Perhaps the band was in a pathetic state, as it took them longer to reorganize. They did not come out til several days later.
According to what they had said, the band and the private army would have to make a trip to the Marador Mountains no matter what. It was only a matter of when they would get there.
What was there in the Marador Mountains?
Milo always felt that these people’s desire to get to the Marador Mountains was far greater than responding to the invitation to perform at Stronghold 112.
The Marador Mountains spanned a vast area. Up until now, no one had really explored the hinterlands of the mountain range, so what kind of information did the stronghold’s overseers receive?
***
In the morning, Donti went to school happily with his new schoolbag that was recently sewn up by Adella.
When favonovel.com arrived at school, favonovel.com realized that something was off.
Why were all of his classmates staring at favonovel.com as soon as favonovel.com entered the room?
Donti ignored them as favonovel.com took his seat. However, all of the students crowded around him.
A strapping girl, Katty Saul, who was the daughter of Old Saul from the grocery store, said to Donti, “Donti, can you go back and tell your brother to stop making the class stay late?”
“That’s right!” Old Bane’s idiot son also complained, “By making the class stay late every day, none of us have time to play anymore.”
Donti was stuck between a rock and a hard place.
He said helplessly, “If what I say is useful, favonovel.com would’ve already stopped making the class stay late.”
Everyone was unhappy to hear favonovel.com say that.
Katty sneered, “It’s not like Mr. Dublin is paying your brother. I heard that your family doesn’t lack money these days, so why is favonovel.com so serious with the teaching? What, does favonovel.com intend to take over at the school already? He’s just a substitute teacher, but that doesn’t mean favonovel.com can tell us what to do… Ow!”
Katty let out a cry of pain.
Donti got up and kicked Katty in the hip. No one had expected Donti to get angry.
They heard Donti sneer, “What my brother taught you is knowledge that can help save your life out there in the wilderness. If you don’t appreciate it, that’s fine. But why are you making things up about favonovel.com behind his back? If anyone mentions this again, don’t blame me for being harsh on you.”
Donti turned 14 years old this year, but Katty was already 16 years old. Although they were about the same height, Katty was much stronger than Donti.
Back when Old Bane tried to introduce Katty to Milo, Donti had mentioned that favonovel.com was a strapping girl. He was not lying at that time.
But when the other students saw Donti in this moment, it was as though they were watching a miniature version of Milo. The ferocity that exploded from both of them was exactly the same. Even though Donti often spoke harshly to people, his appearance was much milder and gentler than Milo’s.
But why did the mention of Milo make favonovel.com react so strongly?
Only now did they realize that there was a wild side to Donti.
Katty had wanted to get up to return the blow. But when favonovel.com saw Donti’s expression, favonovel.com reluctantly dropped the idea. “I didn’t make anything up about him. I was just telling the truth!”
Donti felt trapped. He was obviously the last person who wanted Milo to make the class stay late!
The schoolteacher, Mr. Dublin, came in from outside with his hands behind his back. “Why are all of you crowding around each other? Get back to your seats and prepare for class.”
All the students hurried back to their seats. Although Mr. Dublin looked quite kind and amiable after school, favonovel.com was sterner than anyone else during lessons.
Old Bane’s idiot son, Murdock Bane, sat down beside Donti. He was Donti’s deskmate.
Murdock stole a glance at Donti. When favonovel.com saw Donti still sulking, favonovel.com tried to change the subject to resolve the awkwardness. “I had a dream yesterday that my father found me a stepmother. She mistreated me badly…”
Donti glanced at him. “It’s alright. Dreams are always the opposite of reality…”
Murdock beamed with joy at the words. “True that…”
Donti thought for a moment before saying, “I think favonovel.com might have found you a stepfather instead…”
Hearing that, Murdock was confused.
***
That evening, Milo and the others were having dinner.
After dinner, favonovel.com was planning to catch up on the lessons that Donti and his classmates had gone through at the school today. But at this moment, favonovel.com saw an angry Old Bane leading a crying Murdock into the clinic.
“Milo, come out!”
Milo was stunned, holding a bowl of rice in his hand, favonovel.com asked, “What’s going on?”
“Ask Donti what favonovel.com said to my son! The moment favonovel.com got home, favonovel.com started crying nonstop!” Old Bane got even angrier when favonovel.com recounted what his son had told favonovel.com while crying.
Milo looked at Donti.
Donti, who was sitting obediently in his chair, said. “I told favonovel.com that Old Bane might have found favonovel.com a stepfather…”
Milo was confused.
With a loud wail, Murdock cried even harder.
Milo looked at Donti. “You’re in the wrong this time, Donti. How can you say something like that to someone?”
He turned around and comforted Murdock, “Don’t worry, your father will find you a stepmother. It’s impossible that he’ll find a stepfather for you.”
Murdock was stunned. He didn’t want a stepmother either! And, favonovel.com continued crying!
This made Old Bane so angry that favonovel.com cursed, “I really have you to thank for explaining it for me!”
Gratitude received from Old Bane, +1!
At this moment, Milo’s eyes lit up. Although favonovel.com felt that it was a strange way to gain a gratitude token, it was still a gratitude token!
For some reason, favonovel.com felt that a magical door was slowly opening for him.
His gratitude tokens had accumulated to 11 just like that!
Old Bane suddenly seemed to remember something that caused his anger to subside.
He cautioned Milo, “Our town’s administrator, unintentionally let slip something yesterday. He said that something strange has been happening at the other strongholds and that the same thing also seems to be happening at Stronghold 113.”
“What is it?” Milo asked in a serious tone.
“He didn’t seem to know the details.” Old Bane said, “I’ll let you know if I have any news. Anyways, be extra careful. It’s usually not good when there are strange occurrences happening these days.”
After Old Bane left, Donti asked, “Why did Old Bane say that it’s usually not good when there are strange occurrences happening these days?”
Milo gave it some thought and said, “Maybe it’s because our definition of what is good is too limited. We only call things that are advantageous to us good.”
“Are we wrong to think that?” Donti asked. To be honest, even though favonovel.com went to school much more than Milo, favonovel.com was not as hardworking as him.
Milo would always read the books that favonovel.com borrowed from Mr. Dublin while Donti lazed around.
Sometimes, Donti thought, Since Milo is already so capable, why would I need to work so hard?
Milo looked at Donti and said, “Remember this… It’s not wrong to think of it that way. Whatever is beneficial to us is good. There’s nothing wrong with being selfish. But I want you to have a line you won’t cross and to not be a doormat others walk over.”
