One week later...
After the previous trial was over, Minos and his family left Payton and finally returned to Dry City.
The Gray Clouds Sect was no longer at war, while the Saints Killing Sect had its 'doors' closed to the rest of the world, with most of its experts in seclusion. At the same time, the imperial family of that state and the high-level powers were preparing for the complicated future ahead. So Minos had not had any problems in these last few days concerning this state.
With that, after giving his orders to that sect before leaving the Flaming Empire, he was now focused on his state, waiting for the reinforcements that should arrive soon.
But while he and his family were returning with their usual routines in Dry City, the time for the previous mercenaries to leave had finally arrived.
And now, Emperor Stuart was receiving them at his palace.
...
"Your Majesty, our contract ends next morning." One of the two-level 79 Spiritual Saints said this to Minos as he and the other nine individuals were profiled in front of the imperial throne.
Minos heard this and did not have much to say to these people.
He could renew his contract with these people and keep them in Dry City to help him take on Abe's terrorist group. But now that the war between those two sects was over, Minos would have more support from the Gray Clouds Sect.
He did not want to spend his high-grade crystals unnecessarily, so he was naturally sending these people back where they came from.
"Hmmm, thank you for your services," Minos sincerely said, as these ten individuals had kept the peace in Dry City for the past few weeks.
It was true that they had not confronted and caused casualties in Abe's group. But Minos had never demanded that of these people, so that was not why he would be disappointed.
"If one day you decide to return to the Black Plain, we will welcome you with open doors." He commented, looking into the faces of each of these people. "Until then, I wish you good luck and a safe journey."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Those individuals said simultaneously, before receiving the last of the payments they were entitled to from some of the imperial guards in that hall.
Those individuals also said goodbye to some of the experts in the surrounding area, with whom they had kept in touch for weeks and made friendships.
After a brief moment, they left Dry City without looking back.
"What are you going to do?" One of them asked, remembering the offer they had received from Abe in the intervening period.
Abe had offered double what Minos had paid them for these past few weeks. But since they were in the middle of their contract with the local sovereign, they could not change sides, thanks to some rules that their mercenary guild imposed on their men.
But now that they were free, they could do whatever they wanted!
"I'm going back to the empire. There is nothing in this place for me." One of the women in this group commented and was soon followed by others who thought the same.
"There is no reason for us to stay here. To go along with that individual's proposal is tantamount to lusting after death..."
"Haven't you seen everything this Minos has done during the days we've seen him fight?"
"He can cause our deaths." Another person commented, remembering that Minos had terrible means to kill his opponents.
'No fortune is worth the price of death...' The other woman there thought to herself, already satisfied with her gains.
Thus, none of them decided to stay and change their position on the Black Plain. Instead, they all started their journey back to the Western Empire together!
'When I get there, I will have to deliver that old fellow's message...' One of them pondered as he remembered Grant.
...
Meanwhile, Minos was still in his imperial throne hall, carrying on with his responsibilities as ruler.
After his last trip, upon returning to the Black Plain, Minos had had great surprises with several of his soldiers who had advanced in level and even stage.
Such was the case with Joey, this administrative soldier in his army, who had reached level 60 after so many years in this organization.
But besides this fellow, soldiers more active in Minos' plans had also achieved improvements recently. For example, Elen and Eduard had reached level 65. They could be considered some of the strongest individuals that had been brought into the local forces by Minos.
Some patriarchs and leaders of organizations in the northern region and the Black Plain Empire were also doing well. But due to their advanced ages, they were beginning to lag behind these young cultivators.
With the recent advances, despite the losses the local forces had taken in such a period, Minos found a stronger Black Plain than he had left weeks ago.
Abe had not acted against Dry City in this period. Still, he and his group continued to disrupt local development by attacking strategic points in this state.
Because of this, the Black Plain lost personnel and growth opportunities during this period, still living through the drama of being blocked by that individual's terrorist group.
Minos had already expected this to happen, so none of this came as a surprise to him when he found out everything. He was just refreshed and focused on what he should do to solve this problem.
After those experts left, he said to his men in that imperial hall. "Begin preparations for the Black Plain counterattack. In a few weeks, the groups from the Gray Clouds Sect will begin arriving in our state, and we will begin hunting down the enemies."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Some of the administrative members of the army answered him before leaving.
They had to study ways to attack Abe's terrorist group and eventually deal with the Spiritual Sage to stop him from saving the enemy's head. That was complex, even considering the 8th-stage cultivators coming from the Flaming Empire.
Therefore, Minos advanced that matter by giving that order to the army intelligence soldiers before following with new commands to the rest of his forces.
"To our Vogel allies and friendly states, I want you to return to your old positions around the empire to protect our outposts." He said as he looked at those people over there.
Lulu, who was still in this city, then asked in strangeness. "What is the meaning of this? I thought we would return to our states after that situation in the Flaming Empire."
Minos then said. "I need some time before I do that. So I ask you to stay here for the time being. In a few months, we can give up your help."
"What about..." Someone from the Assembly of Vogel was about to say something, but Minos interrupted him.
"Vogel is part of the empire. So I demand that you continue your exemplary service."
"Sigh..." He then looked at his direct subordinates. "For the rest, you can all return to your former duties. I will handle the security of Dry City from now on."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
