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 go hungry." "And who'll be distributing?"

before admitting,

to eat

you toe the line, you'll get your

time

was confused, unsure of her

How long's it been

himself to hold back. "What do you mean by

just said we Easterners should stick together for survival.

smile was sardonic, "Does daddy feed you meat and let you lick the plate clean? Or maybe you three are supposed to fight over it, and the winner gets

have sunk; there's no East or West anymore, we're all

shots-China is? They send you, and

grimace,

was icy

the dogs!"

are folks from your place in the base too, spineless curs,

day, but at least they enjoyed a communal

just scooping from a communal pot,

yet why should Australia be any better?

ranted, Jasper fired a shot that

Belarus tumbling to the ground, a wet patch

saw the accident and knew they were in deep

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

enough, Belarus's frozen trousers made the

"You Australians,

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

survivors. Why leave your buddy behind?" Belarus continued to

by the noise, "Shut up. The whole world is

over, Stella and Jasper returned

the East likely to exaggerate their story, and with Russia's recent trouble, they anticipated their own confrontation

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