Chapter 297: Chapter 296: Still Putting on Airs
Stephen Lawrence’s expression changed when he saw one of the people leading the group.
’It really is Sterling’s parents, no doubt about it!’
He recognized the man. He had met him once before.
The man had tried to trade a piece of fine jade for his food. Stephen had given him the food, but then the man had second thoughts and tried to back out of giving him the jade.
In the end, Stephen had taught him a lesson and taken the item by force.
Later, when he mentioned the incident to his Master, he learned that the man was her father.
He’d been worried for a while back then, but eventually found out that the Master didn’t have a good relationship with her father, which came as a huge relief.
At the time, he’d been puzzled.
Now, seeing the man again, he immediately confirmed their identities.
’They’re Sterling’s family, without a doubt.’
"Sterling has asked to see you," Stephen Lawrence said to the group, suppressing his anger. "Please come with us."
Wanda Larkin couldn’t hold back when she heard this. She took two steps forward and said with simmering rage, "We will go in, of course. But we are her parents, her elders. If she wants to see us, she should come out to greet us first, and then invite us in!"
She spoke with such entitlement, with a condescending air, as if their status as elders demanded that everyone else be completely deferential.
And though the two people behind Wanda Larkin said nothing, they also wore expressions of self-evident superiority.
This was especially true for the young man, whose condescending gaze was impossible to hide.
Hearing this, Shane Lawrence realized something was wrong.
’If they were a normal family,’ he thought, ’reuniting in this apocalypse should be an overwhelmingly emotional event. Who would care about such formalities at a time like this? They’d just want to see each other first.’
But this group showed no excitement, no urgency, not even a hint of joy. Instead, they were quick to find fault. Their whole attitude was truly bizarre.
He glanced over at Stephen Lawrence and began to understand his colleague’s attitude. It was clear now. Stephen definitely knew something.
He also recalled that Sterling’s own attitude had been a bit unusual.
It seemed this family’s relationships were not quite normal.
’Stephen Lawrence was right. No need to be too careful with this family.’
As for Stephen Lawrence, their attitude made him want to do nothing more than sneer.
’Don’t these people know the relationship between me and the Master?’
’And they’re still trying to put on airs here?’
’Demanding the Master come out to see them?’
’If their relationship was good, the Master would have rushed out to meet them without them even having to ask. What does it mean that she hasn’t appeared? Don’t they get it?’
But as disdainful as he was, since the Master had told him to let them in, he could only endure it.
He said to the group, "It’s hard to say if you’re even our leader’s relatives. Our leader is a person of high status. On what grounds do you demand she come out to greet you?"
"We’re giving you a chance by offering to take you to her. If you don’t want to go, then please leave on your own. We won’t see you out."
Upon hearing this, Marcus Sterling’s face turned ugly.
The young man stepped forward, his brow deeply furrowed in displeasure. He looked at Stephen Lawrence and said, "And do you know who I am?"
Stephen Lawrence sized him up. From the man’s tone, he could tell he probably had some kind of influential background to be acting this way.
But since when had Caeluna Base ever been afraid of anyone? He was completely unfazed. "I don’t care who you are. This is Caeluna Base territory. Here, you follow our rules."
Before the young man could speak, someone beside him stepped up. "But this is Dr. Quinn from our Sanctyr Base."
Shane Lawrence’s expression changed when he heard the words "Sanctyr Base."
’The Master’s relatives are connected to Sanctyr Base?’
The two of them glanced at the twenty-odd people behind the family and said coldly, "We don’t care where you’re from. This is Caeluna’s territory. If you want to start a conflict with us, we’d be happy to oblige. If not, then follow our rules."
Neither of them backed down an inch.
Marcus Sterling and Wanda Larkin’s faces had both turned dark and grim.
Marcus Sterling even began to curse aloud. "That insolent girl, Stella Sterling! She’s never considerate about anything!"
Stephen Lawrence’s expression shifted, and he issued a warning. "Show some respect for our leader. Don’t let us hear you insult her a second time, or I won’t be so polite."
The surrounding people from Caeluna also stared coldly at the group.
Sterling was the person they respected most. They didn’t care who these people were to her.
’If they really piss us off,’ they thought, ’we’ll just teach them a lesson and let them live. That’ll be the end of it.’
Even if Sterling blamed them for it later, they would accept the consequences.
Hearing Stephen Lawrence’s warning tone, Mr. and Mrs. Quinn weren’t frightened. Instead, they grew even more furious.
’Who do these people think they are?’
’We’re Stella Sterling’s parents! How dare they treat us like this?’
The two of them were about to say more, but Kian Sterling pulled them back, shaking his head.
Evan Sterling thought for a moment before speaking. "Since your leader asked you to take us to her, let’s go. Let’s not waste any more time."
’Arguing with these people here is pointless.’
’The important thing now is to see Stella Sterling as soon as possible.’
Marcus Sterling thought of this as well. ’See her first, then settle all these scores.’
’And last time,’ he fumed, ’that insolent girl saw me and her mother and acted like she didn’t even know us. I’ll have to give her a good lecture about that, too.’
So, the two of them said no more, a clear sign of compromise.
However, Stephen Lawrence and his men didn’t immediately lead them in. Instead, he said, "No problem. But there are a lot of you, and you’re heavily armed. As a precaution, we’ll need you all to leave your weapons here before you enter."
Evan Sterling’s face changed at this. "We’re her family. Why would we start a conflict with you? Confiscating our weapons is going too far."
But Stephen Lawrence didn’t back down. "If you’re not going to start a conflict, then it doesn’t matter whether you have weapons or not. This is just a precaution. If you don’t agree, we can’t let you in."
Evan Sterling stared at the two men before him, knowing they were the ones in charge here.
He said coldly, "Don’t forget, we are family with your leader, after all. Family matters can always be talked out. But offending me like this will do you no good."
