Chapter 418: Chapter 428: Gratitude

So, by the time Stella Sterling and her group returned, the people in the cave had already started making preparations.

Some were already sharpening their knives, others were building fires, and some were getting the seasonings ready.

A few others waited at the mouth of the cave. As soon as they saw the returning party, they rushed forward to relieve the ones carrying the boar.

When they saw such a massive wild boar, everyone present cried out again, erupting in a new round of surprised cheers.

Inside the desolate cave, their cheers echoed as if to shake the very heavens.

A faint smile crossed Felix Lawrence’s eyes as he witnessed the scene.

’Life in this apocalypse is bitter. Every day, we just try to find some joy in our suffering, comforting ourselves.’

’Even when we smile, it’s only because we have no other choice. We can’t see any hope, and we work on empty stomachs every single day.’

’On top of that, the natural disasters are relentless. Now it’s gotten so hot that we’re almost out of water.’

’Everyone’s eyes are lifeless. We live like machines, simply unwilling to give up and die.’

’But there’s no hope for the future in their eyes.’

This was the first time he had seen everyone so genuinely happy—not the kind of joy born from making the best of a bad situation.

It was an excitement that radiated from deep within.

Watching them, Stella Sterling found herself infected by their emotions.

’That’s just how it is in the apocalypse. Things that were once easy to get have now become precious treasures, capable of bringing so much hope and joy.’

’If the world were normal, without these endless disasters, none of us would be in this state.’

"Thank you, Miss Sterling! Thank you, Miss Sterling!"

Stella Sterling stood to the side, taking in their joy, when suddenly a unified cheer erupted.

Startled, she looked over at them. They were all beaming at her, repeating their thanks over and over.

Stella Sterling glanced at Felix Lawrence, her eyes asking, ’Did you arrange all this?’

Felix Lawrence met her gaze, shook his head, and said with a helpless shrug, "I had nothing to do with it. This is their heartfelt gratitude!"

The cheers continued, one after another.

Looking at the sincere smiles on their faces, Stella Sterling raised an eyebrow but didn’t say much. She simply told Felix Lawrence, "Have them quiet down. I’ve received your thanks. I’m going to go rest for a bit. Call me when it’s time to eat."

After Felix Lawrence nodded, Stella Sterling returned to her room.

Everyone she passed on the way greeted her with overflowing enthusiasm, even more fervent and excited than before.

Stella Sterling smiled and returned their greetings one by one, but inwardly, she was calm.

Her mood didn’t fluctuate much because of this, nor did it make her feel proud.

She believed their gratitude at this moment was sincere.

But that was all.

"This boar is strange. I can’t find a single wound on it. How did Miss Sterling kill it?"

One of Felix Lawrence’s men, a former butcher, stared at the massive wild boar laid out before him, a flicker of astonishment in his eyes.

He had been searching for the best place to make the first cut when he suddenly cried out in amazement.

Having been a butcher for many years, his eye was sharp. He could see clearly that the boar before him had no wounds. It was perfectly preserved; not a single drop of blood had been spilled.

’If that’s the case, then how did this boar die?’

’And why do I get the feeling it didn’t suffer at all? It looks so peaceful. It doesn’t look like it was killed, more like it died of natural causes!’

Hearing his words, Felix Lawrence came over to take a look, his own curiosity piqued. He walked around the boar a few times and confirmed that there were indeed no wounds on its body.

A flash of surprise crossed his eyes as well.

He hadn’t noticed before. He now realized that aside from the absence of life, this boar was no different from a living one.

It didn’t look dead at all!

’Miss Sterling, what kind of method did you use?’

He spotted Andrew Shaw nearby. The man had been eagerly anticipating the pork, so he had been lingering behind the crowd, watching, and hadn’t left.

’He went with Miss Sterling. He must know how she killed this boar, right?’

’Killing it with a gun would have been simple and convenient, but there are no bullet wounds on the body!’

Andrew Shaw, who had overheard, caught Felix Lawrence’s questioning gaze and shook his head. "Hunting a wild boar is too dangerous. The boss did it all by herself, so I didn’t see it happen!"

Andrew Shaw was telling the plain truth; he knew even less than they did.

But in the next moment, he puffed out his chest, his face full of pride. "But my boss is incredibly capable, her skills are extraordinary! Of course she has her own methods. What’s so strange about that?"

He made Stella Sterling sound almost omnipotent.

He couldn’t actually explain how, so he just had to bluff with that reason.

Then he couldn’t help but roll his eyes inwardly. ’We have food to eat, that’s what matters. Why do these people have to ask so many questions?!’

After hearing his words, Felix Lawrence nodded, thinking it made sense. Miss Sterling’s abilities were clearly out of the ordinary; she was capable of establishing a large base, after all.

’Her base must have plenty of powerful subordinates and talented people. With a base that large, it’s not impossible that she has some special method for dealing with a wild boar.’

He said to his man, "Just butcher the boar. Don’t be surprised. To survive in the apocalypse, people will have all sorts of methods!"

The man nodded gravely. Thinking about how formidable Miss Sterling was, he felt that nothing was truly impossible.

Not thinking about it any further, he began to butcher the boar in front of him.

After returning to her room, Stella Sterling collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep.

She didn’t wake until the rich, enticing aroma of cooked meat pulled her from her slumber.

Just as she opened her eyes, Felix Lawrence’s knock sounded from outside. The boar had been butchered, and Stella Sterling’s two legs of pork had been roasted!

She eagerly changed her clothes and went with Felix Lawrence to a room they used specifically for meals.

You could say the entire cave was filled with the scent of roasting meat.

She could clearly sense that Felix Lawrence, though still standing beside her, was growing impatient.

If not for her presence, it looked like he would have broken into a run and dashed straight for the pork.

Noticing Stella Sterling’s gaze, Felix Lawrence glanced over, a bit embarrassed. "My apologies, Miss Sterling. That aroma is just too good."

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