Chapter 148: Acquaintance or Enemy?

Stella Sterling fished around in the water for a while. Before long, thanks to the practiced skills from her past life, she had scooped up a good number of fish.

’If the current weren’t so turbulent, I wouldn’t have to hold back so much. I could have caught even more.’

"Hmm, it’s been a while, but I’m not rusty!"

She smiled. The aroma wafting from the distance gave her the idea to grill some fish as well.

’These fish live in such filthy water, but they aren’t exactly poisonous. I ate plenty of them in my past life. They won’t kill you, but they do have a certain effect on your body.’

’Eating just a few shouldn’t be a problem, though.’

With that in mind, she decided to do just that and headed for her tent.

She planned to use her tent as cover to enter her space, where she would grill the fish.

However, that clueless, idiotic man intercepted her again.

His eyes lit up when he saw the fish Stella Sterling was carrying in a bag. This time, he cut the crap and got straight to the point. "My luck was bad today—not a single catch. But I did manage to get a fire going. How about we cooperate? I’ll let you use my fire to grill your fish or make soup, and in return, you can share one or two with me. What do you say?"

The deal seemed fair enough. After a moment’s thought, Stella Sterling nodded in agreement.

"Hey! Those two fish—they’re for me and my brother now. Go grill some more for yourselves."

Beneath Louis Grant’s large umbrella, he was grilling the fish while Stella Sterling watched the people nearby.

Not far away, the two Chase brothers, Timothy and his sibling, were up to their usual bullying.

Their targets were a small group of three, none of them much older than their early twenties. Faced with Timothy Chase’s entitled tone, one of the young men shot back defiantly, "On what grounds? If you want to eat, go grill your own!"

"’Well, well. Look at the three little punks. Got some nerve, don’t you? Didn’t you see the people we killed earlier? My brother and I just want two of your fish. You dare to refuse?’"

"’We’re not afraid of you two. Like I said, if you want to eat, go grill your own. Or trade something for them. Otherwise, forget it.’"

The young man showed no fear of Timothy Chase. His gaze locked with Timothy’s, and he didn’t back down an inch.

Stella Sterling’s gaze lingered on the three young men for a moment, a strange expression on her face.

’I can’t believe I’d run into old acquaintances here.’

’I seem to remember there being five of them, though. Now there are only three. I wonder if the other two aren’t here, or if they’re already... ’

"Do you know them?"

Noticing Stella Sterling’s gaze as he grilled the fish, Louis Grant glanced in the same direction.

When he saw it was those two brothers again, a look of displeasure flashed in his eyes. ’Those two are everywhere. If I get the chance, I’m definitely taking them out.’

’So damn arrogant. How could anyone be so overbearing around here?’

He then turned his attention to the three young men confronting Timothy Chase, surprised by their courage.

’And this woman next to me seems to know them...’

"Know them? Of course I know them."

Stella Sterling didn’t deny it, giving a direct nod.

Now it was Louis Grant’s turn to be surprised.

’So she really does know them!’

He quickly composed himself. "Looks like your friends are in trouble. Do you need help dealing with them? I’ve had it with those two brothers myself. How about we team up and take care of them? Don’t worry, this one’s on the house."

He was eager for a fight. He’d been itching to deal with those brothers since yesterday, but he wasn’t sure how strong they really were.

’If this woman agreed to team up with him, though, things would be much simpler.’

"Help them? Why would I do that? If they start fighting, I’ll get to watch a good show."

Stella Sterling chuckled, her eyes filled with anticipation as she looked their way.

Seeing she wasn’t joking, Louis Grant asked tentatively, "Enemies?"

’With an attitude like that, they definitely aren’t her friends. Looks like I was wrong.’

Stella Sterling didn’t answer his question. She just kept watching, sitting cross-legged with her chin in her hand, peering through the rain as she waited for the show to begin.

Louis Grant took the hint and didn’t press further. He went back to grilling the fish, his gaze also fixed on Timothy Chase and the others.

Timothy Chase and his brother couldn’t believe someone was actually daring to stand up to them. Just yesterday, they had killed several people to make an example of them!

’Are these three guys idiots? Do they have a death wish?’

He lunged forward to snatch the fish. "You shameless punks! How dare you refuse something I’ve set my eyes on? You deserve to die!"

But in the next instant, he froze. Every hair on his body stood on end, and he didn’t dare move a muscle.

Seeing this, his brother, who had been silent until now, paled. "Brother, don’t move. Let’s talk this out."

"’Were you ’talking things out’ a second ago? You were trying to rob us! Drake, don’t waste your breath on them. Just shoot him!’"

To Timothy Chase’s right, a young man in black was pressing a dark object to his head. He grinned with menacing amusement. "Still want to take our stuff? Did you really think we were easy targets?"

Timothy Chase’s face was grim, and he said nothing. He couldn’t see what was being pressed against his head, but he had a strong feeling it was a gun.

’He never thought that someone other than that woman would have a gun out here.’

’And of all the rotten luck, I had to be the one to run into them.’

Nearby, Louis Grant stiffened. His expression grew solemn. "So it’s true. You really can’t underestimate anyone."

"The fish is burning. If you ruin it, you’ll owe me double."

Stella Sterling’s displeased voice snapped Louis Grant back to reality. He quickly went back to turning the fish.

After a moment, he looked over at Stella Sterling. "Aren’t you surprised? They have a gun."

Then he remembered that the woman beside him had one too. He shut his mouth and turned his attention back to the confrontation.

’Looks like those two brothers have finally met their match.’

Seeing that he was once again focused on grilling the fish, Stella Sterling turned her gaze back to the confrontation.

’That group... Looks like they’ve done pretty well for themselves these past couple of years.’

Over there, Timothy Chase and his brother were now negotiating with the man called Drake.

With his life in someone else’s hands, Timothy’s volatile temper had cooled considerably.

Drake, however, didn’t seem to have any intention of killing him. He just sneered. "Get lost."

Timothy Chase seethed but dared not say a word. He shot the three of them a venomous glare before turning to leave with his brother.

"Haha! Having a gun is the best!"

"You’re incredible, Drake!"

Drake smiled, accepting his two underlings’ praise. A moment later, his gaze shifted in a certain direction, a flicker of confusion in his eyes.

When he saw Stella Sterling, his brow furrowed in confusion.