18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 627

Stella was absolutely knackered, not even able to muster the energy to speak. Jasper helped her inside, got her changed, and made her drink a mug of warm sugar water to help her rest properly.

Once she was settled, he stepped out and shared their hair-raising underwater adventure with the crew.

“Lucky for us, it was just one sea monster,” he said. “If there had been more, we would've been toast.”

Recalling the collision from a few days back, the crew's faces went pale. “Captain, you and Stella are okay, right?”

“Yeah, we spotted it in time, no life-threatening injuries,” Jasper reassured them.

Guilt washed over the crew. They'd all jumped at the chance to get rich alongside the captain and Stella, but when danger struck, it was the two of them facing it alone while the rest stood helpless. If anything had gone seriously wrong, they'd have a hard time explaining it to the higher-ups and to Griffith.

Salvage work was far riskier than anyone on the outside could imagine—one slip-up could cost lives.

After a short nap, Stella felt much better. The team climbed aboard the transport vessel, donned their radiation suits, and gathered around the Kindle Chest holding the sea monster. Jasper took out the scanner, keyed in the code, and opened it up. Inside was a massive hunk of meat.

The violent collision had left the creature bloody and battered. As the chest opened, blood and fluids oozed out. Their guess had been right: it was a mutated oarfish, several times its normal size, stretching dozens of meters long. Its head was grotesquely altered by radiation, covered in tumors, and its exposed teeth were razor-sharp.

Even these seasoned veterans felt their stomachs churn.

The mutated oarfish was radioactive, and they had no intention of bringing it back. They took out various tools and dragged it from the Kindle Chest. After snapping some photos, they used all their strength to heave it back into the sea. They scrubbed the chest and the deck clean, repeatedly.

Shaken, the crew lost their appetites for days but were thankful no more mutated oarfish crossed their path. The salvage mission was a success.

On their return trip, they planned to sail past the old coordinates near Iran, but considering safety concerns, decided to steer well clear of that cursed spot. Aside from their near miss with the oarfish, the journey was smooth.

The whole trip took about three months, and they were once again successful in their return. As the sun set, the green hills cascaded into the distance. Factories by the sea puffed out white smoke while solar panels on the hillside gleamed in the fading light. Griffith, ever-changing for the better, felt both familiar and foreign, beckoning with an irresistible charm.

Cooper was still waiting at the dock. From his post, he watched the approaching speedboat, then began to romp around excitedly, “Woof, woof!”

It was unclear if Cooper came every day, rain or shine, but he was certainly on good terms with the harbor guards. Stella's vision blurred as she rushed to shore and hugged him tightly. Then, without a hint of guilt, he peed on her shoes.

Monkey was laughing, his face lined and his hair tinged with gray. Miranda was busy at the stove, unable to step away as she cooked for customers. The business seemed to be doing well, with little Monkey assisting at the side. He had grown in the years they hadn't seen each other, no longer the shy kid but sweet-talking customers with pleasantries.

Once malnourished, he now drew sympathetic looks as the smallest child at the base. Miranda kept busy, but managed to greet the couple with a warm smile. Stella remembered how stunning Miranda had looked when they first met during the midnight sun, dressed in a fiery red dress, her voluptuous body and striking beauty turning heads.

Now, she was dressed simply, her hair cut short like a man's. Those once delicate hands were now seasoned by hard work, expertly flipping the grain cakes. What hadn't changed was the fervor and pride in Monkey's eyes as he looked at her.

Unremarkable, even plain in appearance, Monkey had achieved a life many men envied: a warm home with a loving wife and child. Stella smiled back. She tasted the grain cake and found the skill commendable.

“How is it, sis?” Monkey asked eagerly, “My wife made it herself.” Stella couldn't help but smile, “It's good.” But the question lingered: How on earth had he ended up here?

Monkey was buzzing with excitement as he leaned on the fence, his eyes twinkling like the stars above Griffith Base. “Man, have you heard? The honchos from Willowbrook rolled into town for a visit, and they didn't come empty-handed. Brought us a whole bunch of poultry, some fine herbs, and a heap of crops. Word travels fast in this place.”

It was no surprise to anyone that Dylan knew about it first—after all, he was tight with the boss. Griffith might not have the sprawling size of Willowbrook, but it had a well-rounded vibe, with everything in balance. Plus, having Stella and Jasper around was a bonus.

The boss had always dropped hints that Stella was no ordinary gal, but who would've guessed she was actually the daughter of South Base's big kahuna?