The Rise of the Black Plain

"Ivory, what do you want?" The elder asked the blonde woman between those two others.

"Elder Nicholas, we were just walking around the vicinity when we saw your distinguished group arriving." Ivory said, smiling at that man as if she was not there on purpose. "There's no harm in meeting a young descendant of your family, right? Troubling rumors are circulating around the sect, and as a member of House Moss, I'm naturally eager to meet him."

Minos then ignored the old individual, who had a severe expression on his face, and asked. "Who are you?"

One of this blonde's friends then introduced this woman to Minos. "This is Ivory Moss, the young lady of the Moss family, a candidate for the position of sect master who competed against your mother."

"Oh? So you are here to challenge me like that other one?" Minos asked with an expression of disinterest. "I'm not interested."

Ivory then stepped forward to speak to Minos. "I'm not going to challenge you like Lance. But you don't even want to talk to me? Do you think you will become the sect's leader just like that?"

"What makes you think I want to become the leader of this sect?" Minos' eyes narrowed.

"Don't you want to?" One of Ivory's friends asked in surprise. To her, a little monster like Minos should be drooling at the chance to become this sect's leader.

It would give him more power and even guarantee his forces high-level Spiritual Saints, something Vogel did not have!

So how could he not covet this position? It made no sense!

Ivory then said. "Last time I competed with Maisie, but now that she will give up her chance for you, the favorite to receive the support of the elders is Lance. So if you won't even agree to talk to people like me, I'm afraid you won't have a chance to win the competition."

Minos closed his eyes as Abby stepped forward to speak on his behalf. "My husband has already said he doesn't need this. You and this Lance can compete with each other. If we change our minds one day, we'll 'convince' the elders to accept what we propose."

Upon hearing this, Ivory, her friends, and the elder Nicholas strangely looked at Abby, thinking she could only be joking with them.

But Ivory was not there to challenge Minos but to get in Lance's way.

Due to the current circumstances, Lance's chances of receiving the support of most of the sect elders were more significant than hers. So, in order not to facilitate her rival's rise to power, she wanted to talk to Minos to help him.

Of the three founding families of this sect, House Moss was the weakest in this generation. Thus, as part of that power, Ivory would do everything to prevent Lance's victory so that at least their gap to House Terry would not increase.

And with that in mind, it made perfect sense for her to help Minos overcome Lance!

On the other hand, her move could also be a temporary setback, aiming for future advances. Minos was unknown, coming from the northern region and probably with some limitations. So her staying by his side could guarantee her a comfortable position in the future.

Even the position of sect leader would not be out of her reach, considering that this world had always been unpredictable...

That's why she was there, insisting on talking to him!

'Competing between us won't work! Lance will beat me, so I would stress myself out following something like that.'  Ivory thought about this as she judged how to attract Minos.

She then said. 'You must have interests in doing business for the Black Plain, right? We can talk about that later. My family has several resources and professionals capable of generating good fruit for your state."

"So if you sit with me to talk, we can build more than a relationship based on sect power disputes."

Minos opened his eyes, less irritated. 'Finally, there is someone reasonable!'

As long as he had not made up his mind about this sect, it was not part of his concerns. So he naturally did not want to get involved with the people in this sect who only intended to approach him because of something unrelated to his interests.

Minos had no problem socializing with anyone, but he also did not want all the time to have to deal with people like Lance.

"That's fine. We can talk a little another time." He expressed before saying goodbye to them to continue with their tour.

After that, those three went back their way, talking among themselves.

"That Minos and that woman are very arrogant!"

"Yes, they think they can do whatever they want!" The other agreed before turning to Ivory and asking. "I don't think we will get anything out of him. What do you have in mind?"

"Maybe nothing. But now I have nothing left to lose..." Ivory said. "And the sect master is not a fool driven by emotions. He probably wants to appoint his grandson for some reason. So I think we have something to achieve by being around him."

...

Meanwhile, elder Nicholas was directing Minos' group but also advising them.

"Minos, that woman cannot be trusted. She fought your mother for decades when the sect master appointed Maisie as his successor." He commented, looking thoughtfully at this young man. "Then don't think she will come to bring you benefits for free. She certainly has something in mind."

"Hmm, everyone always has something on their minds," Minos commented, not the least bit bothered by this, reassured about the future. 'As long as she facilitates my business in this sect, I'll listen to her.'

"Anyway," The old man continued. "You shouldn't be so trusting. Lance has the Terry family, a house of many talented array masters, on his side. So the support he will receive in this time of war we are experiencing will not be small."

"Array masters?" Ruth repeated this, considering that they were seeking business with individuals of that profession.

They had not yet had the opportunity to visit one of the array masters' stores in this headquarters, so they did not know about such a fact.

However, once they did that, they would immediately realize it since the Terry family had forbidden all array masters from doing business with the Black Plain.

House Terry had only a fraction of the professionals in this field in this sect. But since it held a monopoly on specific techniques and materials, it influenced almost every group in this profession in this place!

"Yes, that is the specialty of that family." That Spiritual Saint confirmed.

Hearing that, the three women there looked at Minos, knowing that this would bring trouble for them.

But Minos did not regret his words to Lance. "Don't worry. We'll find a way to work this out... And in the worst-case scenario, we still have Vogel on our side."

"I'm sure they'll have no problem negotiating some techniques with their future sovereign."