Before dawn, the roaring had gradually subsided, and the lightning had diminished as well.

Only then did many people dare to finally get some sleep.

However, though the sky had yet to lighten, many people in the Orilon Complex began to set out, taking their food, a few changes of clothes, and their weapons.

Stella Sterling stood at the window, watching as her familiar neighbors left the Orilon Complex, making their way through the downpour with all sorts of makeshift vessels.

"Ma’am, aren’t we leaving now?"

Stephen Lawrence stood behind her. Watching the other residents leave the complex, he asked in confusion.

"It’s so dark out. Traveling now would be incredibly dangerous. We should go back and get some proper sleep, then set off at dawn!"

Stella Sterling stretched lazily.

Stephen Lawrence watched the crowd receding into the distance. Among them were many people he once knew.

Some held umbrellas over their heads, others wore raincoats, all of them clutching their food supplies tightly.

They looked like poor, homeless souls forced to wander. For a moment, his heart was filled with a sense of sorrow.

’Life was already hard enough, and now they’ve lost their only shelter. They have to go searching for another place to hide!’

’Who knows what fate awaits them!’

"Why don’t they just go to Building B or C? They’re right here. Wouldn’t it be better to stay in a familiar place instead of searching elsewhere?"

He was completely baffled. He didn’t understand why Felix Lawrence would lead everyone away from here.

"In two years, they’ve surely checked both buildings. If they were habitable, they would have moved in long ago. The few people from Building C are leaving with them now. As for Building B, there hasn’t been any sign of life for two years. The situation there is probably grim too."

Stella Sterling’s tone was casual, as if she were just making small talk. After speaking, she turned and walked toward the bedroom.

"Time for bed. We need to be well-rested to explore effectively."

’It’s just a shame,’ she thought. ’If things went badly for everyone in Building B, then I saved that brother and sister for nothing.’

’But in my past life, they managed to survive for a long time. They definitely wouldn’t just kick the bucket this early. Maybe those two found some other opportunity.’

With that, she closed the bedroom door, leaving Stephen Lawrence to stare after her.

Stephen Lawrence was thoroughly confused. ’She was the one who said we had to leave, so why isn’t she in a hurry now? She’s choosing to sleep instead of leaving right away. Isn’t she worried we’ll run out of time?’

However, he would obey Stella Sterling no matter what, so he too went back to bed.

’After two years of comfortable living, I seem to have gotten soft. Now I’m even getting picky about my bed. This is not a good habit.’

Stella Sterling muttered to herself. She hadn’t slept well during the first half of the night, waking at the slightest noise.

As she spoke, she took the bed she had slept on for two years out of her spatial storage and swapped it with the one she was using. Only then did she fall into a peaceful sleep.

When she woke up, the sky was already bright. She wasn’t in a hurry to leave, deciding to take care of breakfast first.

Nearby, Stephen Lawrence gnawed on a cornbread bun so hard you could brain someone with it, shooting a resentful glare at Stella Sterling.

He stared at her breakfast, which looked and smelled delicious, and couldn’t help but swallow hard.

The pizza was still steaming. And him? He could only gnaw on this long-cold cornbread bun. The difference in their meals was just too vast!

’But even now, he still couldn’t figure out where his master got her food. When could she have possibly prepared it?’

"It’s best not to be too curious about certain things. Too much curiosity can get you killed."

Just then, Stella, who was eating her breakfast, suddenly turned to look at him with a grin and said ominously.

Stephen Lawrence shuddered. He didn’t dare to glance in Stella Sterling’s direction again and quickly focused on gnawing his cornbread bun.

’If it weren’t for the fact that I didn’t want to waste a pill, I would’ve just abandoned him.’

’Even so, I don’t trust him completely. I always make sure he’s not around when I take things out of my spatial storage.’

’After all this time together, I know he must have his suspicions, but as long as he doesn’t see it with his own eyes, he’ll never be able to guess the truth.’

’If it comes down to it, I’ll just have to kill him.’

As they were leaving the Orilon Complex, Stella Sterling took out her speedboat and prepared an inflatable raft for Stephen Lawrence.

Seeing Stephen Lawrence’s confused expression, Quinn said matter-of-factly, "There are fish in the water now. You can catch some for yourself."

"Huh? Ma’am, I’m not going with you?"

Stephen Lawrence said in surprise, looking at the inflatable raft beside him.

Stella Sterling raised an eyebrow at him. "What kind of subordinate sticks to their master all the time? A proper subordinate should learn to find their own food and generate value for their master!"

"I’ve been feeding you for free for two years. You don’t expect me to support you forever, do you? From now on, you need to learn to secure your own food."

Stephen Lawrence’s mouth twitched. He wanted to say that he hadn’t exactly been a freeloader—he’d been her guinea pig for two years!

But in the end, he didn’t have the courage to say it out loud and could only nod.

"Good luck. See you around."

She gave him a wave, then sped off in her boat.

’She wasn’t worried about Stephen Lawrence being unable to find her. Thanks to the Loyal Servant Pill, all she had to do was think of him, and he would find a way to get to her.’

’Now, it was just a matter of whether Stephen Lawrence could survive on his own.’

’She wasn’t concerned about that. Since he was her subordinate, he had to get stronger. He couldn’t just tag along by her side forever.’

’It wasn’t enough for him to just be a pain-resistant guinea pig. She needed a powerful subordinate who could handle things for her, and the current Stephen Lawrence was far from up to standard.’

’She hadn’t had a choice before, but now it was time to throw him out into the world and let him train.’

’Only by getting stronger and stronger could he be of any use to her. Of course, if he happened to die... well, that would just be his fate.’

Watching Stella Sterling recede into the distance, Stephen Lawrence looked around blankly, then sat down in his inflatable raft and began to paddle away...

"Mine! It’s all mine!"

"That’s obviously mine! I found it! All of you, get lost!"

"Finders keepers! Who cares who saw it first?"

"That’s right! It belongs to whoever is strongest!"

BANG!

"Aaargh!"

SPLASH!

On the water, a dispute had broken out over a bag of moldy snacks. In the ensuing chaos, the person who had first found it was struck by someone with a club, his head caved in. His body toppled onto the water’s surface...

The others paid it no mind, continuing to scramble for the bag of snacks. Their eyes seemed to glow with a feral light, their faces twisted with excitement.