There were over thirty of them. They could hold out for a while. ’If just one person like disappears, they might not even notice,’ he thought. ’By the ti they do, I’ll be long gone.’
"Where’s the boss? How co he’s gone?"
"Don’t tell he was killed by Caeluna’s people?"
"Damn it! Avenge our boss!"
"Avenge him! Avenge him!"
The n on the inflatable boats shouted with fervor, completely unaware that the boss they spoke of had already pushed them out to die.
Dealing with these n would have been simple, but Sterling had ordered them captured alive, so the Caeluna Base mbers didn’t shoot to kill.
The man who had already slipped into the water grew even more excited.
’This will buy even more ti. Go on, fight! A full-blown brawl is perfect.’
’I’m almost at the shore. Once I get there, I’ll hide for a bit. After these people leave, I’ll be safe.’
But he had underestimated the strength of the Caeluna mbers, and he had no idea he’d been targeted from the very beginning.
Even without guns, a dozen Caeluna mbers fighting bare-handed quickly subdued the more than thirty n.
Stella Sterling watched the scene unfold, inwardly satisfied.
The thirty-odd n were tied up and thrown back onto their inflatable boats. The earlier excitent had vanished from their faces, leaving them looking wretched and incredulous.
Just when the boss thought he was about to see a glimr of hope, he was yanked out of the water and thrown onto a speedboat.
The excited smile was still on his face, but then it froze solid.
"Sterling gave the order to capture you alive, and that ans every last one of you. No one gets to run."
Seven Locke spoke coldly, then had his n confiscate the inflatable boats and everything on them.
Then they headed for Stella Sterling’s boat.
At that mont, a respectful Shane Lawrence stood before Stella Sterling.
Stella Sterling tapped her fingers lightly, her tone casual. "If you have sothing to say, just say it. Your expression seed a little off just now."
Shane Lawrence looked up, the rims of his eyes slightly red. "Sterling, is it possible for you to let deal with one of those n?"
"Why?"
Her tone was even. While it wasn’t a major request, she needed to know the reason behind it.
Anger flashed across Shane Lawrence’s face, and his voice was thick with hatred. "Because... that man was once my friend."
Stella Sterling paused for a mont, then understood.
’When Shane Lawrence first joined the base, he told about his past!’
’His wife was killed by his so-called friend, and he himself almost died at that man’s hands.’
’Given his tone and expression, the "friend" he ntioned obviously wasn’t a real friend. It must be the one who betrayed him.’
She nodded. "Alright."
The rims of Shane Lawrence’s eyes grew redder. "Thank you, Sterling."
This was out on the water, not a suitable place for a long discussion.
She signaled for Julian Fletcher, Seven Locke, and the others to head back.
Everyone returned to the base with the thirty-plus captives.
The people inside the base were a little surprised to see so many people brought back.
They happily greeted Stella Sterling while trying to find out what happened from the other mbers.
When they learned what these people had done, their faces filled with indignation.
Caeluna was their ho, and Sterling was the person they respected most. For these people to tarnish Caeluna’s reputation and have designs on Sterling was, in their minds, an unforgivable cri.
Stella Sterling had all the captives locked up but didn’t punish them imdiately.
Since she had decided to use them to send a warning to the surrounding groups, she couldn’t just deal with them so lightly.
The n were all taken away, except for one who was left behind.
It wasn’t their boss, but a square-faced young man in his twenties.
Seeing everyone else being led away while he alone was left behind, he looked around in confusion.
’I’m not sure what’s happening.’
’But based on how things had gone today, I have a feeling this isn’t going to be anything good.’
’But I don’t understand,’ he thought. ’From the mont I sensed sothing was wrong, I did my best to be invisible, to divert everyone’s attention to others and minimize my own presence. So why did they single out?’
Just as he was thinking this, a man walked toward him. He had seen him earlier; he seed to have been on the fishing boat and looked like one of Caeluna Base’s higher-ups.
’I should practice what to say,’ he thought, planning to offer so flattering words to suck up to the man.
’I’m not expecting to be let go, but maybe I can at least make things a little easier for myself for the ti being.’
But as the man drew closer, a feeling of familiarity grew stronger. He felt as if he had seen him sowhere before.
"What’s the matter, Mark Ward? Don’t you recognize after just over a year?"
Shane Lawrence stopped in front of him, looking down on him.
’A year ago, this man had been so arrogant,’ Shane thought. ’He killed my wife and forced into a corner with nowhere to run.’
’To think that when we t again a year later, he would be working for soone else and fall right into my hands.’
’Now, he’s tied up, and our situations have been completely reversed.’
Hearing that voice, Mark Ward’s eyes widened, and he stared intently at Shane Lawrence’s face. "You’re Shane Lawrence? How is that possible?"
"That’s right, it’s . I’m still alive."
Shane Lawrence nodded.
Stella Sterling glanced over. Since she had handed the man over to Shane Lawrence to deal with, she didn’t ask any more questions.
She instructed a base mber to arrange accommodations for the few people she had brought back, then led Professor Lawrence further into the base’s interior.
By now, Professor Lawrence’s initial shock had given way to a sense of calm.
’This girl really wasn’t kidding,’ he thought. ’Caeluna Base is incredibly strong.’
’From its external structure, the base’s construction looks indestructible. The internal facilities are also comprehensive and clearly zoned.’
’I’m a bit dazed; for a mont, I almost thought I was back in the ti before the apocalypse.’
’And every mber of the base is strong, each equipped with powerful weapons.’
’If they were let loose, their destructive power would be imnse.’
’Moreover, you can tell from the mbers’ faces that they all have healthy complexions, which shows that they’re living well and have ample food reserves.’
’Before, when this girl captured and brought to the base, I was quite dissatisfied. Now, however, I feel I’m actually lucky.’
’It turned out the girl’s confidence wasn’t just for show.’
’She truly has the ability to back it up.’
’Her own personal strength is terrifying, and even her subordinates are all formidable individuals.’
’In a base like this, my safety can be completely guaranteed. I can focus wholeheartedly on my experints without constantly worrying for my life.’
"My place isn’t too bad, is it? You won’t regret joining us,"
Stella Sterling said with a grin, noticing his strange expression.
And Professor Lawrence didn’t refute her, simply nodding. "Not bad at all. It’s hard to imagine you founded all of this by yourself."
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