Chapter 162: Chapter 162: I Have Many Fine Traditions

The man, who looked to be in his fifties, suddenly collapsed. A bloody hole had appeared between his eyebrows, and blood was gushing out.

His eyes were still open, filled with a look of confusion.

"Ah—"

The people around them screamed in terror and hastily backed away.

"They killed someone!"

"The people from Meridia Base killed someone!"

Those few people shouted, never imagining the base personnel would strike without warning.

Not far away, hidden in the crowd, Stella Sterling’s eyes glinted.

’These people from Meridia Base... their methods are certainly interesting.’

Faced with everyone’s accusations, the two members of Meridia Base remained calm. They glanced at the people who were shouting hysterically and said coldly, "We at Meridia Base search far and wide for survivors, helping everyone out of a sense of kinship with our fellow countrymen. But we are not a charity."

"We rescued you, took you in, and offered you our protection, so you must abide by our base’s rules. When each of you boarded this ship, you were warned not to cause trouble for no reason and not to gang up on others. If you won’t listen, then leave."

Many people fell silent, secretly relieved they hadn’t caused any trouble earlier.

The ones who had just been shouting about Meridia Base killing someone now quieted down, lowering their heads, not daring to meet the gazes of the two base members.

The two men paid them no mind. Having intimidated the rest of the crowd, they turned back to the troublemakers. "Now, are you going to get off yourselves, or do we have to help you?"

"No, no! We’ll leave, we’ll leave right now!"

The men said hastily, not daring to argue any further. How could they dare not to leave?

If they didn’t leave on their own, their fate would be the same as the man who was now dead.

The men left, and the dead man’s body was carried out toward the deck. Many watched clearly as a member of Meridia Base simply tossed the corpse into the water, where it made a splash...

After that, no one else dared to entertain any funny ideas.

Lydia Magnus thanked the two men. "Thank you, thank you! Excuse me, is there anyone on board who knows medicine? My boyfriend was just stabbed by them. He’s unconscious now. Please, I’m begging you, save him!"

"We’re not the ones you should be thanking."

The base member who had first intervened shook his head.

’I let out a sigh of relief inwardly. With more people these days, disputes have become more frequent. We usually can’t be bothered with such minor issues. But I didn’t expect it to almost turn deadly here. If it weren’t for that Miss Sterling’s reminder, Captain Young would have chewed me out for sure.’

"What?"

Lydia Magnus was surprised. If she shouldn’t thank him, then who should she thank? Could it be that someone else had helped her?

Realizing it was very likely someone else had secretly gone to get the people in charge, she asked, "Did someone else help me? Could you tell me who it was? I’d like to thank them later."

Now that the gang had been kicked off the ship, she didn’t have to worry about them trying to get revenge on the person who had secretly helped her.

The base member recalled what Miss Sterling had told him. He shook his head. "You’re overthinking it. What saved you were the strict rules of Meridia Base."

After saying this, he cut Lydia Magnus off before she could speak again. "Come on, I’ll take you to a doctor. Your boyfriend’s wound needs to be treated immediately."

Hearing this, Lydia Magnus’s focus shifted back to Claire Xavier. She couldn’t worry about anything else and quickly followed the man to find a doctor.

"The base’s rules are strict, but with so many people to rescue, there are bound to be more incidents. Some things just can’t be managed," Louis Grant said to Stella Sterling, who was standing beside him.

Stella Sterling’s gaze shifted away from Lydia Magnus and the others. "It’s also because the deterrent isn’t strong enough," she said. "If the threat was frightening enough, no one on this ship would dare cause trouble, even if there wasn’t a single Meridia Base member around."

Louis Grant nodded in agreement. "True. But after what just happened, I imagine everyone will behave themselves."

Stella Sterling didn’t argue. Meridia Base still had many shortcomings, but she had to admit their handling of the situation was correct.

Louis Grant followed Stella Sterling to her small room.

In his words, his own quarters were too crowded and noisy, unbefitting of his status. Stella Sterling’s little room was much quieter and more comfortable.

As a show of goodwill, he even took out a few pieces of candy from his private stash to share with Stella Sterling.

For the sake of the gesture, Stella Sterling didn’t refuse.

As they walked, the two continued to discuss what had just happened.

Louis Grant asked casually, "Did you know those two people who were being bullied? Are they friends of yours? Why did you help them but not go over and say hello?"

"I don’t know them."

Stella Sterling shook her head, her tone so calm it was impossible to tell if she was lying.

’Does she really not know them, or is there another reason?’

"If you don’t know them, why did you help them?"

He found it strange. ’A person like Quincy Sterling doesn’t seem like the type to meddle in other people’s business.’

"Isn’t it normal for a kind person like me, who can’t stand to see others being bullied, to want to do a good deed every once in a while?"

Stella Sterling replied casually, her mind seemingly elsewhere.

Louis Grant didn’t notice her distraction. Hearing her words, he snorted with laughter. "I never would have guessed you were such a warm-hearted person."

’She really is a strange one. She kills without batting an eye, yet she’ll casually do a good deed and save someone. From the way she acts, I’d never have pegged her as someone who enjoys helping others. She’s truly an enigma, impossible to figure out.’

"But of course. How long have you known me? I have plenty of fine qualities you don’t know about yet."

She stuck her hands in her pockets, glanced at Louis Grant, then faced forward again, speaking without the slightest hint of a blush or a waver in her voice.

Her words made Louis Grant’s eyes start to scan her up and down.

’Could it be that this woman is genuinely a model citizen, and I just failed to see it?’

"I suggest you take your eyes off me right now. Otherwise, be careful I don’t gouge them out."

Stella Sterling didn’t turn around, but her voice sent a chill down his spine.

Just moments ago, he was hearing this person talk about her many "fine qualities," and now she was threatening to gouge his eyes out...

Louis Grant was completely bewildered. He blurted out, "Is a fondness for gouging people’s eyes out also one of those fine qualities?"

Stella Sterling stopped walking and shook her head. "Of course not."

"I have fine qualities, but that doesn’t stop me from gouging out some wandering eyes."

"The two aren’t mutually exclusive."

Louis Grant rubbed his nose and said nothing.

Stella Sterling retracted her gaze and turned to continue walking forward.

Louis Grant quickly followed behind her.