might die, was heart-wrenching.

"Stella, everyone has their way of living," Jasper said, taking her hand. "As friends, we don't want them risking their lives, but if they've made up their minds, we really can't stop them."

...

After two days of anxious waiting, Cody finally radioed in. "Stella, the four of us scouted the mountains thoroughly. There's a group of over fifty up there. We've thought it through and made a plan. We've decided to go through with it."

He paused, a hint of laughter in his voice. "If we don't make it back, we'll accept our fate."

Just as the line was about to go dead, Stella spoke up, "Wait."

She wouldn't join them, but as a friend, she could offer some help to increase their odds of coming back alive. "I'll replace some bulletproof vests. Jasper can whip up some explosives and incendiaries. Find a way to come and get them. And remember, survive at all costs." Cody was silent for a while before replying, "We've got vests, but we're short on ammo. Consider it a loan from you. If we win, we'll repay with supplies. If we lose, well, if there's an afterlife, we'll repay you then."

After the call, Stella rubbed her face vigorously, taking deep breaths to calm herself.

As she began to prepare lunch, a knock came from downstairs. Looking from the balcony, to her surprise, she found the Porras family's Rolls-Royce, with Derick standing beside it.

The Rolls was Shane's. What could they want at a time like this?

Stella went down to open the door. Derick held the car door open, "Stella, Mr. Porras would like to see you."

Shane had come in person.

Stella, puzzled but courteous, got into the car. "What brings you to my doorstep?"

Shane looked worn, aged several years in a moment. Once the soul of Griffith's business world and a national tycoon, even after five years of disasters, his presence and poise remained. "Stella, have you heard about my son's kidnapping?" "I caught wind of it, but I don't know the details."

"The Porras family has gathered a bunch of bounty hunters. Whoever rescues him gets 10,000 pounds of food. I know you and Jasper are capable. Interested?"

Stella looked apologetic, "Thank you for considering us, Shane. I regret to hear about the kidnapping, but I'm sure with your guidance, he'll return safely. The reward is tempting, but our abilities are limited. We wouldn't want to hinder your rescue efforts."

If those bounty hunters were competent, Shane wouldn't need to make a house call. "Stella, there's no need for modesty. If you feel the reward is insufficient, feel free to name your price. Anything within my power, I will provide."

"It's not about the reward. We can only do so much, and we have a child to care for."

Knowing one's limits was important, and Stella was well aware of what she and Jasper could handle. They didn't lack necessities, so there was no need for reckless gambles.

Hearing her response, Shane seemed to deflate.

He was always hanging around those people living in Building 50, so why hadn't Bran picked up their levelheadedness?

With a heavy sigh, Shane seemed to accept the bitter reality. Disasters hadn't taken Bran's life, but in the end, he had been the architect of his own downfall.

After seeing Shane off, Stella went back to cooking lunch.

The meal was served, three humans and a dog at the table, when she brought up Cody and the others' decision to proceed with their plan.

Jasper mused, "Over fifty people in a cave, with the loot and captives, means it's probably spacious, maybe even a cavern system with complex structures and multiple exits. Lobbing bombs and incendiaries from outside won't do much." Stella felt a headache coming on. Cody and his team were taking too big a risk.

"I'll make some tear gas grenades; they might give them an edge."

Stella was surprised Jasper knew so much, though he had indeed hoarded a bunch of chemicals, collecting dust in the corner of Arcadia.

She gathered the materials for Jasper to tinker.

After half a day's work, he produced twenty grenades, ten for their own use and ten for Cody's team.

They gave what they could. Whether or not the four would survive was up to fate.

At night, the two drove to the community gate.

Soon, the four approached stealthily, carrying property deeds, tea, smokes, booze, and essential meds - their entire net worth. If they didn't return, they'd use these to settle their debt for Stella's weapons.

Kitty pulled Stella aside, "I was selfish when I came to you that day, but it's got nothing to do with Cody and the others. I hope you don't hold it against them."

Since they'd met, Cody had always been incredibly accommodating, always looking out for her. Never did she imagine that this would lead to their first major fallout. It seemed she had truly underestimated the bond among them.

Stella handed her four pistols, a couple of Molotov cocktails, and tear gas canisters, her voice casual as she said, "I didn't think much of it, or else I wouldn't have lent you the hardware."

She also mentioned that the cave might be a karst cavern, raising an eyebrow as she asked, "You guys planning a full-frontal assault?"

Kitty had mapped out a meticulous plan, "We've been scoping the place out for days. They're snatching people left and right, both men and women. The guys seem to be from wealthy families, and the women are young and good-looking." She assessed herself, confident that with a little sprucing up, she'd make the perfect bait to get them inside. Then, when the time was right, they could strike from within and without.

Wealthy heirs? Stella frowned, "Are you sure about that?"