Apocalypse Rebirth: Crazy from Day One

Chapter 346: Chapter 346: A Formidable Woman

The group of men didn’t relax their guard just because a single woman had stepped out of the car.

In fact, they grew even more vigilant, taking a few steps back to size up Stella Sterling from a distance.

’Just one person. How are they supposed to gauge her strength?’

They wouldn’t have been afraid if there were two or three of them, but the fact that she was alone made them all the more wary.

’A woman driving with a child through these desolate wilds... no matter how you looked at it, the whole situation is just plain bizarre!’

It was true that no one who survived in the apocalypse was simple, but they knew one thing for certain: any woman or child daring to travel alone was far from it. They were the toughest of the tough.

Otherwise, a duo like that would have been at someone else’s mercy long ago. There was no way they could have survived.

Most importantly, they couldn’t see inside the vehicle, but anyone inside could clearly see out.

’She must have seen that there were so many of us and only one of her. In a situation like this, she should be running for her life, or at least trying to get away first before figuring out how to rescue the kid.’

’That would be the sensible thing to do!’

But she didn’t do that. Instead, she just opened the car door.

’Unless she has a screw loose, why would she be so foolish?’

’But if she isn’t crazy and still dared to do this, it could only mean one thing: this woman is powerful. At the very least, her personal strength is formidable. She isn’t afraid of us, which is why she dared to open the door and face us head-on.’

Then they remembered the boy running to her and screaming for help, and their expressions grew more grim.

’Why would the kid think a lone woman could handle so many of us?’

’Doesn’t that suggest she’s no ordinary woman?’

In a flash, a multitude of thoughts raced through their minds.

In that moment, they didn’t dare make a single rash move.

Until they could ascertain the woman’s true strength, they remained on high alert.

Stella Sterling got out of the car and rolled up her sleeves, ready for a fight.

But when she saw them all take a few steps back, showing no signs of attacking, she frowned in annoyance. "If you’re going to fight, make it quick. I’m in a hurry."

Her reaction left everyone, including Andrew Shaw, completely stunned.

After a moment of shock, Andrew Shaw was ecstatic. ’Look at her reaction!’ he thought. ’So cool! So decisive!’

’And this must mean she’s going to save me, right? Not just that, she looks completely confident. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be so calm.’

At this thought, Andrew Shaw calmed down considerably. His gaze on Stella Sterling seemed to glow.

In his eyes, Stella Sterling’s figure seemed to grow taller, more imposing.

For the first time, he found this woman incredibly pleasant to look at. Just seeing her made him happy.

’Looks like I’m going to make it out of this alive.’

After hearing Stella Sterling’s words, the men exchanged a look, each seeing the apprehension in the others’ eyes.

’Is this woman for real? So direct... she doesn’t seem the least bit afraid of us.’

’She’s really confident in her skills.’

A person like that is either the real deal or just bluffing.

Looking at the woman before them, they had a strong feeling she was the former.

So they exchanged another look, a silent conversation passing between them as if they’d reached an agreement.

All four of them simultaneously dropped their hostility. Their expressions shifted, and they broke into friendly, good-natured smiles.

The man holding Andy even broke into a laugh. "Miss, it’s a misunderstanding! A complete misunderstanding!"

"We didn’t come looking for you with any malicious intent."

"Right, right, right!"

The other three nodded vigorously, beaming at Stella Sterling.

This sudden change in expression left both Andrew Shaw and Stella Sterling momentarily stunned.

Andrew Shaw tilted his head, looking at the man in camouflage fatigues who was holding him. That certainly wasn’t his attitude a moment ago.

’Are they trying to show goodwill first, then strike when the woman lets her guard down?’

At this thought, he began blinking frantically at Stella, trying to signal that she shouldn’t believe a word they were saying.

’These guys are definitely not good people! I saw and heard everything they said and did just now.’

’They clearly have ulterior motives and are after us. That woman can’t fall for this!’

But Stella Sterling acted as if she hadn’t seen Andrew Shaw’s desperate glances.

She didn’t look at him, but instead smiled at the men. "You say you have no malicious intent, so what do you call this?"

Their attitudes had changed so quickly that Stella Sterling decided to see what they were really up to.

But when Andrew Shaw saw that the woman seemed to actually believe them, he grew even more frantic.

’Isn’t this woman supposed to be smart? And ruthless? Why is she wasting time talking to them? Just attack! Finish them off! Why bother with all this?’

He was so anxious he nearly shouted, but the moment he opened his mouth, the man in camouflage holding him pressed a knife against his waist. The threat was obvious.

So Andrew Shaw swallowed the words that had been on the tip of his tongue, his expression turning grim.

He desperately wanted to warn the woman, but he knew that if he so much as opened his mouth, the man holding him would likely kill him with a single stab. He’d be dead.

With Andrew Shaw silenced, the man in camouflage smiled benevolently. "Miss, this must be your son, or maybe your little brother?"

Stella Sterling glanced over at Andrew Shaw and said bluntly, "I don’t have a brother or son that stupid."

Her tone was dismissive, tinged with a hint of disgust.

Most importantly, they couldn’t see the slightest hint of worry on her face.

Their hearts sank—

It seemed they had been wrong. The child and the woman didn’t have the relationship they’d assumed; she wasn’t his family.

They’d made a mistake. They assumed the boy must have been traveling with family, and so his companion had to be a relative.

The woman who appeared was, in all likelihood, either his mother or his sister. They never imagined she was neither.

’Then doesn’t that mean this kid is completely useless as leverage?’

If that was the case, all of their previous plans had just gone up in smoke.