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?"

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

before

to eat

toe the line, you'll get your share of

time

was confused, unsure of her

it been since your

to hold back. "What do

should stick together for survival. So why are you

Or maybe you three

explode, fists clenched. "The world's flooded, lands have sunk; there's

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

grimace, "So, you've

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

the dogs!" Belarus

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

at

a communal pot, those Aussies in the base didn't

why should Australia be

Jasper fired a shot that grazed his

tumbling to the ground,

the accident and knew they were in deep

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

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

Belarus's frozen trousers made the

with pretense, threatened, "You Australians, so ungrateful. You'll

ignoring Belarus-better to save the food than waste it

behind?" Belarus continued to curse until

up. The whole

drama over, Stella and Jasper

anticipated their own confrontation soon.

icy and intent. Approaching the struggling