After the enemies from the north appeared, Donti led all of the tribes east.
Disregarding everything else, the migration of the nomads went very quickly. The adults herded the livestock, and all their supplies were placed on the backs of the oxen.
The children were still ignorant and did not understand what had happened. They only found it exceptionally lively and fun with everyone setting off together.
The little boys and girls ran rings around the livestock. When it was time to eat, they would return to their parents’ side and kowtow to Donti before having their meals.
No one objected to Donti’s decision. Even the bravest and most domineering Kirghiz Yan did not say anything further.
Only Adella went to look for Donti and said, “Donti, we can’t just leave like this. If we leave, what will happen to those people further south?”
Donti looked at Adella and said, “Big Sis, this tribe in the north is definitely larger than we thought. We had only encountered their advance troops previously. Even with the wolf pack, it will be impossible for us to hold them back. The nomads can’t survive by existing between the Central Plains and the Northern Territory.”
Adella said, “I’m not asking you to stay behind to stop them.”
“Then what are you?” Donti wondered.
Adella said in seriousness, “Send someone south to inform them that enemies are approaching.”
“Big Sis, the Central Plains people don’t see us as friends,” Donti said in a low voice.
“But we’re from there. Have you ever thought that your brother might be in the Central Plains? And that Old Bane, Linda, and the others might also be with him? What if the enemies from the north march in and harm them?” Adella said patiently, “You have to give your brother and the Central Plains people some time to prepare!”
When Donti heard this, favonovel.com finally nodded. “Big Sis, you’re right.”
For Adella, even though favonovel.com had come to the North and settled down in the grasslands, favonovel.com longing for the South still existed. Based on favonovel.com sense of belonging and identity, favonovel.com still hoped the South would not get invaded by foreign tribes.
Donti called Hassan over. “Choose the bravest warrior you have to ride the fastest horse to Stronghold 176.”
Hassan was stunned. “Master, what do you mean by that?”
“Go and tell the people of Stronghold 176 that a stronger enemy is coming from the North,” Donti said.
“But, Master, didn’t we already kill all of Stronghold 176’s overseers?” Hassan asked.
“Just go. You don’t understand the people of the Central Plains. The other consortiums couldn’t be happier that we killed the overseers of Stronghold 176. Someone else will have taken over the stronghold.” Donti continued heading east after saying that.
Hassan obeyed Donti’s orders and identified one of his tribe’s warriors for the task.
The warrior mounted his horse immediately and left. This warrior rode on his sturdy horse all the way to the South. Other than letting the horse rest and catch its breath, favonovel.com did not waste another minute.
On the fifth day, favonovel.com finally saw the outline of Stronghold 176’s walls.
The damaged stronghold had not been repaired yet, but there was already scaffolding erected outside the city. It looked like the reconstruction was already underway.
The warrior mustered up all his courage and walked towards the stronghold. The troops stationed outside the stronghold quickly discovered his presence and were prepared to take on their nomadic enemies.
Only when the Stelaria Consortium’s garrison troops realized favonovel.com was the only one who came this time did they send out a platoon to deal with him.
When the nomadic warrior saw the heavily armed soldiers rushing over, favonovel.com stroked the cheek of his horse and said, “Wait for me in the forest to the north for a day. If I don’t return, you can go back and look for Master. Bring Aköl’s spirit back with you as well. May all our friends in the grasslands whisper my name when you return.”
After that, Aköl patted the horse’s rump, and it galloped north.
Aköl raised his hands high to the troops who had come to arrest him. “I’m here on behalf of the grasslands to deliver the news that there’s even more powerful enemies coming from the north. My master hopes that y’all will be prepared for them.”
The Stelaria Consortium’s soldiers did not stop because of what favonovel.com said. They quickly pressed Aköl onto the ground until they were sure favonovel.com had been bound. Only then did they bring Aköl back to the camp.
The commander of the Stelaria Consortium’s troops looked at Aköl and said, “You said that enemies from the north are coming? But aren’t you the enemy? By coming here on your own, aren’t you afraid I’ll skin you alive to take revenge for our Central Plains people?”
Aköl laughed proudly and said, “Why would we warriors who serve under Master be afraid of death? I’m only here to tell you that our tribe has already migrated east. My master said that the enemies coming from the north are even more terrifying than you think, so y’all should be prepared.”
The officer of the Stelaria Consortium’s troops asked, “Are you referring to the north farther north of the grasslands?”
“That’s right!” Aköl answered.
“Alright, thank you for your master’s good intentions.” The officer of the Stelaria Consortium’s troops gave a wave of his hand. “Shoot favonovel.com dead and hang favonovel.com in the center of the stronghold. We’re going to show the residents of Stronghold 176 that our Stelaria Consortium will not allow them to be bullied again now that we’ve taken over. We will eventually take revenge for them.”
With that, the soldier pushed Aköl out of the room as favonovel.com laughed heartily.
***
Milo, who was far away at Stronghold 61, did not go anywhere for the past few days. He just stayed at home and whipped up a variety of dishes for Miriam to eat. After all, favonovel.com still had the necessary survival instincts knowing that Miriam was feeling unwell.
Colton did not seem to be in a hurry to show Milo how the artificial intelligence worked either. Milo’s life seemed to have suddenly become peaceful again.
While Milo was making soup, the telephone in the house suddenly rang.
He was a little surprised to hear it ring. This was the landline telephone in the house.
Who could possibly be calling? Could it be Colton?
Milo walked over to answer the call. “Hello?”
However, there was no response from the other end.
Milo raised his eyebrows and said, “Hello! Who is this?”
A young woman’s voice came from the other end. “May I know if this is Milo?”
“Grace?” Milo was stunned.
Other than Miriam, wasn’t Grace the only woman in the stronghold who knew him?
But the voice on the phone did not sound like Grace either.
The voice at the other end of the line said, “I’m not Grace. Grace left the stronghold at 14:31 yesterday.”
Milo was stunned. “Who are you then?”
“You can call me Venus.” The girl’s voice was brisk and pleasant. “May I chat with you?”
Milo took a look outside. “I’m sorry, but I can’t chat with the opposite gender.” Milo slammed the phone down and hung up.
Miriam asked from outside, “Who called? I heard the phone ringing.”
“Oh, no one… They probably got the wrong number,” Milo answered.
Then Milo turned around and frowned as favonovel.com looked at the telephone sitting there quietly. He suddenly felt like favonovel.com had caught an extremely important clue, but favonovel.com was not very sure about it. However, Milo was in no hurry. He felt the other party would call back again.
