18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 87

Stella had a worried expression, and Jasper comforted her, "Don't worry. Cooper is extremely intelligent and is man's most loyal companion. I trust he'll be fine."

Stella wasn't convinced, after all, the harsh winter lasted a year, and Cooper had only managed to save her from a deadly attack for three months of it. Back then, all he wanted to do was to protect her. He was so determined that he'd have rather died than let go of her.

The scene was too gruesome for Stella to recall. All she could do was hold Cooper tightly. This time, it was her turn to protect Cooper.

Sensing her tense emotions, Cooper nestled into her arms, thinking, “What's wrong with you, human?”

"Don't worry, I'll train him well."

Train him? Cooper grumbled. Hadn't he graduated already?

Jasper petted him. "Training is a lifelong practice. As long as we're alive, we need to keep learning."

Cooper snorted, whatever!

Back home, Stella measured Cooper's height and weight and recorded all his data. Not just him, but Smoky and Snowy too. After checking them over a few times, she couldn't shake off the feeling that they'd somehow changed and were becoming braver.

Over the next few days, Stella made over two thousand arrows, and her crossbow skills were improving. Unsatisfied with the distance in the corridor, they all went to the rooftop to push their limits. In the freezing -40 degrees weather, they bundled up like bears in hibernation.

Everyone wanted to rest, but no one dared, fearing that they might never get the opportunity to stand up again. But it was really too cold, and their hands were shaking like they had Parkinson's.

Cody saw how steady Stella was and couldn't believe it. "Stella, how do you do it?"

She was less bundled up than him, but she seemed unaffected by the cold. This was beyond his understanding!

Stella shot him a glance. "I'm not frail, nor weak, and I have a heart full of passion."

Lukas, who was often sick, grimaced, thinking, “Really Stella, even in a post-apocalyptic world, you don't forget to throw shade. What did I ever do to you?”

He was frail? Even Angela said he was doing great lately!

Once they'd gotten used to being outmatched, Lukas and Cody gave up resisting, especially since Stella had Jasper as her private trainer. Her skills were becoming increasingly formidable.

She seemed to be soaring. Not only were her skills constantly improving, but her physical fitness seemed to be rocketing too.

What was the deal with this weather? The damp cold air seeped into their bones, making them feel as though their souls were being frozen.

But look at Stella, and look at Jasper…

Ugh, Jasper was also wearing far less than them. They envied the two’s superhuman endurance.

Lukas and Cody couldn't compete, and they couldn't afford to be injured. They had to focus on improving their crossbow skills.

After a few days of rest, Jasper challenged Stella to spar. Stella was puzzled. "Your arm isn't fully healed yet."

"That's okay, I can manage with one hand. As long as you don't target my weak points."

“Weak points? Ah, he meant his shoulder, or did he mean his private parts?” Okay, Stella admitted she was being a bit naughty. She still retained some integrity and honestly didn’t attack his weak points, even deliberately avoiding them.

And Jasper, he was truly skilled, because even with one arm, he never let Stella gain an advantage.

At the same time, his independence was remarkable.

When Rosie slipped while making pie, Stella thought he would seize the opportunity to ask her for help or give some tips to Rosie. It was her fault after all, and if Jasper had asked, Stella was prepared to help.

However, Jasper said nothing. He resolved everything himself. This made Stella sigh with relief.

Despite their harmonious living environment, she was still on her guard. If Jasper had asked, she would have helped, but she intended to keep her distance from that point onwards.

If Jasper asked for a favor, he must’ve had an ulterior motive, and it was probably not just for ordinary supplies.

Stella had already survived in a post-apocalyptic world for so many years. Now that she had to do it all over again, she wouldn't help but be suspicious of everyone's intentions. Moreover, she was privy to Arcadia's secrets, and she couldn't afford to gamble.

In short, Jasper’s actions made Stella see him in a new light.

Katie knocked on her door again, and her mood a mix of joy and worry.

Joey and Mikey were technicians. After the interview, they got jobs without a hitch, with a monthly salary of fifteen pounds of rice or flour.

Amber was a teacher and couldn't meet the technical requirements, but she successfully applied for the lowest-tier job of corpse collector. It may have sounded like a grim job with low pay, but there were always applicants.

The monthly pay was only five pounds of rice, but it included one meal a day. The meal wasn't enough to fill them up completely, but it was enough for a hard day's work, and there were also other benefits.

The elimination rate was high, and the chances of Amber getting hired were slim. Katie was a cunning old woman. She had her daughter-in-law secretly give two pounds of wild kudzu flour to the interviewer, and just like that, Amber got the job.

"Stella, if any of you want to apply for a job, I can ask Amber to take you there."

She was worried that these young kids were too stubborn and wouldn't accept the idea of using connections or giving gifts. But jobs were essential for survival, and they couldn't afford to be proud or stubborn.

However, the 18th floor residents only wanted to laze around, but they still thanked Katie for her kindness.

If Katie braved the cold to come over, it must’ve been for something more important. True enough, Katie looked worried. "Those who are collecting protection grain have already reached the 8th building, and they'll be here soon. What are your plans?"

Food was life, and who would want to give that up?

Katie had lived long enough to not fear death, but if there was a chance to live, who would choose death? Even if Kate wasn't thinking for herself, she had to think for her family, and besides, these people were greedy.

They asked for three pounds of grain per person, but if that went smoothly, next they would raise it to five pounds.

She had lived through the famine era and seen all sorts of evil forces. These inhumane beasts wouldn't stop until they sucked the marrow out of their bones. Once they got a taste, it would certainly be hell.

The Moore family was full of refined people who couldn't lift a finger. They wouldn't stand a chance against these thugs, let alone harm them. So, she had to swallow her pride and ask the 18th floor residents for help.

Stella understood her intentions but didn't rush to answer. "Our community is large. If we all band together and swarm them, wouldn't we be able to handle them?"

Katie sighed, "Those people have many tricks up their sleeves. They'll first win over the building managers who can lead, give them some benefits, and then they'll become their accomplices."

Stella was surprised. "There isn't a single one who's resisting?"

"There are a few. The managers of the 15th and 16th buildings are upright and have led the survivors to resist. They even went to the police station to report it. But the next day, their bodies were thrown at the front door. The manager of the 16th building was a woman, and those bastards..."

"The police didn't do anything?"

"It's not that they did not bother intervening; it's just that it's simply too much to handle."