"... Let's focus on mining in our territory. That's a business with no risk of going wrong, so all our investment will pay off one way or another."
"The only doubt here is whether this will be enough to put our province in the lead of the areas around the Black Plain." The patriarch said in a firm tone.
He did not have the first place as his goal since the Miller family would certainly achieve that. After all, in addition to this organization being based in the central part of the Black Plain, it already had 3 Spiritual Emperors in its ranks to secure its future.
Hell, that was not even all. With the queen close to advancing to the 7th stage, plus her father, Eliot, the Miller family could soon become the second organization with the most regional experts!
In this way, Liam had no interest in the first position. However, to the other Black Plains powers, he showed no intimidation. All the other powers had only one Spiritual Emperor, while the number of Spiritual Kings was not that different, although the disadvantage was on his side.
Thus, he wanted to pursue this development strategy and perhaps secure his family's future within the Black Plain!
...
While the Gill family leadership was discussing the options for the development of their territory, in a quiet part of that city, a group of five people was gathered in a basement.
In that place, there were not many decorations, only what was necessary for the people there to sit with a minimum of comfort while they were there.
And just as they were sitting on the outskirts, these people were talking in whispering tones in this poorly lit place.
"So? How are the positions of your group? Mine recently arrived in this place, so I want to know what problems and facilities we can expect..." A relatively young-looking woman asked the three individuals in front of her.
One of them, a man with a black beard and mustache, answered her. "The facilities are what you have already experienced with your group. Enter this place through the border with our state. However, the facilities end in this territory we are in."
A middle-aged man continued his group mate's comment. "Hmm, from here on out is where the problems are... In the main part of the Black Plain existed several defensive mechanisms that are complicated to overcome."
"The people in that place have developed their defensive systems well. Without us traveling on the roads guarded by the soldiers of the Black Plain Army, the chances of death for Spiritual Kings are more than 50%."
After hearing that, the other woman there, a companion in the group of the one who asked the question earlier, then asked. "Why is it like that? Something special? Are the forest regions of this place that dangerous?"
The third man replied. "They're not forest regions. From what I've heard, the Black Plain had no vegetation or powerful beasts until a few years ago. So, these 'forests' are actually big headquarters of local government spiritual beasts, where each of them provides border protection service."
"In other words, anyone who tries to infiltrate one of these forests will have to prepare to face all the living beings of such places!"
Upon hearing that, the faces of the two women paled while their mouths opened in shock. "Are you serious?" One of them asked. "How can that be? So this Minos' guy controls all these spiritual beasts?"
"Isn't he just a Spiritual King?"
"Hmm, supposedly, yes..."
"But local rumors say he can fight against Spiritual Emperors."
"Tsk!"
"Nonsense!"
"Do you believe what these bumpkins say? And even if he can fight against ordinary Spiritual Emperors, what can only one person do?" The other woman said.
"That's another problem. It's not just one person." The elder there shook his head, sensing the difficulty of this mission they were on. "There is at least one Spiritual Emperor in each of these forests. But, on the other hand, in each of the major cities in this state, there is also someone at that stage."
"Finally, there are teleportation arrays at the most important points in this territory. So, even if those places' protectors are eventually destroyed, reinforcements would arrive in a few seconds."
"That..."
"If that's true, how will we get into Dry City? From what you guys are saying, it seems like we can't rob that place." The first woman said in an irritated tone.
These people were criminals from Albano, individuals drawn to the Black Plain because of the growing wealth of these areas.
They recently heard rumors that there was a place with billions of low-grade crystals in the Black Plain, so they decided to infiltrate this territory.
But this was not the only rumor circulating in the Albano underworld...
One of the men then answered that woman. "It seems that it is impossible indeed... At least for people of our level."
"Maybe if we get support from bigger criminal groups, we might have a chance of getting some Spiritual Emperors to join us."
"Tsk!"
"That's a terrible idea!"
"Even if we succeed, we won't get anything. Or do you think criminals that are so much stronger than us will share their prizes?"
"We'd better try to rob this city's bank."
The Bank of the Black Plain had developed in recent years, having reached every city with more than 500,000 inhabitants in the Black Plain. As such, this institution had a branch in the Gill family city.
"It won't do any good." The old man commented. "We've already researched this, and branches of that bank always send more than 80% of the crystals from local clients to Dry City."
"In other words, the risks don't pay off."
Those two finally lost patience and asked. "So why did you guys invite us here?"
"Come on, calm down. Of course, we alone won't make it, but I've heard that the number of Spiritual Kings coming from Albano has increased every month."
"So, let's wait for the chaos to occur so we can take the opportunity and act!"
"Oh? That's it?" Finally, the two felt better, as they were both aware that at least 100,000 criminals in Albano were Spiritual Kings.
In that case, if only a portion of them came to Black Plain, then it would only be a matter of time before their numbers reached values for them to force their way into the core of that state.
"By the way, while my group was coming here, we heard another rumor about the riches of this state..." One of them smiled as she said that.
"What?"
"From the looks of it, high-level plantations are growing in great quantity in this main area of the Black Plain... I've heard that such a thing is the reason for the development of this place."
"Oh? That sounds true. The local food is excellent..."
"Come to think of it, if our groups agree, we could take this place..." She reduces her tone, feeling that so many criminals could not enter such an ambitious agreement. "No, that's impossible."
"Maybe..."
"In any case, how many people are in your group?" The leader of the newly arrived group asked the men in front of her.
One of them answered. "50 Spiritual Kings, half of them being at the beginning of the 6th stage, half in the intermediate levels."
"Not so different from ours..."
"Well, let's keep waiting, as you suggested. When we left the kingdom, there was a lot of movement in the shadows."
"So, let's bet on chaos!"
"That's our only option..."
This group of criminals stood there for a while longer, discussing the many positive reports from the Black Plain that had come to Albano in recent years.
The Black Plain, in the opinion of many of them, looked like a great treasure box protected by fools, waiting for the strongest to dominate.
At least that had been the idea propagated by the Albano underworld...
Anyway, these people were greedy and could not ignore the wealth that could even turn their groups into gigantic sects!
So, they were determined to usurp the possessions of the Black Plain, to rob the newly risen young king, whom none of them feared, as they feared the old monsters of Albano.
Whether or not they would succeed in their journey, only fate could tell. But it was a fact that they and many others had started a journey of no return on this peaceful Black Plain.
