After Minos' encounter with the level 96 Sky Whale, 15 months passed!
In those months, the Sky Whale Tribe and the Black Plain Empire would hold some talks and then sign a treaty of alliance and partnership regarding alien technologies. They would start exchanging information 3 months after that fateful encounter.
In the months to come, the Black Plain Empire would use the agreements made with the world's strongest powers to increase their understanding of alien methods, combining what each of their allies understood to reach new conclusions.
That would be a time of great growth for Minos' empire when everyone in the army would be greatly strengthened by the upgrades to the previously developed techniques that had already been released to all soldiers.
With better techniques, better cultivation items, more efficient pills, and better arrays, practically everyone in Minos' army was evolving while also increasing their combat prowess.
Amidst all this, some old problems continued to irritate the local powers and the people, for even with the growth and advance of the empire, the rebels had not weakened.
On the contrary, the crisis with the radicals seeking the surrender of the world was getting worse by the day, and even the places with the most minor problems were facing complicated situations.
Even the states with Gods and Minos' allies who had followed his methods were under increasing pressure from the people.
Meanwhile, the cities farthest from the core of the Black Plain Empire were suffering from terrorist attacks.
...
In the Dry City...
Minos was in his imperial palace, in an audience with some of the empire's soldiers, advisors, and a recently captured terrorist.
"So you have your own interests besides surrendering, huh?" Minos muttered after hearing his men's findings, seeing that the terrorists weren't just acting out of protest and defending the pacifist cause of those who wanted to surrender to the aliens.
From what the imperial officers had discovered in their investigations, as well as what they had learned from the terrorists they had captured so far, the rebel group had its leadership and was operating on the global black market.
"Your Majesty, this is only a small member of the rebel group. He doesn't know the identity of the leader of this faction. But it is a fact that the leaders of this faction are using the yearning of a part of the population to gain commercial advantages and increase their income.
When a terrorist group acts in a certain place, it usually causes a lot of trouble for the local infrastructure and loss of resources. But soon after these actions, other members of the same faction appear in these places with resources to sell on the black market.
The result is a temporary increase in resource prices due to greater demand than supply, which generates profits for these people, Your Majesty." The chief investigator said, revealing the corrupt scheme of these supposed fighters in the name of world surrender.
"So that's it," Minos muttered as he looked at the chained and kneeling man in front of him, a few steps below where this emperor was sitting.
"Very well, use everything you have discovered to create news against the cause of those who want to surrender. As for this man, as much as he has revealed important things, he hasn't said what he should out of remorse." Minos said as he looked at this person, and he saw Abby standing behind the man.
"In that case, I sentence him to death by dismemberment," Minos stood up, tears flowing from the frightened man's eyes.
"Please! Please have mercy, Your Majesty!" The man cried as he tried to stand.
But Minos would never be merciful to someone like that!
"Mister Pierce, your actions have caused the death of 20 innocent citizens of my state. Do you think you deserve to live after that?" Minos muttered as he looked down at the person, who felt the pressure of being stared at by a dragon.
When he fell silent and looked away from Minos, the men of the local army took him to the place of public execution while the sovereign made his way alongside Abby and Dillian.
Abby was still at level 87, but Dillian had recently advanced to level 83.
As they left the imperial throne hall, Minos said to them. "Prepare for my seclusion. In no more than eight months, I will begin to cultivate in isolation in the Spatial Kingdom. My time to move up a level is approaching."
They hadn't spoken to Minos about this for months. Hearing this warning, they both felt excited about the future.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty, we'll take care of everything, so you don't have to worry about us while you're in seclusion to become a Demigod," Dillian said, the smile on his face showing how happy he was.
After so many decades at Minos' side, he would finally see his former young master become one of the strongest experts in the Spiritual World.
Considering how different Minos was from most people, many things would change after he reached level 90, and everything in the empire might be different after he became a Demigod with a Divine Physique.
Abby then said. "Don't worry about anything. Even if those damn rebels cause trouble, it's nothing we can't handle."
After she said this, Aarav appeared in front of them, having overheard part of their conversation. "Are you close to moving on?"
"Hmm, I'll isolate myself to do it in 8 months," Minos replied as he looked at the level 99 man.
"Okay, I'll help your people more than I promised from now on," Aarav said, interested to see what else would change after Minos became a Demigod.
He had high hopes for this day. So he was ready to do his best to make that day come as soon as possible.
Minos then said. "Then help the empire deal with these damned terrorists. We'll start a global hunt against the enemies, expose their corrupt plans, and put a bounty on their leaders' heads."
"I can start that. But will we be able to solve everything in such a short time? These fanatics already have hundreds of millions of people in their group.
In just a few years, they have ceased to be a mere group of rebels and are already comparable in numbers to states. However, few have considered the possibility that they are an organization as you suggest," Aarav said.
"It won't be easy. But if the main forces of the world ally themselves with my state, it will be less complicated and faster to reach the leaders of the terrorists. However, we can only try. Otherwise, the loss of manpower, technology, and food will continue worldwide."
"Okay, count me in. I'll do whatever it takes."
