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?"

Dillyn brightened up, "You'd need to relocate to Union Base, surrender all your supplies and weapons. The base will handle distribution-you won't

hesitated before admitting,

meat to eat inside the

line, you'll get your share of

the last time you

was confused, unsure of her

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

hold back. "What do you

should stick together for survival. So

the plate clean? Or maybe you three are supposed to fight

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

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

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

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

the dogs!" Belarus

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

every day, but at least they enjoyed a communal hotpot

pot, those Aussies in the base didn't even get the

yet why should Australia

fired a shot that

to the ground, a wet patch spreading

accident and knew they were in deep

as dead-a loose tongue and thinking

didn't play by their rules, he

trousers made the panicked curses even

with pretense, threatened, "You

another word, he left, ignoring Belarus-better to save the food than waste it on the doomed. Vietnam, pensive, followed Dillyn

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

by the noise, "Shut up. The whole

over, Stella and Jasper

with Russia's recent trouble, they anticipated their

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