The Rise of the Black Plain

A few days later...

After about a year since the fall of the Allen family's top experts, Stone Island had regained much of its condition it had before the war of the two largest trading houses of this state.

Not only because of the change in the course of the war between the Allen and the Nash families. But also because of the interference of the noble houses of the Farmland region, that had been selling low-cost goods to strangle the economy of Dry City.

Thus, even in a period when this state had been living under economic sanctions, the ordinary people were improving their quality of life as the days went by.

Food prices were low, there were plenty of construction jobs available in the war-torn areas, and conflict or major battles rarely took place in this territory.

But although unusual, many of these changes favorable to ordinary citizens made much more sense than might appear on the surface. 

While the sanctions against Stone Island significantly impaired that state's access to essential cultivation resources, it could not significantly affect the ordinary population. After all, people of the lowest classes, more than 70% of that population, did not consume those resources under the sanctions!

Consequently, these people had not been harmed by the price increases of pills and services of all kinds.

Of course, if one were to buy specific arrays or hire the service of some spiritual professional in these times, such a person would encounter much higher costs than usual.

But then, again, ordinary people did not shop for products or services like these very often. Therefore, they had not suffered as much from these problems.

As for those affected, they really could not throw the cost of this on ordinary citizens. After all, the way to pass on the losses to other people usually happens through the services and products sold.

But by not buying, it would be difficult to be affected by this...

As such, only the wealthiest in this state suffered from the lack of some items.

However, even these individuals were not so worried. Besides the fact that they were aware that wars of independence did not last for many years, the situation on Stone Island itself was getting more interesting!

For years, they had become accustomed to the problems of the war between those two great families. But now, even if the war was not officially over, everyone in this state was already aware that the Nash family would be the winner!

Along with the significant losses suffered by the Allen family previously, the war on the Black Plain implied that everyone who could cause trouble for this family was keeping an eye on Minos.

Among them were the Allens themselves, which had almost entirely left Stone Island and gone to the Cromwell Kingdom.

Others were the people of the Farmland region, who were now fighting in the south of the Black Plain.

Finally, the Collins were fighting with all they could in the north of the Black Plain, eager for the opportunity to avenge their losses.

And that situation created a space for the Nash family and their Stone Island allies to organize and begin resolving the war's problems.

Considering this, even the wealthiest in this state, generally members of local noble organizations, were not so desperate about the sanctions on this kingdom.

With this, Stone Island had been recovering from the losses of the previous years, preparing itself for the changes brought by the internal and external transformations!

...

Stone family mansion...

At this moment, King Stone was in his office, in the administrative part of the large estate of the local royal family.

And while this individual was sitting in his luxurious chair, behind a beautiful glass table, two other people were standing in front of him.

One of them was his younger brother, Garvin Stone, while the other was the patriarch of the Nash family, Marvin Nash. Both were here to talk about the Black Plain with this monarch.

"Your Majesty, the Black Plain's increase in power over the last three months is formidable," Marvin said as he presented his information to the leader of this state. "Not only is young Minos acting much more decisively, but so are his soldiers."

"In particular, those scatterers around that territory, at the bases of the Black Plain Army."

"Oh? That sounds promising..." Eugene said as he watched that patriarch.

Garvin then nodded in agreement and commented on another piece of information. "Yes. But as I had said before, the enemies' situation in that area has also changed quite a bit recently."

"It is still not certain what will happen there in the short term..."

"Well?"

"Then, it's not yet time for us to get into that conflict," Garvin concluded, as he looked at Marvin without caring that this man had had his suggestion rejected.

Marvin was here to ask for the Stone family to become more directly involved in the Black Plain war. However, as much as both parties had contracts with Minos, neither was obligated to get involved in such a conflict.

And without the obligation, not knowing when things might improve, House Stone did not want to risk the lives of its members by entering the war too soon.

They would prefer that Minos and the Black Plain get things balanced in that territory before joining the fight!

And that was not only their opportunism but something they had said to Minos.

Following their alliance with young Stuart, they made it clear to him that their side would only become directly involved in the war when it reached stability.

As such, that individual had refused this proposal from Marvin.

For them, war on the Black Plain was a bad thing, as growing up in a period of peace would be much more enjoyable. But living an extra year, or even two in the current situation, would not be the end of the world for them.

On the contrary, it could even generate tremendous benefits!

After all, the longer the war lasts, the more fragile the states in the region would become when one of the sides wins the conflict.

And that would be great for them!

As for good relations with the Black Plain, they could do that later, while they would still have a place at the table for not having made things difficult for Minos.

For all that, even if Marvin's wish could bring future benefits for everyone, those more substantial Stone Island experts were still not moved by that.

"Sigh..."

Patriarch Nash sighed in defeat, feeling very sorry for not being able to return the favor to Black Plain.

Black Plain's actions had saved his life and potentially his family's existence. Because of this, he owed a debt to Minos, something he wanted to repay by getting involved in some way in that territory's war of independence.

However, the situation of House Nash was not the best, and joining a war that they were not obligated to participate in would be very detrimental to their future.

After all, even if Minos had good potential, if more nobles of their organization died, the family could disappear even if they had the full support of him!

And that was the reason they had not yet sent people to fight on the Black Plain, have limited themselves to speaking up for Minos on Stone Island.

Eugene then said. "Marvin, don't worry about it so much."

"I believe that in the next six months, maybe less, this will change a lot. And with that, we will get involved in the war!"