The Rise of the Black Plain

Minos knew he had a good chance of getting something in this state because he had already talked superficially about it with Emma.

For this very reason, this woman was guiding him towards the village ahead, where supposedly a noble house of a woman who might have information about this was located.

There were no Spiritual Church posts in the Flowers Kingdom, but this state was friendly to that organization.

Because of this, some of the queen's descendants maintained contact with that organization and were, in a way, closer than other local noblewomen of the organization that Gloria was part of.

This family was one that had members who had dealings with the Church!

So when the group of three arrived near that camp, Minos' eyes were gleaming in interest, eager for any kind of information.

'Time to get at least some hint...' He wondered before moving on to enter that village alongside Emma and Maris.

As they moved beyond the surveillance limit of the guards at that location, their group immediately caught the attention of the Spiritual Sages on standby.

One of them took the time to check what this was all about and simply mentally communicated with these people.

'What are you doing in this place? And why is there a warrior and a spiritual beast next to this man? Uh? Isn't that Minos Stuart?' A female voice, very comfortable to hear, said in the minds of the three.

Minos noticed this form of communication for the first time in his life as that Flowers Kingdom warrior explained the situation aloud.

"Senior, I lost in the challenge to this man, and I am guiding this beast and him until we reach the Flowers City... That was what he chose as a prize for his victory."

The beast then prostrated itself and said aloud, afraid of being punished by that expert. "Senior, he threatened me to follow him around the kingdom, so I have no choice in being here!"

"Tsk! How do you have the nerve, Maris? You're enjoying yourself on our trip!" Minos exclaimed, looking at this traitor on its own knees.

"That doesn't change the fact that I am being forced to accompany you." She said, without looking at him or the direction from which that expert was positioned, sending her words into their minds.

But Minos was only trying to make Maris nervous and soon put her words aside. He looked in the direction of the woman questioning them and said. "Madam, I am seeking information regarding a group connected to the Spiritual Church. I believe someone in this village can help me, so I request permission for passage through this area."

That woman looked at Minos strangely before focusing her attention on those two beside him.

She said first to Emma. "You are a fool. How did you have the courage to challenge someone who is Her Majesty's target? Do you think she didn't have her reasons for watching him? Now you are forced to guide him through our state, saying things you shouldn't..."

Emma listened to that woman's sermon, soon lowering her head in shame.

Then Maris heard something too, but since she knew nothing about the queen's interest in Minos, the Spiritual Sage didn't complain so much about her weakness.

That expert merely said that such a spiritual beast was a disgrace to its race...

After making her due complaints, she focused on Minos and said with her vocal cords. "Faye, bring His Majesty Minos Stuart to the hall of elders. I will receive him."

A woman in the vicinity of where Minos and his companions were heard immediately appeared in front of the three.

The three saw that level 81 woman, and he walked towards her, causing Maris to stand up and Emma to put away her shame to move on.

"Your Majesty Minos Stuart, come with me. I will lead your group to your destination." Faye said, with a smile on her face, as she opened a wormhole behind where she stood.

Then Minos nodded to her and entered that region of space without hesitation, followed by Emma and Maris.

...

By going through the last wormhole, something he did as if he had gone through a door, Minos came to a large and well-lit place where there seemed to be an artificial garden.

But nothing there was artificial. Everything was natural, even considering the underground position of this place where Minos had been sent.

Minos looked at the surroundings and saw that the tree roots positioned above this area were responsible for the good lighting in this room full of plant life.

But there were also many items produced by humans, sculptures representing people and beasts. At the same time, the spiritual energy and Law present in the area were so concentrated that the air seemed to glow.

Minos smiled upon seeing this place while Emma and Maris appeared behind him, promptly retracting their auras to avoid offending the people in the surrounding area.

"Your Majesty Minos Stuart is indeed powerful and bold." A voice came from far away from those three, as sounds of footsteps spread in the surroundings, becoming more and more noticeable. "You go to this place and still stand watching everything as if in a museum... Aren't you afraid of offending those you shouldn't?"

"Offend? Not at all. I'm just impressive enough to look at the area with curiosity." Minos said before seeing the woman who had spoken to them moments ago, someone at level 85.

Coming face to face with this brown-haired fellow, that woman, tall and strong like every local noble, with black hair and blue female armor, said. "You know that by coming here, you will be challenged by some of our junior girls, right? Are you doing this on purpose?"

"Not at all. I have interests that maybe can be helped by people from this place. I'll leave when I find out if you can and hear something useful.

As to whether anyone will challenge me, that is up to you only... I will not spread to other people that I am here." He said, indicating to this woman that she could help him and keep his passage through this place a secret.

That way, none of the juniors in this village would lose resources to him!

"You are very good at telling others what they should do, uh?" That woman said, not liking to hear that from Minos.

"No wonder I'm a ruler..." He said.

That woman closed her eyes momentarily, thinking about it. She really didn't want to let her juniors come into contact with Minos, or they would be enticed to challenge him and then lose.

Losing a challenge was a shame for a cultivator of the Flowers Kingdom, which could even hinder their journey as women and future mothers of this state.

The innate ability of these women demanded peace of mind to function at its best. So anything, such as defeats and humiliations, could hinder their results.

But no one could stop one of these women from issuing a challenge, which was why this specialist was in a tricky situation with Minos' arrival.

She couldn't throw him out, as that might offend the queen, so she simply chose to listen to what he had to say.

"Tell me about what you seek. Then, depending on what it is, I can advise you." She said.

...