Two weeks later...
After Minos' call, the regional leaders who were already in the Black Plain, and those closest to this state, moved to Dry City to hear what he had to say.
The same had happened with the principal regional Bishops, those members of the Spiritual Church that Minos had invited to his city.
And just one of the last Bishops to arrive in Minos' capital was reaching the Stuart family's royal palace at this very moment.
"This city is imposing!" The old Bishop in charge of the main temple of the Snow Kingdom commented on this to his two followers as he saw the surroundings of the central area of this capital city.
From where they were standing, one could see the Black Plain Army headquarters, the bank of Minos, the local government, the central square, and the royal palace.
Everything there differed from what one could generally see around this region, with oddly shaped buildings, wide streets, and distinctive trees.
Also, the fact that everyone in the surroundings looked strong and well-dressed helped to create a special feeling in people seeing the place for the first time.
But it did not take long for that Bishop's group to be escorted inside the palace, where the meeting arranged by Minos was about to take place.
"This way..." The soldier showed one of his hands as he stepped out of the way of a large doorway to those individuals.
Seeing that, the three members of the Church paid attention to the sounds of conversations, typical of those crowded places, coming from inside the area they were about to enter.
As they moved forward, they soon came upon what looked like a small amphitheater, where about 40 people were seated in three rows of seats there.
This Bishop and his group soon noticed their colleagues, individuals dressed in purple robes among those people.
"Do you know what is about to happen?" They heard this as they sat in the middle of the group of those individuals from the Church.
"No... Actually, I'm trembling with fear." One of the younger people there answered that middle-aged man's question while showing his hands to his colleagues.
A woman then said. "I get the impression that we are here to be recruited..."
"Impossible!" An old man commented in a slightly altered tone since he was one of the individuals from when the Church Bishops were against Minos. "He wouldn't dare!"
As they talked among themselves, the individuals from the large regional families there watched the Bishops and talked among themselves in doubt.
Among them were King Carline, King Stone, representatives of the Cromwell, Brown, and Snow families, Wilfred's mother, and members of Minos' forces, particularly his vassals.
Liam Gil was one of them, someone who 15 years ago was only a regional mid-level Spiritual King, without much influence, but was now among the strongest, level 61.
Because of this, he was one of the most smiling people there and only bowed his head to Minos' soldiers, the patriarch Nash, Hayes, Cohen, Stokes, and Miller, who were on the same level as him.
And seeing Wilfred's mother there, this man could not help but lick his lips.
"Miss Walker, you look more beautiful than ever..." He commented as he sat behind this level 59 woman.
"Patriarch Gill is exaggerating." She smiled as she looked back. "I'm old now, and I don't care for myself like I used to..."
"No, Miss Walker's beauty is like fine wine. It only gets better with time." He winked at her. "I'm sure you still have many admirers and possibilities."
She smiled, not finding this powerful man's flirtation bad.
Wilfred's mother loved William Walker, the late King of the Kingdom of the Waves. But more than six years had passed since that man's death, and with her near increase in power, she knew she could still have a long life ahead of her.
Also, it was important for her family to have contacts outside her state, especially with Black Plain powers that had a lot of power or potential.
That was the case with House Gill!
And hell, she was a woman who had her needs!
Some might think that those who love someone intensely would eventually abstain in that person's death, but this rarely worked.
Human beings were the most adaptable creatures in existence, beings who knew how to overcome loss and move on.
And often, this happened, with women or men finding new love interests, overcoming past ones.
Was this sad?
No, because, in general, overcoming did not mean forgetting, and would not it be worse to live in lamentation, 'attached' to something that no longer existed?
That was the idea that people all over the Spiritual World unconsciously knew, as in the case of King Walker's widow, who was now able to enjoy flirting with other men.
She would naturally feel a slight resistance to relating to others, but such a thing would weaken until she once again fell in love.
That was how the heart worked, and because of that, it was not long before that man invited her to the Gill family headquarters for a visit.
"Yes, I will do that when I have time." She smiled at him just before becoming more serious due to the beginning of the occasion they were on.
Eduard walked around the sides of the area in front of the rows of armchairs in that small amphitheater and announced. "Your Graces, Ruth Miles and Gloria Frost, royal consorts!"
The two women entered and stood on two different sides of a small piece of furniture that had the Black Plain symbol on it.
Mirya then moved, showing her beautiful body in her golden armor, and said. "Your Grace, Minos Stuart, the king of the Black Plain!"
Minos walked through that small area, attracting the stares of everyone there, along with the absolute silence of those who were either very respectful or afraid of him.
He stood behind the small piece of furniture, with Ruth on his right side and Gloria on his left, looking from one side of that place to the other.
He smiled and then began to speak. "I will soon be leaving the northern region to visit some of our neighbors and the Flaming Empire."
"I will be doing business in these places I pass, which will change the region even more, so prepare yourselves for the future. Spiritual Emperors won't be much of a thing in these areas in a few decades."
Everyone there listened to him with surprise and a bit of shock. As impressive as Minos was, none thought the region was ready to get involved with outside powers. Even more so considering how he seemed to want to...
At first, they thought he would leave the region for his own sake, not because he wanted to bring even more outside trouble into these areas!
With that, many there were open-mouthed at Minos' words.
He then became more serious and said with a bit of his murderous intent in his tone. "Since I will be gone for a few years, I want everyone here to be aware that if any of your organizations cause trouble in my absence, I will show no mercy!"
"Spread the word to your higher-ups. Anyone who disregards the orders of the Black Plain or hinders the progress of my government will have their entire family sentenced to extermination once I return."
"Take this seriously because I am not joking!"
He then smiled and dispersed his murderous intent. "But those who play by the rules, I assure you they will not regret it and will have chances like the ones I have given to peak Spiritual Kings in recent months."
"Any questions?"
...
