Three weeks later...
After having his plans foiled in the third enemy outpost where he could not easily invade and kill his targets, Mortimer continued to investigate the present situation of the imperial family during these days.
He and his group were no longer getting information easily through the empire's organizations due to the seclusion that many sects and families had initiated to avoid getting involved in the current mess.
At the same time, each organization that had not abstained from the conflict communicated only with those superior to itself in this state. That is, the powers on the Minos side only communicated with the imperial family. In contrast, those on the Mortimer side only exchanged information with the Saints Killing Sect.
Under these circumstances, getting information without checking each place became a tough task, and Mortimer and his group had to 'visit' their opponents little by little to find out the current situation of the imperial family.
In doing so, Mortimer found that all the posts, apart from the Edwardstone family headquarters in Payton, were either without specialists or protected by defenses that were difficult to break through.
Amidst this, he found that the imperial palace was without traditional defenses. It was 'just' surrounded by over 60 high-level Spiritual Saints, plus Minos and two of his wives.
That greatly surprised him and his allies, as the core of the imperial family seemed to be exposing themselves as bait for them. Yet, at the same time, many more high-level Spiritual Saints than they had expected had emerged to protect the imperial lineage.
In particular, the Gray Clouds Sect had sent over 20 individuals between levels 77 and 79!
That was an impressive number, something that previously only the sovereign family of this state had managed to achieve.
But Minos had magically transformed the ranks of his organization in a few short years.
That frightened Mortimer and those who had decided to stand with him on this journey!
Fortunately, they had discovered all this while it was still early.
Thus, currently, Mortimer's group was preparing to act against Payton as they wanted to end their current affairs as quickly as possible.
...
In an advanced camp of the Saints Killing Sect...
Several Spiritual Saints were gathered near this camp, planning a decisive move in their plans.
"Are we going to attack the capital like that?" A level 78 Spiritual Saint from the Mountains Sect asked, feeling that it would be bad for his organization's image to attack the capital openly.
"But we have no alternative." Someone from the Saints Killing Sect defended their sovereign's plans. "The strongest enemy forces are in Payton, waiting for us without any protections.
So either we take this opportunity and finish everything in one move, or we will have to drag this situation out for years."
"Still, I believe that a strategy similar to Abe Vogel's on the Black Plain has a better chance of success than us doing this." Someone there suggested, remembering that Minos had suffered enough to eliminate the Vogel family heir.
"Nonsense." The master of the Mountains Sect finally said something. "Abe only lasted so long against Minos because he had the protection of a Spiritual Sage when that wretch was only a Spiritual Emperor.
But now the bastard Stuart is already an 8th-stage cultivator!"
"But we have Senior Burgess on our side." Someone at level 79, who was not okay with the idea of attacking Payton openly, said this, remembering this important fact.
"It doesn't matter." The supreme elder of the Saints Killing Sect commented aloud. "We are not the same as Abe. He failed because he didn't have the strength to defeat Minos in one attack. Thus, he gave years for that wretch to grow up and eventually defeat him.
We can't give Minos time. He is simply too talented!
So we can only try to end the bastard's life in one big attack while he is still only a level 70 cultivator.
If he advances to level 71, or worse, level 72, before we settle everything, maybe we all will be destroyed!"
Gulp!
The leaders there swallowed their saliva in apprehension, remembering that at level 70, Minos could steal energies from people up to 6 levels above his own and artificially raise his strength by up to 2 levels.
Suppose he reached level 72 and maintained this ability. In that case, he could probably steal levels from even level 78 Spiritual Saints and temporarily become a level 74 cultivator.
If that happened, he could become so strong that Mortimer himself would be incapable of doing something against him!
With this in mind, those people began to think it was better to take some risks now and finish Minos once and for all than to act passively and take the risk of him continuing to grow.
Mortimer, who was also there, then added. "Let's not forget that Minos is of his own free will in the empire.
He could hide in the northern region or use the four northern territories to threaten us. But he is putting himself in this position because he thinks he is strong and wants to lure us in to test his strength."
Mortimer did not believe that Minos was a match for him. But he could more or less see his opponent's belief in these actions.
And honestly, he would prefer it that way.
Fighting Minos if he were a coward hiding in the northern region and using all possibilities to avoid a confrontation with Mortimer would be the worst for this Spiritual Sage.
But fighting in Payton would limit Mortimer and give Minos fewer possibilities.
That was the best place and time for him to act!
Hence, even if Minos was planning something dangerous for him, Mortimer liked the idea of acting soon and ending once and for all the uncertainty about the local situation.
He had ambitious plans that demanded a solid state that had not experienced years of war.
As such, he could only use his best arguments to convince those still uncertain that this was the best for everyone.
After a few moments of silence and much consideration in that area, Mortimer's allies agreed to go ahead with a major attack on the imperial capital!
"All right, move your families and prepare for war!" That level 80 individual said aloud, smiling, while his third eye twitched due to the excitement caused by his anxiety.
He then flew upwards until he was so high that he could see Payton as if it were the size of a pin tip.
'I will soon use your powers to destroy these people, Gavin!' He clenched his fists, making the space in his surroundings tremble.
Meanwhile, dozens of kilometers from Mortimer's standing, another Spiritual Sage at level 80 silently watched him.
'This young man really causes trouble... Now he dares to stand in the way of people at my level.' Someone Minos already knew, thought to himself, there to watch him but without moving since he was merely an observer.
