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?"

supplies and weapons. The

hesitated before admitting,

there meat to eat inside

you'll get

last time you

was confused, unsure

How long's it been since your daddy China

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

said we Easterners should stick together for survival. So why are you all kowtowing to

let you lick the plate clean? Or maybe you three are supposed to fight over it, and the winner gets to lick

clenched. "The world's flooded, lands have sunk; there's no

calling the shots-China is? They send

forced smile was now a grimace,

us into it." Stella's gaze was icy

dogs!"

There are folks from your place in the base too, spineless curs, obeying every command.

at least they enjoyed a communal

was just scooping from a communal pot, those

should Australia be any

fired a shot that grazed

sent Belarus tumbling to

saw the accident and knew

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

play by their rules, he saw the

frozen trousers made the panicked curses even

threatened, "You Australians, so

another word, he left, ignoring Belarus-better to save the food

was about uniting all survivors. Why leave your buddy behind?" Belarus continued to curse until his voice

was irked by the noise, "Shut up.

drama over, Stella and Jasper returned inside to

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

intent. Approaching