18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Facing his questioning, Stella finally relented, "Yes, tell me your plans, and after the task is over, I might just spare your life."

The man hesitated, "Are you from Silver Asylum?"

"Yes, and no," Stella replied, cocking her gun, "Do you want a chance to live?"

Of course he did, he didn't want to die. If he couldn't make it at Alpha Outpost, couldn't he survive at another base? There was no need to gamble with his life.

So he spewed out everything, revealing all the personnel and layout of Alpha Outpost, hoping that they would let him live.

Stella kept her word and decided to leave him until tomorrow. To be on the safe side, Jasper found a secluded cave and hid the man there, casually stripping him of his clothes.

The man shivered in fear, "Buddy, buddy, leave me my boxers?"

Boxers? Wishful thinking.

Not only did they strip him completely, but they also tied him up, and stuffed a couple of sleeping pills in his mouth, ensuring that he would not wake up, even with a cannon firing at him for 24 hours.

The man struggled, but the fierce glare from the relentless Jasper made him quickly stay put. After a while, the effects of the drug put him to sleep.

Jasper didn't forget to gag him.

Stella took the man's car into Arcadia, then according to his instructions, piled up stones at the intersection, signaling to the others that there was no ambush, and everything was ready.

Jasper decisively chose to lay an ambush near Alpha Outpost. Firstly, the distance was closer and the visibility better; secondly, their backs would be exposed, making it easier for Cooperto approach without being detected.

It was still early, Stella opened the man's backpack, and surprisingly found a brand new sniper rifle.

Jasper examined it, "This is the best brand, with a range of up to 3000 meters, judging by the wear and tear, it probably hasn't been used yet."

Stella couldn't help but sigh, such an incompetent man with such a good gun. Jasper sure was lucky.

The day broke without them realizing it. Stella ate a tasteless sandwich to fill her stomach, then continued to stay hidden.

The sun gradually grew harsher, and by nine o'clock, the people from Silver Asylum slowly appeared. Three off-road vehicles and one truck, a total of fifty to sixty people, all armed.

Off-road vehicles hung with curtains, Stella used binoculars to carefully observe, but couldn't guess which car Bryce was in. That jerk, he sure knew how to protect himself.

It was nine o'clock, but the people from Alpha Outpost had not appeared, clearly indicating an attempt to intimidate Bryce.

After waiting for about fifteen minutes, Stella spotted cars appearing in the distance through her binoculars. Two off-road vehicles and two trucks, all loaded with people.

There was an agreed upon number of people for the negotiation, but Stella, with her high vantage point, clearly noticed that the number of people from Alpha Outpost was considerably more. It was obvious that they planned to go all in today, taking the opportunity of the negotiation to wipe out Silver Asylum.

Worried about the quality of Bryce's explosives, Stella took out Jasper's homemade bombs and molotov cocktails from Arcadia, "Should I go instead?"

She was genuinely worried about Cooper. If she encountered danger, she could still retreat into Arcadia.

Jasper considered, "Stella, whether it's size, sense of smell or agility, Cooper is more suitable than us. If you go yourself and get discovered, this plan will entirely fail."

Cooper bit the bomb, refusing to let go. Thinking of Rosie still at Silver Asylum, Stella had no choice but to agree.

Jasper tied up the explosives and petted Cooper's head, "Don't try to be a hero. If you get discovered, retreat immediately."

Cooper looked at them with determined eyes.

Stella had tears in her eyes and touched his head reluctantly, "Remember, no matter what, your own life is the most important." She didn't want him to be as foolish as in his past life. It wasn't worth it.

At this point, the vehicles from Alpha Outpost drove over, stopping one by one at a distance of 50 meters from the other side.

The armed men jumped off the trucks first, standing menacingly by the side. Both leaders were about maintaining their image, so neither was in a rush to get out of their cars.

Alpha Outpost's vehicles were parked at an angle. At first glance, it didn't seem very orderly, but to the trained eye, it was a strategic move. The two trucks formed a figure eight, with the off-road vehicles in the middle. Parking in this manner meant that the vehicles could be used as cover during a fight, and they could escape at a moment's notice. Reversing a truck was extremely quick and convenient.

Moreover, this parking method was particularly friendly to Jasper, as the fuel tanks of the big trucks were clearly visible.

However, there were also people with guns on the lookout at the back, but there were only four of them.

Jasper gave Cooper directions, to move around from the side, and place the explosive under the fuel tank of the first truck. Afraid of being discovered, he instructed Cooper to move the bomb a bit further inside based on the shooting limit. Stella, who didn't understand dog language, was left speechless.

After two years of training, Cooper understood the trainer's instructions immediately. Wearing a bulletproof vest, and carrying the heavy bomb in his mouth, he moved forward without hesitation.

Stella didn't see the fear in Cooper's eyes, but there was no hesitation in his action. He didn't want his owner to be hurt again, so he was going to blow them up.

The distance of about five hundred meters seemed extremely long to Stella. She followed Cooper's figure closely with her binoculars, not missing a beat.

Jasper was indeed professional. Cooper didn't make any sound as he silently approached the negotiation site.

Perhaps both parties were giving time for their snipers to find the best shooting point, so neither of them got out of their cars to greet each other.

After a standoff of more than ten minutes, the people from Alpha Outpost were the ones to finally walk towards the vehicles of Silver Asylum.

They said something, and Piersen who came forward had an impatient look on his face, seemingly reproaching the other side for deliberately being late and acting arrogant.

To maintain his image, the other party should get out of the car and apologize first to show sincerity.

Cooper moved forward, sometimes tiptoeing, and when the cover on the mountain was not strong, he had to crawl forward.

Biting on a bomb weighing more than ten pounds and wearing a heavy bulletproof vest in the scorching sun of up to 60 degrees was absolute torture for Cooper, who could only dissipate heat through his tongue. At one point, perhaps he made a slight sound, which alerted the vigilant tattooed men. They looked around, even taking out binoculars.

Cooper lay flat on the ground, not even daring to breathe. It was only when they let their guard down that he moved forward once again.

Circling around the blockade, Cooper finally reached the foot of the mountain, only a few meters away from the big truck.

At this moment, the guy who was on guard duty, was hit by a pressing need to relieve himself and scurried off to the nearby bushes.

Crawling in the grass, pressing the explosive package beneath him, the dog, soaked with pee from head to toe, was extremely furious. Fire blazed in the dog's eyes, a furious inferno of righteous anger. He was gonna kill him!