The Rise of the Black Plain

"Third, I want you to help me contact the Hayes family in the future."

Hearing this, Mirya frowned and looked carefully at Minos.

The second thing this young man wanted was indeed a good thing for the Stokes family, but the other two weren't!

In fact, they could even be considered harmful. Hence, this woman couldn't see how Minos' negotiations could be worth so much that the power above her would accept these setbacks.

That's because, even though Minos' business was fantastic for her, as she had previously experienced, that doesn't mean it would be the same for a mid-sized regional organization!

She was just a person who invested only in herself and her daughter. However, the Stokes family had thousands of members... Businesses of just a few million crystals would not catch their attention!

Consequently, this experienced woman couldn't see the advantage to the Stokes family in what Minos wanted..

"This..." She muttered in a low voice as she decided how to start explaining to Minos the problems of these demands. "What you want seems a little excessive. For example, do you know that the Hayes family is at war with the Chambers family?"

"Yes, I know. After all, that's why I want to contact such a noble power." Minos responded promptly.

This young man had discovered this in the months that had passed since he and Abby had returned from that business trip. By then, such news of the trouble between the Chambers and Hayes families had spread across the north of the Central Continent.

Even ordinary citizens of this region knew what was happening in the Cromwell Kingdom!

Because that conflict was already with almost two years of duration and thousands of people had already succumbed, in the many battles that happened between those enemies.

According to the counts made by the newspapers of this region, more than 20,000 people from these and other organizations related to this war had died. Among those numbers were about 10 Spiritual Kings!

And upon finding out about this event, Minos had immediately put Vivian and Davy's family in his plans, as they both had common enemies...

On the other hand, this conflict was very positive for the Black Plain, as it could weaken potential enemies south of this young man's territory. So this sovereign wanted to use such an opportunity to increase pressure on that state, so he could benefit when the Black Plains declared independence.

"Do you want to get involved? That is crazy!"

"Nobody knows who can win this conflict, and half a dozen noble powers are already fighting this war. Because of the volatility of this problem, I doubt that my Stokes family, who have been away from it since the beginning of the problem, will take the risk just because of an agreement between us."

'Who knows who might win? What's more, the best thing is that we let the two destroy each other, so that competition in our state decreases!' Mirya thought to herself as she looked at Minos as if she was disappointed.

She then spoke again. "On the other hand, why do you want a non-aggression agreement with us? What is the need for this? The Stokes family doesn't even know you. I doubt we'll ever be fighting each other."

"Yeah, you're probably right on this point, but… Let me reverse this question for you. What harm would it do to your Stokes family to sign a non-aggression agreement with me? Just as you couldn't attack me, I couldn't attack you either."

"Hence, we could have a much better relationship with each other…" He concluded this with a sincere smile on his face.

After Minos finished speaking, Abby spoke for the first time since the two began talking about this matter. "You are exaggerating your refusal. The only point that could be detrimental to the Stokes family is the Hayes family issue. However, even considering this, there are certainly ways we can do this without attracting attention."

"Considering how much we can gain from this deal, even the smallest of risks is still too big for us. I don't think the family would accept that, Minos." Viola said, looking thoughtfully at that young man and then sighing inwardly.

She and her mother had not seen the whole of the Dry City, nor some crucial parts of this place... But even when they saw only the surface, they knew that this place had good potential.

However, in their view, it would take a long time for this place to reach the size of a medium-sized family, as was the case with the House Stokes. So, it could take a long time for this place to grow big enough that the family behind these two can make a considerable profit by negotiating with Minos.

Minos sighed. "It's no use speaking more about this. I even have something else I can add to this deal, but I don't think you two will be able to decide on that."

"What is?" Viola questioned him.

"It's no use for me to say it, as you won't believe it. I'd rather let you see this in the Dry City, and then you'll understand…" He mysteriously said this, at the same time as he was thinking of something.

"Why don't we make a date with that young woman you introduced me to earlier? Mendy Stokes. She certainly has greater authority than you in this family, and seeing the opportunities she can have with me, she will certainly accept that."

"Mendy?" Mirya muttered that she thought it might not be good to let that young woman come to this place. 'Minos wants to bind us to this place. It could be dangerous if we let Mendy come to him!'

"What about your two joining my army?"

And once again, the two green-haired women looked at Minos strangely. "Do you want to kill us, Minos? What do you think the Stokes family does to traitors?" Viola questioned him angrily, slapping her hands on her thighs and mumbling under her breath.

"In my organization, I already have people from three large regional families. And two of these families are much stronger than the Stokes family."

"Abby, my girlfriend, is one of them. She comes from the Miller family. Also, I have a soldier who came from the Nash family and one from the Neel family, both noble powers from Stone Island."

"That's true?" Mirya questioned Abby in a shocked tone.

That was shocking to her. After all, even with marriage, one person would not discontinue being part of his family to join another. At most, the weaker family would be protected by the stronger. Still, a nobleman of a high-level power would definitely not submit to the leadership of the weaker side!

That was a regional custom, and Abby couldn't do such a thing with Minos, even if they were a couple!

She could even help him fight, get resources, etc., and no one in her family would mind, as long as the House Miller funds did not finance these aids.

But she could never say she was part of Minos' organization unless, of course, this power was stronger than her family. If not, it would be a severe offense for her to position herself in such a way, and she would undoubtedly be treated as a traitor!

Abby nodded and said. "Yes, it's true. I joined the Minos army almost two years ago."

'The Miller family is a lot stronger than the Stokes family... But this girl is just his little girlfriend, and she is also a noblewoman. So, even if she makes a mistake, her punishment will be less than what someone like me would receive!' Mirya thought to herself after hearing Abby's response.

And seeing the thoughtful face of this woman, Minos then decided to end this conversation by saying the following. "You see, I won't be able to let you leave my city without being part of my power."

"But don't get me wrong, if you didn't want to, that's fine, and you're not in danger in this place. Still, I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to live in this town for a few years..."