18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 484

Stella gazed at the figures in the distance, a wry smile crossing her lips as she was reminded of characters from her favorite drama series-the traitorous collaborators, only now they seemed to have taken on a more global flair. When they realized Stella was from the East, they sent three of their own to probe the situation.

Stella didn't mince words. "Beat it!"

Instead of anger, the trio seemed oddly pleased at her dismissal.

Dillyn, a master of appearances, nodded and bowed, the picture of polite attentiveness. "Folks, all comers are friends here. We're just looking to make connections."

Vietnam, visibly uncomfortable, stood as still as a statue, while Belarus wore a look of smug superiority, as if the world was theirs for the taking.

To Stella, they were nothing but a bunch of creeps. "I said, beat it!"

Belarus was fuming, ready to spew profanity, but Dillyn clamped a hand over his mouth, muttering a frustrated "Damn it."

Vietnam whispered a word of caution, "Ease up a bit, will you? We're all part of the same cultural sphere."

Belarus, unable to contain their disdain, spat out, "Psh, Confucius is ours, they dare to pilfer and still have the gall..."

Dillyn and Vietnam could only share a look of disbelief at their self-deluding companion. "Do you even care about the mission our leader entrusted us with?"

The mention of the 'big brother' made Belarus grudgingly fall silent.

Dillyn continued with a servile smile, "Friends from Australia, we come with sincere intentions. In times of hardship, those from the East should stick together for survival."

Stella almost laughed, "Who's 'us,' and where's 'there'?"

Sensing a sliver of hope, Dillyn proudly shared, "We represent Union Base, aiming to band together all survivors worldwide to weather this catastrophe. We have individuals from seventeen nations so far." Stella was not interested in his rosy rhetoric, "And who calls the shots at this base?"

"We believe in peace, democracy, freedom, solidarity..."

Stella was losing patience. "Who's in charge, talk or get lost!"

Dillyn's expression soured, but he still managed a smile: "It's China."

"What's required to join?"

your supplies and weapons. The base will handle distribution-you won't go

before admitting,

to eat inside

you toe the line, you'll get

last time you had

unsure

long's it been since your

to hold back.

survival. So

Or maybe you three are supposed to fight over it, and the

flooded, lands have sunk; there's no East or West anymore,

yet you're not calling the shots-China is? They send you, and you come

forced smile was now a grimace, "So, you've decided against joining

into it." Stella's gaze was icy as she

the dogs!" Belarus

are folks from your place in

at least they

it was just scooping from a communal pot,

Easterners, yet why should Australia be any better?

Belarus ranted, Jasper fired a shot that grazed

to the ground, a

accident and knew they were in

weather, Belarus was as good as dead-a loose tongue and thinking that clinging to 'big

who didn't play

Belarus's frozen trousers made the panicked curses even more

done with pretense, threatened, "You Australians,

left, ignoring Belarus-better to save the food than waste

all survivors. Why leave your buddy behind?" Belarus continued to curse until his voice faded, his frozen pants

"Shut up.

over, Stella and Jasper returned inside

anticipated their own confrontation soon. They called Rosie over

its gaze icy and intent. Approaching the struggling Belarus, it bared its sharp teeth and