The Rise of the Black Plain

While Abby was taking care of army business with the Feathered Serpents, Vivian and Grace were walking around Dry City at the moment, during their free time.

They had become accustomed to living in this city since Minos' deal with House Hayes, having gotten to know some things up close that they had only observed before.

After all, before, they were in a great hurry to settle their affairs and return to Primrose. But now, with time to spare, to walk around this town, they had finally had opportunities to talk to local citizens and get to know more of this place.

Understanding the local reality of these ordinary citizens was the quickest way to get to know a city and the way its ruler handled his own territory.

Each decision Minos made could have significant interference for the army and his own future. But at the end of the day, the results of a ruler would have more effect on his citizens than on himself.

Minos would use almost no services from his city. But, on the contrary, these services were there for the citizens to enjoy, and then, if he had a little luck, good seeds would emerge from these inhabitants.

On the other hand, more substantial citizens could work harder, do higher-level services, and generate more wealth for the city and taxes for the government.

With this, he could profit from being the local ruler!

But his decisions would still affect the ordinary inhabitants the most. And with that, anyone interested in finding out what kind of ruler Minos was would only have to analyze the condition of these people.

If they lived on the edge, it would mean that the local government had a modus operandi of local exploitation.

On the other hand, if these citizens were developing financially and spiritually, it would mean that the local government was sustainable.

Of course, there were other possibilities, but these two extremes would be more critical in evaluating a government in the Spiritual World.

And these two women from the Cromwell Kingdom had already understood very well how Minos treated this local population, as well as his subordinates.

Anyway, Vivian and Grace talked about just that as they walked through Dry City.

"I hadn't noticed how promising this city is during our last trip here, Vivian."

"There are so many people from so many different places here, so many things happening simultaneously..."

"This town seems to be alive, and the people here are genuinely happy," Grace commented as she looked at the green of the street they were on.

"Yeah, I could tell that too... It truly is a surprise that someone with Minos' personality can help his own citizens!" Vivian commented, remembering the differences she had with the local sovereign.

Grace then laughed. "Haha, don't say something like that. Talking like that, it even sounds like you see him as a terrible monster!"

"Tsk!"

"You defend that guy a lot..."

"Unlike you, I have no problem with him, hehe. And I like his personality. He's someone easy to talk to."

"You'd better not say those things to him, or that guy might think you're interested in him..." Vivian said this with a disgusted expression as she remembered that Minos had tried to flirt with them both.

'That filthy pig! He may be powerful, but he has the personality of a pervert!'

'But it's a surprise that a pervert like him hasn't tried to persuade us using his Silver-grade techniques... I wonder if he's one of those who like to win over the women he stays with?' She wondered as she remembered the attempt she had made earlier.

'Hmm, although he's a perverted pig, at least he's not so bad and has some principles. If he had demanded something sexual, I feel like I wouldn't be able to look him in the eye anymore...'

She then closed her eyes for a while and then asked Grace. "What do you think of the Black Plain Army? Would you join this organization?"

...

After a few hours, Minos had finished his services in his office and gone to the Spatial Kingdom.

As usual, he spent some time in that place cultivating his spiritual energy, something necessary for him to continue advancing levels.

Then he trained each of his combat techniques, which he had to do for a long time before reaching new phases of mastery.

And after all that, this young sovereign of the Black Plain finally went to talk to Emlyn and the human Spiritual Kings in the Spatial Kingdom right now.

He usually talked with the people living in that place quite often. But he usually did such a thing separately, dealing with the situations of each of these beings little by little, one at a time.

But as an exception, today, he had something to talk about with the primary individuals of his army!

For this, Ernest, Abby, Dillian, Emlyn, Mirya, the two Spiritual Kings brought into the army by Elena, Angela, and Regina, were all standing there in front of young Stuart, outside that lake house in the Spatial Kingdom.

Dillian and Abby had come here with Minos after this young man had finished his business and gone to his army headquarters. As for the others, they were all already there, so this young man had no problem gathering them together.

Anyway, when they had all gathered there, finally Regina asked something. "Minos, what do you want to talk to us about?"

Everyone looked at Minos, focused, waiting for this young man's answer upon hearing this question.

They were all part of the army, but each had their own affairs to deal with. Even if they had inside information, Minos had many possibilities to talk to them.

It could be related to Stone Island, Cromwell Kingdom, Brown family, and even other potential dangers to Black Plain or local plans.

There were simply too many things happening simultaneously!

But their curiosity soon passed the moment Minos began to speak. "Well, it's time for the first group of the Elite Squad army to graduate."

"Oh?"

'So, that's it...'

"Are you sure? I think we may still have a few more days of training." Regina commented.

'Hmm, it will truly be better if these soldiers can train for longer...' Angela agreed with her former boss as she thought about the matter.

But soon, Minos explained the situation. 'Yes, there will probably still be a few more days. But tomorrow, I will leave on a trip that may last two to three weeks."

"And considering the current stage of negotiations with the Brown family, I can't help but worry about something happening while I'm gone."

"So, I want to free the strongest soldiers of the Elite Squad from their training so that they are already in place in Dry City."

"Probably nothing major will happen in that period, but we'd better avoid unnecessary danger..." He calmly commented as he looked at those people in front of him and the great Nine-tailed Fox.

"I see..."

"The young master is right."

"Those soldiers would be leaving the Spatial Kingdom by the time he returns from this mission anyway. So, we'd better get ahead of ourselves and do it right now," Dillian commented, nodding his head to Minos.

"Hmm, that's for the best. But what about the rest of these folks?" Emlyn asked as she moved her large head toward those humans standing there.

"Naturally, some of you will be out of the Spatial Kingdom for a while." Minos readily understood what Emlyn was saying and immediately pointed to the people who would be staying in that place. "Mirya and Ernest, you two have been here in the Spatial Kingdom the least amount of time, so I will leave you two dealing with the weaker soldiers who will be staying here."

"Mister Doug, who is not a warrior, can also stick around longer." He said, referring to that blacksmith Elana had brought from her family.

"As for the rest of you, will stay away from the Spatial Kingdom for a while."

He then looked at Mirya and Ernest and spoke to them again. "But don't calm down. When I return, that will probably change..."

"All right!"

"Well, let's take a look at those soldiers...." He said as he started walking towards where all the Elite Squad members were waiting. "I want to see how they have developed up to this point!"