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?"

your supplies and weapons. The base will handle distribution-you won't go hungry." "And who'll be distributing?"

before admitting,

to

line, you'll get your

time you

unsure of her

all skin and bones. How long's it been since your daddy

hold back. "What

should stick together for survival.

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

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

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

a grimace, "So,

us into it." Stella's gaze was icy as she scoffed, "I've

the dogs!" Belarus

"Think you're something special, Australia? There are folks from your place in the base too, spineless curs, obeying every command. Left, right, eat this, drink

but at least

just scooping from a communal pot, those Aussies

should Australia be any

ranted, Jasper fired a shot that grazed

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

saw the accident and knew they were in

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

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

enough, Belarus's frozen trousers made

done with pretense, threatened, "You

Belarus-better to save the food than waste

uniting all survivors. Why leave your buddy behind?" Belarus continued to

up. The whole world is yours

the drama over, Stella and Jasper

to exaggerate their story, and with Russia's recent trouble, they anticipated their own

the snow, its gaze icy and intent.