Apocalypse Rebirth: Crazy from Day One

Furthermore, Stella Sterling also instructed Shane Lawrence to have the other members start gathering information on prominent scientists.

They were to report back as soon as they found any leads.

She planned to recruit them aggressively. After all, for the base’s long-term survival and growth, such talent was just as indispensable as raw power.

This was the apocalypse, and no one knew how long it would last. Even as someone who had been reborn, she couldn’t see the future with perfect clarity.

Instead of just passively reacting to the apocalypse, they needed to start seizing the initiative.

And these brilliant minds were what the post-apocalyptic world needed most.

Every other base was vying for them, and she couldn’t afford to fall behind.

With his orders given, Shane Lawrence immediately set about making the arrangements.

A buzz of activity swept through the entirety of Mount Caeluna.

A subtle excitement filled the air. Everyone knew that Caeluna was finally making a move.

While everyone else was busy, Stella Sterling enjoyed a rare period of relaxation.

With her subordinates handling everything, she spent her free time holed up in her villa, watching TV shows and, whenever the mood struck, cooking herself a gourmet meal.

「Three days later.」 Stephen Lawrence returned. The very first thing he did was report to Stella Sterling. "Ms. Sterling, I’ve delivered him to Meridia Base as you instructed."

"He was calm and didn’t cause any trouble, so it all went smoothly."

Stella Sterling simply gave a calm nod, not pressing for more details. "Good, you’re back. We’ve recruited some new people over the last few days. Go and tell everyone to assemble tonight. I have orders to give."

"Yes."

Stephen Lawrence nodded. He’d already noticed the changes around the base upon his return.

There were a lot of new faces; a general assembly to get everyone acquainted was certainly a good idea.

After Stephen Lawrence left, Stella Sterling also departed from Caeluna. Piloting the boat was none other than Black Swan.

Stella hadn’t paid her any mind since bringing her back to the base.

But now, upon seeing her again, Black Swan’s defiance from a few days ago was completely gone.

When Stella saw her, she was surprised to find her helping other base members with their work. In just a few days, it seemed she had completely integrated into the community.

So when Stella told her to come with her, Black Swan followed immediately, practically tripping over herself with eagerness.

On the boat, Black Swan even took the opportunity to repeatedly pledge her loyalty. "Sterling, I’m one of your people now. When are you going to give me a mission? I want to do my part for Caeluna, too!"

Stella Sterling sized her up. The woman seemed to have transformed in just a few days.

Looking at her, Stella felt this change wasn’t just because of the Loyal Servant Pill.

Noticing Stella’s scrutiny, Black Swan seemed a little bashful. Her normally sharp, capable face now held a somewhat simple and honest expression. She smiled. "Sterling, I know what you’re thinking."

"Over the past few days, I’ve seen the strength of our Caeluna. I’ve truly been won over."

"I only offended you before because I was trying to hoard more food. Everything I did was just to survive. But now, here at Caeluna, I see that no one has to worry about their next meal. Life is stable. What’s not to love about a place like this? I couldn’t be happier."

Black Swan spoke with genuine sincerity.

’God, she had been so shocked when she first arrived and saw this place—a true fortress in the apocalypse.’

’She’d been captured as an enemy, yet she hadn’t been humiliated in the slightest. She had plenty of food and drink. She was truly grateful.’

Her feelings had been on a roller coaster for the past few days.

’In the end, only one thought remained: she had to stay here, even if they tried to kick her out.’

Stella Sterling chuckled softly. "Get the boat moving. We’ll see how you perform from now on."

"You got it!"

Black Swan nodded. She was exceptionally attentive the entire trip, taking every opportunity to profess her loyalty to Stella Sterling.

The woman also had a witty sense of humor, and she managed to make Stella Sterling laugh more than once.

’I like people like this,’ Stella thought. ’Smart, capable, and discerning.’

Seeing Stella Sterling in a good mood, Black Swan grinned from ear to ear. "Sterling, do you have any more of that medicine you gave me? How about giving me another dose?"

’If I take that pill, Stella will trust me more, and our bond will be deeper. That’ll increase my chances of getting to stay here for good!’

Her mindset had completely shifted. From now on, she would be Sterling’s most loyal lackey.

Stella Sterling raised an eyebrow. "One pill is enough. They’re very precious; I’m not about to waste them on you. And now that you’ve taken it, I won’t be letting you off easy. I’ll expect you to slave away and work your fingers to the bone for me."

Hearing this, Black Swan smiled, even more reassured. "Sterling, from now on, I’ll be your workhorse. Just tell me what to do. I guarantee my undying loyalty. I will never betray you!"

Stella Sterling gave her a faint, knowing smile. ’After taking the Loyal Servant Pill, it’s impossible for her to even think of betraying me.’

’Whether her words are sincere, or what her true motivations are, doesn’t matter. All that’s important is that I know she can never betray me.’

Stella Sterling had her stop the boat at the foot of a desolate, uninhabited mountain. "Wait here for me," she ordered.

Black Swan nodded.

Stella Sterling headed up the mountain. After transferring some firearms and ammunition out of her space, she went back down and called for Black Swan to join her.

’Over the past year, I’ve used my Weapon Replication Card to stockpile a considerable number of firearms.’

’Now that I’m committed to expanding Caeluna’s power, I need to equip my people properly.’

’My people can’t be outgunned by anyone else.’

When Black Swan reached the top of the mountain and saw the contents of the open crates inside the cave, her eyes went wide enough to pop out of her head, and her jaw dropped so far you could have fit a few eggs in her mouth.

She rubbed her eyes, thinking she must be seeing things.

Then, she turned to Stella Sterling, her gaze filled with disbelief. "Sterling, are these..."

"I stumbled upon them by chance," Stella said. "From now on, they belong to Caeluna!"

Black Swan was too stunned to speak. These were modern firearms, all completely untouched by moisture.

’Just imagine how much stronger Caeluna would be with this arsenal.’

She was suddenly overcome with relief that she was now one of Caeluna’s own, and not its enemy.

’Going up against a power like this, against Sterling... that’s just asking to die.’

"Are we supposed to move all of this back to the base today? But with just the two of us, I don’t think it’s possible."