Chapter 277: Chapter 277: The Meeting
Meridia Base provided accommodations for everyone visiting their base.
Stella Sterling and her group were no exception. In fact, due to the strength of their own base, the accommodations they were given were quite excellent.
Louis Grant had already made plans with Stella Sterling. The two of them, along with Vivian Larkin, would get together at his place tonight.
Afterward, she went to find Julian Fletcher and the others, telling them to go get settled in and freshen up.
Just as she finished giving these instructions, Ethan Young came to find her.
She followed Ethan Young deep into Meridia Base. As they went, Stella Sterling was already surprised.
She knew who she was going to meet: the supreme commander of Meridia Base. He had just sent word that he wanted to speak with her, and she had agreed, having Ethan Young relay her reply.
However, she had assumed they would meet in an office building in the outer area.
She never expected Ethan Young to lead her into the very core of Meridia Base.
The path was lined with countless security mechanisms. Without a dedicated guide, any ordinary person who wandered in here would be flayed alive if they weren’t careful.
Even members of Meridia Base itself couldn’t easily enter a place like this.
Stella Sterling didn’t understand. ’Why bring me here?’
She grew vigilant.
She had no conflict with Meridia Base, but in certain situations, who could say for sure?
Their own members couldn’t enter freely, yet here she was, an outsider.
’I have Caeluna backing me, yet they brought me here. This is very strange.’
Stella Sterling calmly surveyed her surroundings, the smile on her face slowly fading.
She didn’t want any conflict with Meridia Base; after all, her impression of them had been quite good so far.
’But if they’re planning something against me, they shouldn’t blame me for being ruthless.’
’If something were to happen, I’m confident I could leave here unscathed. But as for whether Meridia Base could remain as it is... that, I can’t guarantee.’
At this thought, Stella Sterling’s lips curled into a smirk. It was a confidence born from her own power.
Over a year ago, she had been just as confident. But back then, if she had been cornered by Meridia Base’s forces on their own turf...
Even then, she was confident she could have escaped unscathed, but things were different. Back then, she would have needed to rely on her spatial ability to get away.
And while she could have escaped, that’s all it would have been—an escape. She couldn’t have done any real damage to Meridia Base.
But now, it was a different story. If Meridia Base really tried anything against her, she wouldn’t have to hold back at all. She could leave safely while also making them pay a heavy price.
As these thoughts ran through her mind, they were nearly at their destination.
Ethan Young suddenly spoke. "You don’t need to be afraid. Our commander bears you no ill will."
Despite his words, Ethan Young was shocked himself.
He hadn’t expected the commander to order him to bring Stella Sterling here, either.
Previously, Stella Sterling had received special treatment here, but that was only because she had saved Basil Xavier’s life.
But that alone shouldn’t have been enough for their commander to treat her with such deference.
’Even I can’t come and go from here as I please!’
He understood this, but seeing Stella Sterling’s guardedness, he offered a few words of reassurance.
’From what I gathered when talking with the commander earlier, he seems to really admire Stella Sterling. He probably won’t try anything!’
Stella Sterling offered a small smile but didn’t answer Ethan Young. She would judge for herself whether he had ill intentions.
’It would be best if there’s no ill will, of course. But regardless, it’s never wrong to stay vigilant.’
She knew Ethan Young, and he had looked out for her during her previous stay at Meridia Base.
’But so what?’
’I’m not going to let my guard down over a few words. That would be irresponsible with my own life.’
It didn’t matter that it was Ethan Young saying it. Even if it were Louis Grant or Gordon Ford, her reaction would be the same.
After receiving permission from within, Stella Sterling pushed the door open and went inside. Ethan Young closed the door and stood guard outside.
Inside was none other than the supreme commander of Meridia Base, Gideon Ford.
He was sitting behind a desk, his head bowed as he looked at something.
Hearing the sound, he looked up and smiled at Stella Sterling. "Have a seat, kid."
They had just met a short while ago. Back then, the man had exuded a cold, commanding aura, but now he seemed more like a kindly elder.
Stella Sterling paused for a moment.
’Caeluna Base is no weaker than Meridia Base now. The two of us are equals...’
Stella Sterling sat down across from him. She noticed he seemed to have been looking at a photo album.
She glanced at it before averting her eyes. "Hello. A pleasure to meet you."
"Haha," Gideon Ford laughed, waving a hand dismissively. "You’re young enough to be my daughter, kid. I didn’t call you here for official business, so there’s no need to be so formal."
Hearing this, Stella Sterling’s expression remained unchanged.
He personally poured Stella Sterling a cup of tea. "Have a taste."
"Thank you."
Stella Sterling took a sip and then set the cup down.
’It’s good tea, but I haven’t studied it and don’t know much about it, so I can’t really offer any meaningful comment.’
’When I was first stockpiling, I didn’t hoard much of this. But later, after the apocalypse began, I collected supplies from all over. Tea was something almost no one bothered with, so I just swept it all into my personal space.’
’Right now, all of it is just gathering dust in some corner of my space.’
"How does it taste?"
Gideon Ford asked, his tone so casual it was truly like an elder chatting with a junior, with no airs whatsoever.
’Of course, it’s not like he has any reason to put on airs in front of me,’ Stella Sterling thought.
’After all, our statuses are equal. Aside from being older than me, in every other respect...’
Of course, as long as she wasn’t provoked, her upbringing had instilled in Stella Sterling at least a sliver of respect for her elders.
She smiled. "Mr. Ford, I’m a simple person. I can’t properly appreciate something this fine, so I can’t really tell you much about it. However, I do have a collection of tea leaves myself. If you like, I can have someone send some over to you later."
"Oh, that would be wonderful! In that case, I’ll be eagerly waiting."
Gideon Ford chuckled and nodded.
Then he looked at Stella Sterling, a broad smile on his face. "But how did you know my surname is Ford?"
Stella Sterling mentally slapped herself. ’I spoke too soon! He never even introduced himself!’
