So he had to settle for the next best thing. He requested that the base he was joining must not commit such inhumane atrocities. Otherwise, he couldnât live with himself.
He had no desire to throw his life away for a base like that.
The mere thought that his research would one day be used to harm others was unacceptable to him.
That was absolutely not something he wanted to see happen.
Stella Sterling was taken aback for a moment, not expecting him to make such a request. Then, she laughed heartily. "You can rest assured. I abhor such things as well and would never allow them to happen."
Hearing this, Professor Lawrence felt a bit more at ease, but he was still worried. "Can you actually make the decisions for your base?"
No matter how capable this young woman was, if she had no real authority within the base, her promise meant nothing.
Stella Sterling looked at him, her expression as confident as ever. "Of course. I have the final say in this matter."
Seeing Stella Sterlingâs unwavering certainty, Professor Lawrence began to believe her.
âJudging by the respectful attitude of the others in her group, this young woman might just be a high-ranking member of the baseâsomeone who could actually make decisions.â
His voice was calm. "Iâll trust you, young lady. Iâm only joining your base because Iâm putting my faith in you. I hope you wonât let me down. If I ever find out youâve broken the promise you made me today, I would rather destroy all of my work than let you people benefit from it."
His words carried a hint of a threat, but Stella Sterling didnât get angry at all. Instead, her demeanor seemed to grow even more serious. "Donât worry. That will never happen. If it does, Iâll be the first one to take care of the person responsible."
As she spoke, she tapped her fingers lightly, her mood souring as if she had thought of something unpleasant.
âBeing penned up like livestock, ready to be taken as rations at any moment.â
âShe had experienced that herself.â
âHow could she ever become the very thing she once feared most?â
âHowever, todayâs discovery did remind her of something. Had any of the people who joined the base ever done something like this before?â
âIf they had, she would never allow such people to exist within her base.â
âFirst, because she herself had once nearly been eaten, she despised people like that. Second, because those who had consumed human flesh were a huge potential threat for the future.â
âThey had to be eliminated before they turned.â
âAfter returning to the base this time, she had to resolve this issue.â
âShe would also have to discipline the baseâs administrators and warn them that such acts were absolutely forbidden.â
Seeing Stella Sterlingâs unwavering confidence, Professor Lawrence grew more curious about her identity. He asked directly, "Whatâs your position at your base? Is it high? Young lady, Iâm only joining because I trust you. You have to look out for me once weâre at the base."
Stella Sterling snapped back to the present, understanding his concerns, and decided to be frank. "High. Very high. At Caeluna Base, what I say goes."
âCaeluna Base.â
Professor Lawrenceâs eyes flickered. âHeâd heard that name before.â When he had just gotten out of his lab, people around him were all talking about this base, and its reputation was quite good.
âSo this young woman... sheâs from Caeluna Base.â
âAnd what she just said...â
A shocked expression appeared on his face. He never would have imagined that the leader of Caeluna Base was such a young woman.
This person... she had truly given him yet another unexpected surprise.
This time, Professor Lawrence finally let out a genuinely relieved laugh. "In that case, I can finally put my worries to rest. I have a feeling that my collaboration with you all will be very pleasant."
"Trust yourself. Your feeling isnât wrong."
Stella Sterling tilted her head back. The rain hitting her face didnât sting like before. She held out her hand, and the raindrops landing on her palm were much smaller than they had been.
"Help! Let go of my sister! Let her go!"
"You animals! You deserve to die!"
"If youâre going to eat someone, eat me! Let my sister go!"
Just then, a commotion erupted up ahead, the cries shrill and desperate.
Hearing the word "eat," Stella thought of something and looked over in that direction.
In a clearing to the side, a dozen or so people were gathered around a tent.
In their midst was a huge fire pit with a large pot set over it.
Nearby, seven or eight people were tied up with ropes and left lying in the rain.
Among them were men and women, old and young, including two small children a few years old.
The one screaming was a boy of about nine. He struggled furiously, roaring at the large men.
One of the brutes was carrying a five- or six-year-old girl and walking toward the large pot.
Seeing this, Stella Sterlingâs gaze turned icy. The very issue she and Professor Lawrence had just been discussing was now unfolding right before them.
The ones they had encountered before were all already dead.
But this group in front of them had actually captured living people and were about to kill and eat them.
Professor Lawrence looked at Stella Sterling, hoping she would intervene.
Even though he himself was now in her custody, he couldnât just stand by and watch this happen.
"Young lady, you..."
"Go tell Nathan Cheney to steer the boat over there."
Before Professor Lawrence could finish, Stella Sterling had already spoken. The professorâs eyes lit up as he understood her intent, and he immediately went to do as she said.
Stella Sterling pulled out a gun and aimed it in that direction.
The dozen or so brutes noticed the boat passing by, but they only glanced over once before looking away, paying it no mind.
They had seen plenty of boats pass by these last few days. All those people had been sensible enough not to meddle, and they believed these new people would be the same.
Meanwhile, the boy was still shouting and struggling, and the little girl was wailing in terror.
The other bound captives watched the scene with a mix of emotions: some with indignation, some with heartache, and some with schadenfreude, secretly feeling relieved it wasnât them.
Just as the little girl was about to be thrown into the boiling pot, Stella Sterling quickly fired her gun and took down the man holding her.
"Whoâ?! Whoâs meddling?!"
The men looked around frantically, their gazes finally landing on Stella Sterling as her boat pulled up to the shore.
Ignoring the little girl who had fallen to the ground, the men stood up, drew their weapons, and walked toward Stella Sterling with grim expressions.
Meanwhile, the rescued girl scrambled up, crying as she ran toward her brother, trying to untie his ropes.
Stella Sterling leaped off the boat. Nathan Cheney and Shane Lawrence followed close behind, weapons in hand, flanking her protectively.
Professor Lawrence remained on the boat.
Stella Sterlingâs eyes crinkled into a smile. "I didnât expect to find so many animals gathered in such a small place!"