Chapter 392 - 402: What Are Your Chances?
Chapter 392: Chapter 402: What Are Your Chances?
Stella Sterling didn’t object to his decision.
They had been on the road every day for a while now, and the only person she had to talk to was Andrew Shaw.
It would be nice to see an old friend and catch up.
After a moment’s thought, she returned to the vehicle.
Andrew Shaw was almost asleep. Seeing her return, he said, "Are you guys done talking? I never would’ve thought you’d have friends."
He’d figured someone like Stella Sterling was the type to always be alone.
After all, with a personality like hers, he couldn’t imagine what kind of person could even be her friend.
Besides, when they’d met, only the man seemed happy. Stella Sterling’s reaction had been far more reserved.
He never expected the two of them would end up talking for so long.
He had known Stella Sterling for almost a month, and she rarely said much unless she was deliberately teasing him.
The only other time she’d talk more was when a critical topic came up.
But he had just seen her laughing and chatting, which was genuinely surprising.
Hearing that, Stella Sterling paused what she was doing and shot him a look. "I’m beautiful and kind-hearted. Of course I have lots of friends. Is that so strange?"
"I’d advise you to think before you speak next time. Don’t say things that’ll spoil the mood."
"But I’m in a good mood today, so I won’t hold it against you."
After she spoke, Stella Sterling took some items out of her spatial storage, placed them in a bag, and carried it back toward where she and Felix had been sitting.
’Looks like this reunion isn’t going to be a short one. And I don’t want to just sit here and talk.’
When she returned with the bag, Felix Lawrence had also come back.
He was about to speak when he saw Stella Sterling place a bag on the table in front of him and slowly open it.
His jaw dropped in surprise once more.
Inside were snacks like sunflower seeds and peanuts.
’These are the perfect snacks for a long chat!’
’But... why is she taking them out?’
He wasn’t surprised that Miss Sterling had these things. After all, she had founded a major base; her resources had to be plentiful. Otherwise, how would all its members get by?
And as the leader of this base, she would surely be well-prepared when traveling.
’But what does she plan to do with them now? Don’t tell me she plans to snack while we talk?’
’If that’s the case, what a waste!’
’Rationed properly, the things she has could feed several people for a very long time.’
’In this environment, things like this are what keep you alive.’
’Eating them just like this... it’s just too extravagant, too wasteful.’
Just as he was lost in thought, Stella Sterling handed him a small packet of something.
Felix Lawrence didn’t take it. He shook his head. "You should keep these. Supplies are extremely rare these days."
Then, on second thought, ’these are Miss Sterling’s own things. If she wants to eat them, I have no right to stop her.’
So he added, "You go ahead and eat. I don’t need any."
Stella Sterling raised an eyebrow but ultimately didn’t insist.
’I just gave him a bottle of water, and he kept insisting he’d pay me back. If he ate my food, he’d probably feel even more indebted.’
So she opened a small packet of peanuts and started eating them herself.
Felix Lawrence tried his best to keep his eyes off the food, but his heart was anything but calm.
Over the past year, he had scrounged for supplies everywhere and fought others for them. He had a small stash himself, but it was nothing good—just enough to stay alive.
But the things Miss Sterling had just taken out were all perfectly preserved, with no signs of rot.
’He couldn’t help but feel a little envious of Stella Sterling.’
He’d also been too excited to see her earlier to notice, but now he realized something. In this harsh apocalypse, everyone’s appearance had changed from the hardship.
Especially since the heatwaves began, everyone had been baked dark by the sun.
But Miss Sterling was different. She looked exactly the same as she did before the apocalypse.
And when they parted ways back then, her skin wasn’t even as well-maintained as it was now!
’He had no idea how she managed it in this apocalyptic world.’
But these small surprises were nothing compared to the shock Stella Sterling had given him earlier, so he remained relatively calm.
After a long moment, he finally asked the question that had been on his mind. "Miss Sterling, when do you plan to make your move against Sanctyr Base?"
A thrill of excitement ran through him; he could barely contain it.
Before, he’d been able to suppress his hatred, biding his time and slowly building his own strength.
But ever since he saw a glimmer of hope in Miss Sterling, ever since he realized he might soon have his chance at revenge, he had found it harder and harder to stay patient.
He was so eager, so impatient for that day to arrive.
Stella Sterling tossed two peanuts into her mouth, looked up at the sky, and leaned back. "No rush. My people haven’t arrived yet. We’ll make plans after I rendezvous with them."
Hearing Stella Sterling’s words, Felix Lawrence now remembered that Miss Sterling’s people weren’t here.
She was here to take on Sanctyr Base. She couldn’t possibly do that all by herself.
She had a major base backing her; if she wanted to fight another base, she would have brought people with her.
But from the moment they recognized each other until now, he hadn’t seen anyone with Miss Sterling except for that strange boy.
’He’d thought that perhaps Miss Sterling had come out alone tonight, that her people were somewhere else.’
Hearing her now, he finally understood. She had come to Veridia ahead of her people, who were still on their way.
’He shook his head and smiled to himself. He had been too eager.’
’But it looks like Miss Sterling came prepared.’
’This time... maybe there was real hope for his revenge.’
He looked at Stella Sterling, suppressed his excitement, and said, "This is Sanctyr Base’s territory, after all. Miss Sterling, how confident are you about taking them on?"
He knew he was overstepping, but he couldn’t stop himself from asking.