Sometime after Minos issued an announcement summoning soldiers, subordinates, and high-level allies, all the necessary people were already at the local government mansion, the site of this meeting.
In this place was a large conference room with space for a few dozen people, ideal for this type of meeting.
Right there, Minos and his group were already seated at one end of a large table, where more than thirty people were already seated in the surrounding area.
At the same time, several individuals were standing behind the people seated on chairs, each of them watching that place seriously because of how unexpected Minos' call had been.
Many there still had no idea what was happening, so naturally, they were nervous about what would be announced there.
Amidst the silence of the place, Minos watched the people there in silence, seeing that the place was so crowded that he could not even see the decorations of the surroundings.
At the same time, he saw several faces he had not seen in months, people he had last talked to before his previous trip.
Among them was Grace, Vivian's girlfriend who had joined the army earlier, the supreme elder of the Miller family, the leaders of the Gill, Parkinson, and Austin families, and the Miller patriarch.
On the other hand, some of his most essential soldiers were also there, including Angela, Celeste, Eduard, Mirya, and Elena.
After seeing the faces of many of those people, he looked over to his side, where Dillian and Eda were sitting, and finally smiled. "Today, I have great news to tell you..."
The more curious people there swallowed their saliva in anticipation as they focused their attention entirely on young Stuart.
"The Brown family has just sent us a surrender request!" He said at once, watching the curious expressions of the people in that place quickly change to broad smiles.
"Haha, finally!"
"So we've already won the war? Are we truly independent from the Brown Kingdom?"
The more pleased soldiers there asked similar things, excited by the news.
Minos then shook his head and said. "We are not yet independent of the Brown Kingdom, but that is a matter of time."
"However, the Brown Kingdom has already accepted our independence, and it shouldn't be long before the whole region takes notice of it."
An area of a kingdom becoming independent of it was not a simple thing to happen. That is, the most challenging thing was getting a royal family to accept the request for the independence of a part of its territory. But even after that, there was still a process behind independence.
Obviously, once such a royal family approved, the region, in search of independence, gained the freedom that any state had. And with that, such a region could start its own government and actions without any significant problems with the state it was part of.
However, this was only informal independence, which could quickly be revised depending on who was on the royal throne of the state that accepted the request.
On the other hand, the population of this world naturally placed importance on status. Because of this, not being recognized by the Spiritual Church could be considered a disadvantage, making it difficult for outsiders to see this state as trustworthy.
Minos had the strength and power to maintain his independence against regional kingdoms. Still, he had to ensure that his state was in a position of which his people could be proud.
That was good for the Black Plain to become more attractive to outsiders but also to create a greater sense of belonging in the local population.
At the same time, Minos did not expect to live forever. So, it would be good for him to create all possible mechanisms to prevent parasites from eroding the Black Plain.
With that said, getting formal recognition from the Church and other regional states was necessary for a state's independence.
But in addition, Minos did not want to have to face constant problems with people trying to sabotage him. As such, he would not see himself as fully independent until he signed agreements with these families surrendering!
"Anyway, now we just have to deal with the Cromwell Kingdom, and then this will all be over," Minos said as he looked around, seeing some proud looks there.
"But for that, I already have my plan."
"Oh? How does the young master intend to force these people?" Dillian asked with curiosity since that neighboring state of theirs seemed to yet have hope.
The people looked at Minos once again, curious about that as well.
Minos then replied. "The Brown Kingdom remained in the war until practically the end of the conflict. In that way, we cannot just accept their surrender, as if all our losses were meaningless."
"Since they surrendered, they will naturally suffer the judgment of their war crimes!"
'Judgment?' Several people wondered what Minos was getting at, understanding that there was a need for such a thing but not understanding how it would force the Cromwell Kingdom.
"The Black Plain, its allies, and subordinates lost almost 200,000 people during the war. So, naturally, our enemies will have to make an 'equivalent' sacrifice to make amends for their crimes and obtain their surrender."
"Sacrifice?"
"Equivalent?" Some people there, among them the supreme elder of the Miller family, repeated those words of Minos, wondering what kind of massacre that young man was thinking of.
"The punishment for those who did not withdraw from the war while it was time is naturally heavy." Minos closed his eyes as he said this calmly.
"Those who do not agree to sacrifice their Spiritual Kings will naturally meet the same fate as the Silva family."
"Extermination!"
Upon hearing that, most people in that place felt drops of cold sweat dripping down their backs, realizing that Minos would not let those families get away easily.
However, while his allies and subordinates were feeling a little afraid, each of Minos' soldiers nodded in agreement, as they expected nothing less from him.
'That's it!'
'The wretches have made us suffer so much these years. Such punishment is appropriate!
'This can be considered merciful on the part of our leader...'
The soldiers there thought of similar things, pleased that Minos showed that he would not accept enemy actions without giving the proper answers.
The idea of these people, as well as Minos, was simple. Their side had killed and died during the war. That was part of it. There were no innocents on the battlefield. However, even if the Black Plain had eliminated more than twice as many people as they lost, the opposing side was the one who provoked them...
That was the problem!
They wanted to show these people, the region, that the Black Plain was not a power to be provoked. Once it was, the enemy side had only two fates. One, defeat the Dry City forces, or two, suffer harsh consequences.
Minos' action was aimed precisely at showing the region that even after these forces had lost much more than the Black Plain, they would still pay for standing against this territory.
And considering what Minos had said, none of those soldiers thought he was exaggerating things. After all, only the Spiritual Kings, the minority of people in those forces, would have to die.
Was not it fair that the leaders who led their families in the war against Minos would pay with their lives, ensuring the survival of the weakest in their respective organizations?
Those soldiers felt that this was more than fair, that Minos' action demonstrated his mercy towards his 'innocent' enemies.
Minos then continued after some time. "After that, I will naturally sign a contract with the strongest survivors to ensure those families stay away from us."
"As such, prepare for our moves!" He rose from his chair, finishing his business in this place. "I will invite the leaders of those organizations in the Brown Kingdom to come to Dry City to surrender. At that time, I will make my proposal to them, giving them the chance to choose their fate."
"Meanwhile, your troops will surround the headquarters of each of these organizations and prepare to act on my command!"
With the Black Plain freed from enemy forces and the end of the battles in that territory, there was no longer any reason for Minos to keep all his troops in that area.
After all, even if the Cromwell Kingdom tried something against them, that was still only one kingdom, not five, as the Dry City forces had faced for months!
That way, Minos had enough strength in Dry City to give that order and still ensure local security!
With this in mind, it did not take long for the people who had attended that meeting to leave, some satisfied, others fearful of Minos' overreaching actions.
However, none of them felt that they should stop young Stuart.
At the end of the day, what difference would it make if the few remaining Spiritual Kings in the Brown Kingdom were eliminated?
That was no big deal to several of them!
