Chapter 284: Chapter 284: Refusal
"Sterling, those two men went to find Captain Ethan Young."
Nathan Cheney stood before Stella Sterling.
Nathan Cheney had brought her breakfast back from the cafeteria.
After all, they were guests who had traveled a long way, so this breakfast was much better than what she had been served during her previous visits.
Stella Sterling was eating her breakfast. After hearing Nathan Cheney’s report, she looked up. "Why would those two go looking for Ethan Young? Do they want Meridia Base to back them up and cause trouble for us? Heh..."
As she spoke, Stella Sterling couldn’t help but laugh.
’If they’re really doing that,’ she thought, ’I’d have to wonder just how stupid they can be to try something like that!’
Putting aside the question of whether she feared Meridia Base or not...
For other reasons, Meridia Base wouldn’t necessarily get involved anyway.
The incident had happened outside Meridia Base, after all. She hadn’t broken any of their rules, so they had no grounds to criticize her.
This was a private dispute. If Meridia Base chose to stay out of it, no one could blame them.
But if they did decide to take sides with those two other bases, they would be making an enemy of her.
There was no reason for Meridia Base to do that.
Besides, her relationship with Meridia Base was much better than theirs. Ethan Young had no reason to get involved.
If those two bases were hoping for that, they were sorely mistaken.
"Sterling, that’s not it. They did go to Ethan Young, and it does concern us, but they went to him because they want to leave now and requested an escort," Nathan Cheney explained, recounting every detail.
After such a major conflict with those two bases, the enmity was set in stone. The other side would likely not let the matter rest and would seek revenge at the first opportunity.
Likewise, she had no intention of letting a threat return to the wild.
That was why Sterling had instructed them yesterday to monitor the two men’s every move.
After yesterday’s meeting, the two men had been frantically digging up information about Caeluna Base. Then, today, they made their request to Ethan Young.
Hearing this, Stella Sterling smiled knowingly.
’I was wrong.’
Given their behavior yesterday, she thought they were still looking for trouble. She had assumed they were so headstrong they wouldn’t rest until they found a way to get back at her.
’Looks like I overestimated them.’
’They’re scared.’
That’s why they wanted to leave quickly, taking advantage of the fact that she was still at Meridia Base for the Apocalypse Summit and too busy to deal with them.
Meridia Base might not have agreed to cause trouble for her.
But if they merely asked for an escort to leave, Meridia Base might not refuse, given the friendly relations between the bases.
Then, with an escort from Meridia Base, she would be hesitant to act, and they could return safely to their own territory.
’It seems no one who becomes a base leader is a complete fool. At least their brains aren’t totally fried; they could figure that much out.’
Stella Sterling set down her chopsticks and wiped her mouth. "And Meridia Base? What was their response? Did they agree?"
’It wouldn’t be surprising if they did. Meridia Base has been maintaining a friendly stance with everyone lately.’
At this, a faint, strange smile crossed Nathan Cheney’s face. "No. Captain Ethan Young of Meridia Base flat-out refused them."
"The two of them have already left. Their expressions were pretty grim when they first came out."
Stella Sterling tapped her fingers, now in a very good mood herself.
"Arrange for one of our people to leave Meridia Base and tail them. Once they’re clear of this area, take care of them."
After a pause, Stella Sterling continued, "Then, bring them back here. See if Professor Lawrence can make two of our people look just like them, and then send our people back in their place."
’If those two return to their bases, they’ll just find ways to cause trouble for Caeluna.’
"They might not oppose Caeluna Base openly, but it would be impossible to guard against them trying to sabotage our people operating in the field."
Stella Sterling always believed in taking every precaution. Since they were already enemies, it was best to eliminate the problem for good.
Of course, she couldn’t just slaughter everyone in those two bases. They were filled with innocent people!
She had no qualms about dealing with those who wished her harm, but Stella Sterling had no desire to deny a path to survival for innocent people who had never wronged her.
She didn’t want to destroy the two bases. That meant she just had to eliminate the leaders and have her own people take their place in disguise.
That way, their bases wouldn’t cause trouble for Caeluna, and she could take control of both factions bloodlessly.
The reason she mentioned Professor Lawrence was because he had arranged for an imposter to take his place back in The Kryllian Mountains.
It proved he had the skills for this sort of thing.
Nathan Cheney nodded and left. Although Sterling hadn’t spelled it out, he understood her intentions perfectly, and a flicker of excitement stirred within him.
’This way, they could easily absorb two entire bases into Caeluna Base!’
Stella Sterling didn’t attend the summit on the second day. She entrusted Julian Fletcher to go in her place.
Instead, she took a slow stroll through Meridia Base.
"Stella Sterling, what are you doing here?"
A voice called out from behind. Stella Sterling turned to see Basil Xavier walking toward her, dressed in camouflage.
Stella Sterling raised a surprised eyebrow and glanced behind him.
Basil Xavier waved a hand. "Gordon Ford is here too, but he’s busy with something right now."
Stella Sterling nodded nonchalantly. "And you? Why didn’t I see you yesterday?"
"That’s because we’re not even attending the summit. We’re just here for other reasons."
He looked at Stella Sterling in amazement. "You’re the incredible one. I’ve been hearing your name a lot lately. I can’t believe you actually managed to do what you said you would all that time ago. I’m truly impressed!"
Even now, he could remember the sheer ambition on her face when she’d said those words to him.
Back then, he hadn’t been optimistic about her chances, but he never expected her to actually pull it off.
"For someone as exceptional as me, doing what I say I’ll do is perfectly normal. Why are you so surprised?"
Stella Sterling raised an eyebrow, her tone sounding genuinely puzzled.
Basil Xavier stared at her for a second, then burst out laughing. "You... I really don’t know what to say to you."
"But you’re right about one thing. You really are an exceptionally outstanding person."
