One month later...
After the arrival in Dry City of the group of mercenaries from Elemental City in the Western Empire, the ten individuals spent several days being updated on the local situation.
They followed several confrontations without fighting or showing themselves since they were the surprises that Minos wanted to leave for Abe to find in Dry City.
But even without fighting, these individuals could learn about the local challenges of the Black Plain Empire, the enemy force level, local characteristics, and what they should do.
Since the job was not complex, to protect Dry City and the local forces while Minos was in the Flaming Empire, those people learned quickly about their role locally.
But even though this happened quickly, a whole month had passed since the arrival of this foreign group, enough for them to understand better who Minos was.
Because of this, even though they had to be commanded by a 67-level youth, those high-level Spiritual Saints had not found it so bad, as Minos really was a prodigy and a great fighter.
Another reason for this was that they had started receiving payments for their services, which greatly pleased them.
And so, these individuals were already used to Dry City and its challenges and were ready to start acting for the local good with Minos' imminent departure!
...
At the imperial palace on the Black Plain, Minos was at this very moment with his group about to leave for the Flaming Empire, bidding farewell to those who would stay.
In this group about to travel to the headquarters of the Grey Clouds Sect were Minos, Gavin, Abby, Ruth, Gloria, and Sarah. This one was already in the Spatial Kingdom, waiting to see her grandmother again.
Since the ten high-level mercenaries were in Dry City to protect it, Minos would not leave his wives behind, as he had done last time.
He also did not intend to take them to the battlefield with the Saints Killing Sect. He was already going to confront the enemy leaders, something quite dangerous for them to get involved in.
His plans for the three were to leave them in the Gray Clouds Sect with Maisie and Sarah, where they would be safe for the next few days.
Anyway, Minos finished talking to those ten high-level Spiritual Saints and addressed his last words before leaving for his subordinates and allies in the area.
"Alright, fellas, I won't be around the next few days, but unlike that day, nothing should come up and dearly affect our empire like that. So stand firm, continue our plans against the enemies and your training."
"In a month at the most, I should be back. We'll start to resolve the situation of that terrorist group of that damned Abe in no time!" He looked to the sides of that imperial throne hall, where many eyes with a desire for revenge could be seen.
"Your Majesty, don't worry, we'll be fine." Dillian, level 65, said while standing next to his wife, Eda, level 64.
Abby's parents were also around, along with some high-level army members, not least Regina, who had lost her former bodyguard, Angela, to the previous attack.
"I hope you return successfully quickly, Your Majesty." That poison master said, feeling the urge to take revenge once again in her life.
She had not yet succeeded in killing the elf who had caused the death of her first love centuries ago. But now she had gained a new motive for revenge, and she was furious.
Minos knew what was on Regina's mind and just nodded to her, confident that he could fulfill the expectations of this and other people in this hall.
"Very well, gentlemen and ladies. I hope you will take good care of my city during this period." He said to the ten individuals, just before he saw them nodding and depart the area alongside his wives and Gavin.
With that, they quickly made their way to the teleportation port of the Black Plain Army headquarters, from where they would depart for the Flaming Empire.
As that group was leaving, old Grant approached one of those mercenaries from the Western Empire, his homeland, and asked. "Can you tell me how things are going in the imperial family?"
"Hmmm? Old man, do you think people like us have any news regarding the imperial family?" One of the men in that group asked Grant, this fellow they all already knew from history because of the rumors about him among local soldiers.
Grant had never gotten very close to them in the past few days, only asking questions and probing about their positions.
But after realizing that these people were just ordinary mercenaries, not enemy spies of the imperial family, he finally decided to get closer to them and ask questions.
"I don't want important news regarding the imperial family. I'm just curious to know if something has changed. For example, is the princess okay?" He asked about that woman who had been the reason for his trip to Elves Island when he experienced the catastrophe that crippled his cultivation.
"The princess? Ah, yes, she married and started a family..." Then, that individual said a bit about that woman's current position, which was known to everyone in the Western Empire and was not worth hiding.
After listening to such a person for a while and finding out that only his group had perished in the incident in the North Sea, Grant was relieved and asked several more questions regarding the empire.
He wanted to know how his former state was, whether the imperial family was continuing with plans against the Eastern Empire and a few more details.
In the end, he asked that mercenary. "I have a letter that I need to deliver to the imperial palace. Can you do that for me? Of course, I will pay you for it."
That level 77 man saw the letter in Grant's hands and thought for a moment.
But since it was a job of just passing on a message, he saw no problem and said. "All right. When this mission is over, and I return to the empire, I will deliver this where you want it..."
The two continued talking for some more time, agreeing on what would happen and the costs of this service.
...
Two days later...
After they departed from the Black Plain, Minos and his group finally reached Clouds City, where they were promptly spotted by Abe's men nearby.
But this time, Minos was not worried about these people and simply flew alongside his women and Gavin to the headquarters of the Gray Clouds Sect.
Such a place was not far away. After a few minutes, they had already arrived at the Oswald estate, where Sarah could see her grandmother again after months away from her.
Minos and Gavin had to stay in the area for a while since Oswald was not around. But after a few hours, that fellow returned home, finding his grandson ready to battle alongside him, waiting for him in that estate.
"Minos, are you here for that?" Oswald asked as he saw his grandson and felt excited to be able to fight alongside that fellow for the first time.
...
