The Rise of the Black Plain

Upon entering the blacksmith store in that part of the headquarters of the Gray Clouds Sect, Minos and his wives were soon attended to by a young disciple.

Since their identity was somewhat remarkable, they were soon taken to one of the people responsible for producing spiritual techniques in that place.

Thus, in the blink of an eye, they were in a business room, sitting around an oval table where the designated Spiritual Saint had just greeted them.

"So you're the grandson of the sect master, Minos Stuart, huh?" A woman, 1.5 meters tall, said while having a friendly smile on her face. "You want to order original Black-grade techniques. Is that it?"

"Hmm, that is my goal here," Minos stated while being closely observed by such a person who seemed to be evaluating him.

'Why is he trying to do business now? Wouldn't it be better to develop his influence in the sect to get those techniques for free further down the line?'

But she did not understand Minos' great pride. This man could even use this organization for the benefit of the Black Plain if he took such a place. But he would never accept favors from these people just because his family led this organization and tried to promote him to power.

So Minos would not take advantage of 'his' position and proudly stood there to do fair business with the local spiritual professionals.

She then asked. "Young Minos, your grandfather is the sect leader. Isn't it better that you negotiate this with him? In any case, I can't sell original techniques of my profession to you without him or the council of elders agreeing to sell to you."

Spiritual techniques of critical professions in this world were not easily traded, even more so considering original scrolls, items that could last indefinitely.

Then, powerful sects and organizations naturally limited the trading of original techniques.

Minos then explained to her. "I want to go through the natural negotiation procedure with you. I don't want to receive any advantage in this place because of the Coleman family or that old man's goals."

"Old man?"

Minos continued. "If the sect does not agree to do this deal on the fair terms I propose, then I will look elsewhere... In any case, I will become King of Vogel soon, so it's up to you."

This woman's eyebrows drew together as she thought about what he might be saying to her. 'What does he mean by that? Is he threatening us by saying he will get closer to Vogel than us? Or perhaps use his influence to suppress us?'

"That... What is your intention in saying that?" She asked as she considered the rumor already circulating among the elders.

Many were already discussing Minos' misbehavior with the sect guards and Lance. However, the version of the story they knew was not the real one but the one that man had spread, saying that King Stuart was a fanatic with delusions of grandeur.

So, she could not help but worry!

Minos then said while his wives looked seriously at that woman. "The truth is that this sect and I don't have a connection. Only your side thinks we do. So I am allowing you to become friends with the Black Plains while we are still small."

"At the same time, I want to do this while I do not influence you, with a fair deal for both sides, to start our future relationship right."  He shook his shoulders. "But that's not up to me. If you don't want to accept that gesture, that's fine. I'll find someone who does."

'Does he think that us having a good relationship with the Black Plain is a big deal?' She looked at him in silence. 'Even considering Vogel, it doesn't change his status much. After all, he will only be a decorative King. So what does he think he can achieve?'

This woman had nothing against Minos, but she knew that some families in this sect would cause problems for him in negotiations like this. So she did not see how he could convince them to do business with the Black Plain.

One of the reasons for not easily trading techniques like the one they wanted was to prevent the progress of opposing forces. So his justification that the Black Plain was still small as if it would not be in the future could be used as a pretext by his rivals to stop negotiations.

"I see... So do you intend to buy techniques of more professionals or just blacksmiths?" She asked in curiosity.

"We will also deal with matters with array masters, poison masters..." Ruth said everything they were in search of in this passage through the Gray Clouds Sect.

After hearing everything and thinking for a moment, that woman said. "Look, I don't think it will be easy for you to negotiate like this. You'll have to get the approval I already talked about to buy or order those techniques. Still, if the seller isn't interested, it won't happen."

"And it turns out that some of the businesses you mentioned are majority controlled by one family in our sect, which is a rival of your Coleman family. So you probably won't be able to do all your business here."

"Is that so?" Minos said as he looked at her and then at his wives. "Well, that doesn't matter. We'll work that out later... But, will you do business with us? I'm willing to pay..."

He then laid out his offer, which was about 20% above the average price generally used for a business like what he wanted with this negotiation.

"Well, we can start with..."

...

While Minos was negotiating with that woman, in another part of the sect, ordinary people had already discovered his group's arrival.

Ruth was an old member of this organization, and Minos was the notorious leader of the Black Plain. Thus, the news quickly spread to many young talents in the same generation as them or the same power rank.

While few knew Minos' real connection to this organization, many believed he was there to visit Ruth's family and perhaps do business. Hence, many thought this was a chance to duel with a famous person, challenge a rival, or try to make friends with him.

Therefore, groups of young people were already moving around this sect. That was particularly true for the group of 'fans' of the young and beautiful Ruth, a prodigy of this organization who had 'spoiled' her future by going to the Black Plain.

"So this person who bewitched Miss Miles is here?" A strong, blond young man asked his friends, while a smile appeared on his face.

"Yes, Chief Garrick. I heard he was seen with his three wives in area 12 earlier today." One of them said.

"Three?" That person looked at his friend with an incredulous look on his face. 'How can someone with Miss Miles think of others? How? If it were me, I would treat her like a goddess!'

He then clenched his fists, feeling as if the world was unfair and a bad boy like Minos did not deserve the glorious Ruth...