The Rise of the Black Plain

Upon hearing Minos' comment, the five people in that place felt relief, but they did not lower their guards.

Such a newly arrived individual was too strong for them, and they could be killed at any moment. So, even if his words were not those of an enemy, that did not end the fear these people had right now.

And even though they probably could not do anything against Minos if he decided to eliminate them, such people remained vigilant, as if they had the chance to escape.

After all, they were only human beings who could hardly be rational in all situations...

But while they were sweating in fear, Minos reached the underground of that house, where there was a cylindrical-shaped tunnel. This secret passage was about 2 meters in diameter, where one could barely stand comfortably. Still, it could be handy for rushed exits.

And as the smoke released earlier by one of those Spiritual Kings dispersed, Minos finally saw the faces of each of those people, two of them being individuals he already knew.

As he stood facing Blake and noticed that those individuals were already cautiously moving after he deactivated his previous technique, Minos slowly moved his hands towards his mask.

As they watched this, those four people who were gradually approaching Blake, careful not to make any sudden movements, saw the face of the monster that had attacked them.

In that instant, Blake and one of those individuals saw the young face of Minos, an appearance similar to that of the person who had wiped out part of Charles' team during that incident five years ago.

"You..."

"You are that person!" Blake's bodyguard during that occasion, the only survivor besides the two princes, said this in shock.

'So, this guy truly has come back for revenge!' Blake thought about it, regaining his hopes that Charles would die at the hands of this stranger.

Previously he had suffered, having fled on many occasions, escaped death on several others, working hard to keep himself alive in search of an opportunity.

And for part of that time, he had faithfully believed that the stranger who had saved his life would return to kill Charles one day. However, his faith in Minos' possible action against his younger brother only diminished as time passed.

After all, it had been years since that incident!

Why had this stranger not returned to take Charles' life?

Blake had thought that perhaps the stranger who had saved him had gone on about his business and left this region behind. 

Perhaps it could be a physical impossibility, something that could happen to anyone. But the fact was that, regardless of the reasons for such a thing not happening, this young man had already given up his hopes for someone else acting for him.

And that was why he was here today, preparing to make his final attempt.

However, the moment he saw Minos' face, the hopes of before quickly returned to that young man.

So, as he thought about what this person had just said, Blake could not help but feel good, slowly forming an expression of joy on his face.

'But this person is truly monstrous!'

'He's already at level 53!' The second prince pondered over this while estimating how lucky he was that this help had 'fallen from the sky' just at this crucial moment.

As for the bodyguard who had seen Minos in action at that time, he was jaw-dropping. 'This guy is simply unbelievable!'

'He's almost increased ten levels in less than five years! How is that possible?' He wondered in shock.

'He can't be from our region!'

As for Minos, he noticed the reactions of the people in his surroundings, but he gave no importance to Blake's hopes or the shock of that bodyguard. 

He was here to use these people, and to him, it did not matter the small benefits they might think they would get from him.

With that in mind, he went straight to the point. "I will deal with your younger brother in the next few hours. However, do not think that the Kingdom of the Waves will fall into your lap or your other brother's without a cost."

"What?" Blake frowned, not entirely understanding what Minos was saying.

But while this prince was confused, his four companions also did not like what Minos seemed to mean. "What are you talking about? Are you going to charge us something?" One of them asked.

Then the bodyguard who was with Blake on that occasion years ago stepped forward and said. "But aren't you here to get revenge on Charles? What does the kingdom have to do with all this?"

"By the way, how can a person as strong as you have interests in our region? Don't tell me you have forgotten the rules of the Spiritual Church?"

Minos then laughed at the ignorance of those people, who still did not know that he was the ruler of the Black Plain.

"Well, I guess there's no other way. I'll have to tell you my identity..."

"After that, you will understand everything." He said this while looking into the eyes of those individuals little by little.

Gulp!

He then said at once. "My name is Minos Stuart."

"What?"

"It can't be!" They all shouted simultaneously, already rushing to protect Prince Blake, fearful that such a rebel would decide to kidnap or kill this person.

They had already let their guard down a bit for Minos because they had identified that such a person was an enemy of Charles, not necessarily theirs. But upon discovering that the person in front of them was the ruler of the Black Plain, everything had changed.

After all, Minos was a regional enemy, someone capable of killing kings who would not miss an opportunity to spread chaos in a royal family.

And with that, they were now even more fearful than when that sovereign arrived!

"Calm down. I will not do anything against you..." Minos said this while making a peaceful sign, hoping that these people would cooperate so that they could discuss the matter quickly. "Listen to me for a moment before you continue bawling like animals."

"I have a vested interest in ending Charles' life for what happened before. However, since I am the ruler of the Black Plain, I have an interest in the withdrawal of the Kingdom of the Waves troops from my territory."

"That is one of my demands for me not to act against whoever is to assume the local throne." He said this in a calm tone, without sounding too aggressive.

And those people soon understood what Minos was telling them, even though they could barely think straight at that tense moment. 

Blake then asked. "So, you want me to withdraw the troops from the Black Plain after I take over local command, perhaps signing a peace agreement with you afterward?"

Blake did not like this since if he were to become the king, he preferred to maintain the power of his state and the situation in the region as it was in his father's time.

If he did what Minos had said up to this point, he would be destroying the Counter-Revolutionary Statute, which would open up the possibility for further revolutions!

He did not want that!

However, he was more concerned about his present situation than his future!

He would be a king who would make the wrong decision to withdraw troops from the Black Plain or be nothing since Minos would probably kill him here and now.

Considering his situation, he was not totally against doing that!

"That is only the first condition..." Minos said as he looked at that black-haired young man. "In fact, it's the easiest thing for you to do."

Gulp!

"Since your state has been giving me trouble for quite some time already, you will have to bend the kneel and subordinate yourself to Black Plain for at least a thousand years. Only after that will your family's debts expire."

Upon hearing such absurdity, each of those people shuddered in awe as they turned pale.

"This..."

"Even if I become the king, why do you think I will be able to do such a thing?" Blake asked as his legs trembled. "Kings have been murdered by their own families in the past..."

"Hmm, that's true..." Minos gave a cruel smile, looking at that young man as if he were watching a prey that would be killed.

"In the next few days, I will kill the entire leadership of your family, including that level 59 cultivator..."

"After that, if you or your brother do not obey the Black Plain for the next thousand years, I will kill your entire family!"

...