Another day passed...
As Maximillian prepared to depart from the Black Plain Empire, something rarely seen on the continent was about to develop!
On the border between the Eastern Empire, Western Empire, and Sista, the forces of those three powerful states on the continent were in this neutral area, ready to meet.
Since those two states were old enemies, a single word from Vico would not be enough to make Emperor Quinn go to him or allow this man into his territory. There was a lot of history behind the two, and any possibility of a meeting would have to happen in neutral territory, on their borders with Sista.
Sista was neutral to the conflict between the two, doing business with each state. At the same time, its sovereign was one of the few on the continent that was at the same level as Vico.
Even though Vico was considered the strongest in these lands, in her presence, any action of his would have a harder time developing into a success of his own!
As such, Queen Sista was the one these men sought out when they wanted to meet to deal with matters of war, and precisely because of this background, she was hosting these two groups on this day.
She and her group were on their side of the border with those two states while the groups from the Quinn and Travisani families were gradually entering Sista.
Both enemy sides were looking at their opponents decisively, demonstrating one side's historical hostility toward the other.
In particular, Henry Quinn, level 98, looked with narrowed eyes at Vico while Queen Sista watched them from afar.
That woman, with beautiful blonde hair, a body commensurate with her 1.65-meter height, and a youthful appearance, was sitting in the central position of her camp, where there was room for those two groups to stand with her as mediator.
"Your Majesty, are His Majesty Vico's words really true?" One of the closest advisors to this local sovereign asked, concerned.
"Vico has not the habit of lying. He wouldn't act that way even if he wanted to act against Henry." Willow Sista, level 99, said reassuringly, confident this meeting would go well, "But I'm anxious to hear more about his fears..."
As she spoke, the two groups arrived in silence at their respective positions while the tension in the surroundings was high and cold was present, even on this sunny day.
Luckily there was no one weaker than level 90 there. Otherwise, people would faint just from the deadly serious stares of those men and women from the enemy states meeting there.
Vico looked at Willow and said. "It is good to see you again, Queen Sista. Unfortunately, this occasion is not at a better time. Otherwise, I would have tea with you."
"It's good to see you too, Vico." She said, smiling at him before looking at Henry.
"Queen Sista, you look even younger than the last time we saw each other," Henry commented, paying attention to the face of this woman he hadn't seen in 600 years.
High-level specialists often did not see each other when they were not part of the same force. But even members of the same family could go decades or centuries without seeing each other if their cultivations were high like those of these people in this camp in the Sista kingdom.
Queen Sista hadn't seen Emperor Quinn in a long time either, and she couldn't help but notice this man's improvement in that period. "You are kind in your words, Henry. An old woman like me can no longer improve her appearance. Sigh... Anyway, I feel that you are not far from joining Vico and me. I hope you will advance very soon, for we will need your strength."
"I will do my best." That man said with humility, for this person was the oldest in the Central Continent, already over 25,000 years old.
She was a few decades older than the Supreme Pontiff of the Spiritual Church, making her the oldest on this continent.
Because of this, these two men, even the strongest on the continent, greatly respected her and did not dare to speak her name without the proper title.
When Vico and Henry were born, this woman was already at the peak of cultivation, leading the Sista forces across the Spiritual World!
She then said. "But let's get to the point. This meeting is not for us to talk about useless things but for Vico to present his concerns and intention to seal this peace agreement between your states."
Seeing that elderly woman looking at him, Vico looked at Henry and said. "You know that I never intended to raise the white flag regarding conflicts with your state. We have been enemies since the cradle, so I have always been prepared to kill or die."
Henry clenched his fists but couldn't say this person was lying.
At some point in the last 10,000 years, the Western Empire was stronger than the Eastern Empire, and at one time, Vico had almost been killed when he was at level 95. But even in that situation, this man had not backed down or accepted the possibility of surrender thrown at him by a general of the Quinn family.
So this sovereign kept listening to Vico.
"But things are different now. On my journey, I have met amazing people who have made me strong and warned me about troubling things.
Until a few decades ago, I still considered that our confrontation would be unaffected or would not hinder my plans to prevent the chaotic future predicted by a prophet, but now I see it totally differently."
He looked seriously at Henry, showing his determination.
"If we do not unite against the enemy about to emerge on the continent, not only you and I will perish. Our families, states, and even the entire western region are under threat."
Henry asked, without bringing up old rivalries. "What are you talking about? What enemy could do this to our region? Even the Spiritual Church dare not casually enter these areas."
"I don't know, but a great evil had been unleashed days ago. One of my most trusted subordinates, Daniel, was suddenly killed while pursuing the matter. Now, I sense that terrible forces are rapidly approaching our lands."
At those words, Willow and Henry frowned, knowing Daniel was at level 97 and few could kill someone like that on the continent.
Vico continued. "My high-level grade-4 seer tried to visualize the future of the person who would release this great evil. Unfortunately, he could not continue his vision, as a greater force had prevented him.
But before that, he could see the continent divided, with rivers of blood and mountains of bodies."
...