Two days later...
Just over a thousand kilometers away from the east of the Dry City, a group of carriages was moving slowly towards that town while many people were escorting this convoy.
In total, there were about 20 carriages and a group of guards mounted on beasts, the escort, with more than 40 people, all of them from the 5th stage of cultivation.
Each of these people outside the carriages wore different types of armor, which bore the same symbol that it was an all-black star.
On the other hand, there were almost as many people inside those carriages as there were outside them. In part, these people were no weaker than the many cultivators escorting the group.
However, there were people there who did not focus their training time on learning combat techniques. That is, they were not warriors, but people related to other spiritual professions, or even ordinary individuals, without specializations.
But still, the weakest of them was already at the 5th stage, while the strongest of the entire group was at level 50!
Anyway, while this group was moving through the lands farther west of the Brown Kingdom, heading towards the Dry City, in one of those carriages, the most luxurious of all, was the leader of this convoy.
Besides him, two other people were inside that carriage.
"So Lionel, the family gave us this mission because of you... I hope you didn't make a mistake and make us put together such a strong team for nothing." An elderly man, level 49, said this with a resolute expression as he looked into the eyes of the person next to him.
Hearing this, Lionel Gill smiled confidently and commented respectfully. "I am aware of the seriousness of giving wrong information to the family, Elder Russ. But what I told the family was the truth. Despite being something unbelievable..."
"Humph, I hope it is... But if it's true, this will be a great addition to our Gill family." Elder Russ commented as he looked out the window of that carriage.
That was the group formed by the Gill family after Lionel's warning of Ralf and Railan's discoveries. After that, this noble organization had acted as quickly as possible and given the orders for the invasion of the Dry City!
And that was the objective of this convoy of almost 100 people traveling to that city at this time. They had prepared for the worst and had made available for this mission a Spiritual King and several cultivators between the middle levels of the 5th stage!
Such a force was scarce to be seen traveling together and on regional missions. But considering the potential Dry City had for the Gill family, they had decided to make that investment and secure this place for themselves.
Hell, the rulers of that power were even plotting how to justify this attack to the local royal family, if necessary, of course...
They even had a document ready to be sent to the kingdom's capital to request the change of sovereignty over the Black Plain in the coming months...
Anyway, because of the Gill family's new goal, this group, led by Russ, was hurrying to the Dry City, bringing many warriors and some people who would already begin the local administrative work.
Finally, after some time with Lionel and Russ talking, the Spiritual King, assigned to this mission, asked something. "Lionel, you truly don't have any information about enemy forces?"
"Unfortunately, Mr. Winston, I don't. The subordinates that found out about this were only at the 4th stage of cultivation, and as soon as they found out about that place, they left there to bring us the information. So, indeed, we don't know about the local forces."
"However, just over four years ago, when I left that city for the last time, there was only one person from the 5th stage there. But he was just a doctor, so that wouldn't count as a fighting force."
"As for the rest, they were all below level 39." Lionel finished his comment, remembering the old reality of the Dry City.
There were some top cultivators from the 4th stage in that city before Minos arrived there. However, none of them specialized in any profession. Consequently, even if they had advanced to the 5th stage, Lionel didn't count them as warriors.
Upon hearing Lionel's answer, that Spiritual King pondered this for a moment until he asked. "But I hear that place must be 4-5 times bigger than it was before you left. Hence, in the meantime, a lot of things may have changed. What do you think, elder Russ?"
"Winston, don't worry about it. It would be tough for a Spiritual King to emerge in that location. Furthermore, even though they have gained a lot of resources, I doubt that that young ruler would try to invite outside experts."
"After all, it could turn against him. He could very quickly become someone's puppet or even get killed in a situation like this. And from what Lionel's subordinates have reported, it looks like the people there are trying to hide as much as possible."
"In other words, that young man knows very well that he can't take risks of meeting people much stronger than he can handle!" Russ commented, smiling in awe at Minos' actions.
This group leader knew of the care that Black Plain Army soldiers took around the wall because of the report of Ralf and Railan. For that very reason, he admired Minos' careful actions.
'That young man seems to have some management talents... Too bad, if he didn't have something so valuable on his hands, he could survive...' Russ thought about it for a moment.
He then finished. "Most likely, he recruited people from the beginning of the 5th stage or weaker individuals. Hence, even if the resources of that place are abundant, that doesn't change the fact that they had very little time to develop!"
"Elder Russ is right, Mr. Winston. Even having level 44 cultivators must be challenging for that young man to have achieved in just over four years. What's more, these people are most likely not loyal to him..."
"When faced with a much stronger enemy, they will definitely give up their positions!" Lionel replied confidently.
"Hmm, I see..." That Spiritual King commented in a low voice as he understood the situation.
Winston was only a subordinate of the Gill family, so he didn't have extensive knowledge of these matters like Lionel and Russ, who were adequately trained nobles.
As to why this subordinate treated those two nobles in front of him differently, well, that's because Lionel only had a Blue talent, while Russ had a Black talent. So, one would naturally get stronger than him in the future, but the other would never get it.
Accordingly, this Spiritual King called Russ respectfully and only called Lionel's first name.
"What about that young sovereign? Do you think it will be easy to deal with him?" Russ asked Lionel.
Naturally, this old nobleman thought it would be better if Minos would just hand over power to them without much resistance. So, he was curious to learn more with Lionel, the one who had already had a dialogue with that young man.
Lionel then shook his head in denial and said. "I don't think he will make it easy for us. At that time, he hadn't yet reached the 2nd stage of cultivation, but he still didn't show any care in trying to rob two youths who should have come with me to headquarters..."
"At the very least, he shouldn't make it easy on us until he's got the rope around his neck!"
"Oh? Hahaha, this young man looks interesting. If he's smart, we can take him to headquarters and make him a good subordinate." Russ commented with a smile on his face.
He knew Minos' history, from his past with Albert in the kingdom's capital to the information Railan and Ralf had brought to the family. Hence, he couldn't help but marvel at this young man even more after hearing that he was so decisive in his actions.
....
