Five days later...
After departing from the headquarters of the Gray Clouds Sect, Minos made his way alongside some high-level elders of that organization to the empire's capital, riding the level 76 great beast.
Little Green was quite fast, but Minos had ordered it not to hurry anything since there were still more than two weeks left for his responsibility when his group departed Clouds City.
With that, they had somewhat prolonged this trip that could be made almost instantaneously using teleportation ports.
But still, after days of traveling through the southeastern and central areas of the Flaming Empire, they finally arrived in the vicinity of Payton.
Upon arriving there, Little Green was still lowering its altitude to land nearby when a group of the imperial guard approached them in mid-flight.
"Sect Master Stuart, elders, welcome to the capital." A level 75 man said this as he floated ahead of the other group members. "Are you coming to the capital to attend the local leaders' meeting?"
"Hmm, that's why we're here." Patriarch Terry said this as Minos quietly observed the surroundings.
"Please come with us. The supreme elder wishes to receive you." The leader of that guard said before showing them the way.
Minos ordered the Little Green to settle somewhere on the capital's outskirts and soon after began to follow those men of the Edwardstone family.
"What's the situation? Are all the local leaders being received by the regent?" Minos asked as he approached that man.
That fellow laughed bitterly and said. "No, just you."
"Oh? Why is that?" Patriarch Terry asked.
"I don't know. That you will have to find out from the supreme elder..." That guard said, but seeing Minos looking in his direction, he made sure to add. "But I believe it is because of what happened in Clouds City in the last few days."
"You mean the confrontation between us?"
"No, the reception of several local leaders..."
With that said, the people in Minos' group soon understood that the situation in Clouds City had somehow stirred the imperial family.
Minos had received many leaders of the Flaming Empire into the Gray Clouds Sect in the previous days. In fact, he had received more organization leaders in these previous days than the event led by the Edwardstone family had as guests.
Because of this, some members of the more radical wing of the imperial family viewed this event with a bad eye, as if this was a step by Minos to demonstrate his influence in this territory.
The elders of that sect and Minos readily understood the problem after those words. Still, they just followed the lead of those people.
...
A few moments later, Minos and the elders of his sect were already in the beautiful office of the supreme elder Edwardstone while this man was waiting with his back to them.
This level 79 old man was drinking a cup of spiritual tea while looking at the beautiful view of his workplace to the capital.
Meanwhile, the Gray Clouds Sect elders stood silently one step behind Minos, looking at that fellow with his back to them.
Minos then asked as he sat down in one of the chairs on the opposite side of the table behind that old man. "Why am I here?"
That old man noticed that Minos was still bold as before, not even expecting to be 'invited' to sit down to do such a thing.
He then said. "What are you planning? Why did you lead an event for local leaders days before my family's occasion?"
Minos said promptly. "I am not planning anything that you do not already know. The current focus of the Gray Clouds Sect is the Black Plain, and I am getting rid of what is not essential. But to do that, I had to open the doors of my organization to those interested..."
"What can I do if almost all the local powers have decided to send people to my territory? Should I refuse to do business with them because of their numbers?" He said sarcastically.
"You could at least have sent a statement to the family or left it to do it here." The supreme elder said while looking at Minos with an ugly expression on his face. "The occasion that will take place in the next few days is designed precisely to connect local powers and make this kind of circumstance possible."
"But that is not as simple as you say, supreme elder." Minos then said. "Not every family with the potential to trade with us has the chance to receive an invitation from the imperial family. At the same time, the focus of this event has always been more on overseeing the powerful local organizations."
"Still..."
Minos shook his head and smiled. "Supreme elder, you don't like me and will try to see problems in everything I do. So what's the point of us having another one of these conversations? Just get to the point or let Bella deal with me."
"It will avoid problems for both sides."
The supreme elder clenched his fists, and his eyes narrowed.
He really disliked Minos and saw trouble in every move Emperor Stuart made. But he could not give up dealing with this fellow or leave everything in that woman's hands.
If he did so, she could give Minos benefits that would be impossible for the family to recover later on.
After all, considering how slippery Minos was and how talented he could be, it only took the slightest advantage for him to get enough to overcome the local powers.
So he wanted as much as possible to make this fellow's journey in gaining advancement easily at the expense of the imperial family difficult.
"Isabella will take over the empire once she assumes Her Majesty's position. Until then, I will deal with you, sect master Stuart."
"Then what do you want?" Minos questioned.
That elder then went straight to the point. "What do you intend to do against my family in the future? For example, suppose you reach level 75. What do you intend to do about the empire at this time?"
Minos said. "Elder, you only think the worst of me. Why would I do something different about the empire than I do now just because I would be at level 75? If I wanted to do something against your family, I could do it now, and no one could stop me. What difference does level make?"
"What did you say?" The supreme elder stood up from his chair and questioned indignantly.
"I could wipe out the Edwardstone family if I so chose to do," Minos said, startling the elders of his sect. "Of course, I'd have some problems with lightning punishments, but I could easily do that... Anyway, why would I do it in the future if I'm not interested in doing it now?"
"Elder, you should care a little more about the Saints Killing Sect than about me. I only want the good of my allies."
With those words, he did not wait for more and got up to search for Isabella, who treated him best in this family.
As for the supreme elder Edwardstone, he did not have much to do other than worry about the many threats to his family. Hence, he did not stop Minos from pursuing his own interests.
'Times are indeed terrible...' He sighed. 'What a pity that His Majesty is absent just now.'
Thinking about it, he remembered something and ran after Minos.
...
