Later that day...
Minos had already explained Mortimer's situation to his allies, making it clear that this person was terribly injured no matter if the enemy had escaped.
Minos' connection to each of his black holes went far beyond controlling these regions of space. He could also sense what was devoured by them.
Through this ability, Emperor Stuart could tell that part of Mortimer's soul and body had been swallowed by that black hole so that the enemy would have nothing to do to recover.
He explained everything he should to the leaders of the imperial family and the vassals who had participated in the confrontation at Payton.
With this, great relief hung over the imperial family and this city.
Even the inhabitants, ignorant of the details of the outcome of this confrontation, felt that things would be smoother from now on.
Mortimer had fled, but everyone who had not fled in time to miss the fight had realized that Minos was already as strong as a newly advanced Spiritual Sage.
Thus, the tension over this city decreased significantly in the hours following the end of the battle.
Hence, news spread throughout Payton and the state as the victors celebrated the day's outcome!
...
At the headquarters of the Mountains Sect...
"... The sect master and two high-ranking elders are dead. Minos Stuart won the battle against Mortimer Burgess, and no one knows the whereabouts of this man..." An old man reported this to the elder in charge of this sect in the absence of its leader.
When they heard this, the elders turned pale, feeling what the losers would feel after a war.
They had chosen the wrong side, and now they would have to bear the consequences!
"It can't be... How did this happen?"
"How did Minos win? He's only a level 70 Spiritual Saint! How could someone like that defeat a Spiritual Sage?" The wife of the former sect master asked as she refused to believe that her husband had died.
The elder who brought this news, standing next to the person responsible for observing soul lamps, said. "Miss, I am sorry. But Minos was hiding his powers. He can nullify the Spatial Manipulation ability of Spiritual Sages..."
"It can't be..."
"What do we do now? We side with Mortimer... Minos and the imperial family will destroy us!"
...
"We must surrender!"
In another high-level sect of the Flaming Empire, the supreme elder of this organization shouted this right after the council of high-level elders found out about the news coming from Payton.
Like the Mountains Sect, they had sided with Mortimer, and even their master had gone into battle alongside the leader of the Saints Killing Sect.
As such, they were also having a similar discussion as happening in the Mountain Sect, with no hope of continuing with the position they had at present.
"If we surrender, we will be punished, but we will have a chance to survive." The supreme elder continued. "We sided with Mortimer, but that was only for a few weeks! We didn't even hurt the imperial family in our actions!
The dead Spiritual Saints were all individuals eliminated by Mortimer. We're not to blame for that!"
"Right, maybe they'll have mercy on us to avoid losing an entire sect!"
"But with Minos on their side, even if half the empire died, the state would not be in danger... He now controls the four territories to the north." Someone more concerned said, feeling that only escape would give them a chance of survival. "We must leave with our families!"
"And where would we go? The empire is our home! And outside of here, we're just normal people, low-level specialists at best!" Someone more attached to their position and status exclaimed.
"Mairin might have room for us." That woman suggested, thinking of the state between the Western Empire, Eastern Empire, Flaming Empire, and another kingdom in the western region.
That was the weakest of the states with Spiritual Demigods in their ranks in the entire Central Continent. So for these Spiritual Saints, this kingdom would be the least dangerous home for them in case of escape.
"Mairin?" The people there wondered, feeling themselves at a crossroads of fate.
Their chances would not be promising in that place either. So they would have to consider a lot between escaping and trying to reconcile with Minos and the Edwardstone family.
...
On the other hand, in another area of the Flaming Empire, the headquarters of an organization that had refrained from participating in the recent power dispute received the news coming from Payton with surprise.
Nobody expected that the situation of the imperial family would improve after the beginning of Mortimer's actions. On the contrary, the most expected was precisely the end or great weakening of the house of Isabella.
Because of this, many relevant powers in this state refrained from choosing one side.
But even if there were a small chance that Minos and his allies would not be exterminated in the first confrontation, no one would expect a victory for his group.
Thus, everyone was shocked when the information that he had exterminated 23 high-level Spiritual Saints and made Mortimer flee spread throughout the empire.
That was the case with this sect near the Albano border.
"Minos has reached that level?"
"It seems that we actually made a mistake in staying isolated... What will happen now?"
"They can't punish us just because we tried to protect ourselves from a Spiritual Sage!"
"Yes, but we abstained from our responsibility as vassals of the Edwardstone family..."
"In any case, we didn't act against anyone, so we have at least some chance!"
...
The day after the confrontation in Payton...
After the battle was over and local experts had gathered, Minos spent the remainder of his time until dawn today with his women, resting.
He had given orders to the high-level Spiritual Saints in the capital to continue around for the hour but made it clear to them that Mortimer was unlikely to return in the short term.
Hence, while low-level cultivators from the imperial family began tending to the few buildings destroyed because of the remaining attacks from the battle, he slept peacefully in the imperial palace.
After a night's rest and a rich breakfast, Minos was 100% again, ready to move on if Mortimer emerged for revenge.
But that would not happen, and leaving Isabella's residence by early afternoon, he went on his way to carry out the appointments he would have today.
Minos was not sure what results he would have when he began his battle with Mortimer. But he was sure it would impress this state and give neutral families a reason to change their minds.
Moreover, surely the allies and imperial family who had seen him in action the day before would want to talk to him after his rest.
Therefore, as he left that residence where no one had bothered him since the afternoon of the previous day, Minos was quickly stopped by one of the men of the imperial guard.
"Sect Master Stuart, the regent wishes to meet with the senior." A young-looking individual, level 75, said this to Minos, smiling, much more respectful than before. "If the senior has time now, I can escort you to him."
"Hmm, let's settle this." Minos muttered, quickly letting that man take the lead to take him to the old supreme elder.
...
