"Since you need me in your territory, I will make an exception and accompany you there. But you have to make the payment in advance and give me some assurances regarding this trip." Regina said while making a thoughtful expression, looking down and then at Eduard.
She had made mistakes that had earned her several enmities with influential forces in the Kingdom of the Waves, including her own family.
The Garza family, a noble power from the south of the Kingdom of the Waves, which specialized in the profession of poison masters, despite being the house of this woman, was also her greatest enemy...
But such a thing was not for less. That is because Regina had killed the patriarch of that family hundreds of years ago to get some of his techniques, which had brought her to her current position.
As such, various regional powers, like her own family, would kill her if they had the chance. Therefore, this woman usually didn't leave her house. For that very reason, she would definitely need reassurance if she would do something like that.
"It can be done... As for the guarantees you are looking for, I am traveling on a 5th stage spiritual eagle that can reach the territory I come from in about three weeks. So, the risk of being tracked is considerably low, just as it would be difficult for potential enemies to set traps for us."
"The most difficult thing is leaving this city. After that, the trip has little danger potential for you." Eduard replied sincerely.
Upon hearing this, that white-eyed woman who had searched Eduard earlier asked. "That's good. But how many people can this spiritual beast carry?"
This woman was Regina's bodyguard. As such, she was there in that place too, watching Eduard carefully, in case of something strange happened.
Also, she was worried about whether there would be a space in the eagle for her. If not, then there would be no way for them to accept this option!
Eduard then looked back and said quickly. "Three people."
"Oh? That's good." She then looked at Regina while she was still standing by the door of that office and said. "I think the trip itself isn't dangerous enough for us to refuse..."
"But… How can we be sure that this man is honest about this service? He may very well be a member of one of your enemy forces."
"It's true..." Regina said with a smile on her fairy face.]
She had agreed to go with Eduard because of the possibility of reaching level 60, which was tempting enough for her to take some risks. But she still had to try to get something more out of this person in front of her before going ahead with it.
Hearing that, Eduard looked silently at that woman while he felt a shiver down his spine. All he could do to please the other side was sign a Soul Contract, but he didn't like that idea one bit. After all, he knew Minos would not allow this woman to leave the Dry City casually...
And as he thought about what he should say to this woman, he concluded that such a thing would not be worth either side.
"I could sign a Soul Contract with you, but that would be of no value to you. After all, I trust my life is valued for the power behind me, but can you do the same?"
"How many leaders would not sacrifice their own subordinates to achieve their goals?"
"So, all I can give you is my word that your life will not be at risk where I come from." He then made a resolute expression, looking eye to eye with Regina. "In fact, you'll be safer there than here."
'Well, it's true that I can't trust a contract with a mere level 51 Spiritual King. You're definitely not irreplaceable!' Regina pondered.
But even if she had no greater guarantees here, this woman's greed couldn't let that opportunity pass.
Regina was experienced and was already at a point in her life where she could control her greed. Still, she was feeling quite stimulated right now. It was like she had an itch that was gradually getting stronger and stronger.
And hell, she truly wanted to scratch...
She then squeezed her hands once more and then sighed heavily. "Let's put that aside for a moment. Tell me about that person's situation..."
"About that..." Eduard immediately began to describe Mirya's situation so that this poison master knew more or less what she would have to do. Regina had said that she would have to get paid in advance, so she would need to know precisely how much time she would need to help her patient.
And after some time listening to Eduard, she finally understood Mirya's dramatic situation. "Hmm, it will probably take me more than a month to help this person with the help of the doctor you said. So, you need to pay me at least 5,000 medium-grade crystals in advance."
"OK." Eduard quickly took a bag from his spatial ring and placed it right in front of that woman.
"Well... I will agree to this deal, despite the doubts I have about you."
"Be safe. In the future, you will find that this was the best choice of your life, hehe. By the way, when do we leave? That person's situation is urgent, so we wouldn't want to wait too long for that..."
"Give us two days, and then we'll take this trip..."
After that, they talked a little more about this thing until everything was settled, and Eduard left that place to wait for his group's departure.
...
While things were developing in the Kingdom of the Waves, another day had passed in the Dry City without any major commotion.
The times of peace were slowly waning for this city. Still, ordinary citizens were leading their lives, as usual, not knowing that the danger of war lay in wait.
The tension was growing, but only the soldiers were going through it, as Minos didn't want to frighten his population at a time when the problems hadn't yet reached a dangerous level. But both he and his soldiers understood that this information would not take long to reach the standard population.
Sooner or later, the citizens would realize that something was wrong. After all, the army's actions were more and more frequent, with many soldiers having to go on missions, being away from their families for weeks, months.
But Minos wouldn't leave his population in the dark for long. Once he lost complete control over the situation with the Gill family and more noble families knew about the local changes, he would pass the problem on to the city's inhabitants.
Anyway, the time was not yet suitable for that. Minos wanted the city's inhabitants to live habitually as much as possible before the Dry City situation got any more difficult. And meanwhile, a good thing for this young man and his army had happened.
After three weeks of intensive treatment with local doctors, Celeste had finally fully recovered and returned to cultivate!
As a result of her recovery, today, she had just registered as the newest Lieutenant in the Black Plain Army!
She would have to go through a situation similar to Abby's group when they had joined this organization, namely, not having leadership in the army. But even if she didn't have command powers right away, this woman could still enjoy the prestige of being the highest-ranking person in this organization.
Because of her level 54, among the local soldiers who knew about her, Celeste was already considered for months to be a powerful card in the army's sleeve. And as such, many already respected her tremendously, even if she had only been officially presented today.
Anyway, after registering in the army and visiting the headquarters, that woman was escorted by a soldier to young Abby's office.
Upon entering that place, she saw Abby and Minos standing up when the young leader of that organization touched her left shoulder and said. "Well, it's time for you to start getting serious about your cultivation...."
