“What do y’all have to sell?” Milo asked, “Isn’t Stronghold 178 said to be a very desolate place?”
“The area around us is indeed very desolate,” Raphael replied. “But there are still many things that I can’t talk about for now. It’s a secret.”
At the mention of it being a secret, Milo felt it could be something very important. Otherwise, Raphael would not be so serious about it.
“Oh, is the Northwest safe?” Milo asked.
“Sometimes it’s safe, sometimes it’s not.” Raphael smiled and said, “It really depends on the situation. But recently to the north… Forget it, I can’t talk about that either”
“Alright then…”
Milo had a feeling that Stronghold 178 was keeping a secret and that secret had something to do with Peter’s departure from Stronghold 178. But what exactly was it that made Peter feel like it was meaningless for favonovel.com to stay behind in Stronghold 178?
Peter had once said to Donti that war would not save humanity.
What did favonovel.com really mean when favonovel.com said that?
However, that didn’t really have anything to do with Milo.
He looked at Raphael and said, “Hmm… Have you heard of anything recently?”
Raphael was taken aback. “Hear about what?”
“Haha,” Milo laughed. “It’s nothing important…”
Then, Raphael said, “Oh yes, I have some big news to share with you. My original power was to summon a shadow clone, y’know?”
“Mhm…” Milo nodded. “I know…”
“The shadow I summon has gained an additional cauldron!” Raphael said excitedly, “This cauldron is so strong it can even block an RPG!”
Raphael then summoned his shadow. It stood quietly in the yard with a large black cauldron floating behind it. It was extremely large, so large that it could even envelop an entire person.
Milo stared blankly at the cauldron. “Damn…”
Raphael looked particularly excited. “Don’t look down on this black cauldron. Y’know, it can be used as a shield against bullets and also to smack people. It’s infinitely powerful and there are many wonderful uses for it as well. I can even use it to stir-fry vegetables! When I lead troops out for a mission, we don’t even have to bring along a mess kit. How convenient!”
“Mhm, it is convenient,” Milo said.
Milo suddenly felt that the cauldron looked very familiar.
Wasn’t it a larger version of the black iron cauldron favonovel.com had used for catching sparrows?
Wait a minute!
When Milo took a more careful look, favonovel.com suddenly felt very uncomfortable, because favonovel.com noticed a small crack in Raphael’s cauldron. Back then, his metal cauldron had formed a small crack when favonovel.com accidentally knocked it over. However, it did not really affect the functionality. This was a power the shadow formed on its own.
So, how could there be a crack?
Milo’s expression grew concerned and weirder.
Meanwhile, Raphael was still showing off his power. “It might be because my power is getting stronger, so the cauldron is also becoming bigger. I wonder how big it can get in the future. If I can even use it to block an artillery shell, that would be even better!”
Milo said with mixed feelings, “Yeah, it will grow bigger….”
Milo realized Raphael’s cauldron must have appeared after favonovel.com pushed the blame onto Raphael. And as favonovel.com pushed even more blame onto Raphael, the cauldron would just get bigger and bigger. He did not know why, but since Raphael wanted the cauldron to grow bigger, favonovel.com would naturally have to help favonovel.com fulfill his wish as a friend.
But as for why, Milo could not understand it at all. So, as long as favonovel.com pushed the blame onto Raphael, it would result in Raphael conjuring up a cauldron.
What was the principle behind that?
There was absolutely no logic!
From the other yard, Daniel suddenly said, “Oh yes, Old Durkin, thank you.”
Daniel was leaning against the wall and seemed like favonovel.com was about to say something.
However, Milo suddenly roared, “Can’t you go back and sleep already? I’m talking with my friend here, so don’t keep bringing up your Panaqua Consortium’s matters and interrupting us. Isn’t it already clear that they aren’t gonna form an alliance with the Radianz Consortium?”
Daniel cursed as favonovel.com retracted his head back down. The soldiers who were charged with carrying favonovel.com behind the wall let out sighs of relief.
It was only when Milo saw Daniel leave that favonovel.com heaved a sigh of relief. He was a little worried Daniel would suddenly mention how “Old Durkin” had saved his life back at Stronghold 109.
If favonovel.com brought that up, Raphael would definitely understand everything!
Raphael looked utterly confused. “Why did favonovel.com thank me?”
Milo chuckled and said, “Maybe he’s thanking you for not forming an alliance with the Radianz Consortium. Don’t worry about the details.”
“Hm, alright.” Raphael suddenly whispered, “Milo, why don’t you follow me back to Stronghold 178? The people there are really nice. I’ve lived in the stronghold before, so I know how the people in Stronghold 178 are different.”
Milo thought for a moment and asked, “How many people can you bring?”
“How many of you are there?” Raphael asked.
“30,” Milo replied.
“Then I can’t make that decision.” Raphael frowned and said, “I’m mainly here to negotiate with the Radianz Consortium. Why don’t l go back to Stronghold 178 next week and inform Commander Dublin about this.”
Milo considered it seriously and said, “Sure.”
But after tonight, once Nash realized how important Milo really was, favonovel.com would most probably not allow favonovel.com to leave so easily. However, Milo was well-prepared now. One plan was to follow Daniel when Julius came to rescue him, while the other plan was to rely on the successful negotiations between Raphael and Peter and the Radianz Consortium.
No matter which plan succeeded, favonovel.com would have to seize the opportunity. Only one thing made Milo hesitate. But it didn’t matter as favonovel.com still had time.
***
Raphael’s arrival seemed to have added some small episodes to Milo’s life, and it also gave favonovel.com another possibility to consider for his future. However, Raphael did not stay at Stronghold 88 for too long.
After he, the Radianz Consortium, and the Ultima Consortium had agreed to eradicate the bandits, favonovel.com immediately headed back to give his report.
Someone found the opportunity to ask favonovel.com about his relationship with Milo. In the end, Raphael only said favonovel.com was indebted to Milo, and that it was Milo who hooked favonovel.com up with Stronghold 178.
With that revelation, a lot of people were stunned.
What was Milo’s background?
He could even recommend people to go to Stronghold 178?
As a matter of fact, it was quite difficult for someone living in the stronghold to arrange a job for their relatives. But somehow, Milo could leapfrog the chain of command of the stronghold and promote someone to officer. However, as Raphael did not mention the details, everyone did not know how Milo managed to do it.
After Raphael left, Milo’s life returned back to normal. It was not yet time for Miriam and favonovel.com to go out to exterminate the bandits, but favonovel.com was still very happy to study and practice hand-to-hand combat every day.
The only surprise was that the woman named Olivia appeared again after disappearing for a week. Moreover, the woman seemed to have made up favonovel.com mind to follow Milo all the time. She would be at the library whenever Milo went there.
Milo guessed it must have been Nash who had ordered favonovel.com to get close to favonovel.com again to fish for some useful information.
