The Rise of the Black Plain

"Your Majesty, two Spiritual Sages are at the eastern entrance of the city requesting passage to the inner area protected by the grade-4 arrays." A soldier said this to Minos just after entering the area of the imperial palace where the emperor was at the moment.

A group of soldiers from the Black Plain Army and members of the Gray Clouds Sect had just been intercepted by those two envoys from Calvert. With that, those men outside the area protected by the arrays promptly sent a message by communication arrays to one of the soldiers in the imperial palace.

Currently, the arrays purchased by Minos in the Flowers Kingdom protected the core of Dry City and this entire city, not protecting the belt of cities around this area.

Because of this, the group coming from the Evergreen Empire was at one of the entrances to Dry City and not near the heart of that city, where the command center of the Black Plain Empire was.

Anyway, nowadays, the army has instantaneous means of communication, and soon after those people arrive, soldiers have already sent the message to the communication center of the imperial palace.

Minos had a communication array, but he only used this device when he was away from his palace, where he had people to take care of urgent communications for him.

One of the men from that center had just reached out to him and relayed this information, surprising Minos and Abby, with whom he was now.

Little Kendrick was in his father's arms at this instant, laughing as his father swung him in the arms.

"Two Spiritual Sages?" Abby opened her mouth, surprised at the arrival of experts at this level in Dry City. "Where do they come from?"

"We believe they come from the Evergreen Empire, Your Majesty." That soldier said while Minos narrowed his eyes, trying to decipher what that meant.

'I still have a few years before the deal with those pirates reaches the promised moment... So I don't believe they are people from the Blood Triangle Pirates.' He pondered. "Are they from the Spiritual Church?"

"We are not sure. They are not wearing the Church cloaks, Your Majesty."

"Hmm, very well, take me to them," Minos said after handing Kendrick to Abby.

Technically, he and the empire's core were safe in Dry City since Spiritual Sages could not invade that area of protection he had created over the past few months. But Minos preferred not to ignore these people and cause backlash from the forces they represented.

So he wanted to go to them to talk and understand what this was all about.

In the blink of an eye, Minos was face to face with those two people at one of the entrances to the area protected by the defensive arrays.

He looked at the man and the woman there and left the protected area to talk to them outside Dry City.

Beside him were some high-level elders of the Gray Clouds Sect, people at levels 78 and 79, ready to fight if necessary.

They might not be strong enough, but they could give their cultivation levels to Minos and thus help this sovereign become stronger in case of need.

When they saw those six people and Minos, the Spiritual Sages coming from the Evergreen Empire, smiled at these people as they noticed the local strength.

That was not enough to impress them, but it was pretty impressive for the area's history.

"Your Majesty Minos Stuart, I presume." The woman said as she gestured a greeting to the emperor of these lands, identifying him by his cultivation level.

"Who are you? What do you want in my lands?" He was straight to the point, non-threatening, but not in the least bit subservient.

The man beside that woman ignored the cries of his 8th-stage beast, which had brought them to this place, and replied. "Your Majesty, this is Phoebe Savage, and my name is Bryant Elliott. We are here on behalf of His Highness Calvert Evergreen, who wishes to meet Matriarch Frost and Your Majesty."

The woman added. "The Black Plain Empire is already drawing attention even in our state, and Matriarch Frost's faction has reached the level necessary to have the right to join larger forces."

Minos' eyebrows narrowed, with he clearly understanding what this was about. 'So that's it...'

"So you are here to make an offer?" He asked. "Is there anything else you guys want in my territory besides that?"

"No, that's all." That woman said, smiling and nodding at him.

"Well, we'll hear what you have to say," Minos said, not the least interested in what these people would offer him but knowing that he couldn't just dryly refuse them.

He preferred to deal with them cautiously, pretending to be someone with whom they could negotiate and perhaps reach a consensus.

With this, he allowed those people into his territory, confident they would not act against him and his forces on this day, for they were there to make an offer.

Problems might arise in the future, but the risk was minimal for the moment.

So soon, they were at the Temple of the Black Plain, where those two settled down to wait for Minos and Gloria as they talked about how much better this place seemed to be compared to what they had heard.

'This Dry City seems well developed, don't you think?'

'Yes, the quality of the streets and buildings, as well as the local energy density, is even higher than what we have been told.' The woman said amidst the mental communication of the two.

Before they could talk further, Minos and Gloria appeared in the waiting room where those two had been dropped off moments ago.

"So, you are Prince Calvert's envoys..." Minos commented, sitting on the other side of the table those people were standing around. "I did not expect that one of the heirs of the grandiose Evergreen Empire would be looking at my humble Black Plain so soon."

"Your Majesty doesn't need to be humble. There is nothing small about this state." The level 85 man said, smiling.

"Yes, a rising state like the Black Plain is relevant to any force on the continent." The level 84 woman added. "Then it is only natural that His Highness would be interested in this magnificent state."

"Hmmm." Minos smiled at them, nodding but not liking this conversation at all. "And what exactly does your leader wish for us?"

"Straight to the point, one can see why Your Majesty is so successful..." The woman commented. "In any case, His Highness wishes to improve his family's ties with the Stuart family and the cooperation between our factions."

Gloria then asked. "How would that be?"

"Our factions have common interests. His Highness wishes to better connect to the northern region. Meanwhile, we have access to resources, information, and many more things available in high-level states." The man said. "The Black Plain is doing very well, obviously, but it could develop even more easily with the right incentives..."

"That could all be offered to you for just your loyalty and support in actions in the northern region." The woman said, indicating how much they would have to give for a deal like the one Calvert wanted to work.

Minos and Gloria looked at each other and commented simultaneously. "I see..."