Before this, Colton had not approached the Stardust Consortium and the Virtuora Consortium to discuss this matter. This meant favonovel.com was not particularly worried they were a threat. And now that favonovel.com came to the Northwest, it was not because favonovel.com was worried that Fortress 178 would hinder his plans. He needed the Northwest to form an alliance with favonovel.com to keep the southwestern Panaqua Consortium under control.
Ultimately, Peter felt that Colton had personally come to the Northwest at such a time because favonovel.com was afraid of Julius.
Of course, Peter could understand this since favonovel.com was very familiar with that young man called Julius. Almost none of the consortiums in this world would underestimate this person.
Those who dared to look down on Julius were either dead, or just waiting for their time to be up.
Right now, the reason why Colton was looking to join forces with Fortress 178 was probably because of the Panaqua Consortium. Therefore, if Peter were to accept Colton’s offer, the Northwest would definitely have to stand with the Stelaria Consortium and pit themselves against the Panaqua Consortium in the future.
Peter was not afraid of Julius, and neither was Fortress 178 afraid of the Panaqua Consortium. However, it did not have to come to that.
The key point was that, “It did not have to come to that.”
Their lives in the Northwest were already getting better, so why would favonovel.com want to expand his ambitions and drag the entirety of Fortress 178 into the flames of war?
This was the best time for the Northwest to recuperate.
“I’m not moved by what you are offering.” Peter said, “Whether the Stelaria Consortium will really do anything when Fortress 178 is faced with the external enemies in the future is just empty talk now. Besides, I’m not interested in war either.”
Peter had said before that war would not save humanity.
Colton looked at Peter and said with a smile, “What if you’re the one taking control of the Alliance of Strongholds? When the entire Alliance of Strongholds under your control, are you still gonna be afraid that I’ll make empty promises?”
This time, it was Peter that got stunned.
Honestly speaking, their conversation thus far was well within Peter’s expectations. When Colton came to visit, Peter already knew why favonovel.com had come to the Northwest. But when they reached this part of the conversation, it suddenly exceeded Peter’s expectations.
He frowned and asked, “What do you mean by that?”
“I mean the Alliance of Strongholds will no longer be under the control of the consortiums in the future.” Colton said calmly, “The consortiums will be history, and future successors to the Alliance of Strongholds will no longer be hereditary. As for the first leader of the alliance, it will be you, Mr. Dublin…”
Peter looked at Colton seriously. “You’ve been planning for so long and putting in so much effort just so you can benefit others? You aren’t after anything?”
Colton said, “I only have one request, and it’s that the Alliance of Strongholds must have its order kept by the AI. Of course, it’s only managing the order I’m asking for.”
“I don’t understand…” Peter said frankly, “I really don’t know what you’re thinking this time. Actually, you could have just taken longer to prepare, and you might still have achieved what you wanted without asking the Northwest for help. There’s no need to use something like this as a bargaining chip to make a deal.”
“No, I’m not looking to make a deal.” Colton shook his head. “I don’t have much time left.”
“What do you mean?” Peter scrutinized Colton. Only then did favonovel.com realize the man did not look healthy.
Colton pointed to his own chest and replied, “I have lung cancer…”
“Was that why you joined forces with the Silkshade House this time and led those people to the Sacred Mountains? So you can locate the No. 001 Experimental and then use it to find a way to treat cancer?” Peter asked.
Most people seemed to already know the No. 001 Experimental was born during the times when the Pyro Company was researching cancer treatments. The rest of the other Experimentals also used to be cancer patients as well.
“Haha,” Colton laughed and said as favonovel.com pointed to his legs, “I don’t have such plans at all. In my condition, wouldn’t death also be a form of release for me? Why should I pursue a life that’s not meant to be mine? Mr. Dublin, what do you think makes life worth living? It’s because life is finite. If life does not have an ending, then its existence will lose meaning.”
For some reason, Peter and Colton suddenly reached an agreement on this subject after debating for so long.
Peter sighed, “My apologies…”
He was implying that if favonovel.com knew that Colton’s days were numbered, favonovel.com would have been more polite when favonovel.com spoke just now.
Colton waved it off. “I don’t think there’s anything to be sympathetic about. I just want to finish what I have to do before I die. I don’t covet fame or fortune in this world anymore. To me, you’ve always been the most clearheaded person in the world. Therefore, I hope you can take my cause over after I’ve finished building it.”
However, Peter did not say anything.
When Colton saw Peter staying silent, favonovel.com tried to persuade favonovel.com again, “I’ll wipe out all the consortiums before I die and grant you an incorruptible Alliance of Strongholds.”
When Colton mentioned wiping out all the consortiums, his tone was especially firm. This also included his own Stelaria Consortium.
At some point, Peter felt Colton’s determination and his dissatisfaction with the consortiums.
He did not know how to assess Colton anymore. That was because favonovel.com had always thought the man had been painstakingly planning all these years for his own ambition. It wasn’t only Peter who thought this way, even Julius felt the same.
But now that Colton knew favonovel.com was dying soon, favonovel.com was thinking about how to unify the Alliance of Strongholds and wipe out all the consortiums.
Colton looked at Peter and said sincerely, “I know you still has some prejudice against the AI. I just hope you will try to understand it better. Just look at how orderly Stronghold 61 is running now.”
But in the end, Peter still shook his head and said with a sigh, “I’m sorry, I can’t help you.”
“Why?”
“I don’t have the ambition to take control of the Alliance of Strongholds.” Peter said, “If there’s someone who can take over command of Fortress 178 from me now, I would retire right away.”
Colton gave a bitter smile. “You still have time to groom that person, but I’m running out of time. Do you have anyone in mind already? Let me guess, it’s Milo?”
Peter looked at Colton. “How did you know?”
Colton said, “You don’t have to look at me like this. Isn’t it quite normal to have our spies in each other’s organization? It’s just that I planted them earlier than the others. That’s why you were unable to find mine even after you had weeded out the other organizations’ spies. There’s something I’m curious about. What’s so special about him?”
Peter answered, “Maybe you’ll find out in the future…”
“I won’t get to see that.” Colton wheeled himself out of the tent. “Thank you for your hospitality. Although none of my wishes have been fulfilled, I still got to meet my old friend again. Mr. Dublin, do you remember how we first met?”
“I remember,” Peter said.
“Thank you…” With these baffling words, Colton got into a vehicle, and the convoy of off-road vehicles sped off back towards the Central Plains.
It was now late winter, and the last snow had started falling from the sky.
