Chapter 254: Chapter 254: Powerful Caeluna
It was as if the three of them had a tacit understanding, staying out of each other’s way while expanding the scope of their rescue efforts to the fullest.
Of course, they weren’t the only ones with bases conducting rescue missions; some other factions and smaller bases were also taking action.
However, these factions had limited capabilities, manpower, and food supplies, so their impact was minimal.
They simply couldn’t compare to the three major bases, including Stella Sterling’s.
Most of the discussion centered on those few major bases.
Another popular topic of discussion was the leader of Caeluna, Stella Sterling herself.
Stella Sterling had been making occasional public appearances lately.
So, quite a few people had seen her.
The fact that Caeluna’s leader was a woman was shocking enough, but no one had expected her to be so young and beautiful.
With her exquisite features and unique aura, she seemed to belong to a different world compared to everyone else in this apocalyptic era.
Many who saw her found themselves developing feelings. In a short time, the name Stella Sterling was on everyone’s lips, and she became the object of affection for countless people.
Because of Stella Sterling’s beauty and the buzz surrounding her, discussions about Caeluna Base grew more frequent as well.
While everyone was banding together to overcome the current crisis, some were fishing in troubled waters, not only refusing to help but actively preying on other survivors.
At first, these deeds were done in secret, and no one was the wiser.
But then, one of the exploited survivors managed to escape and expose their vile deeds.
It instantly sparked widespread outrage.
Life had been bitter enough during these years of the apocalypse, but this recent period of constant disasters brought countless deaths and injuries every day.
With so much pent-up resentment that was hard to dispel, everyone now directed their fury toward those factions.
Some people formed their own groups and laid siege to those unethical factions.
With their superior numbers, they breached those small bases, and the former leaders were all killed by the mob to vent its rage.
What little resources those bases had left were divided equally among the attackers.
At the same time, some people seized the opportunity to rise to power. After destroying those small factions, their groups did not disband.
Instead, under new leadership, they formed new factions.
Such situations were not uncommon.
During this time, the situation across the land continued to change.
Stella Sterling had spent most of her time inside the base lately, only occasionally venturing out to check on the situation.
Although Caeluna Base and the others were all conducting rescues, disasters like earthquakes and floods were still a daily occurrence.
Some people would be celebrating their narrow escape one moment, only to perish in another disaster shortly after.
Countless people were dying every day. Even several members of Caeluna Base’s own rescue teams had perished.
Bodies littered the ground, and often, there wasn’t enough time to reach everyone. Meanwhile, the number of injured at their temporary aid stations grew ever larger.
If not for the many survivors they rescued who voluntarily pitched in to help, the situation would have been completely unmanageable.
With so many people, just providing daily food for all the survivors was a huge burden.
Many began to worry if Caeluna Base could hold on if things continued like this.
’If they fall, what will happen to us survivors?’
But to everyone’s surprise, day after day, every single temporary aid station from Caeluna Base continued to provide food for the survivors: a daily ration of one bowl of rice porridge and half a steamed bun.
Keep in mind, this was food that many people hadn’t been able to eat for years, yet Caeluna Base supplied it daily, with no signs of stopping.
While grateful, people were also deeply shocked by the sheer depth of Caeluna Base’s resources.
No one knew just how powerful Caeluna Base was, or how vast their supplies were.
This lack of knowledge and certainty made Caeluna Base seem mysterious and formidable in their minds.
This mysterious and formidable nature inspired not only respect and gratitude but also a deep-seated wariness.
It was enough to quash any ill intentions. Even those who had previously harbored such ideas had long since abandoned them.
Even though it was an open secret that Caeluna Base must have a massive stockpile of food, no one dared to make a move on them.
They understood perfectly well: for Caeluna Base to dare set up aid stations so openly, and to expose so much food to the public, it meant they had no fear of being targeted. They had the strength and confidence to protect their supplies.
Who would dare do such a thing without immense power and advanced weaponry to back them up? Otherwise, even if they were doing good, it would be an act of self-destruction.
The complexity of human nature, after all, is simply unimaginable.
So, the more open and forthright Caeluna Base acted, the more terrifying people imagined their true strength to be, and the less they dared to act rashly.
Furthermore, Caeluna Base now enjoyed an incredible amount of support in the surrounding area. Many people, although they hadn’t joined Primordia Base, still spoke of Caeluna Base with pride.
They were even happy just to have a faction like Caeluna Base existing in their vicinity.
For this reason alone, those with ill intentions didn’t dare to move against Caeluna Base, lest they incur the wrath of the masses.
Their fate would be the same as the small factions that had been wiped out in recent days.
When Stephen Lawrence and Shane Lawrence received this news, they both let out a huge sigh of relief.
They had been worried that Sterling’s actions were too bold and would attract unwanted attention to their base.
Of course, they weren’t afraid of one or two small factions, but a large number of them banding together would be a problem.
’But now,’ they thought, ’it seems we were worrying for nothing. Sterling naturally had her own reasons for everything she did.’
No wonder she had made such a grand display, pouring in food and supplies without any regard for the trouble it might cause.
It was clear now that Sterling’s approach had been the right one all along.
The two of them looked at Stella Sterling with even greater admiration.
Now, they hardly dared to look at her directly, feeling that even an extra glance would be a form of blasphemy.
"Sterling, there’s a member of our base outside who wants to see you," Shane Lawrence said as he walked in, his gaze lowered.
Stella Sterling looked over. "Who is it? Did he say what it’s about?"
"The member’s name is Magnus Sterling. He didn’t say what it was about, only that he has a private matter and wishes to see you, Sterling."
Hearing the name, Stella Sterling fell silent. She tapped her fingers lightly on the table, and after a long moment, she finally spoke. "Go back and tell him that unless it’s important, I won’t see him."
