While Grant was talking to Emperor Quinn, Vico was finishing finding out about the strange Demigods who had appeared along with Minos in Dry City.
Not only had news of Minos' return to the Black Plain reached him, but also information about the kidnapping of his son and the two bodyguards with that young man.
From what Vico had just heard, his envoys had been stopped by Maximillian shortly after Minos arrived in Dry City, for this level 99 Demigod had sworn protection to the Black Plain Empire against 10th-stage cultivators.
Due to this terrible news, this normally calm man was red with anger, feeling that these people were related to the danger to the continent.
"Damn it!
The fucking Minos is just doing shit! Doesn't he get tired of causing trouble for the continent?" He shouted at his men in the surrounding area.
"The bastard used to torment the lives of the poor northerners. Now he's tired of doing that in the damned northern region, and amid his boredom, he throws chaos in our lives!
What's wrong with this brat?"
The people in the surrounding area were silent as they listened to all this, agreeing that Minos was a problematic pest to counter but knowing that their emperor was exaggerating.
As much as Minos' movements always created problems, this did not mean he did it on purpose, as Vico said...
"I'm going to the Black Plain! It's time to end his life and give peace to the continent!" He rose from his armchair.
But before he could leave, he was stopped by his men.
"Your Majesty, don't do that. We know nothing about those two level 99 Demigods!" A level 98 elder shouted.
Another of the same level said. "Your Majesty, take it easy. If we act without thinking straight, we might create the chance for our opponents to hurt the empire.
Perhaps these Demigods on Minos's side want to encourage us to attack him with these words.
Who will protect the empire if Your Majesty goes to the Black Plain if they attack us?"
Hearing this, Vico hesitated as he clenched his fists hard, making the pressure in the surroundings very high, bothering all his subordinates.
He was almost exploding with rage but narrowly managed to restrain himself.
"Your Majesty, there is still the situation of the Crown Prince. He is in the hands of these people, so we have to act cautiously.
The most important thing to do now is to try to contact these people and start a negotiation."
"Yes, that would have already happened if he wanted to kill the prince.
That man probably wishes to use this situation to negotiate with us."
Vico thought better of it and realized that this was the case. "But what do they want from us? And where do they come from? I don't know any level 99 Demigods that look like them."
"We are investigating that, Your Majesty. We will find that out soon enough."
"But judging that these men appeared right after Daniel's death, I am sure they are related to his death..."
At these words from one of the elders there, everyone was silent, considering that there was a possibility that Maximillian was the one who would bring chaos to the continent.
...
In the capital of Sista...
The queen of this state had also heard about the news coming from the Black Plain and was naturally shocked.
The appearance of level 99 experts in that place was no small thing!
Any appearance of an expert at that level anywhere would be worthy of attention. But this happening on the poor Black Plain was many times more important, even more so for someone who knew of Minos' involvement in something that could change the continent forever.
As such, upon discovering such a thing, Willow was deadly serious and worried about the future.
"I wonder what the significance of this is. Where do these Demigods come from?" She questioned her elders, uncertain of what to do with this information.
She was currently judging whether or not it was worth continuing the agreement regarding the Continental Tournament with Minos, but finding out about this had only confused her.
"We don't know, Your Majesty. But the Third Prince is in Dry City. We'll ask him to try to find out something there." One of the elders closest to her said that.
"However, sending Demigods to the Black Plain in the short term would not be advisable. We don't know anything about those two and whether they really intend to fulfill their promise to protect this state.
Suppose they are going to fulfill it. In that case, we might get into unnecessary trouble because of a young man who isn't even a Spiritual Sage."
The queen agreed with this person. "Hmm, let's avoid sending our experts out of the kingdom anyway, so I don't want our experts trying to get involved with the Black Plain casually anymore.
After George returns, I want any future contact with Minos to be made through our vassal families, as we did before."
"We will follow your words, Your Majesty!"
...
Amidst the discussions regarding the Black Plain Empire's new ally, even the Flowers Kingdom, Albano, Blackrock, Rosser, and the Flaming Empire, heard about the recent involvements of Minos.
But as they reacted to everything in their own way, something related to Minos was about to happen in the East Sea.
While sailing towards the Divine Continent, a group of beasts from the City of a Thousand Races received important communication from allies on that continent.
"Friends of the Ancestral Sea, we have found traces of those you seek to the west of the continent. They must be, or must have been, in the central area of the Grinia Empire. I advise that you begin your search there."
Upon hearing that message, those underwater beings were grateful for the information and promised to visit those people once they finished their mission.
After that, the strongest of the group said. "Okay, fellows, let's go to Grinia Empire!"
"Boss, what if we can't find them? What will we do?"
"Nothing. If we don't find them, there will be nothing else for us to do. After this mission, we will fulfill the last promise of our leaders to Henricus Longus!" That being said.
That was the group after the Longus family tracks!
In the remote past, the leader of the City of a Thousand Races had promised Henricus Longus that he would help connect those who could pass the test he had left on that statue of his.
This had been a request from this ancient God, and even after so long, these beings were still willing to follow through on what had been promised.
Having debts with Gods was not such a good thing for one's karma, so they were taking the opportunity to fulfill the words of their ancestor as soon as possible!
