Chapter 219: Beginning the Recruitment Expansion

Stephen Lawrence shivered. For some reason, the man before him looked perfectly calm, yet he exuded a sense of danger.

He had thought it would be a simple task—just escorting someone to a destination. At this moment, however, he was having second thoughts.

He gulped.

He was at the helm of a speedboat, with Gordon Ford right behind him.

For his own safety, Stephen Lawrence felt it was necessary to break the silence. "Hey, man, what’s your relationship with my master? She seems to really care about you. I’m her most trusted subordinate, yet she had me personally escort you."

Stephen Lawrence gulped as he spoke.

He remembered when his master had found him, she was dragging this man along.

He’d been woken up in the middle of the night with no idea what was going on. Then, his master had brought him to this speedboat and thrown this man aboard.

Her instructions were clear.

She had indeed told him to ensure the man’s safety. Once he woke up, Stephen was to take him somewhere safe and then leave immediately.

His master’s face had been cold as ice at the time, which had given him a fright.

’He didn’t understand what this man could have possibly done to displease his master.’

’But what he understood even less was why she was letting him go. If it had been anyone else who displeased her, she would have sent them to their grave long ago. Why have him personally ensure this man’s safe departure?’

This situation suggested the relationship between the man and his master was ambiguous. So, even though he suspected the man had offended her, he didn’t dare try anything.

Upon hearing this, Gordon Ford glanced over at him.

He remained silent for a long moment. After taking a deep breath, the intense aura around him gradually subsided.

Stephen Lawrence relaxed a bit, feeling that the man wasn’t quite as intimidating anymore.

He shot the man a cautious glance before focusing on piloting the speedboat.

After some time had passed, Gordon Ford’s voice came from behind him. "What else did your master tell you?"

Gordon Ford had calmed down by now. He sat leaning against the side of the speedboat and noticed he was wearing a raincoat, which lifted his spirits slightly.

He looked up at the pitch-black sky. The incessant rain was somewhat oppressive.

He sighed!

’He had considered many ways Stella Sterling might react—rejection, indifference—but he had never imagined she would do this. To actually drug him and have him sent away.’

’Stella is so hard to get close to now!’

Hearing his question, Stephen Lawrence thought for a moment before truthfully relaying what Stella Sterling had said.

’This man is definitely important to the master!’

Gordon Ford then asked a series of questions, every single one about Stella Sterling.

The answers he received from Stephen Lawrence, however, were vague. Aside from a few trivial details, Stephen didn’t dare say anything more.

The man before him might look dangerous and hard to provoke...

...but he was far more afraid of his master.

’Who knew what their real relationship was, or what his master’s true feelings toward him were? If he accidentally let something slip and she found out, his own life would be forfeit.’

The speedboat glided across the water, and Gordon Ford never asked Stephen Lawrence to turn back.

’If he really wanted to go back, it would be a simple matter.’

’But returning now would likely end the same way.’

’If he truly angered her, he might never get a chance to see her again.’

’He had confessed his feelings to her. That, at least, was a step forward.’

’He would have to plan the rest slowly. He couldn’t push her too hard, or he risked ruining the relationship they had now.’

’She had only knocked him out and arranged an escort. That showed she still cared for their past connection.’

「Mount Caeluna.」

After sending Gordon Ford away, Stella Sterling returned to her quarters.

Her current living quarters were no longer the simple lodgings of before, but a small villa.

It was fully furnished with all the modern conveniences: a television, a washing machine, a sofa—everything was just as it had been before the apocalypse.

She poured herself a glass of red wine, swirling it gently, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"Love? That’s something that needs to stay far away from me. Becoming stronger is the only goal I’m chasing."

She let out a short laugh. Gordon Ford’s words and actions today had indeed affected her, throwing her heart into a bit of turmoil.

But that was precisely why she had to send him away.

She didn’t like this feeling of being influenced.

Surviving and growing stronger—that was her pursuit. She wouldn’t let anyone stand in her way.

She simply couldn’t reciprocate Gordon Ford’s feelings right now.

’Perhaps one day, when she no longer had anything to fear... if she still had feelings for Gordon Ford then, and he for her, maybe they could be together. But that time was definitely not now.’

’Of course, as time went on, it was also possible that Gordon would move on, and so would she. They might become friends, or even strangers. Anything was possible.’

’As for the future, she would just let things take their natural course.’

But for now, she refused to consider a relationship with Gordon Ford. Her only choice was to send him away.

As these thoughts flashed through her mind, Stella Sterling felt herself relaxing. She had thought things through and would no longer dwell on it.

’If she still couldn’t let go when the time came, then they could just be together. So what?’

’But for now...’

Stella Sterling drained her glass in one gulp.

For the past year, her energy had been focused on building the base. Now that construction was complete, she had to consider its future development.

After all, she hadn’t done all this just to support a bunch of freeloaders.

After another glass of wine, Stella Sterling washed up, changed into her pajamas, and went to bed.

The next day, she gave an order to the base personnel: if they saw Gordon Ford, they were to stop him on sight.

With Stephen Lawrence away, Shane Lawrence was the one with the most influence in Stella Sterling’s presence. Upon hearing her order, he asked, "Sterling, if we see this man in the future, should we just kill him?"

"No,"

Stella Sterling replied.

For some reason, even though Sterling was smiling, Shane Lawrence felt a chill run down his spine.

’He was baffled. Had he said something wrong?’

Stella Sterling had already moved on, continuing with her other orders. "Starting tomorrow, we’ll begin recruiting from the outside."

"These are the recruitment requirements. Take a look, and then assign people to handle it."

She handed a piece of paper to Shane Lawrence.

This round of recruitment was different from the first; the requirements were much stricter.

Joining Caeluna didn’t require an offering of food, but it did require applicants to have useful skills.

In addition to that, she gave him a second sheet of paper. It was also for recruitment, but this one was for ordinary people.

After all, a base this large needed people for logistics.

Therefore, Stella Sterling divided recruitment into two categories. Naturally, the benefits for those who joined would differ based on which category they fell into.