Chapter 274: Chapter 274: Joking?
"But why are you asking all this?"
He looked at Stella Sterling in confusion. He knew he might seem a little flaky, but he wasn’t a complete idiot.
In this apocalypse, he knew that while a good background was useful, personal strength was what really mattered. Only the strong could survive longer in these times.
He had always understood this principle, so he never slacked off.
’But this woman... she can’t have misunderstood me, can she?’
He gave Stella Sterling a displeased look.
At this moment, however, Stella Sterling was even more confused than he was. "Since you’re always out and about, you should have heard the news that’s been buzzing around lately."
’I don’t think I’ve hidden my real name,’ she thought. ’Everyone knows the leader of Caeluna Base is named Stella Sterling.’
As far as she knew, she was a pretty hot topic of discussion right now.
He should have heard of her. Even if he hadn’t heard it himself, the people around him or at Meridia Base must have mentioned it.
’How could he possibly not know that the person in charge of Caeluna Base is named Stella Sterling?’
’Why would he have this misunderstanding, thinking I’ve joined some other base as a grunt?’
"What news? A lot has been happening lately, so I haven’t been paying special attention."
Louis Grant spoke quickly, then, as if he suddenly remembered something, he said in surprise, "But there is one piece of news I do know, and it’s actually kind of related to you."
"You know Caeluna Base? Their female leader is named Stella Sterling. Same name as you, what a coincidence!"
"That’s right. Her name is Stella Sterling."
Stella Sterling nodded and continued to watch him. He had heard of it, but it seemed he still hadn’t connected the dots.
Stella Sterling understood. ’He probably never even considered that person could be me.’
"Yeah, her name is Stella Sterling. Same name as you."
Louis Grant still didn’t get it. He just nodded along with what Stella Sterling said.
Only after speaking did he notice the strange look in Stella Sterling’s eyes. The way she was looking at him... it was as if she were looking at an idiot.
He froze for a moment, unable to understand why Stella Sterling would be looking at him like that.
"You’re so dense."
Stella Sterling said it outright, not holding back just because she knew him.
Of course, while she didn’t hold back, she was still being somewhat gentle. Otherwise, the words coming out of her mouth would have been much harsher.
"Hey, hey, hey, that’s a personal attack! If it weren’t for the fact that you’re a friend, I wouldn’t be so polite!"
Louis Grant looked at Stella, displeased. Who would feel good about being called dense for no reason?
When he’d first seen this woman smiling, he thought that after more than a year apart, her personality had changed—that she’d become easier to talk to and more approachable.
Only now did he realize it had all been his own delusion.
Not only had she not become easier to talk to, but she had actually become even more fond of putting people down.
The old Stella Sterling, despite her cold expression and the sometimes terrifying things she said...
...at least she wouldn’t resort to direct personal attacks!
Stella Sterling sighed and laid it all out. "Since you’ve heard the rumors and know the leader of Caeluna Base is named Stella Sterling, why would you still think I’ve joined some other base?"
Louis Grant was about to speak, but in the next instant, he caught the other meaning in Stella Sterling’s words.
He swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue and stared straight at Stella Sterling. "You mean...?"
Stella Sterling leaned back and tilted her head to look at him. "Did it never occur to you that I *am* the leader of Caeluna Base?"
Silence hung in the air for several seconds. Louis Grant didn’t speak for a long time. He looked at her seriously. "Are you for real?"
’Honestly, I don’t believe it.’
"Of course. I have no reason to lie to you."
Stella Sterling nodded, indicating that it couldn’t be more true.
After watching her in silence for a moment, Louis Grant suddenly burst out laughing. "It’s been over a year, I never expected you to become so humorous. To think you’d tell a joke like that."
Stella Sterling looked at him and said nothing more.
But Louis Grant continued, "You’re telling me you’re the leader of Caeluna Base? How is that possible? Even though you have the same name, it’s just impossible."
He just assumed Stella Sterling was joking with him, or maybe saying it to save face.
He had, of course, heard before that the leader of Caeluna Base was named Stella Sterling.
But when he heard it, he was just briefly surprised that the mysterious female leader of Caeluna Base had the same name as a friend he knew.
Then he had completely put the matter aside, not giving it a second thought.
Otherwise, he would have gone to Caeluna Base to find her long ago.
He had never considered that the two were the same person. When he saw Ethan Young, Ethan had thought the same thing.
Even if Stella Sterling was a brilliant doctor and quite capable herself, it was impossible for her to establish such a large base all by herself in such a short amount of time.
But now Stella Sterling was telling him it wasn’t a case of having the same name—they were one and the same person. It was just too impossible!
After he finished laughing, he realized Stella Sterling wasn’t reacting at all. She was just watching him calmly.
He could see it in her eyes—he looked like a complete idiot. Truly foolish.
After another brief silence, he swallowed hard. Although he still didn’t believe it, he asked again, "Are you serious?"
"If you think I’m telling the truth, then it’s the truth. If you don’t believe me, you can certainly go on thinking we’re two different people. It doesn’t matter either way."
Stella Sterling looked up at the sky, her tone distant.
The rain was lighter than it had been in recent days.
Louis Grant hadn’t believed it at all, but seeing Stella Sterling like this, he suddenly started to.
He carefully tried to recall what kind of person the Stella he knew was.
He realized he didn’t know her very well at all. What was her background? Where did she come from? He had no idea.
But one thing was for sure: the Stella Sterling he knew didn’t seem like the type to make this kind of joke.
He swallowed again. Though doubts still lingered in his mind, he was slowly beginning to believe Stella Sterling’s words.
"Then your reason for coming to Meridia Base this time is...?"
’I was probably wrong from the very beginning!’ Louis Grant thought.
Stella Sterling’s next words confirmed his suspicion. "I’m here because your Meridia Base invited me. I came at their request!"
"Holy cow... you... you..."
Louis Grant was suddenly at a loss for words, unsure of what to say to express his shock.
