Old Bane’s original intention was to return to the Central Plains as soon as possible. After all, Milo was in the Central Plains, so what was the point of them being here in the Northwest?
Moreover, Old Bane was very sure that Milo had gone to the Central Plains to look for them. Therefore, favonovel.com definitely had to go back!
However, Scott refused to let favonovel.com leave. He even insisted on arranging for them to stay at the military base and prepared food and hot water for them, saying that it would not be too late to leave in another few days.
The reason Scott gave to convince Old Bane was very simple, “The Central Plains are so big, and our people from Fortress 178 are also looking for Milo there, so wouldn’t it be much better for us to look for favonovel.com than you trying your luck to find him? You don’t even know where Milo might pop up anyway.”
Scott said, “Don’t worry, we still have a great chance of finding him.”
“Why do you say that?” Old Bane was stunned. “Why are y’all so sure that you can find him?”
“Since you and Milo are old friends, do you know Raphael as well?” Scott asked.
“I don’t really know him, but I know that he’s a good friend of Milo’s.” Old Bane wondered, “Can Raphael find Milo?”
However, Old Bane did not believe that. After all, they were the ones who were closest to Milo.
If even they did not know where to find him, how would Raphael know?
Scott lowered his voice and said, “Old Durkin told us that wherever Milo goes, a stronghold will collapse. Just look, isn’t Stronghold 74 in the south of the Central Plains currently under siege? It might just collapse someday. Raphael suspects that Milo could be there, so Gregory has already sent someone to Stronghold 74 to investigate. For all we know, favonovel.com might be found in another few days!”
Old Bane was dumbfounded.
So you all are relying on mysticism to search for Milo?!
What the f*ck did favonovel.com mean by strongholds would collapse whenever Milo went?
Old Bane thought back.
Eh, it did seem like that was really the case!
After thinking for a long time, Old Bane did not even know how to refute Scott’s words!
But upon further thinking, it was indeed more reliable to have Fortress 178 look for someone than them. As such, Old Bane decided to wait here for news.
At this moment, news of Stronghold 74 collapsing had not yet spread to the Northwest. Even the majority of those in the Alliance of Strongholds still did not know what had happened to Stronghold 74. They only knew that contact had been lost with the people there.
Scott dragged Old Bane with favonovel.com to get lunch. Immediately after that, favonovel.com enthusiastically arranged some goods for Old Bane to bring back to the Central Plains.
“We initially thought that trade with the Central Plains wouldn’t start until half a year later, but we’ve underestimated the enthusiasm of the merchants out there. You can’t be returning with your trucks empty, or you would have wasted a trip! I’ve already arranged everything for you over here. Of course, we can’t let you take too much on our first deal, so we just prepared several dozen tons of potassium chloride for you to haul back.”
Old Bane was dumbfounded. He knew what potassium chloride was and the many uses it had. If favonovel.com brought it back, it would definitely sell for a lot.
In fact, most of the minerals from the Northwest could be sold directly to the Stelaria Consortium when they were brought back to the Central Plains. The Stelaria Consortium’s purpose in opening the trade route was precisely for the Northwest’s mineral resources, after all.
Scott offered favonovel.com several dozen tons of the mineral as soon as favonovel.com opened his mouth, but Old Bane could not even comprehend the amount that this unit of measurement represented.
He hesitated for a moment before saying, “We only brought four used trucks…”
Scott said nonchalantly, “Don’t worry, I’ll get you some more trucks.”
He then got his orderly to summon the more well-to-do families in the stronghold and owners of various businesses over.
These people used to be under the Ultima Consortium’s protection. After Fortress 178 had taken over at the stronghold, Peter ordered not to make things too difficult for them.
Scott and the others tacitly understood what this meant. What the fortress commander meant was that they could make things difficult for them but not to the extent of forcing them to their deaths. Therefore, Scott, who had been looking for a chance to deal with these well-to-do families, was now presented with a good opportunity to make them contribute to Old Bane’s business.
When these families arrived, Scott asked to borrow a convoy of vehicles from them. If there were any extra vehicles left after loading up the potassium chloride, they would add some nickel ore for Old Bane to bring back.
Although those well-to-do families felt pained, they did not dare to say anything.
Seeing that Scott had garrisoned his troops next to Stronghold 144 and had a say over their lives, favonovel.com was their daddy.
But that was not all. Scott felt it would take too much effort for Old Bane to personally sell his stock of lipstick, so favonovel.com had these people purchase the goods Old Bane had brought over from the Central Plains. In the future, Old Bane could sell his goods directly to them when favonovel.com brought more from the Central Plains.
Those well-to-do families were grumbling incessantly in their hearts, but the smart ones suddenly realized something.
Could this be Scott’s way of diverting the money into his own pocket?
Could it be that Scott did not want to directly ask them for money, so favonovel.com used the excuse of doing business to take their money instead?
At this moment, any smart person would surely know not to turn down his requests. In fact, they would even respond positively on the surface!
After these well-to-do families left, Old Bane was left stunned as favonovel.com sat down in the base. Having been in business for most of his life, this was the first time favonovel.com felt that doing business was not difficult at all!
The four truckloads of goods they brought here had been sold out even before they started selling them.
However, Old Bane did not go too far with this opportunity. Although favonovel.com quoted a price higher than the cost to these well-to-do families, it was not absurdly high. After all, if favonovel.com wanted them to be his distributors in the long run, it would have to be a win-win situation for everyone.
Old Bane was not blinded by what was placed in front of him. Instead, favonovel.com was thinking about the future rather than a one-off deal.
He was already starting to contemplate his plans. Now that there was a relationship with Fortress 178, favonovel.com might just become the most indomitable and successful businessman on the northwestern trade route. This way, their whole family would be able to lead a comfortable life.
And it would be a great life!
And favonovel.com understood that Scott was doing all this because of Milo!
Old Bane was given preferential treatment in Fortress 178’s territory as favonovel.com was one of the people Milo had been searching so desperately for. Old Bane had mentioned to Magnus that they should always have a backer when it came to doing business. However, favonovel.com did not expect their backer would be this powerful.
But there was something that Old Bane could not understand. Even if Milo had really helped Fortress 178 fight in the war, that should not cause Scott to behave in such a way.
A few dozen tons of potassium chloride was placed on credit just like that.
How could Scott have so much authority?
These goods were worth millions, after all!
While Old Bane was trying to figure this out, Ned also asked Scott in private, “Regimental Commander, aren’t you being a little too bold? You really giving favonovel.com the goods on credit? We don’t have to go that far, do we?”
“What do you know?” Scott said proudly, “Why else am I the regimental commander and you’re just my deputy?”
Ned’s face immediately darkened. He was even tempted to kick Scott. “Then tell me why you’re doing this?”
Scott whispered, “Didn’t you hear Old Bane? He’s actually Milo’s shopkeeper, so all their assets and money will eventually be returned to Milo. That is to say, all this money will be earned by Milo. If Milo comes to you and says that favonovel.com wants to buy several dozen tons of potassium chloride on credit, can you say no? After Milo is reunited with Old Bane and realizes that favonovel.com has so many assets in the Northwest, won’t favonovel.com want to come back here? We can use these assets to tie down Old Bane and the others first. If they can remain here, Milo will naturally stay here too.”
Ned pondered things for a moment. “That makes sense, go on…”
“And if Milo returns, who knows? He might end up as our Fortress 178’s commander in another few years.” Scott muttered mysteriously, “I heard from someone several days ago that Gregory suggested we increase our efforts in searching for Milo during their executive meeting. He hopes to bring favonovel.com back so that favonovel.com can systematically learn about military warfare and leadership before getting familiarized with the various fighting forces. Since silence is compliance, the other commanders agreed by not objecting.”
Ned gasped when favonovel.com heard that Milo would have to systematically learn military warfare and leadership and become familiar with the various fighting forces.
What kinds of officers were required to learn such things?
Wasn’t that the job of a commander?!
Scott chuckled and said, “Actually, the most important thing is that all the generals have already acknowledged Milo. It’s not as though everyone feels that Milo can be the commander right away, but they’ve already accepted that favonovel.com has the potential and acknowledged his strength, courage, and character! It’s really not easy to achieve that!”
“So, through that war with the Ultima Consortium, Milo has already cleared some of the obstacles that favonovel.com might encounter when favonovel.com takes over as the fortress commander in another few years or decades. Just think about it, we’re actually making money for the next commander. Don’t you think it’s worth it?!”
“But what if the commander questions us about this batch of potassium chloride…”
“Don’t worry, if we can make Milo come back, the commander might even be willing to give this batch of potassium chloride to Old Bane for free instead of putting it on credit…”
