The Rise of the Black Plain

"I believe there must be at least 200 thousand people on those streets right now!" One of those three journalists commented this in appreciation, noting the view in front of them, where crowds were already gathering.

"Yeah... And the local population must be well above that!"

"Amazing!"

"I understand that the ruler of the Black Plain only took over the position of this place about six years ago..."

"In such a short time, things have changed so much!"

The three looked at each other as they exchanged this information, each agreeing to the other's views, placing this place in high regard.

They knew that Dry City was not like this before Minos arrived here because, otherwise, the local royal family would not have taken so long to act against Minos!

He had had six years to grow up peacefully in this place, and now House Brown seemed to want to reclaim this territory. Consequently, this could only mean that local change had happened after Minos' arrival.

And since families involved in regional journalism always kept an eye on all the news, these people knew what this place was like when the regent of the Black Plain handed over this territory to Minos.

Because of this, the three could not help but recognize the rapid local development!

"The population grew very fast in this period..." One of them commented on this data that was the most obvious at the moment. "I believe that the incident that happened in Maritime City a few weeks ago is the work of the forces of this city!"

"That whole population... The vast majority of them probably came from that place."

"Oh?"

"I guess that's right..." The leader of those journalists commented while observing the surroundings with a glint in his eyes. "But that's very strange..."

Hearing this, the two individuals looked at that person in doubt. One of them then asked. "What is strange?"

"Those people in our surroundings..."

"They don't look like people who were forced to leave their homes, who were suddenly attacked by an enemy force. Who are now forced to live in a strange place..." He commented as he continued to look at the expressions of the many people who were in the surroundings.

There were different expressions in their surroundings. But none of them were in line with what would usually be expected for people like that.

He could not see expressions of fear, insecurity, frustration on the thousands of faces in his surroundings.

And this was indeed strange!

After all, with so many people on that avenue they were passing at the moment, it was unlikely that any of those people came from Maritime City.

So, at least some disgruntled expressions, typical of the repressed, were to be expected, as should be the situation of these individuals brought here from Maritime City.

"Thinking about it..." One of those two muttered this as he paid attention to this point. "That's truly strange!"

But despite everything that happened, it was normal for them to find this situation here. After all, besides the opportunities they received by coming to Dry City, only those who wanted to be here were here!

The soldiers of the Black Plain Army had given the citizens of that now destroyed place the option not to come to Dry City. Because of this, those who had more negative feelings against the forces of this place had not even come here!

On the other hand, those who did come were precisely the ones most susceptible to persuasion. Consequently, there were not many people in this place who were not enjoying being in this city!

"But it's a pity that we don't have the opportunity to talk to local citizens..." Their leader said in a low voice as he looked to the soldiers accompanying them.

These individuals were not there to protect them, of course. Instead, this escort served to ensure that the three Night News journalists would not communicate with local citizens and would not have the opportunity to extract information regarding this place.

Since they had received the pass to attend the trial and execution of Otis Silva, they could see the local development and have some basic information about this place.

But without investigating further, just from appearances, it would be challenging for them to understand the level of the inhabitants, the soldiers of Minos, the quality of the local products, etc.

And it was precisely this information that Minos wanted to avoid being leaked through this action.

That is, it would be good for him to show the appearances of his city to the people of this region, but the same was not valid for the essence.

Thus, they could only speculate about this city based on what they saw while walking through the local streets where they saw high-quality restaurants, a cultivation tower, several stores that sold spiritual goods, and more.

Therefore, that person could not help but lament the lack of freedom they had to endure right now.

'Damn!'

'So many stories, so many things that would have the potential to become stories in our periodical...' The group leader thought in frustration, trying to endure his curiosity.

"Ahh, it's useless!"

"So many interesting things, but even though they are right in front of me, I can only observe from afar..." He lamented with his two companions as he got closer and closer to his destination.

"It's truly a shame... But at least we will be able to report the death of a powerful regional expert, solve the mystery behind the identity of the group that attacked Maritime City, and most importantly..."

"Report the Black Plain rebellion!"

"That will be enough to solve our lives..." The youngest of the three commented in satisfaction, chuckling.

Meanwhile, the soldiers escorting them listened to every word these journalists said, worried about what these people would do, but kept quiet, accepting Minos' plans.

They were simpler individuals, who Minos would obviously not justify his actions. As such, they weren't sure how allowing these people into Dry City would help their cause.

But even in the dark, these people trusted the orders of Minos, the person who had transformed their lives for the better.

'I just hope that these parasites don't use this opportunity to change whatever happens here to their advantage...' One of them thought the same as he looked at those people sharply.

Even in the Spiritual World, there was fake news and cases of journalists trying to change the facts, sometimes putting comments out of place, etc.

Consequently, that soldier could not help but worry and look threateningly at those people.

But while the journalists were talking among themselves about Dry City and those soldiers were observing them, the group finally arrived at the central square, in front of young Stuart's mansion.

In that place, more than 300 thousand people were already gathering at the moment, many of them in the front of the local government mansion and the rest in the side streets.

But besides the many people there, as they got close enough to the execution platform, the group of journalists saw the decoration of that place, which, let's say, was not friendly at all.

"And to think that they would come to such a point..."

"Yeah..."

"I didn't think they were serious..."

Gulp!

"But they killed 14 Spiritual Kings of the Silva family and also General Silva!" One of them said as he stared in shock at the 15 heads decorating that execution platform.

Each of the heads was on long wooden stakes, side by side at the back of that rectangular platform, where every single person in the vicinity could see them.

Each had their eyelids open, with precisely the expressions of fear that most of them had had before they died.

Meanwhile, there was a large golden throne on that execution platform right on one of its sides. On the other side, opposite this throne, was a man chained on the ground, on his knees, facing the thousands of people in this place.

That was Otis Silva!

"Unbelievable!"

"They managed to capture a level 58 Spiritual King and still cripple his cultivation!"

"Impressive!"

"That means there is at least someone with strength equivalent to or greater than Patriarch Silva's in this place!" The group leader commented in satisfaction as he realized a piece of important information about the local forces.

But while he and his two companions were deeply surprised by all this, the soldiers from before directed them to the back of that execution platform, where were the stairs to the VIP area, where these people would watch the show.

....