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?"

need to relocate to Union Base, surrender all your supplies and weapons. The base will handle distribution-you won't

hesitated before

there meat to eat inside the

toe the line, you'll

the last time you

confused, unsure

and bones. How long's it been since your daddy China fed you

hold back. "What

for survival. So why are you

the plate clean? Or maybe you three are supposed to fight over

"The world's flooded, lands have sunk; there's

shots-China is? They send you, and you

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

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

the dogs!" Belarus lost

something special, Australia? There are folks from your place in the base too,

have meat every day, but at least they enjoyed a communal hotpot

just scooping from a communal pot, those Aussies in the base

yet why should Australia be

Jasper fired a shot

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

the accident and knew they were in deep

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

faced with someone who didn't play by their rules, he saw the

enough, Belarus's frozen trousers made the panicked curses even more

"You Australians,

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

behind?" Belarus continued to curse until his

up. The whole world is yours

and Jasper returned

recent trouble, they anticipated their own confrontation soon. They called Rosie

intent. Approaching the struggling Belarus, it bared