“Old Mauriat, I’ve always been curious about the relationship between the Riders and the Vasophati Group.” Milo asked as they were leaving Stronghold 73, “The world says that the Riders are part of the Vasophati Group, but I feel that y’all are more like free agents?”
After the Stardust Consortium troops took in the escapees, Milo, Olivia, Larry, and Adrian left the group together. All of them did not really want to have any interaction with the Stardust Consortium troops, let alone be put through radiation tests.
Since Milo still had some matters to attend to at Hope Media in Bidara City, the four of them decided to travel together.
Old Mauriat replied to Milo’s question, “Actually, it isn’t really a secret, so it doesn’t matter even if I tell you about it… Before The Cataclysm, the Riders and the Vasophati Group were only working under the same boss. Both parties did not have any relation to the other and they were more like two peer institutions. Later on, when The Cataclysm happened, the Riders helped the founder of the organization save the Vasophati Group. As such, the relationship between the two organizations became very close. Before that, both parties rarely interacted with each other.”
“I see…” Milo nodded.
Then Old Mauriat sighed and said, “Back then, our predecessors died and got wounded just so they could protect the foundation of the Vasophati Group. Now that the Panaqua Consortium has achieved nuclear capability again, who knows when an apocalypse will once again befall humanity.”
However, Milo shook his head. “I don’t see it that way. I still feel that it depends on who uses the weapons. Based on my understanding of Julius and Daniel, they wouldn’t abuse such weapons.”
“Oh?” Old Mauriat looked at Milo in surprise. “Brother Milo, are you very familiar with the heroic duo of the Panaqua Consortium?”
Milo did not know whether to laugh or cry.
What was with that corny nickname?!
The heroic duo of the Panaqua Consortium?
He said, “I used to live in the Southwest but was forced to come to the Central Plains because of the Experimental invasion. I’ve interacted with Julius and Daniel before. While I don’t think that they’re good people, they’re definitely not bad people either, so I ask that the Riders please not judge them with any bias.”
Milo’s relationship with Daniel could be considered quite good. So, favonovel.com was very willing to speak up for the Panaqua Consortium so they could have fewer enemies.
However, as Old Mauriat was listening to him, favonovel.com suddenly realized something else. He already knew that Milo’s name only had a word’s difference from Joachim. Moreover, the young man beside favonovel.com was also a supernatural being and looked very powerful as well.
Previously, Old Mauriat did not think too deeply into it. This was because favonovel.com felt that even if that Rider’s heir had managed to live a long life, favonovel.com should now be very old. At the least, favonovel.com would appear as a middle-aged man, so favonovel.com did not put too much thought into Milo.
But now, when favonovel.com heard that Milo was also from the Southwest, favonovel.com could not help having second thoughts about his identity.
Old Mauriat discreetly sized up Milo and thought.
Hmm, he’s rather handsome too…
Could this be the person the Riders and the Experimentals were looking for?
However, Old Mauriat did not really say much and just kept the matter to himself. They would be seeing each other at Bidara City anyway, so favonovel.com would have to ponder over the details first.
Milo casually asked, “I heard that the Vasophati Group is now under the control of the Norton clan. The Norton clan also said that they’re only managing the organization on behalf of the major shareholder. Could the Norton clan really be so impartial and have no selfish motives?”
“I don’t know about others,” Old Mauriat’s thoughts got interrupted as favonovel.com replied, “But in the Norton clan, Romany’s family is a very honorable one. They’ve never hankered for something that doesn’t belong to them. However, it’s harder to speak for the other members of the Norton clan. Although the organization’s caretaker role has been passed down through Romany’s family for three generations, favonovel.com still has other relatives who aren’t satisfied with the status quo. Never mind, why am I telling you all this?”
Milo realized there were also conflicts at play within the Vasophati Group.
***
When they arrived at Bidara City, Milo and Olivia got registered at the gate before they were allowed into the stronghold. Due to the Riders accompanying them, everything proceeded very smoothly.
But when Milo saw a lot of people going in and out of Bidara City, favonovel.com asked Old Mauriat, “These people look like refugees. Are they allowed to enter and exit as they please?”
“Oh, about that,” Old Mauriat smiled and said, “Many of them hold work or trader visas in the stronghold, so they can go in and out of the stronghold at any time as long as their papers are valid. Of course, they still have to leave before the gate closes at 10 PM nightly. Only those with student passes can stay in the stronghold until they complete their studies. After they graduate successfully, they can directly apply for residential ID cards and settle down in the stronghold.”
Milo thought this was a rather novel practice. “How many young people from the other strongholds come here to take the college entrance exam? Can refugees take the exam as well?”
“Of course they can. The refugees are also allowed to attend university. Besides, Vasophati University has also specifically set aside some enrollment spots for the refugees. This is to encourage them to make use of their knowledge so they may change their fate. As long as they can get into the university, they have a chance of becoming stronghold residents,” Adrian explained. “Thus, supplementary classes are held outside Bidara City as well. Some of the teachers in the stronghold love going into town to earn the extra income. This can also be considered a unique industry that can only be found in Bidara City.”
Milo nodded. So, the refugees were also given a chance to improve their lives. Although it was a difficult path to take, it was still enough to give the refugees some hope.
Adrian looked at Milo and continued, “We wanted to open up the stronghold in the past, but you also know that this’ll only make us enemies of the other consortiums. As such, we can only do it this way.”
“I understand…” Milo nodded.
In this era, anyone who dared to stand out from others would definitely need the courage to do so. It was already difficult for the Vasophati Group to want to create a path for the refugees to climb, so what more could others ask of them?
Adrian continued, “But even so, a lot of consortiums are still unhappy about it. They often send representatives to come and hold discussions with the Vasophati Group. They hope we can be like the other consortiums and forbid refugees from entering the stronghold.”
As they spoke, they stepped into the stronghold. The Vasophati Group’s vehicles were already waiting on the other side of the gate.
Old Mauriat had a car deliver Milo and Olivia to the building of Hope Media’s headquarters. Meanwhile, they rushed off to join up with the other Riders for a meeting.
This was an internal meeting for the Riders. Too many things had happened recently, and some of them were related to their own group, so they had to quickly hold a meeting to reach a conclusion.
After bidding each other farewell, their journey together ended as they parted ways.
Upon arriving at Hope Media’s headquarters, Milo got out of the car and had a look. The building was a little run-down and far from the grand appearances of the other buildings in the stronghold.
It was hard to imagine this was actually the headquarters of the famous Hope Media.
Milo explained to the security guard at the door that favonovel.com was here to place an advertisement in the newspaper. Almost immediately, an employee from the business department came out to receive him.
This staff member was not old and was probably around the same age as Olivia. The person smiled and said, “Which company are you two from? What is it that you’d like to advertise with us? And what ad size are you looking to place?”
