18 Floors Above the Apocalypse novel Chapter 165

The apartment market was chaotic, so Stella suggested to Jasper, "What about trying our luck in the villa district?"

Indeed, not only did the lower class survivors flock here, but also the wealthy with a keen eye for opportunity.

The villa district was a couple of miles from the beach, nestled on a hill and located near the port. As they drove along the coastal road, they could glimpse the villas hidden among the trees.

They reached the villas quickly. At the foot of the hill, there was a security booth with a dozen or so armed guards patrolling.

As they saw a car approaching, they became alert and gestured for them to stop from afar. They were all dressed in security uniforms.

Stella rolled down the window and asked, "Are there any houses for rent?"

The guards, overwhelmed by the smell of sweat, almost dismissed them right away. One of them, seeing Stella and Jasper's ragged clothes and old car, impatiently said, "No, you should leave. You can't afford to live here."

Stella wasn't offended. She was used to this kind of arrogance from her days of networking for business. She took out a pack of cigarettes from her pocket and handed it over, "Can you help us out, mister?"

The guard's eyes widened at the sight of the cigarettes. He hadn't smelt tobacco in two years. He used to smoke a pack a day, but now he couldn't even afford a decent meal, let alone a cigarette.

He quickly pocketed the cigarettes, fearing someone else would snatch them if he was too slow.

The guard's attitude changed completely. He said with a smile, "Sure, there are houses for rent, but the rent is a bit high."

He looked Stella and Jasper over again. Despite their ragged clothing and tired faces, their physique suggested they were more than they seemed.

Stella asked about the rent, "How much is it?"

“All villas here are rented out as a whole, and most of them have been rented by the wealthy. The only ones left are near the top of the hill.”

The guard, whose name was Rob, introduced the district. There were hundreds of houses, which had been renovated after the severe cold and rented out to the wealthy who migrated to the seaside.

Renting was simple, as long as you met the requirements.

“The requirements are a bit high, but it’s all for the safety of the tenants.” Rob explained: “We have 24-hour patrols here, and we have good connections. Ordinary refugees dare not break in. You don’t have to worry about safety if you live here.”

Stella nodded in understanding, then asked, "What about the rent?"

"300 pounds of food per month, we don't accept seafood or salt."

300 pounds of food? Stella was taken aback. On the way here, they had met villagers who only asked for 8 pounds of food for a month's rent. But this was the villa district, and it was bound to be more expensive.

Stella looked at Jasper, seeking his opinion with her eyes.

Safety was their priority as they had brought Cooper and Rosie with them. Jasper had no objections. Although the rent was high, Stella's Arcadia could grow crops, so it wasn't a problem.

Stella asked in detail, "What type of food?"

"Cereal, oil, grains. Tea, cigarettes, and alcohol are counted separately. Legumes like soybeans are also accepted. If it's potatoes or sweet potatoes, the quantity should be increased."

"How much more for potatoes?"

"Double for frost-resistant potatoes, and fifty percent more for ordinary potatoes."

Stella had no objections, "Can you show us the houses first?"

The villa was spacious, with a sculpture and a fountain in the front yard. The plants and flowers had withered due to the high heat and drought.

The exterior was exquisite and grand. Each floor had four rooms. Most of the decent furniture was gone, but the air conditioners were still on the walls. It was obvious that the place had been refurbished and renovated, with new pipes and all.

As she stood on the balcony, the blue sea stretched out beneath her.

So the high price tag was justified.

Stella was quite satisfied. They went to see the other two houses as well. They were similar in design. The villas on the top of the hill were hotter due to the lack of tall trees, but the view and scenery were better.

Rob asked, "Do you plan to rent?"

Stella didn't rush to answer, "Rob, to be honest, we came here to do business. We want to sell sea salt and dry goods. Can we do that?"

"As long as you have the connections, why not?"

Unable to resist his nicotine addiction, Rob lit a cigarette. His eyes were filled with delight and confusion for a moment, but then he began to talk, "This damned weather forces people to find a way to survive, and everyone is rushing to the seaside. There are too many people, and not everyone can survive. You need a boat to go out to sea and fish, but the boats are either owned by the state or in the hands of the rich.

“Some industrious folks, they'd harvest seawater to make salt, selling it to local stores or bartering it for seafood. But when the weather got too hot, even salt making became a challenge, and many people ended up with a few layers of skin sunburnt right off.

“Then there were those looking for a free ride, the ones who resorted to robbing others. Some were from the same town or the same region, banding together to cause trouble far and wide.

“A lot of people rented homes in the fishing villages, only to have their doors forced open in the dead of night. Some thieves even specialized in kidnapping children."

While sharing these stories, he didn't forget to warn the couple to keep a close eye on their kid when out and about. As for the dog, it was best not to take him out, lest he disappear and the owners themselves get targeted.