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?"

need to relocate to Union Base, surrender all your supplies and weapons. The base will handle distribution-you won't go hungry." "And

hesitated before admitting,

to eat

the line, you'll get your share

last time

unsure of her

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

forced himself to hold back. "What do you

survival.

Or maybe you three are supposed to fight

have sunk; there's no East

yet you're not calling the shots-China is?

now a grimace, "So, you've

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

dogs!" Belarus

at Stella, "Think you're something special, Australia? There are folks from your place in

they couldn't have meat every day, but at least they enjoyed a communal

pot,

yet why should Australia be

Belarus ranted, Jasper fired a shot that grazed

sent Belarus tumbling to

the accident and knew they were in deep

was as good as dead-a loose tongue and thinking that clinging to 'big brother'

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

made the panicked curses even

with pretense, threatened, "You Australians, so

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

buddy behind?" Belarus continued to curse until

noise, "Shut up. The whole

over, Stella and Jasper returned inside to

to 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 Snowflake

animal moved stealthily through the snow, its gaze icy and intent. Approaching the struggling Belarus, it