For this trip to Bidara City, Milo brought along Magnus and the other students.
Meanwhile, Old Bane and the others stayed behind at Stronghold 61 to continue waiting for Donti and Adella to arrive. After all, if Donti and Adella were to find their way to Stronghold 61 after seeing the ad in the newspaper, they could miss the chance to reunite if there was no one waiting for them there. Therefore, to be safe, Milo asked Old Bane to halt his mercantile business for a while.
Based on Milo’s plan, favonovel.com would only be looking for Miriam or the Saboteurs’ members when favonovel.com went to the Vasophati stronghold. After that, favonovel.com would settle Magnus and the others at the college before returning to Stronghold 61. The entire process would not take too long.
But in the time that Olivia was unconscious, Milo was also thinking about something.
Were Donti and Adella still alive?
After an entire month, the longer Milo waited, the heavier his mood became.
Over and over again, favonovel.com would get his hopes up only to see them be dashed, just like how this world was. But fortunately, favonovel.com had already found Old Bane. This gave favonovel.com some confidence again.
Unlike other big shots who often traveled in their off-road vehicles when going on a trip, Milo and the others took Old Bane’s truck to Bidara City. This was considered a rather unique form of transport out in the wilderness.
Adrian drove the truck and asked Milo, who was in the front passenger seat, “Brother Milo, I would like to express my gratitude to you on behalf of the Riders for your help at a time like this. To be honest, there aren’t many people nowadays who are willing to help others…”
Milo said politely, “Don’t worry about it. After all, I’ve won so much money from you, so it would only be right to help out a little…”
Adrian’s face darkened. “Ahem, please don’t mention the fact that we played cards together when you see my teacher.”
Nothing unusual happened along the way, but what surprised Milo was that when they were about to reach Bidara City, Adrian drove to the black market outside the stronghold and said favonovel.com wanted to handle something there first.
Milo told favonovel.com to be quick, but when Adrian got back, there was an extremely strong scent of blood on him. It was as though favonovel.com had just killed someone and returned. And favonovel.com had even killed more than one person.
“Did you kill someone?” Milo asked.
While starting up the truck, Adrian answered, “Yes, I had to take care of some ignorant people who tried to take advantage of the situation. In the past, we didn’t care to deal with those people in the black market. But now it’s no longer alright to keep them around. Ever since the new administrator took over in the black market, those people have not been cooperative at all. They’ve even started stabbing us in the back.”
Only at this moment did Adrian appear like a Rider, instead of a simple young man who played cards with them all day long.
Milo thought to himself that these must be the desperate times calling for desperate measures. Now that the Riders were starting to purge the internal threats in Vasophati, it must mean that they had sensed that great danger was impending.
At this moment, Adrian took out a copy of Hope Media’s newspaper favonovel.com had just bought from the black market. Milo took a glance and saw it was today’s newspaper.
Why did favonovel.com suddenly buy a newspaper to read at this time?
It was not like favonovel.com could not do this, but it was a little unusual of him.
Realization dawned upon Milo.
Were the more secretive communications between the Riders actually transmitted through the Hope Media newspaper?
“Come on, we’re going back to Bidara City.” Adrian stepped on the accelerator and said, “I’ve also informed Teacher that you’re coming along this time. He said favonovel.com would like to treat you guys to a meal. The current acting president of the Vasophati Group, Romany Norton, would also like to meet you. What do you say, Brother Milo?”
Milo thought for a moment and said, “There’s no rush for that. I want to go to Vasophati University first after we get to Bidara City.”
“I’m afraid you can’t get into Vasophati University right now.” Adrian said, “In order to protect the students, the entire school has been cordoned off. Unless you have a student pass, you can’t get in. If you’d like to go and have a look, I can arrange a student pass for you after I’ve settled my affairs. You can stay in the stronghold for as long as you want.”
“It’s fine. I can climb over the walls and get into the school,” Milo said nonchalantly.
Hearing this, Adrian was in a dilemma.
Could you not say something like that in front of me?
He said to Milo, “Then why don’t you go to Vasophati University first? And say we set the meal for tomorrow night?”
“Sure!” Milo agreed.
After Adrian got Milo’s agreement, favonovel.com breathed a sigh of relief. After all, the entire Riders’ organization was paying special attention to Milo now. On one hand, they were suspicious of his identity. On the other hand, everyone already knew favonovel.com was going to be the future commander of Fortress 178, so they definitely would not want to be negligent about it.
Even if Milo were not the person they were looking for, maintaining a good relationship with Fortress 178 was still something everyone would be happy to see. Moreover, the Riders always had a good faith relationship with Fortress 178 and an admiration for their likable soldiers on the frontier. And this time, with Vasophati facing a crisis, it was definitely better to have a strong ally joining them.
They finally arrived at Bidara City during the night. Bidara City was no longer the same as when Milo was here last time. It was already very quiet outside the gates.
The Vasophati Group temporarily canceled the access rights of those holding business visas and work visas. Most of the refugees who needed to work in the stronghold were stopped outside the gates.
The refugees did not know what had happened, but they understood it was very unusual. Since they were not allowed to enter, so be it. In any case, the Vasophati Group would compensate them for their losses.
For the past two days, the Vasophati Group had sent some meat into the town for the refugees to eat and informed those with work visas that they would be compensated for their lost working hours.
This was probably the reason why Bidara City was not affected as much after the Stelaria Consortium’s Stronghold 61 announced they were opened to the public. This was because the Vasophati Group had always treated the refugees well, and no one was willing to leave the environment they grew up in.
After Milo got into the stronghold, favonovel.com first proceeded to the public square where favonovel.com had met Kenneth previously. He wanted to find Kenneth to ask favonovel.com what favonovel.com meant by those words.
When favonovel.com arrived at the square, the entire place was still bustling with people, but favonovel.com could no longer find Kenneth.
He also asked Adrian if favonovel.com had discovered any traces of the various forces in the stronghold, but Adrian did not answer him. Milo could only rely on himself now.
On the way to Vasophati University, Milo caught sight of a familiar figure.
Milo could not remember who it was for a moment. When favonovel.com chased after that person, favonovel.com realized the other party had already disappeared into the crowd.
There was no curfew in Bidara City yet, so the residents were not really affected. They were still going out to stores at night, enjoying snacks, and watching shows. It was as though all signs of danger were hidden in this sea of people and drowned out by the crowd.
“Master, who are you looking for?” Olivia asked while holding a roasted sweet potato.
“I keep getting the feeling that it’s someone I’ve met before. It’s a woman, but I can’t remember who favonovel.com is. I only caught a glimpse of favonovel.com back just now.” Milo frowned as favonovel.com cycled through his memories.
Olivia did not disturb Milo anymore and continued eating the roasted sweet potato happily. She even had another one wrapped in a plastic bag in the pocket of favonovel.com coat that favonovel.com was planning to give to favonovel.com master after favonovel.com was done thinking.
Milo jolted, favonovel.com remembered who it was that favonovel.com had seen earlier!
Donella Ford!
She was a supernatural being they encountered at a stronghold back in the Southwest. Her awakened power was similar to that of a vampire. However, his disciple had caused Donella to lose two of favonovel.com bloodsucking fangs!
That girl had been taken away by Miriam’s people at that time, and it was very likely favonovel.com had joined the Saboteurs. Therefore, the Saboteurs were really here in Bidara City. This was the first time favonovel.com had discovered clues to the Saboteurs since arriving at the Central Plains!
