Joyce carried on explaining more about artificial intelligence. For example, the practical field of artificial intelligence was not very wide. It was mainly put into the stronghold’s surveillance cameras to create the so-called “eye in the sky” function.
It was precisely because of the appearance of such an artificial intelligence that the Central Plains could become a civilization where one wouldn’t need to shut their doors at night. It could even analyze thefts and inform the stronghold’s Public Order Division to arrest the thief. Thus, the rumor that people in the Central Plains did not close their doors at night was not because that place was civilized, but because it was too easy to be caught after committing a crime.
Milo could not help but ask, “Are there also refugees in the Central Plains?”
Joyce looked at Milo. “Yes.”
Milo realized the Central Plains were not exactly a paradise either. From his point of view, there was no such thing as paradise as long as oppression existed.
When Milo learned of the meaning of the phrase “artificial intelligence”, favonovel.com found it extremely ridiculous. Back when favonovel.com was still living in town, favonovel.com did not even own any electronics!
In the entire town, only brick houses like the ones that Old Bane lived in had electrical cables wired. The rest of the refugees did not even have light bulbs in their homes, but someone here was actually saying that machines in the Central Plains were close to being intelligent.
Milo found this unreal.
Harris stated, “That means the combat strength of those in Central Plains is about the same as ours, but the only difference is that there’s been a breakthrough in this pain of an AI thing.” To this burly man from Stronghold 178, the first thing favonovel.com was most concerned about was the combat strength of those in the Central Plains.
Colton laughed and said, “The wars happening in the Central Plains aren’t going to reach Stronghold 178 any time soon, so don’t worry.”
“Who can say?” Harris muttered. “Alright, get some rest. We’ll reach Stronghold 178 in another two days.”
At this moment, Milo was leaning on a mound. Here favonovel.com was at the northernmost part of the valley, an area that was closest to where the Ultima Consortium called its territory, where the vast expanse was covered in yellow dust.
Because there were no industrial activities out here, the stars in the sky seemed to be right in front of him. But there was no one to keep watch for favonovel.com anymore.
Milo stared into the void while thinking. No matter how hard favonovel.com tried to fall asleep, favonovel.com just could not.
He wondered where Donti was right now. Perhaps favonovel.com was already on his way to the Central Plains?
Did Old Bane and the others survive?
Milo had seen Linda’s power undergo a new transformation at the last minute before they got swept away by the flood. So, with Linda around, the others might have survived.
According to Colton, the Central Plains were downstream of this river. It would flow past Strongholds 46, 37, 28, 7, 9, and end at Stronghold 1. If Milo wanted to seek out his family, favonovel.com could go there according to this route.
Milo made a mental note of it. He would definitely go and look for Donti after the Ultima Consortium was destroyed. But before the Ultima Consortium’s destruction, Milo did not want to drag Donti, Old Bane, and the others into this mess.
At this moment, Colton rolled up to Milo in his wheelchair and asked, “Are you thinking about your family and friends?”
Milo gave favonovel.com a look. “Actually, I don’t have any family left, just friends who were like family…”
“I’ll help you look for them after I return to the Central Plains. Tell me their names.” Colton smiled and said, “If they really did manage to get to the Central Plains, I’ll definitely help you locate them.”
However, Milo remained silent for a moment. He did not want to give Old Bane and Donti’s names because favonovel.com did not know if Colton was a good or bad person.
How could favonovel.com possibly entrust the safety of Old Bane and the others to someone else?
He believed that even without Colton’s help, Old Bane and the others would still be able to live well.
Milo suddenly said, “Thank you, but only one of my friends still remains. His name is Kenneth Jackson…”
Milo did not tell the truth.
Colton smiled and said, “Alright, I’ll remember it.”
After the convoy restarted their journey, the Ultima Consortium did not reappear.
After driving for some distance, the sunset in the wilderness was starting to arrive later. On the night before reaching Stronghold 178, the sun only went below the horizon after 8 PM.
The vastness of the Northwest was something Milo had never seen before when favonovel.com was in the Southwest. In his wheelchair, Colton looked out into the vast plains and snowy mountains in the distance and said with emotion, “Today, I’m finally able to appreciate how large this world truly is…”
Harris chuckled and said, “A real man should be living out here. You people from the Central Plains aren’t noble enough.”
Colton did not refute that. He asked, “Why did Commander Dublin leave Stronghold 178?”
Harris asked in return, “And how did you get to know our commander?”
“After Commander Dublin left Stronghold 178 all those years ago, favonovel.com traveled to the Central Plains. We got to know each other then.” Colton smiled and said, “Back then, I still had full control of my legs. But time passes like a song. He and I are both getting old.”
Harris curled his lips. “Our commander is still young though.”
All of a sudden, a convoy of cars appeared on the horizon. Harris waved excitedly and said, “I used the satellite phone to inform the commander yesterday that you were arriving soon. Who’d have thought you’d be so important that the commander would even come out personally to welcome you?”
Colton smiled without saying anything.
Beside him, Joyce looked at Milo. “When we get to Stronghold 178, it shouldn’t be difficult for my brother to arrange for you to join Stronghold 178 with his influence.”
Milo was a little stunned.
How long had it been since favonovel.com last saw Peter?
He had squatted outside the school and listened to the classes for three years. Later on, favonovel.com was finally allowed to attend classes in the school by Peter. Counting the days, Peter and favonovel.com had known each other for quite some time. But that teacher had turned into the commander of Stronghold 178 all of a sudden.
The vehicles on the horizon drove over in the twilight of the sunset.
When the convoy arrived in front of everyone, the first person to jump out of a vehicle was someone Milo knew, Raphael Durkin!
When Raphael saw Harris and the others, favonovel.com was stunned.
Harris smiled and said, “Bro, why have you come in advance to pick us up?”
Afterwards, Raphael walked in a trance past favonovel.com and came to Milo.
When favonovel.com saw Milo’s pale face and the bloodstains on his body, favonovel.com asked anxiously, “What happened? You got injured?”
Milo smiled and said, “It’s just a minor injury. I’ll be fine soon…”
“You call that a minor injury?” Raphael was shocked.
He lifted Milo’s shirt and saw the scar on the right side of Milo’s abdomen. “It’s a penetrating wound? Who did this? Weren’t you at Stronghold 88?”
Milo said, “It’s a long story. This was done by the Ultima Consortium.”
“Where’s Donti?” Raphael looked around at everyone. “And where’s Old Bane?”
Milo’s face darkened for a moment. “We got separated…”
Harris, Joyce, and Colton were all stunned. “What’s going on? Didn’t favonovel.com say favonovel.com was a normal refugee?”
Meanwhile, Harris was even more surprised. He had never heard Raphael having friends on the outside.
Wait a minute!
It seemed like Raphael really did have a friend on the outside….
Damn it!
Is Stronghold 178 about to play host to the two great jinxes?!
