Chapter 371 - 381: You Are Free
Chapter 371: Chapter 381: You Are Free
Every single one of them felt completely uncertain, their emotions a rollercoaster of anticipation and fear.
Just then, they heard the sound of footsteps approaching.
It didn’t sound like many people—probably just a few.
They looked in the direction of the sound.
Then they saw two figures, one large and one small, walking toward them.
A young woman and a child who looked to be just a few years old.
Seeing this pair, many of the prisoners were rather surprised.
They glanced behind the pair a few times, but after finding no one else, their confusion only deepened. None of them spoke a word.
Stella Sterling walked through the dungeon, looking at the people before her.
As she looked at them, she saw a range of expressions. Some eyes held surprise, others a flicker of joyful hope, while a few watched her with utter vigilance.
But most of them simply sat on the ground, their faces numb and completely unresponsive.
They didn’t spare the newcomers a second glance or pay them any attention.
It was as if this had nothing to do with them. They just sat or lay there numbly, their eyes long since devoid of any will to live.
To be alive right now was to be nothing more than a puppet.
Seeing this, Stella Sterling’s gaze hardened.
Andrew Shaw’s initial excitement gave way to pity and anger.
He said to the prisoners, "Don’t be afraid. We’re here to rescue you."
Hearing this, a spark ignited in many of the prisoners’ eyes. They looked at the pair with renewed hope, but their gazes were still filled with uncertainty.
’Is it just the two of them?’
A teenager, who looked to be in his early teens, looked at Andrew Shaw and Stella Sterling. "There are over a hundred people in this group. You two should run, quickly! Otherwise, you won’t stand a chance against them by yourselves."
At his words, someone else shouted, "Don’t go! You can’t leave! Save us! Let us out!"
Before, everyone had only been silently sizing up Stella Sterling and the boy. Now, that quiet had been shattered.
They waved their hands frantically at Stella Sterling, begging her to save them.
However, for a few of them, the light that had appeared in their eyes died out again. They sat back down on the ground, not saying another word.
Some of the more rational ones, even as they pleaded for help, were analyzing the situation.
’This woman and child just walked in here so brazenly, and no one stopped them. And it’s been quite a while now. We’re making so much noise, yet not a single one of those people has come in to stop us.’
’What does that mean?’
Recalling the series of commotions from outside just a moment ago, their hearts began to pound with excitement.
The way they looked at Stella Sterling and the boy became incredibly fervent.
Andrew Shaw said, "Don’t worry, we came to save you. We’ve already taken care of the people in this group. You’ll be free soon."
Hearing Andrew Shaw’s words, their anxieties finally subsided, replaced by a surge of excitement. They couldn’t believe it was actually true.
But they kept looking past the pair, and seeing only Stella Sterling and the boy, they still found it hard to believe. ’Just the two of them... they took out all those people?’
They found it hard to accept!
But then again, they had no reason to lie.
Now, hearing Andrew Shaw’s words, even the people who had been completely numb showed some reaction.
They looked up, but they didn’t quite believe the words of a small child like Andrew Shaw.
So they fixed their fervent, desperate gazes on Stella Sterling, their voices hoarse. "Is what he said true?"
Stella Sterling looked at them and nodded. "It’s true. You’re free now."
After saying this, Stella Sterling turned and walked out. Andrew Shaw didn’t understand why, but since she didn’t tell him to come with her, he just stood there and waited.
But the people who had just found a glimmer of hope saw her leaving and immediately grew frantic again, crying out in despair, "Don’t go! Save us! Please, save us!"
Some even burst into tears. They had just rediscovered hope after so long; how could they bear to watch it walk away?
As for Andrew Shaw, who remained behind, they completely ignored him. What could a five-year-old child possibly do?
He didn’t even have the strength to open the door for them.
Seeing their desperation, Andrew Shaw couldn’t help but try to comfort them. "Don’t worry! She hasn’t left. She’s probably just getting something to help you."
’After all, Stella Sterling’s whole purpose for coming here today was to rescue these people, right?’
’She’s come this far. She’s not going to just suddenly abandon them now.’
A moment later, Stella Sterling returned. In her hand, she now held a large axe.
She dragged the axe along the ground as she walked toward them.
Stopping in front of their cell door, Stella Sterling raised the axe high and swung it down with all her might.
AAAH—
Her appearance and her sudden action terrified the people inside, and they let out a scream.
But in the next moment, the door fell to the ground with a crash. Everyone instinctively took two steps back, staring at Stella Sterling in terror.
They were afraid her axe would come down on them next.
But Stella Sterling only spared them a glance before walking to the next cell. With the same motion, another door crashed to the ground.
She looked at them. "Alright. You’re free. You can leave now."
After saying that, Stella Sterling paid them no more mind and disappeared from their sight with Andrew Shaw.
The people stood stunned, unable to believe for a moment that they were free just like that. But then, they immediately started running frantically for the exit.
Even those who had lost the will to live were being dragged outside by the others.
Stella Sterling didn’t leave the village right away. Instead, she began to search the area.
’These people were planning to build a base, and they managed to gather over a hundred members. They must have had a decent amount of resources.’
’Since I’m already here, and I’ve worked so hard today, there’s no reason to leave empty-handed.’
’I’ll take all of their supplies.’
And her haul from this trip was by no means small.
There were thousands of pounds of rice, hundreds of pounds of dried goods, and other supplies like firewood and water.
Anything she saw that was useful, Stella Sterling collected it all into her personal storage space.
Only then did she emerge, but she discovered that the dozens of people she had freed had not left.