18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 612

Bran’s invitation left Stella completely stunned. Was this a sign of the apocalypse?

With a grand gesture, he explained, "Cody and Lukas just arrived at Griffith to check in. We're old friends going way back; I have to roll out the red carpet for them."

Back in the New Town villa neighborhood, they used to gather around for a good ol’ hotpot.

Stella, concerned, asked, "How are they settling in?"

"With thousands arriving all at once, there's no housing to speak of. They’re all crammed into the temporary guesthouse."

"Guesthouse?"

It had been over three months, and the base had undergone significant changes.

Thanks to the special salvage team bringing back loads of fuel, the wheels of the military trucks were rolling again. The transport efficiency of coal, bricks, and lime had skyrocketed.

Production was booming.

There were labor shortages in many positions, but the residents of Griffith never worried about finding work.

The old military tents had been dismantled to make way for the temporary guesthouse, and the barracks were now completely replaced with red-brick houses.

Stella was clueless about these developments, but she had indeed noticed more houses around town. It was no longer the barren landscape it was when she first arrived – back then, red-brick houses were a rare sight.

As a proud member of the construction team, Bran boasted, "Sis, they're even expanding the hospital."

He was also hoarding points, aiming to score a red-brick villa for himself.

Truth be told, Bran was bullish on the future and glad for the wise decision to stay.

Not only had he found his kin, but he was reunited with his sister. Everything was progressing well.

Soaring was inevitable, and everything was within Stella’s expectations. But when Bran spoke of it, her heart swelled with joy once more.

How to put it? When your mindset and vision expand, building the base is like raising your own child – Cooper, the pup.

Watching it grow sturdy and strong, which parent wouldn’t beam with pride?

Having just gotten back that day, Stella was tied up with a family dinner and couldn’t leave. “You guys go ahead; I’ll treat them tomorrow.”

After a pause, she added, “Are Cody and the others adjusting to Griffith okay?”

“This place is like paradise; what’s not to like?”

The day Cody and the rest arrived, Bran had delivered sweet potatoes and potatoes to show his concern, even gifting them a chicken and duck from his own flock.

He hadn’t been tight with them before, offering symbolic help by letting the four of them stay in the villa neighborhood, which was all for Stella’s sake, including the subsequent conveniences.

But there weren’t many survivors in Griffith, especially friends, so their emotional ties ran deeper.

Bran’s generosity had deeper reasons.

It turned out Cody and the others were quite capable. Not only had they survived, but they had also kept the Kindle Chest safe and even assembled a troop of over a thousand.

Griffith had just over 12,000 people, and they had brought a thousand more. Their strength was not to be underestimated.

With these factors alone, the military ranks and positions offered by Griffith’s military would not be modest.

Whether for his own sake or as a reliable go-between for his sister, Bran wouldn’t miss this opportunity.

“Sis, I sent them some supplies, clothes, and other necessities.”

Doing what needed to be done and taking the credit where credit was due, Bran would not pass up a chance to shine. “They all came from the villa neighborhood; we share bonds forged in life and death. Plus, they’re your best friends, so naturally, they deserve the best care. Nobody should feel slighted on my watch.”

Stella was silently grateful.

Bran, with a gleam in his eye, said, “Sis, I get it.”

Puzzled, Stella asked, “You get what?”

“Don’t worry, I’ve been making arrangements behind the scenes for things you can’t handle yourself.”

Stella frowned, truly puzzled.

When her brother and sister-in-law were away, Rosie got used to having dinner at the farm before heading home.

But Cooper, that quirky little creature, had run off to the farm to call her home for dinner.

The way it pranced and grinned, Rosie knew her brother and sister-in-law were back.

After being away for over three months, the farm’s new batch of poultry was nearing market size.

So, the household indulged in meat openly, unlike before when they had to be discreet.

Especially Vanessa, who would brush her teeth after eating to avoid any lingering smells before going back out, not wanting to bring any negative attention to her husband and stepdaughter.

They’d wait for everyone to gather before sitting down for dinner, so it was a bit later than usual.

The table was adorned with succulent stewed chicken, stir-fried duck with ginger, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, chilled cucumbers, and greens.

Whether the humans were drooling, one couldn’t tell, but Cooper, with his wolfish appetite and dog’s loyalty, drooled all over the floor, gazing up at his human, almost whimpering “Mom.”

Just as they were about to start, a voice came from the door, “Mr. Gu.”

Reagan had arrived, accompanied by his wife and daughter, holding a thank-you gift in his hands.

He could never have dreamt that his daughter would still be alive, and it was the special salvage team that had found the Kindle Chest in the New World and rescued her from a Chinese internment camp.

Vera had been injured and infected on the ship, teetering on the brink of death, and it was Stella who had administered the life-saving medicine.

A family of three owed their lives to her.

Gratitude couldn’t just be summed up in a couple of thank-yous, but certain pleasantries had to be observed, so they came over right after dinner.

Rosie, ever so understanding, didn’t utter a word of protest and quickly set three additional places at the table.

Reagan intervened at once, “Please, don’t bother. You go ahead and eat. We’ve already had our dinner.”

Times were tough for everyone, and nobody wanted to be seen as a freeloader; it was a matter of pride.