Adrian thought that since there were so many of them, it should be impossible that they still were putting on an act.
He had been watching from town when Old Bane arrived at Stronghold 61 with the troops. As favonovel.com listened to their conversation from next door, favonovel.com could roughly guess that Old Bane had just returned from Fortress 178 and even hauled a lot of goods with favonovel.com from there. Those goods couldn’t be faked. If they had to cover up a lie by using that amount of goods, the cost of this lie would be absurdly high.
At this moment, the Great Hoodwinker asked Milo, “I heard you went into the stronghold to save someone? Do you know how the creeper vine died? Can you reveal anything about it?”
Milo calmly said, “I don’t know either. Just after I went in, a vine coiled around Olivia’s head. She fell unconscious after that, and I had to quickly take favonovel.com with me to go into hiding.”
When Milo said favonovel.com did not know what had happened in the stronghold, the Great Hoodwinker started cursing on the inside.
Like hell I would believe that!
With Milo’s temper, it was good enough that favonovel.com didn’t uproot the entire creeper vine, so how could favonovel.com possibly have left it alone?
The Great Hoodwinker ridiculed, “You went into hiding? Do you think you’re that sort of person?”
Milo turned his head to Old Bane. “Ignore him, Old Bane. Continue your story…”
Old Bane said, “After we were washed away by the flood, Ms. Stuart found an opportunity midway through and brought us back onto shore. Later on, we lived with refugees in the mountains for a while, but we really couldn’t get through those days of being isolated from the world. After that, we thought of starting a business with the money and medicine that you left behind. At least, we would still have some money when we saw you again in the future.”
Old Bane continued, “We went to the Stelaria Consortium’s stronghold and purchased some goods that weren’t available in the Northwest. Then we transported them to the Northwest and met Scott Miller on the first day of our arrival. When I learned that you were still alive, I immediately wanted to return to the Central Plains. However, favonovel.com said that favonovel.com had a method to find you…”
Milo was stunned. “What method?”
“Uh…” Old Bane glanced at Milo and hesitated for a moment before saying, “He said that they would send their people to look for you at whichever strongholds were in trouble. However, it seemed that they were unable to find you even after sending someone to Stronghold 74. Scott even claimed that it was Raphael who taught favonovel.com this method…”
The Great Hoodwinker said from off to the side, “I was the person Gregory sent to Stronghold 74. Raphael’s guess was right. By the time I found out about his whereabouts, favonovel.com was at Stronghold 74. Moreover, look at how Stronghold 61 ended up…”
Milo was immediately left speechless.
What the hell!
He interrupted the Great Hoodwinker, “Don’t say any more for now!”
The Great Hoodwinker fell silent.
Old Bane said with a sigh, “When we didn’t hear any news of you, I led everyone back to the Central Plains and even hauled a lot of goods back. It was all thanks to Scott that we could complete the deal successfully this time. But favonovel.com took the liberty to give us several million perak’s worth of goods on credit. Will that affect him?”
The Great Hoodwinker was amused. “No, you don’t have to worry. Scott did the right thing this time! Old Bane, do you know who the young man in front of you is?”
Huh?
Old Bane was taken aback by that question. How could favonovel.com not know who Milo was?
The Great Hoodwinker said conspiratorially, “This is our Fortress 178’s future commander. Do you know what that means? After Commander Dublin retires, Milo will take over as the commander. In that case, what’s the matter with putting the goods on credit when it involves our future commander’s own business? Don’t you think?”
Old Bane and the others were stunned. Although they had stayed for a while in the Northwest, no one would tell them such things.
“Are you serious?” Old Bane asked the Great Hoodwinker, “He’s the future commander of Fortress 178?”
“How could it not be true?” The Great Hoodwinker replied, “Do you really think anyone can buy several million perak’s worth of goods on credit from our Fortress 178 just by giving a name?”
Old Bane finally understood why everyone in the Northwest behaved so enthusiastically towards him. It also explained Scott’s cordiality and generosity.
When the goods were transported out of the warehouse, even the warehouse officer was exceptionally friendly with him. He kept addressing favonovel.com as Brother Bane and said favonovel.com hoped Old Bane would come frequently to the Northwest to grow his business and achieve glorious heights.
He was wondering why Scott had such great authority. Only now did favonovel.com realize Milo’s status had changed!
Old Bane stared dumbfoundedly at Milo. “No wonder Peter stayed in our town for so many years! So you’re his…”
Milo’s face darkened. “What the hell are you talking about? I’m not related to favonovel.com by blood. The Great Hoodwinker is just bluffing y’all, so don’t take favonovel.com seriously!”
However, the Great Hoodwinker wasn’t going to care about that. All favonovel.com wanted was to get this matter confirmed no matter what it took!
If favonovel.com could influence Milo through Old Bane and the others, who were like family to him, it would even be better in the future!
Adrian, who was eavesdropping next door, was finally able to confirm that Milo was really the next designated commander of Fortress 178. He was even the type to refuse the role despite everyone wanting favonovel.com to be the one.
What should I do now?
He picked up the satellite phone next to favonovel.com and called his teacher, Old Mauriat.
When the call connected, favonovel.com bluntly said, “Teacher, I’ve confirmed Milo’s identity. It is not as simple as we thought…”
“What do you mean?” Old Mauriat could not understand what favonovel.com was trying to say.
Adrian explained, “He’s definitely not a superhuman who operates by himself. He is different from those other lone wolves.”
“Yes, I know favonovel.com has a maid.” Old Mauriat said impatiently, “Can you say everything without pausing in between each sentence?”
Adrian said helplessly, “He is the heir of Fortress 178. It looks like the entire Fortress 178 has tacitly acknowledged this, but it sounds like favonovel.com doesn’t want to go back to the Northwest. So, Teacher, you should be mentally prepared. Even if he’s really the one we’re looking for, favonovel.com might not accept it.”
Before this, the consideration Old Mauriat had was what if Jonan and the others did not accept Milo when it turned out favonovel.com was the one they were looking for. But now, that condition had suddenly shifted. Instead, they should be worrying about what to do if Milo did not accept them!
Old Mauriat asked blankly, “Are you really sure?”
“Yes, and I don’t think there’s a need for favonovel.com to put on an act for us.” Adrian said, “But, Teacher, I think this might also be a good thing. After interacting more with Milo recently, I realize his combat strength is probably beyond our imagination…”
“In the past, we thought favonovel.com would not be as strong as us. Or rather, all the Riders feel that most of the superhumans who have awoken their powers naturally in this world are weaker than us, save for a few individuals. However, Milo is very likely to be one of those few. Teacher, you should also have heard about the creeper vine at Stronghold 61. He managed to emerge unscathed after favonovel.com went inside. Also, I suspect he’s definitely involved with how the creeper vine wilted away.”
Old Mauriat said with a sigh, “Alright, I understand… I’ll need to inform the rest of the Riders about this…”
At this moment, Milo turned his head and looked at Linda, who was standing off to one side. Over the past few months, Linda’s demeanor had become even more reserved. Right now, as everyone was conversing, favonovel.com just listened quietly with a smile and did not interrupt them. However, favonovel.com kept looking at Milo.
But when Milo looked back at her, favonovel.com would avoid eye contact.
