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?"

opportunity, Dillyn brightened up, "You'd need to relocate to Union Base, surrender all your supplies and weapons. The

before

to eat inside

line, you'll get

the last time you

unsure of

long's it been since your daddy China fed

but forced himself to hold back. "What do

survival. So why are you

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

have sunk; there's no East or West

not calling the shots-China is? They send you, and you come wagging your

forced smile was now a grimace,

your thing, don't drag us into it." Stella's gaze was icy as she scoffed, "I've no interest in being a

dogs!" Belarus lost

place in the base too, spineless curs, obeying every command. Left,

meat every day, but at least they enjoyed a communal

scooping from a communal pot, those

why should Australia be

Belarus ranted, Jasper fired a shot that grazed his

to the ground, a

knew they

dead-a loose tongue and thinking that clinging to 'big brother' meant the world had

someone who didn't play

frozen trousers made the panicked curses

pretense, threatened, "You Australians, so

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

"I thought Union Base was about uniting all survivors. Why leave your buddy behind?" Belarus continued to

"Shut up. The whole world is yours now,

the drama over, Stella and Jasper returned inside

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

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