The Rise of the Black Plain

Minos had signed agreements with the nobility of Vogel. Because of this, he could not threaten the powers of that state gratuitously nor use the black hole or Black Hole Bomb against the powers of the Assembly.

But nothing prevented him from lobbying for the Black Plain's interests with the Assembly of Vogel's representatives.

He was the ruler of a state with many resources at his disposal and possibilities that could already be interesting for even low-level Spiritual Saints. So financially convincing certain agents of those Vogel organizations should not be impossible for Minos.

On the other hand, he had never promised that he would not use his 'ordinary' powers against the Assembly members. As such, Minos already wanted his army to prepare to accompany him toward that state within a period of up to 2 years.

If fighting were necessary, they would fight. But if they could settle the matter by simple voting, that would be better.

In any case, the local forces needed to start acting now, while the position of both the powers of Vogel and those of the three kingdoms had not yet changed.

Meanwhile, there was the situation of the Flaming Empire, which he would definitely need to get involved in, given his promises and honor as a man.

"Send a message to Isabella that I will try my best to help Emperor Edwardstone once I reach the 8th stage. Until then, unfortunately, I won't be able to do anything since even though I want to, I don't have enough powers." Minos said to some of the remaining soldiers in his office.

Such individuals kept Minos' words and left to settle this, leaving only the members of the imperial family in that area.

Abby then approached her husband as she carried Sarah in her arms. "It seems that everything that had to go wrong is going to go wrong in this period..." She sighed as she commented on that.

"Hmm, looks like luck is not in our favor." Minos agreed with her as he took his daughter in his arms, wondering if, at some point in Sarah's childhood, he would have peace to watch her grow up.

But even though he had many responsibilities, Minos was quite present to young Sarah. He constantly has her accompany him to meetings like this and plays with her in his spare time between one responsibility and another.

Since Sarah had three mothers to love and raise her and several uncles, aunts, and relatives who occasionally visited Dry City, Minos' presence was enough for her.

...

While Minos was fulfilling some of his paternal responsibilities in between engagements, Isabella faced the most challenging time of her life.

Right now, she was in her family's imperial palace, already beginning to assume leadership roles. In contrast, the supreme elder of the Edwardstone family had begun his temporary regency.

He was loyal to Harold, and the core of the imperial family strongly supported Isabella becoming the local heiress in the eventual absence of the emperor. But on that account alone, they would not give immediate powers to that woman when such a man had only been gone for a few days.

They knew that Harold had been taken by powers from the Flowers Kingdom. Not only had this man shouted for everyone in the capital to hear him on that occasion, but some of the family's elders had seen the distinguished eunuchs of that kingdom.

But even though their hopes for a return of Harold were not high, they could not give up on that man immediately!

At the very least, they should try diplomacy and have Isabella take over her father's duties little by little, leaving to crown her some years later.

So, although she was sitting on her father's throne right now, the one who was ruling at the moment was the supreme elder, the white-haired, red-haired man standing to her right.

"The men of the Flower Kingdom have kidnaped the emperor, so we must send a diplomatic group to that kingdom." This man, level 79, said to the various leaders of organizations in this state who had attended this urgent occasion.

Among them was Mortimer, an enemy of Minos and Oswald, along with the six other leaders of the empire's high-level sects and some from lesser powers.

The people there knew that Oswald was no longer officially the leader of the Gray Clouds Sect. But everyone was thankful that he was the one who had come to this place at this time instead of a young Spiritual Emperor.

"Will that make any difference?" One of those men who were closest to the Saints Killing Sect asked in a skeptical tone. "The people in that kingdom have never been the type to take things in conversation. So we'll only run the risk of a few more of our own having to surrender to those women's games."

That peaked man did not like those words and gave that fellow an ugly look. "This is not a debate, sect master Pierce. I am saying what should be done."

That fellow closed his mouth after hearing the supreme elder Edwardstone's unkind words, feeling ashamed.

Then Oswald said. "The supreme elder is right. We cannot simply accept this without at least trying something. If possible, I would like to go to that kingdom myself, but unfortunately, I have to finish the change in power in the Gray Clouds Sect."

"But I am willing to do that in a little over two years."

"Oh? Sect Master Oswald is really magnanimous." Mortimer said in a tone of provocation. "Do you intend to leave your grandson without support in such a short time? Are you that confident of winning the war?"

"I am." Oswald looked into the eyes of his enemy and said without hesitation, even considering that such an individual man was stronger than him.

Hearing these two, the supreme elder of this family remembered Minos and felt a bit of anger, considering that such a young man was the real culprit for all of this.

Few there knew, but he was aware that Harold had only risked leaving the empire because of the Stuart Emperor. Thus, the supreme elder could not help but feel that Minos was somehow guilty.

"Oswald, where is Minos Stuart? Why is he not here? As the master of the Gray Clouds Sect, he should attend when the empire needs him." This fellow at the peak of the 8th stage asked, letting his tone show everyone there that he was not happy.

Then Isabella said. "Uncle Basil, don't talk that way. Minos is not to blame for anything. I'm the one who convinced my father to do that. So don't try to blame him or demand commitment from him. I am the one to blame."

The people there who knew nothing looked confused at Isabella, but no one explained the situation to them.

The supreme elder then said. "That doesn't take away from his responsibilities as the leader of an organization of the empire, Your Highness."

"But everyone here knows what Minos is dealing with in the northern region and our state. So let's not demand his presence at the moment." She protected her interests with Emperor Stuart. "Oswald is not here? Then everything is fine."

"Anyway, I am sure that Minos will help us rescue my father in the future. So don't lose hope." She said, making everyone there look at her with open mouths.

...