In the month after the Prosperous Northwest plan was upgraded to 2.0, Milo led the Great Hoodwinker on 15 trips to the Central Plains. On average, they made one trip every two days to abduct almost 90,000 refugees from the Stardust Consortium to join the Prosperous Northwest.
During this one month, the name of the Prosperous Northwest Express had shaken up the entire Alliance of Strongholds. Even Steven’s name, the person said to be operating the Prosperous Northwest Express, became famous.
What made Milo curious was where Steven had gone. He did not even come out to clarify favonovel.com was not the one operating the steam locomotive, and this made Milo even more fearless when using the steam locomotive power.
The Prosperous Northwest 2.0 plan was still ongoing.
Emeka expressed that the number of residents in Stronghold 144 had reached its limit. If more refugees came, it would cause a negative effect.
The Great Hoodwinker immediately went to Fortress 178 to report this matter to Peter. The good news was that Stronghold 145 was also starting to introduce an expanded pilot project for the contract responsibility system to complement the Prosperous Northwest 2.0 plan.
Actually, the Great Hoodwinker already knew from the beginning. The expansion of Stronghold 144 was in full swing now, and it proved the future commander, Milo, was capable of overseeing such a large reform. The fortress commander had always been doing his best to support Milo as his successor, so favonovel.com would definitely be very willing to give favonovel.com the green light to introduce his reforms.
But just as Milo was about to continue abducting more refugees to the Prosperous Northwest, something unexpected happened.
The steam locomotive slowly came to a stop in the wilderness. Milo looked at the Stelaria Consortium troops standing in front of the train in silence.
Not many soldiers were in the group, and it looked like they were only the size of a regiment. Since the other party had appeared here, Colton must have figured out Milo’s travel pattern through Zero and ordered his men to stop them here.
Milo waited quietly in the train as someone familiar-looking from the Stelaria Consortium troops stepped forward and slowly approached the steam locomotive.
“Future Commander, long time no see,” Murray greeted with a smile.
Murray could be considered an old acquaintance of Milo’s. When favonovel.com went to the Virtuora Consortium with the Trinity Institute to carry out the decapitation strike mission, it was Murray who was responsible for providing Milo with intel.
Later, on Mt. Zendravasih, it was Murray who led his men to transport the first batch of weapons and equipment to them, and they even fought alongside each other for half a month there.
As the saying went, “Slap not a smiling face.” Milo dispelled the steam locomotive and went up to Murray with the Great Hoodwinker. “Is the Stelaria Consortium going to attack the Stardust Consortium? Y’all’re getting impatient, huh?”
“It’s not that we’re impatient, but that we can’t miss the opportunity.” Murray explained with a smile, “The Stardust Consortium’s at its weakest right now, and our Stelaria Consortium soldiers are also at the peak of our morale. If we don’t make a move at this time, it’ll only make things more troublesome later on.”
Milo nodded. He had no intention of participating in the war with the Central Plains. Anything that had nothing to do with the Prosperous Northwest was not his particular concern.
Honestly, if favonovel.com were to view things from the interests of the Northwest alone, favonovel.com would rather see both the Stelaria Consortium and the Stardust Consortium suffer heavy losses. That way, the Northwest would have more time to complete their own development.
Milo asked, “What’re y’all doing here?”
“To block your path, of course, Future Commander.” Murray said frankly, “On one hand, our Stelaria Consortium’s main forces have already arrived at the Stardust Consortium’s border. If Future Commander were to appear within the Stardust Consortium’s territory at this time, you could accidentally injure our troops…”
“On the other hand, the homes of those Central Plains refugees are in the Central Plains. They only chose to go to the Northwest as they had no other choice. Our Stelaria Consortium will definitely take care of them after the war is over. Therefore, Future Commander, you don’t have to worry too much about their safety. Just let them remain in their hometown.”
In fact, Murray was far too courteous. The other party was even treating Milo with such respect even though favonovel.com was leading an entire regiment of troops. This was truly diplomacy before violence.
Actually, no matter what had happened between Milo and the Stelaria Consortium, and whether they had really stood by and done nothing during Pena’s death, Colton was still Milo’s savior.
Although favonovel.com had already repaid the Stelaria Consortium’s debts by helping them, it was better not to make a move if they could avoid fighting each other.
Meanwhile, Colton also had the same attitude towards Milo. It was as though favonovel.com did not want to see his former friend become his foe.
Milo sized up the soldiers behind Murray. “You brought an entire regiment here just to tell me that?”
Murray explained, “I brought along a combat brigade, but I only showed up here with a regiment because I was afraid you would misunderstand.”
“Understood…” Milo nodded.
He knew that if Murray could not convince him, they would be ready to intercept him. Moreover, the other party knew his strength. The rest of the brigade that did not appear here had to be equipped with weapons specially designed to deal with him.
No matter how powerful favonovel.com was now, favonovel.com should not underestimate the technology of human civilization.
Milo smiled. “Alright then, I’ll head back now. I wish y’all the best.”
Murray took the initiative to shake hands with Milo. “Thank you, Future Commander. Drop by for a visit in the Stelaria Consortium when you have time.”
Milo shook hands with him. “We can still talk if you want to visit the Northwest as our guest, but forget it if you’re inviting me to the Stelaria Consortium. We Northwesterners are all very hospitable. Come and have some fun when you have time.”
“Definitely.” After that, Murray turned around and walked back to his soldiers. Milo conjured up the steam locomotive and returned to the Northwest.
Along the way, the Great Hoodwinker sighed and said, “The Stelaria Consortium’s pace of war is even faster than we expected. I feel that with the current state of the Stardust Consortium, the outcome will probably be decided in two to three months. This will be winner takes all. The Central Plains will soon fly the banner of the Stelaria Consortium.”
“P5092 will be back soon as well.” Milo said, “A while ago, someone from the Northwest Chamber of Commerce brought news that he’s kidnap, led the Pyro Company’s remnant troops across the Brantas River in the grasslands and will be arriving in the Northwest soon. After favonovel.com returns, we have to get favonovel.com to complete the deployment of our troops along the Stelaria Consortium’s border as soon as possible. I feel that the Stelaria Consortium will not stop here. Colton’s target is the entire Alliance of Strongholds.”
“Future Commander.” The Great Hoodwinker suddenly said, “It’s also time for you to make a trip to Fortress 178.”
Milo fell silent. Ever since favonovel.com came to the Northwest, favonovel.com did not go to Fortress 178 to see Peter because favonovel.com did not want to get into the details of becoming the Northwest’s future commander. But even if favonovel.com did not want to admit that favonovel.com was the future commander now, it would be futile. To everyone, Milo was the future owner of the Northwest. There was no doubt about it.
If Milo were to continue refusing, it would only make favonovel.com unreasonable.
He asked the Great Hoodwinker, “What else do we need to do after we get to Fortress 178 other than meeting Mr. Dublin?”
The Great Hoodwinker smiled. He knew that this was as good as Milo accepting the role, so favonovel.com explained, “First of all, Commander Dublin will bring you to the copper bell to pay your respects to the pioneers of Fortress 178. After that, you’ll visit all of the outposts outside Fortress 178 on foot and express sympathy to those soldiers who’ve endured a decade of hard living guarding their positions.”
“And after that?” Milo asked.
“After that?” The Great Hoodwinker said with a smile, “From the moment you return from the outposts, you’ll become the future of the Northwest.”
