The Rise of the Black Plain

The next day, as soon as dawn broke, the group of 11 people between levels 80 and 88 quickly moved through the vicinity of a large forest in the central area of the Grinia Empire, approaching a building on a mountain.

In that place full of sentient plant life, where several powerful beasts had territory nearby, Minos' group approached the site that looked like a farm.

However, this was not a farm but the home of a high-level mercenary group!

Not encountering any problems on their way, given those hybrids who knew the region well, Minos quickly faced the entrance to that location, where Spiritual Sages were guarding the grounds.

As they approached the entrance gate, they were immediately stopped by the guards watching nearby.

"Visitors, are you here in search of mercenaries?" A 2 meters tall, level 85 man asked loudly, figuring this was the case.

Fermo stepped forward and said. "Yes. Our leader is in search of 9th-stage, high-level mercenaries. Are any of the experts in your group free today?"

"Oh? High-level Sages?" That guard exclaimed in surprise, as it was unusual for people to come to them looking for the services of their group's leaders.

As such, there were free experts on this estate. "Yes, we have a few men in our headquarters at the moment. However, only 2 of you can come in to negotiate.

Your group is too large, hybrid."

Minos looked at Fermo and said. "Let's both of us go in."

Starclaw looked at him significantly but readily understood that Minos needed someone from the area to accompany him.

The level 85 guard looked at this young Spiritual Sage, noting that he was supposed to be the leader of this group.

'I don't know him... His spiritual fluctuation is pretty strange too.' He considered.

On the Divine Continent, few people had ever heard of Minos. Fewer still were those able to recognize his spiritual fluctuations.

Since that guard knew most of the spiritual fluctuations of the Divine Continent's major powers, upon seeing Minos, he readily realized that this fellow was not from those areas or from a relevant power on the continent.

'Boss, a strange boy alongside a hybrid is coming to your area. He is looking for high-level Sages.' This man said in his mental communication with the leader of this group.

'Strange? What's strange about him?' An elderly man at level 89 asked as he looked toward the entrance to this farmhouse from where he was standing.

'He has a pretty solid spiritual foundation. If I hadn't seen him in person, I'd say his cultivation was level 81, almost 82. But he's only at level 80.'

'Oh? That's really strange.'

'Besides, his spiritual fluctuation doesn't resemble that of any of the major families on the continent. I judge that either he is not from our continent or he is from an emerging power.

In any case, I suggest caution. Strange people are the most dangerous.' He finished his comment about Minos.

As mercenaries, they were not obliged to do every service that came to them.

Some problems were not worth the reward they paid!

'Hmm, emerging powers and rising talents usually bring far more dangers than we accept.' That old man agreed with the caution recommended by his man.

If it was someone from a known family, even without talking to the contractor, that group could already understand the problems they would face on a mission with them. However, with an unknown group, the problems could be infinitely worse than the contractors themselves thought.

In this case, it would be much more risky for them to provide their services!

So, while thinking about the people who would come to him, the old leader of this group of mercenaries left what he was doing in what appeared to be a carpentry shop.

Five minutes later, a man with red wing feathers on his back and a young man with brown hair, only two-thirds the height of the hybrid beside him, stopped in front of that place.

Minos looked at the tree trunks inside that place and the old man who seemed to be preparing for cold times by cutting wood for fires.

"Sir, these visitors are here in search of high-level mercenaries." A subordinate of the previous guard at the entrance of that farm said as he left Minos and Fermo there with their leader.

The white-haired but very muscular old man looked at these two intently but said nothing.

"Who are you?" He asked as he noticed Minos' calmness next to that nervous hybrid.

Fermo was not comfortable. Hiring a mercenary was not so easy to do when one wanted the strongest mercenaries around.

These people wouldn't take a chance on just anything.

And by entering this estate, they even ran the risk of facing several of the mercenaries in the surrounding area if they caused suspicion.

These mercenaries would hardly kill a potential client, but they could expose them and disrupt the plans of this group.

As such, Fermo was somewhat anxious.

Minos looked at that old man quietly and asked. "By talking about your services, would I have some kind of secrecy? I am not wanted on this continent, but I would like to keep my presence here a secret."

"Oh? You are not from this continent?" This old man narrowed his eyes.

He preferred dealing with people who got straight to the point and answered his questions without him having to ask!

"Rest assured. We have no interest in talking to others about the people who come to us." He said, assuring Minos about his concerns.

"Well, I come from the Central Continent. My name is Minos Stuart. I am the emperor of the Black Plain Empire." He got straight to the point, knowing that hiding it from this man would not help him get his group of high-level Sages.

'Emperor? Black Plain? I think I need to find out more about that place.' This old man thought but said nothing to Minos.

"So you are Your Majesty Stuart. It's a pleasure to meet you." He smiled. "Why are you seeking our help? What kind of service do you want exactly?"

"I need 10 to 20 high-level Spiritual Sages, preferably level 89. The mission is simple and should be over in a few weeks.

There is a group I wish to take on near the border of this state with the Chavell Empire. We will investigate and plan before attacking, so the mercenaries in my group can drop out before the attack if they decide the prize is not worth the risk."

"That's generous of you..." That man laughed, thinking he probably had some big problem related to this mission. "Your Majesty, I ask you this, will you take the risk, or is it only the mercenaries you will hire that will do it?"

"I will be the one leading the attack..."