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?"

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

before

there meat to

you toe the line, you'll get

the last time you

unsure of

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

hold back. "What do you mean

just said we Easterners should stick together for survival.

plate clean? Or maybe you

fists clenched. "The world's flooded, lands have sunk; there's no East or West

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

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

was icy as she scoffed, "I've no interest in being a

dogs!"

from your place in

meat every day, but at

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

Easterners, yet why should Australia be

a shot that grazed his

burning pain and the shock sent Belarus tumbling to the ground, a wet patch spreading

saw the accident and knew they were in

was as good as dead-a loose tongue and thinking that

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

trousers made the

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

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

leave your buddy behind?" Belarus continued to curse until his voice faded, his

the noise, "Shut up.

the drama over, Stella and Jasper

exaggerate their story, and with Russia's recent trouble, they anticipated their own confrontation soon. They called Rosie over to discuss battle plans, not noticing

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