The queen's 8-stage daughters, level 76 and 78, were standing there looking at Minos with interest, seeing in person this man they had heard several stories about in recent years.
In particular, they had been very interested in him ever since their mother had told them about him when Harold had been captured. At that time, the queen was already planning to give the seeds of Minos to one of them, so they had both had his name in mind for some years.
They just didn't expect that he would come to this state so quickly and at a higher level than they had anticipated, level 70.
Both were confident, and the beautiful Crown Princess, Adele Mcbride, level 76, was staring at him.
Minos noticed those thirsty eyes in his direction but temporarily ignored them. "But let's get to the point. Someone like Your Majesty has more important things than me to deal with... I am here on behalf of Oswald and Harold. Is there any way we can negotiate for their freedom?"
The queen smiled and said. "You know that we will only negotiate this in one way. The freedom of each of these men, for victories by you in challenges against my daughters..."
Hannah gestured in the direction of Adele and Bridget. "Adele will challenge you first. Then if you defeat her, you will be able to acquire the freedom of one of those two. Then you will have to defeat Bridget to save the second."
Minos looked at the two women appointed by the queen and said. "It's not a problem for me... But is Your Majesty sure you will prefer that path?
We can form a friendship between the Black Plain Empire and the Flowers Kingdom instead of pursuing these challenges.
That could benefit both sides greatly and still avoid unnecessary grudges."
"Grudges? Why would we have grudges, Your Majesty Minos Stuart?" The first princess asked.
The third princess, that level 78 woman who could face Minos in the event of his victory, listened to his words alongside her two younger sisters.
The second princess was more talented than she and Adele, so she was already at level 80 and could not face Minos in this challenge. But still, she was there to meet the legend from the northern region.
Minos saw those three women practically eating him with their eyes and said. "Defeat constantly brings grudges to the defeated. In this case, I fear the royal family will disregard the state's rules, and my life will be unjustly threatened..."
The chief eunuch did not like Minos' insinuations and said. "I demand that Your Majesty Minos Stuart withdraw his words! We would never do anything against our own rules!
It would only dishonor the noble Mcbride family and turn the entire Flowers Kingdom into an undignified, ill-spoken place throughout the continent."
"So the royal family intends to follow every rule of this confrontation?" Minos asked, looking directly into the eyes of the queen.
He ignored that eunuch and dared stare into those eyes, impressing everyone since not many Spiritual Saints would have such courage in front of Spiritual Demigods.
There were very few Spiritual Demigods, even if one considered all the experts at this stage in the entire Spiritual World.
Less than 5,000 beings were at the 10th stage, even considering beings of other races!
So Minos' courage was noteworthy, and the queen looked at him interestedly before saying. "Your Majesty doesn't need to worry about us.
I guarantee that everyone in my state will respect the challenge's rules. Furthermore, I will personally ensure your safety until the time comes for your breeding ceremony.
But from then on, I can no longer guarantee your vital situation."
"Is that so? Then I feel relieved... Being surrounded by so many Spiritual Demigods is a bit much for someone low-level like me." He said, but without being able to convince any of those people that he felt pressured.
But before she proceeded with anything, Minos said. "Before we start anything, I want to meet with Harold Edwardstone. Is that possible? He is an ally of mine, and his daughter is my girlfriend... His family is worried, and I wish I could at least send a letter to Payton with his words."
The queen saw no problem with this and said to one of her handmaidens. "Astrid, take His Majesty Minos Stuart to Harold's cell and give them enough time to talk. Then, when everything is settled, take him to the Sapphire Rim."
"As you wish, Your Majesty." A woman dressed in a maid's outfit said this as she appeared from the shadows among the various people in that hall.
Minos thanked the queen with a gesture and then looked at Ella. "You are free of your responsibilities from now on. You can do whatever you want..."
"Oh, I intend to." She suggestively smiled at him, showing him she would stay to watch his downfall.
Minos didn't mind any of this and just followed Astrid, a level 89 servant of the queen.
Meanwhile, everyone in the place started talking about Minos, how rude he was in front of the royalty, and his impressive capabilities.
...
In a matter of seconds, Minos arrived at where Harold was being held after Astrid had opened a wormhole for them.
That woman stood to one side waiting for him while he observed that dark place, a prison similar to where he saw his grandfather imprisoned, only a little bigger and darker.
When he appeared in front of Harold's cell, Minos saw this man lying on the floor with an exhausted look on his face, while he seemed to have aged 2 thousand years just by the time he was there.
Not being able to cultivate, having his strength sealed off, and still being constantly tortured by the thought that he would soon lose his manhood was heavy, even for a Spiritual Sage like him!
Minos saw this and understood Harold's plight, not being able to say anything but apologize for his delay.
"I'm sorry, it took me longer than I had planned." He said, surprising that man who had no longer expected to hear that noble, young voice again.
Upon hearing Minos' voice, Harold immediately opened his eyes. He looked out of his cell, seeing the young body of that emperor dressed in his high-level grade-3 dark-gold armor.
"Minos!" Harold said this as he stood up and stopped beside the bars of his cell.
"Hmm, after everything that happened, I couldn't let you end up like this, so I'm here to rescue you," Minos said, making that man show a smile for the first time in years.
"There was a moment when I doubted this would happen..." Harold said in a tired but grateful tone. "Anyway, I now see that you were not just trying to dominate my state in my absence.
Thank you, Minos. Not only did you not rebel, but you possibly saved my women's and my daughter's lives."
"Don't thank me. I did it for my selfish reasons."
"We all have our own goals... That doesn't take away the merit of your good deed." He said, grateful for this fellow's help. "Anyway, tell me about the empire, about my family."
...
