Chapter 247: Doing Bad Things in the Name of Caeluna

"Looks like you’re planning to fight us head-on."

The men across from them were taken aback by their reaction, then let out a cold sneer.

The leader’s eyes flickered. He hadn’t expected that the few people on this boat wouldn’t be afraid of their large group.

Though his expression remained calm, he was starting to panic on the inside.

Lately, they had been relying on their superior numbers, a tactic that had proven quite effective in intimidating many people.

Fearing them, those people had always chosen to hand over their food in the end.

But he never imagined that today’s group, despite being small, would be so tough and decide to challenge them directly.

He immediately started racking his brain for a new strategy.

Stella Sterling took one look, understood the situation, and, having lost interest, prepared to return inside the boat.

’A group this size is nothing to worry about. We don’t even need to lift a finger. We could just accelerate the fishing boat and ram right through them.’

She had initially been a little intrigued when they encountered robbers on the lake, thinking that anyone daring to run this kind of "business" nowadays must have some skill.

But now it seemed she had overestimated them.

As she was about to go back inside, she heard one of the men across the water shout, "You people clearly have a death wish! Do you have any idea who’s backing us?"

"We’re backed by Caeluna Base! You must have heard of Caeluna, right? We’re from Caeluna Base! Our territory is just nearby. If you want to pass through here, you have to pay us a toll. Otherwise, you’re showing disrespect to Caeluna!"

Hearing this, Stella Sterling, who had been about to leave, stopped in her tracks.

’Caeluna?’

She dug a finger in her ear, wondering if she had misheard. ’Is the Caeluna they’re talking about the same Caeluna I’m thinking of?’

But they claimed their Caeluna was nearby, and coincidentally, the base she had founded was also in this area.

’If I’m not mistaken, they must be talking about the Caeluna I built from the ground up.’

She stopped and looked at Shane Lawrence. "Since when did our base recruit such... *talented individuals*?"

Stella Sterling paused before saying the last two words.

She hadn’t seen these people before she left the base, but with so many members, it was impossible for her to remember everyone.

At that moment, Shane Lawrence was just as confused. He had no memory of these people either!

’We’ve only been gone for a few days,’ he thought. ’Could the base have changed so much and taken in people like this?’

At this thought, Shane Lawrence’s gaze turned cold. ’Are people from our base really out here doing things like this in our name?’

If that was the case, they would have to conduct a thorough investigation upon their return.

’To dare do something like this behind Sterling’s back... these people are unbelievably audacious!’

If these robbers hadn’t happened to target them, they would have remained completely in the dark about people from their base doing this.

Seeing that Shane Lawrence clearly didn’t recognize them, Stella Sterling began to understand.

However, she didn’t believe these men had been sent by someone from within the base.

’They’re probably just some small-time crooks from the outside, trying to use Caeluna’s reputation to achieve their own goals.’

After all, it wasn’t the first time she had encountered something like this.

’As for the people inside the base...’

She had only been gone for a few days. She trusted they wouldn’t dare pull a stunt like this.

Besides, the base wasn’t without management. Stephen Lawrence was still there.

’Well, there’s one way to find out what’s really going on.’ Stella Sterling whispered a few instructions to Shane Lawrence.

Shane Lawrence understood her meaning and nodded.

Just then, Professor Lawrence came to Stella Sterling’s side. "I heard those men mention the name ’Caeluna.’ Isn’t that your organization?"

Professor Lawrence looked at her teasingly. "Your base’s business operations are quite extensive, I see. Robbery services included?"

Stella Sterling knew he was just poking fun at her. Unfazed, she smiled and said, "Can’t be helped. My base is so powerful that there are always people wanting to do things in its name."

"Our base’s name alone is enough to intimidate a lot of people. With such a useful reputation, do you really think they’d pass up the opportunity?"

Professor Lawrence had only intended to tease Stella Sterling; he didn’t actually believe these men were hers.

Although he hadn’t spent much time with the girl, he felt he had a decent understanding of her character.

Besides, he had heard a few things about Caeluna Base from others.

He naturally had his own judgment on the matter.

He didn’t think her subordinates would be doing this kind of widespread robbery.

Moreover, if they were really her people, how could they possibly not recognize her, the supreme leader of the base?

It wasn’t just her; the men on the other boat didn’t recognize anyone else on board either. That simply didn’t make sense.

He figured someone was just borrowing their reputation to intimidate people, hoping to scare them into obediently handing over their food.

He had only said what he did because he wanted to see the girl get flustered for a change.

For some time now, he, an old man, had constantly been the butt of this young girl’s jokes.

She always got the upper hand in their verbal spars, and he could never get a win.

Now that he finally had an opportunity, how could he possibly let it go?

But as it turned out, he had underestimated the girl’s thick skin. Even in a situation like this, she wasn’t the least bit embarrassed and instead took the chance to praise herself again.

’Her mind certainly works in mysterious ways.’

It actually made him feel a little sheepish. ’This girl... her mental fortitude is truly on another level. An ordinary person could never manipulate her.’

He shook his head and said no more, gazing off into the distance.

Watching the men who were still shouting arrogantly, he sighed and shook his head again. ’Those poor, unlucky bastards.’

’If it were anyone else, they might have actually been scared. But to rob the very people they claim as their backers... this is beyond a joke, isn’t it?’

Meanwhile, Shane Lawrence had gone out to speak with them. "You say you’re from Caeluna, but I have dealings with people from Caeluna myself. Why don’t you tell me, on whose orders are you doing this?"

Upon hearing that this man had connections to Caeluna Base, the robbers’ eyes flickered. However, their leader said forcefully, "That’s our internal business. It has nothing to do with you."

"You should know how powerful Caeluna Base is. If you don’t want to make an enemy of Caeluna, you’d best do as we say."

Hearing their words, Shane Lawrence knew. ’It’s just as Sterling said. These people are just using Caeluna’s name to do evil!’