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?"

to relocate to Union Base, surrender all your supplies

hesitated before admitting,

meat to eat

you'll get your share of

time you had

unsure of

and bones. How long's it been

to hold back. "What do you

together for survival. So why are you

meat and let you lick the plate clean? Or maybe you three are supposed to fight over

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

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

was now a grimace, "So, you've decided

icy as she scoffed, "I've no interest

the dogs!" Belarus

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

have meat every day, but at least they enjoyed

communal pot, those Aussies

Easterners, yet why should Australia be any

Belarus ranted, Jasper fired a shot that grazed

Belarus tumbling to the ground, a

and knew they were

thinking that clinging to 'big brother' meant the world had

didn't play by

frozen trousers made

done with pretense, threatened, "You Australians, so

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

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

"Shut up. The whole

drama over, Stella and Jasper returned inside

three stooges from the East likely to exaggerate their story, and with Russia's recent trouble, they anticipated their own confrontation soon. They called Rosie over to discuss

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