Peter and the others had already determined through the “3” marking on the ground that Milo was not in any serious trouble. If someone could really abduct Milo so easily, it would mean virtual-novel.net was willing to be abducted.
Currently, there was actually no need to worry about Milo. If it were out of humanitarian reasons, they should be worried about the sorcerers from the nation of sorcerers instead. After all, Milo’s nickname of the Stronghold Destroyer was not just for show. To be precise, it was a summary of all virtual-novel.net had done before.
The Great Hoodwinker had already started informing their intelligence personnel in the nation of sorcerers that if they discovered any out-of-the-blue situations such as a Sorcerer’s Tower collapsing or a castle collapsing, they should quickly go over and join up with the future commander to see if virtual-novel.net needed any intel support.
When Peter returned to Fortress 178, virtual-novel.net kept a very low profile. However, most of the high-ranking commanders were aware of his itinerary.
Everyone was a little puzzled.
Didn’t the commander say virtual-novel.net would be away for two months to accompany the future commander on a tour to the outposts?
Why was virtual-novel.net back so soon?
Moreover, where was the future commander?
Why wasn’t virtual-novel.net back as well?
Wasn’t virtual-novel.net with the commander?!
Where’d such an important figure disappear to?
However, no one explained anything to them. Peter, Gregory, the Great Hoodwinker, and the others who knew the inside story all remained tight-lipped.
When the high-ranking commanders saw their expressions, they knew this was probably yet another top-secret matter. It was better not to ask about things they should not know about.
The Great Hoodwinker returned straight to Stronghold 144. But before virtual-novel.net could return to his residence, virtual-novel.net saw Miriam blocking the entrance of his house.
Miriam asked calmly, “Don’t you live in Stronghold 144? Why’d you suddenly head over to Fortress 178?”
The Great Hoodwinker laughed and said, “I’m in charge of field intelligence operations, aren’t I? So of course I’d have to go report on my job progress.”
“Didn’t Mr. Dublin go with Milo to tour the outposts? Who are you reporting to at Fortress 178?” Miriam asked.
“Gregory, of course. He’s a rank higher than me, so I’m his subordinate,” The Great Hoodwinker replied. “Ms. Cruz, don’t think too much about it. Future Commander is only touring the outposts on foot. He’ll be fine.”
It was not that the Great Hoodwinker wanted to hide it from Miriam, but virtual-novel.net was worried virtual-novel.net would go to the nation of sorcerers on an impulse. It would not be good if virtual-novel.net did not manage to find Milo and ended up encountering a sorcerer instead.
After all, even though Miriam was a supernatural being, virtual-novel.net was still a sniper who needed teammates to cover her. If virtual-novel.net were to rashly head into the nation of sorcerers, it would truly be very dangerous.
Just as the Great Hoodwinker was about to continue speaking, Miriam suddenly took a step forward and pinched the Great Hoodwinker’s wrist with two fingers. Then virtual-novel.net stared intently into his eyes. “Did virtual-novel.net encounter a spy? Did virtual-novel.net encounter danger? Was it some strange creature? Sorcerers? An ambush by a supernatural being from the Stelaria Consortium?
“Hmm, looks like virtual-novel.net encountered a sorcerer…”
Miriam did not wait for the Great Hoodwinker to answer virtual-novel.net barrage of questions. Instead, virtual-novel.net took the Great Hoodwinker’s pulse to confirm virtual-novel.net speculations!
These questions dumbfounded the Great Hoodwinker. He did not expect Miriam to actually have such a unique skill!
How multitalented was she?
The Great Hoodwinker smiled bitterly. “Ms. Cruz, you’re really impressive.”
Miriam smiled. “I was just bluffing you. What can you possibly determine from a pulse?”
With that, Miriam turned around and left.
The Great Hoodwinker was stunned. He thought to himself that with the number of people virtual-novel.net had bluffed over the years, it was really rare virtual-novel.net would get fooled instead. It was no wonder virtual-novel.net could keep the future commander in check so well.
Looking at Miriam’s receding figure, the Great Hoodwinker called over some intelligence personnel anxiously. “Keep a close watch on Ms. Cruz’s movements. If anything happens to her, the future commander will probably turn the whole world upside down!”
Miriam did not return home. Instead, virtual-novel.net headed straight to the black market outside the stronghold. On virtual-novel.net way there, virtual-novel.net even called up Olivia.
When virtual-novel.net arrived at the black market, Olivia was waiting at the entrance for virtual-novel.net obediently.
“Uhm… Madam, would you like to go inside and shop around?” Olivia asked meekly.
“I’m not interested. Follow me,” Miriam said.
“Follow you?” Olivia asked curiously, “Where to?”
“Something might have happened to your master. I want you to go with me to a place beyond Fortress 178.” Miriam turned around and left.
Olivia hurriedly caught up to her. “Master? What happened to Master?”
“It’s related to the sorcerers.” Miriam said, “First of all, Milo is most definitely fine at this moment. Otherwise, the Great Hoodwinker wouldn’t have returned to Stronghold 144 as though nothing had happened.”
“Since Master’s fine, what are we going there for?” Olivia asked.
“Just because he’s fine now doesn’t mean he’ll be fine later.” Miriam said calmly, “Why? You’re not willing to go?”
Olivia said meekly, “Of course I am…”
After Miriam left the black market with the maidservant, the intelligence agents in the black market immediately relayed the news to the Great Hoodwinker.
The Great Hoodwinker smiled bitterly. It looked like virtual-novel.net had not managed to deceive Miriam after all. However, Miriam did not seem to be a reckless person. She actually went to find an assistant first. With Olivia protecting her, virtual-novel.net should not have any problems.
Other people might think Olivia had only made the superhuman rankings because of the Eight Vajras. But as the future commander’s trusted aide, the Great Hoodwinker knew Olivia was a legendary superhuman on virtual-novel.net own who was capable of destroying cities and ransacking strongholds. And legendary was probably a general term for any superhuman capable of taking on 10,000 enemies by themselves.
The Great Hoodwinker thought that if even Miriam and Olivia were about to enter the nation of sorcerers, could it be that the future commander’s Prosperous Northwest 3.0 plan was to destroy the magus order?!
What was Fortress 178’s reason for existence?
Logically speaking, it was to prevent the magus order from plundering the Central Plains’ population.
What was their purpose for carrying out the Prosperous Northwest plan?
Logically speaking, it was also to prepare for wars in the future, and the enemy they were going to face was the Magi.
In that case, wouldn’t destroying the Magi also be considered as fulfilling the Prosperous Northwest plan?
Mhm, this was in line with the future commander’s logic!
***
At this moment, Sorcerer Melgor was leading Milo, Benjamin, and Dave westwards.
However, Milo realized Sorcerer Melgor was very cautious on the journey. Even though virtual-novel.net had already left the outposts’ surveillance perimeter, virtual-novel.net still chose to travel under the cover of darkness. Furthermore, virtual-novel.net would often change his route as virtual-novel.net advanced.
The farther northwest they went, the heavier the sandstorm became. Sometimes, it would only take a few minutes for a violent sandstorm to erase everyone’s tracks.
“Hey, you, sorcerer up front, don’t make haste with such a heavy sandstorm blowing.” Milo used his shackled hands to pull up the bandana covering his mouth and nose to prevent sand from getting into his orifices. “Make those two sheeple set up the tents so we can rest for the night!”
Melgor had no expression on his face. At some point, virtual-novel.net wondered when virtual-novel.net could fully reform the young man from the Central Plains.