The next day, Lance woke up in a solitary confinement cell in the Grey Clouds Sect's headquarters prison.
Awakening from his previous state, this fellow woke up totally sweaty, feeling afraid, as if someone was watching him. At the same time, he felt disoriented from waking up in a different place than he had passed out.
'Where am I? What happened?' He wondered in concern, remembering the terrifying feeling he had felt at the place of Minos' baptism when darkness had surrounded him.
"Where is Minos? That bastard!" He muttered as he rose from the bed he was lying on, remembering his earlier purpose.
But just when Peter reacted in such a way, the guard who brought him to this place realized his young master's current situation and explained. "Young master, calm down. We are in the central prison of the sect."
"Central prison?" That blond young man turned toward the door of his solitary confinement, where the guard in question was positioned.
"Yes, the new sect master, Minos Stuart, punished you with three days of detention after the previous situation." That man explained.
Upon hearing that, Lance made an ugly expression, hearing Minos' title and yet that such a person had punished him. That is, not only had he failed to hinder Emperor Stuart from ascending within this sect. The elders had sided with such a person after the previous situation, giving legitimacy to the punishment in question.
As such, the young master of the Terry family could not help but become extremely pessimistic as his hatred for Minos grew by a few more folds.
'Bastard!'
'He really did it!' Lance closed his fists, not knowing what to do in that situation.
But then he asked that guard, who was a member of his family. "What about my supporters? What are they doing?"
"Young master, for the moment, the family and our allies are standing by to see what will happen next. According to what has been passed on to me, the sect master Minos Stuart is planning to go to the battlefield against the Saints Killing Sect."
"So..." He paused, hinting that things might happen and maybe they would not have to worry about Minos.
On some occasions, fate itself took care of problems like Minos. So waiting and not doing too much might be the best thing for them now.
Lance understood, but he also found it strange that Minos was putting himself in this precarious position. After all, who would risk going into a high-level battlefield right after securing their own position?
Hell, Minos would have Oswald's support for another three years. Thus, if he simply stayed within this headquarters, his chances of growing without any dangers were immense!
Considering this, Lance could not quite understand his opponent's goal.
'There's something wrong with all this.' His eyes sharpened. 'I can feel it. He'll try to fuck me the same way he did before!'
...
While Lance worried about his faction's position and what might happen to Minos, Emperor Edwardstone was already aware of the power exchange in the Gray Clouds Sect.
Minos' grandfather's sect was affiliated with the Flaming Empire, so naturally, it had some duties connected to the imperial family. Because of this, the information reached the imperial palace as soon as the power exchange occurred in that organization.
Even before the vast majority of the members of the Grey Clouds Sect itself found out about the power exchange in their own organization, the emperor had heard such information.
"Minos has taken command of the Gray Clouds Sect?" This man questioned, not understanding what Minos was doing.
Such a move would complicate everything in his relationship with Minos, the Flaming Empire's relationship with the Black Plain Empire, and the situation of this state's four enemy allies. So, upon hearing from one of his men that Oswald had abdicated his position in favor of Emperor Stuart, Harold was somewhat concerned.
On the other hand, Isabella, who was there talking to him about the previous matter once again, was surprised to find that Minos was not taking it lightly to solve the Abe problem.
"It looks like he will use all his possibilities to stop Abe Vogel..." She commented in a low voice, drawing her father's attention.
Harold ignored the response of the man who confirmed that there was no error in the previous information and asked his daughter. "What are you talking about?"
Isabella then said. "I believe Minos is only doing this to deal with Abe. Otherwise, he probably wouldn't go for the responsibilities and problems related to this sect."
"Abe's terrorist group has been harming the development of the Black Plain, so Minos is more than ever willing to go further to finalize his problems..." She said in a suggestive tone. "This is a good time to do him a favor."
"Favor?" Harold muttered, understanding perfectly well what his dear daughter was talking about. 'This again? She's pushing this idea about me intercepting the Spiritual Sage of the enemy group...'
'But Minos really is overstepping his bounds to find ways to resolve this matter.' He could not help but agree with his daughter, feeling that this was an excellent time to get advantages.
Minos would undeniably pay for getting involved with the Gray Clouds Sect sooner or later, as there were many complications related to this move of his. So this was a sign of how annoyed Emperor Stuart was, indicating a good time to win important favors from the Black Plain.
Harold then fell into a silent state, pondering the possibilities and possible consequences of each of his actions.
On the other hand, Isabella was pleased with how things were developing for her, as everything seemed to be converging in her favor.
'How nice that Minos has taken over the Grey Clouds Sect...' She smiled. 'Now our connection will be better than just temporary secret allies. That will make it easier for my father to accept our future together.'
...
"Cough! Cough!" Minos coughed a few times as he felt a strange sensation as if someone was plotting against him.
"Minos, are you okay?" Oswald asked as he flew ahead of his grandson, escorting this young man to the battlefield of his sect and the Saints Killing Sect.
"Hmm, I just felt something going into my throat. But it's okay..." Minos said as he followed Oswald and another Spiritual Saint from the Gray Clouds Sect, who would accompany him later.
His wives were not there with him since what he wanted to do was dangerous, and they would not be needed as much. So, Gloria, Abby, and Ruth were with Sarah in Clouds City under Patience's gaze.
Minos then continued. "Anyway, let's get on with it. I only want to stay for two days in this place before I return to Dry City."
"Two days?" The other Spiritual Saint asked. "Will that be enough?"
"If you keep an eye on where I hide my weapon, I will resolve this situation gradually over a few weeks. But I can't do anything about it, or I'd be risking my territory."
"Hmm." Oswald saw no problem with that. "That way works too."
...
