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?"

an opportunity, Dillyn brightened up, "You'd 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

before admitting,

to eat

line, you'll get your share

time you had

confused, unsure of

How long's it been since your daddy China fed you any

himself to hold back.

we Easterners should stick together for survival. So why are you

you lick the plate clean? Or maybe you three

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

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

grimace, "So,

was icy as she scoffed,

dogs!" Belarus

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

but at least they enjoyed a communal hotpot now

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

should Australia be any better?

Jasper fired a shot that grazed

tumbling to the ground, a wet patch spreading between his

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 the

didn't play by their

trousers made the

done with pretense, threatened, "You Australians, so

word, he 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 preventing him from

"Shut up. The whole world

over, Stella and Jasper

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

icy and intent. Approaching the struggling