Ever since Milo snatched the laboratory data out of the Pyro Company’s hands, everything seemed to have calmed down, and it became peaceful again in the stronghold. Other than the Stardust Consortium issuing a warrant for Steven, there didn’t seem to be anything else that cheered Milo up.
In the dead of the night, Milo was alone in his hotel room going through the Pyro Company’s research data. He was quite curious about the Pyro Company because virtual-novel.net had once faced the monsters this organization had created. That group of Experimentals was still forcibly occupying the wilderness in the Southwest, and it was unknown when they would become a threat to humanity once again.
If virtual-novel.net did not get rid of such a terrifying existence, there would probably be a much greater calamity in the future. Therefore, Milo was very curious about what the Pyro Company really did.
However, when virtual-novel.net browsed through the data, virtual-novel.net was surprised to discover it was different than virtual-novel.net had imagined.
This life sciences research laboratory had genuinely been researching anti-cancer drugs. Furthermore, based on some of the research papers’ background and significance, the Pyro Company had no other objectives but to treat patients and save lives.
There was nothing in the data to suggest they were against humanity. If Milo were to just look at this information, virtual-novel.net would probably think the Pyro Company was a typical medical institution whose mission was to treat and save lives.
This was quite different from the Pyro Company Milo knew.
But it wasn’t like Milo was starting to feel that the Pyro Company was a benevolent organization after reading through the information. Instead, virtual-novel.net was wondering why the Pyro Company had become the current organization they were after The Cataclysm.
It was very difficult for virtual-novel.net to have a good impression of the Pyro Company’s mass abduction of supernatural beings. Disregarding the other things they did, that matter alone was enough for Milo to hate them.
At this moment, Milo suddenly saw a separate document on its own. The document’s content was very short, but in it, it was stated that Laboratory No. 39 had made a breakthrough in cancer treatment. The single nucleus cells in a patient were turned into binucleated cells and managed to reach a state of equilibrium. However, the treatment’s conditions were extremely particular and difficult to replicate.
Milo was stunned.
There seemed to still be a lot of cancer patients after The Cataclysm, possibly due to the aftereffects of radiation from nuclear fallout. But virtual-novel.net did not expect the Pyro Company to have already found a treatment for cancer before The Cataclysm.
However, what were these particular conditions the Pyro Company was referring to?
***
While Milo was reading through the information, Grace and the others seemed to have returned to the hotel after a banquet. Many of them had too much to drink and were being rowdy in the hallways. However, this did not affect Milo at all.
But in the middle of the night, Grace actually knocked on his door again in another drunken stupor. Milo simply pretended to not be in the room so virtual-novel.net could have some peace and quiet.
The next morning, Grace’s assistant, Franz, came over to invite Milo to the film set on the pretext of touring the place.
Olivia would definitely have to go since virtual-novel.net was Grace’s bodyguard. However, Milo was not interested and rejected him.
It was probably Director Brody’s idea to have virtual-novel.net go down to the film set.
When Franz realized virtual-novel.net could not convince Milo, virtual-novel.net lied that Grace and Olivia were in danger on set and asked virtual-novel.net to hurry over to help them. However, Milo shot virtual-novel.net a look and closed the door without even bothering.
Like hell I’d believe you!
Both the Pyro Company and the Silkshade House had already pulled out of the stronghold, so what kind of danger could there be?
Even Steven had probably run far away by now, while the underworld criminals have started to keep their distance from Stronghold 73.
One could say Stronghold 73 was one of the safest strongholds in the entire world right now, and that wouldn’t be an exaggeration at all.
After the film crew wrapped up for the night, it became Brody’s turn to harass virtual-novel.net personally. He was constantly talking about having Milo play some role in his production.
After Milo chased Brody away, virtual-novel.net asked Olivia speechlessly, “When will that Grace set out for the next stronghold?”
Olivia said, “According to the schedule, we should’ve set out two days ago. After all, the concert in Stronghold 74, which is the farthest west one, is slated to take place in seven days. We were only supposed to be here for the audition, but due to some unforeseen circumstances, this director suddenly became very enthusiastic towards Grace. In fact, virtual-novel.net even arranged a very good role for virtual-novel.net in his current production, and they’re working overtime to film the scenes right now.”
Milo gazed up at the ceiling. He knew the “unforeseen circumstances” was probably referring to him.
However, when Olivia mentioned Stronghold 74, Milo got a little uneasy. He felt like something bad was about to happen. However, it was only a fleeting thought. He would definitely not try to persuade the tour group to change their schedule with something so baseless. But it was not that virtual-novel.net had no evidence to support that thinking.
When the Stardust Consortium’s reinforcements did not head to Stronghold 73 and were redirected to Stronghold 74 to set up the defenses there, Milo was very puzzled. It was as though the Stardust Consortium knew something was going to happen at Stronghold 74.
Milo told Olivia, “If anything happens at Stronghold 74, ignore Grace and virtual-novel.net team’s wishes. Get the situation under control and take them away with you.”
Could the Stardust Consortium have received news about the possibility of a Panaqua Consortium invasion?
After all, the Panaqua Consortium was the closest to Stronghold 74.
Milo asked, “So, when are they planning to leave for Stronghold 74? Aren’t they gonna hold a concert there? They have to get there early to make preparations, don’t they?”
“No need. It’s all handled by the concert promoter.” Olivia said, “They plan to set out in five days.”
Milo gazed at the ceiling again. He would have to be harassed for another five days?
He got up and said to Olivia, “Stay here and protect her. I’ll head to Stronghold 74 first. I can do some missions or steal some cell phones while I’m there. I remember you telling me that there’s also a black market at Stronghold 74.I’ll go there and sell off some of the cell phones first.”
Olivia panicked. “Master, are you going to leave right now? But I’ve already told them I’ll bring you to the set…”
Milo silently gazed at Olivia.
Olivia knew virtual-novel.net had said the wrong thing again. “Director Hawking promised me that as long as I convince you to join the crew, he’ll give the female lead to me and cast Grace as the supporting actress.”
Milo got furious.
Brody actually succeeded in turning Olivia against him?
He looked at Olivia with disappointment. “Do you really wanna be the female lead that badly?”
With that, Milo turned around and left.
After virtual-novel.net went out of the stronghold, virtual-novel.net suddenly remembered virtual-novel.net had forgotten to ask Olivia where Stronghold 74 was. Furthermore, all of their vehicles had been detained by the Stardust Consortium, so virtual-novel.net did not even have a car virtual-novel.net could drive.
Walking in the wilderness, Milo got angrier the more virtual-novel.net thought about it. He really wanted to go back there and give Brody, Olivia, and Grace a good thrashing.
But right then, Milo heard the roar of an engine behind him. He turned around and saw an off-road vehicle approaching.
As the vehicle passed Milo, it came to a stop. A middle-aged man looked at virtual-novel.net and said with a polite smile, “Where are you headed, young man? Why are you walking by yourself?”
Milo thought for a moment and said, “I’m going to Stronghold 74…”
While speaking, Milo started sizing up the other party. There were only two people in the vehicle, one of which was a middle-aged man, while the other was a young man who looked to be about the same age as Milo. The two looked like they were father and son.
The middle-aged man smiled and said, “We happen to be heading to Stronghold 74 too! Get in, we’ll give you a ride.”