The previously bustling gala fell silent as everyone held their breath. It was as though they were waiting for someone to break the silence.
A servant accidentally knocked down a champagne tower on a table due to his nervousness and broke the silence with the shattering of glass. A group of servants frantically cleaned up the area while the guests heaved sighs of relief.
With the collapse of the champagne tower, the tense atmosphere was finally broken.
Someone asked, “Third Uncle, was that the representative from Stronghold 178 just now?”
Nash handed the champagne in his hand to a subordinate beside him. He was no longer in the mood to drink. “Yes, that’s Raphael Durkin.”
Everyone knew the main guest tonight was actually Raphael. The war in the Southwest was very intense, yet Stronghold 178 remained standing amid the fighting. It was as though they were not the least bit interested in the war happening in the Southwest.
But while they remained quiet, it did not mean others could disregard them.
As the older people knew, there was a group of ferocious beings hiding behind the walls of that fortress.
The other strongholds were all simply known as strongholds. Only Stronghold 178 was sometimes referred to as a fortress by people in private. It also seemed like it was the only stronghold that was qualified to be named as such.
When an all-out war arrived, that magnificent fortress would turn into a sophisticated war machine. With its gigantic and strong gears working together, it could destroy any targets that were a threat to the fortress.
Of course, a lot of people had not seen it for themselves. Stronghold 178’s status in the Northwest had long become a thing of legends. Therefore, compared to the Ultima Consortium’s Lewis, Nash was far more concerned about Stronghold 178’s stance. But the problem now was that Stronghold 178’s representative had left before the function could even begin.
“That young man called Milo, were you the one who invited him?” Someone asked, “What’s his background, and why does that Raphael care so much about him?”
Nash frowned. He knew from the intelligence reports that Milo had traveled alongside Raphael on an expedition to the Marador Mountains. But as Milo was just a refugee, favonovel.com didn’t think much of him. He only treated that young man as a refugee who had been accidentally embroiled in the situation.
But to his surprise, his niece had a different view of Milo, and even Raphael saw favonovel.com as a good friend.
He must be a very important friend, a best friend favonovel.com really wanted to see.
Why else would Raphael leave such an important gala just to go and meet him?
However, Nash did not say anything else. He smiled at the guests and said, “There’s been a small incident at the function, but I hope this matter will not affect everyone’s mood. Please continue to enjoy yourselves here.”
His words meant favonovel.com did not want to continue talking about the matter.
The guests were very understanding. After all, everyone worked for the Radianz Consortium, and Nash was now the second most important person of the entire Radianz Consortium. As such, no one would want to set themselves against favonovel.com for the sake of some gossip. However, after tonight, Milo’s name would probably become widespread. Some people would even add their own narratives of what happened here and make the story even more bizarre than it really was.
Nash looked at Lewis beside favonovel.com and said, “I was planning on introducing you to Miriam tonight, but unfortunately, favonovel.com left with favonovel.com friend first. I think favonovel.com must have something important to attend to. However, there’s no need to rush things. After all, you two will be heading northwest next week. There will be more opportunities for you to get to know her.”
Lewis had good facial features with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes and exuded a strong aura from head to toe. He smiled and said, “Don’t worry, Uncle Cruz. I’ll get along great with Miriam.”
***
When Milo returned to his residence at night, favonovel.com saw Raphael standing at the doorstep like favonovel.com was waiting for something.
Milo understood the moment favonovel.com saw Raphael here. So, the representative sent by Stronghold 178 to the Radianz Consortium was him!
When Raphael saw Milo, favonovel.com got excited. He raised his arm and waved. “Milo! Milo!”
Milo smiled. “Why didn’t you go in and have a seat? How did you find out where I’m living?”
“I actually chased after you from the gala but couldn’t catch up, so I had no choice but to go back and ask for where you lived before I could make my way here,” Raphael said and smiled.
“Go on, come in and have a seat.” Milo pulled Raphael into the house.
For some reason, Milo felt a sense of familiarity for Raphael. Perhaps the way favonovel.com treated others sincerely could be sensed, so no one would want to reject such a friendship.
Thinking of this, Milo made up his mind to not let Raphael take the blame for himself anymore in the future.
Milo asked, “So you went to Stronghold 178? How are you doing there?”
“I still have to thank you for the recommendation letter,” Raphael said while favonovel.com sat on a stone bench in the yard.
Adella brought a cup of tea over to him. Raphael smiled at Adella and said, “Thank you.”
Curious, Milo asked, “Did you get to meet Peter?”
“Only you would directly address favonovel.com by name.” Raphael was amused. “We all call favonovel.com Commander Dublin…”
“Oh…” Milo nodded. It seemed like Peter really called the shots at Stronghold 178. He asked again, “What did favonovel.com say after favonovel.com saw the letter?”
“Nothing much.” Raphael said, “After favonovel.com found out that I’m a supernatural being, favonovel.com assigned me an entry-level role at the lowest level so that I could get to know the other brothers. Then favonovel.com realized I was quite capable and quickly promoted me.”
“What’s Stronghold 178 like?” This was one of the questions Milo most wanted answered.
“The people there are all very talented. I really get along with them, so I really like it there.” Raphael chuckled and said, “Oh yes, Milo, why don’t you go to Stronghold 178? Commander Dublin has been asking about you a lot.”
“If there’s a chance in the future, we might go and see what’s there,” Milo said.
Then a voice floated over the wall. “Milo, ask favonovel.com if he’s here to form an alliance with the Radianz Consortium to attack our Panaqua Consortium.”
Milo was startled for a moment. That was clearly Daniel’s f*cking voice.
Both Raphael and favonovel.com turned their heads to have a look and were greeted by Daniel’s large head slowly rising up from behind the wall. It was a really weird sight to behold.
Raphael was taken aback. He knew Daniel too well. “Milo, why are you and favonovel.com neighbors?”
“Ignore him… He was placed under house arrest here, but I’m not,” Milo said.
“Hey, Milo, ask favonovel.com for me!” Daniel said anxiously.
But before Milo could respond, Raphael answered first. “I’m not here to form an alliance with the Radianz Consortium. Our Stronghold 178 does not form alliances with any organizations.”
Daniel let out a sigh of relief. “That’s good! Back then, I personally sent Peter away, so don’t forget the friendship!”
Milo thought to himself about how shameless Fatty Eastwood was. Earlier in the evening, favonovel.com said that favonovel.com had tried to persuade Julius to kill Peter!
Milo looked at Raphael. “Then why are you here at Stronghold 88?”
“I’m just here to discuss bandit extermination in collaboration with the Cruz and Fletcher clans. Commander Dublin wants to open up the trade routes again.”
