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?"

Union Base, surrender all your supplies and weapons. The base will handle distribution-you won't go hungry." "And who'll be distributing?"

hesitated before

there meat to eat inside the

you'll get

time

was confused, unsure of

skin and bones. How long's it been since your

was livid but forced himself to hold back. "What do you mean

just said we Easterners should stick together for survival. So why are

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

fists clenched. "The world's flooded, lands have sunk; there's no East or West anymore, we're all one

calling the shots-China is? They send you, and you come wagging

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

drag us into it." Stella's gaze was icy as she scoffed, "I've no interest in being

dogs!" Belarus

folks from your place

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

was just scooping from a communal pot, those Aussies in the base didn't even get the

should Australia be

ranted, Jasper fired a

Belarus tumbling to the ground,

and knew they

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

play

enough, Belarus's frozen trousers made the panicked curses

pretense, threatened, "You Australians, so ungrateful.

the food

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

was irked by the noise, "Shut up. The whole world

drama over, Stella and Jasper returned inside to

they anticipated their own confrontation soon. They called Rosie over to discuss battle plans, not noticing Snowflake

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