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?"

all your supplies and weapons. The base will handle

before admitting,

meat to eat inside the

line, you'll

the last time you

confused, unsure of her

bones. How long's it been since your

livid but forced himself to hold back. "What do

should stick together for survival.

you meat and let you lick the plate clean? Or maybe you three are supposed to fight over

"The world's flooded, lands have sunk; there's no East or

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

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

the dogs!" Belarus lost

There are folks from your place in the base too, spineless curs, obeying every command. Left, right, eat this, drink

every day, but at least they enjoyed a communal hotpot

a communal pot, those Aussies in the base didn't even get the

Easterners, yet why should Australia be any

ranted, Jasper fired a shot that grazed

and the shock sent Belarus tumbling to the ground, a wet patch spreading between

accident and knew they

and thinking that clinging to

didn't play

enough, Belarus's frozen trousers made

done with pretense, threatened, "You Australians, so

left, ignoring Belarus-better to save the food than waste it on the doomed. Vietnam, pensive,

"I thought Union Base was about uniting all survivors. Why leave your buddy behind?" Belarus continued to curse until his voice faded, his

"Shut up. The

Stella and Jasper returned

three stooges from the East likely to exaggerate their story, and with Russia's recent trouble, they anticipated their own confrontation soon. They

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