18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 209

Mark was elated, "Stella, we've reached an agreement with the neighboring village. We're going to teach them how to drill wells."

Had it not been for their impressive display of strength that day, it would have been impossible to bring the village's arrogance down a notch and negotiate peacefully.

After the discussion, they had come to believe that the Eastwood Eden community genuinely wanted to help them drill wells.

Stella admired Mark's approach. Instead of resorting to brute force, he had chosen to negotiate the issue even when they held the upper hand. He might look weak physically, but he knew how to use his wit.

"Good job," Stella said, her joy undimmed. "Just remember to stay safe."

"We wouldn't have been able to turn things around so quickly without your help."

Stella smiled. "Mark, you said it yourself - once you join Eastwood Eden, you're family. No need for formalities."

She later shared the news with Jasper.

Jasper wasn't surprised. "In a post-apocalyptic world, it's survival of the fittest. It's rare for someone like Mark to choose kindness over retaliation. We can not blame the villagers for being skeptical. We took our time before deciding to join Eastwood Eden too."

By helping the villagers secure a water source, they could put their safety concerns to rest.

But what about after the earthquake? With buildings collapsing everywhere, the living conditions were rapidly deteriorating, and Stella couldn't help but worry. "Do you know what happened to Eastwood Eden after the earthquake?"

Jasper shook his head. "We'll have to wait and see. If it's too dangerous, we'll leave."

Stella agreed. There were no safe havens in a post-apocalyptic world.

When it was time to pick up their supplies, Stella had arranged for a late-night pick-up.

After getting out of the Eastwood Eden, she had specifically chosen an open truck. Upon reaching the agreed-upon location, Monkey was already waiting, and surprisingly, Austin was there too.

"Stella," Austin greeted, a cigarette hanging from his lips. "How are you and Jasper doing?"

Stella explained, "We're doing fine. We were worried about Aqua Base acting up, so we left an hour early. Just as we were reaching the foot of the mountain, we noticed the weather changing. We decided to leave immediately, and that's how we narrowly escaped the disaster."

Austin mused, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger."

Stella's order was complete, and Austin was curious about her request for iodine tablets. He knew her supplier could even get access to tetanus vaccines.

When Stella mentioned her supplier, her face darkened. "My supplier was arrested following a tip-off. He's now mining coal in the western mountains."

Austin was stunned. He had hoped to tap into this supply line to earn some supplies. Not willing to give up, he asked, "Can you think of any other way to get freshwater?"

Stella feigned anger. "Austin, your clients aren't very decent. They buy water from you and then turn around to report you for rewards. If it weren't for my previous supplier's strong connections, he would have been dead by now. Water is becoming scarcer, and their internal checks are getting stricter. I can't smuggle it out anymore. This half truck load was only possible because I bribed my way through, and I promised them this was a one-off."

"Who the hell reported me?" Austin was taken aback. "My clients are all wealthy. Who would be interested in the reward?"

Stella shook her head. "I have no idea. But if you're caught, you're going to be in deep trouble."

Sensing that she was unwilling to make more money, Austin didn't push it. "Alright, we'll work together when the opportunity arises."

Austin signaled his men to move the supplies over to Stella's truck. They agreed to pick up the water truck the next day, and Austin would have it delivered that night.

Austin readily agreed to find iodine tablets for her, "But it's not a common medication, so it might take me some time to find it."