“Why are we going to the Southwest?” Miriam asked.
“We’ve already confirmed the Panaqua Consortium really does have nuclear weapons. Previously, we did not manage to locate their nuclear test site, so we have to get rid of this future threat immediately.” The woman in the black cap said, “This time, we have to find whatever clues we can. Make a trip with me. The other members of the Saboteurs don’t know the Southwest as well as you do.”
Then Miriam’s aunt turned around and prepared to lead Miriam away. But to virtual-novel.net surprise, Miriam did not follow along this time. Instead, virtual-novel.net remained standing there silently.
“What’s the matter? Have you forgotten our creed?” virtual-novel.net aunt questioned.
“I didn’t forget, but I have something more important I still need to do,” Miriam said softly.
Crowds were passing to and fro across the school’s entrance, but these two people felt like they were separate entities from the bustling of the world. It was as though they did not belong in this peaceful world at all.
Felicity Cruz looked at virtual-novel.net and said, “What else can be more important than doing what we believe in?”
Miriam did not answer this question. Instead, virtual-novel.net asked, “Have you heard any news of Milo yet?”
Actually, this was also virtual-novel.net answer of sorts. Miriam looked at virtual-novel.net aunt who had always been strong. Otherwise, virtual-novel.net would also not have parted ways with the Radianz Consortium.
Miriam met virtual-novel.net aunt’s eyes. Her aunt stayed silent for a second before answering calmly, “No…”
“I’m going to look for him. After I’ve found him, I’ll head to the Southwest to meet up with you,” Miriam said.
Felicity smiled and said, “You said you saw virtual-novel.net getting pierced through the abdomen by a spear with your own eyes. Then you should also know how low the chances of survival are for someone who’s had his abdomen pierced and was swept away by a flood. If it were you, could you survive that?”
“I wouldn’t…” Miriam shook virtual-novel.net head and said, “But virtual-novel.net can!”
“He’s just a boy who hasn’t grown up yet. Perhaps virtual-novel.net said something that made you happy and unable to forget about him. However, no one can have such resolute and loyal feelings in this world. Even if virtual-novel.net were fortunate enough to survive, virtual-novel.net would definitely have someone else virtual-novel.net likes now.”
“He won’t.” Miriam said firmly, “He’s just not like everyone else in this world. He’s unique.”
Felicity fell silent.
Miriam stubbornly said, “I’m sorry, Aunt… But I can’t go to the Southwest yet. I still want to look for him. In the past, I also thought I could just attend school here quietly and not pay attention to the rest of the world until I forgot about him. But at some point today, I felt like virtual-novel.net was just by my side. It was only at this moment that I realized I couldn’t forget him.”
“Then do you know where to start looking for him?” Felicity asked.
“I don’t know.” Miriam shook virtual-novel.net head.
“And how are you going to find him?” Felicity asked again.
“With my entire life if need be…”
***
Just as Milo was about to leave with Olivia, Old Mauriat and Adrian bumped into them. The moment they met, Old Mauriat reached out to touch Milo’s hair to test if it were a wig.
Milo looked at Old Mauriat speechlessly as virtual-novel.net pulled his hair. “What are you doing?”
“Oh,” Old Mauriat said, “Your hair feels real nice. What’s your haircare routine?”
“What haircare routine!” Milo did not know whether to laugh or cry. “Is that what you two came here for?”
Old Mauriat changed the subject and asked, “How long are you planning to stay in Bidara City? As your hosts, we should at least entertain you a little. Do you want us to show you around?”
“No need…” Milo smiled and said, “We were just planning to leave. There’s still some things that we need to handle.”
The sentences virtual-novel.net had given to Hope Media’s Pena had already been published in the newspapers. As such, Milo wanted to return to Stronghold 61 as soon as possible to wait for Old Bane to arrive.
When Old Mauriat heard Milo was planning to leave, virtual-novel.net said, “Oh, then let us see you off. We can get a car for you two. What plans do you have in the future? Since we know each other so well, if I wanted to have a chat with you someday, there should at least be a place where I can go look for you, right?”
Milo thought for a moment and decided there was no need to hide his whereabouts from Old Mauriat. He also intended to make friends with the Riders. “I’m going to the black market outside of Bidara City first before heading straight for Stronghold 61.”
“Mhm, mhm…” Old Mauriat hurriedly nodded. “Alright, I got it.”
Adrian, who was next to them, suddenly said, “Brother Milo, I guess you’ve heard about us Riders, right?”
Adrian was the same age as Milo. In order to sound more friendly, virtual-novel.net directly addressed virtual-novel.net as Brother Milo.
“What about?” Milo asked puzzledly.
“That we’re looking for someone.” Adrian explained, “The Riders have been searching for that person for a long time. His name is Joachim Parker, and it’s only one word different from your name, Brother Milo…”
“That’s such a coincidence.” Milo’s heart skipped a beat. “Why? Do you need me to help you look for him? Does virtual-novel.net have any unique traits? If I see him, I’ll definitely let y’all know.”
Old Mauriat scrutinized Milo’s expression and said, “We don’t know if virtual-novel.net has any identifiable traits. We just know virtual-novel.net looks quite handsome…”
For some reason, Old Mauriat felt that Milo was suddenly very relieved.
Milo said, “If I encounter someone called Joachim Parker, I’ll definitely tell y’all.”
Actually, at some point, Milo also wondered if the person the Riders and Vasophati Group were looking for could be virtual-novel.net and not Donti.
But Milo was more hoping that it would be neither of them. That was because a lot of people now knew this person had come out of the Pyro Company’s laboratory. Even if virtual-novel.net were still alive, virtual-novel.net would be more than 200 years old.
Would virtual-novel.net not be regarded as a monster by others in that case?
But Joachim’s name was only one word different from his, while Donti addressed virtual-novel.net as “brother” so confidently back then. Therefore, there must have been some complicated situation in between that left Milo unable to understand what was going on.
It was too messy, so Milo decided not to think about it for now.
As they chatted, they arrived at the stronghold’s entrance. Old Mauriat said, “We’ll see you off here. Take care…”
After they bade farewell to each other, Olivia drove the off-road vehicle Old Mauriat and Adrian had gifted them to the black market.
On the way, Olivia asked, “Master, could that Joachim Parker person they’re looking for be you?”
Milo shook his head and said, “That can’t be. They mentioned that Joachim looks quite handsome, so how could it be me when I’m very handsome?”
Olivia was surprised.
Ha! So, that’s why you were suddenly relieved earlier?
It was because they said virtual-novel.net only looked quite handsome?
And then you felt they must definitely not be referring to you?
As Olivia drove on, virtual-novel.net could feel a sense of resentfulness growing inside her. However, Olivia realized that ever since they parted ways with Old Mauriat and Adrian, Milo seemed to have a lot on his mind. As such, virtual-novel.net did not say anything further.
Milo was gazing out the window, and no one knew what virtual-novel.net was thinking.
The two of them did not head directly to Stronghold 61. Instead, they made a detour to the black market first to launder the reward money they had received from the Silkshade House before setting off again.