When that man said the word ‘surrender,’ Gloria opened her mouth in surprise that he was so direct. ‘It seems that news of Mortimer’s advance has already spread to all the neighboring states…’ She thought.

Meanwhile, little Sarah had a smile on her face, seeing that her father’s domains were about to increase. ‘Daddy is getting more and more influential…

What will it be like when I become as strong as him? Will I also be famous and respected?’

Minos then said to that level 76 man, looking at him and Godfrey. “That’s good to hear, but those words should be spoken by the Crown Prince, not by a member of the Blackrock royal guard…”

That royal guard looked at Godfrey while the others there, Minos and Gloria, watched this fellow in silence.

Minos knew that the heir of Blackrock was an arrogant troublemaker.

This person would probably not be a problem for him in the short term since the fear of someone with his abilities would not be slight, even coming from someone with an uncontrollable personality.

But still, Minos thought it best to overpower people like Godfrey with iron fists, leaving no room for surprises.

That fellow realized that Minos wanted to see him on his ‘knees,’ and he clenched his fists, feeling frustrated at being oppressed by someone lower-level than him.

“Your Majesty…” Godfrey said with some difficulty. “It is, as Senior Oliver said. We are here to surrender to the Black Plain Empire.”

“What else?” Minos asked.

“Your…” Oliver was about to say something, but Minos showed one of his hands, indicating for him to shut up. “The king’s representative must speak.”

Godfrey then answered Minos with some difficulty. “We hope to obtain the assistance of the empire in case enemy forces attack us…”

“You want protection, then…” Minos said before putting a piece of meat in his mouth and enjoying that delicious meal.

He then looked at Sarah and gestured for her to say something while his mouth was still full.

“What… Uh… What do you intend to do for us?” That young girl with red hair, just like her mother’s, asked timidly.

Gloria smiled at her daughter as she saw her learning from her father but said nothing.

Prince Blackrock then replied. “Your Highness, we intend to put our contestations regarding the actions of the Black Plain Empire in Vogel behind…”

“Prince Blackrock, I don’t know what you are trying, but starting your answer that way will not help you here.” Gloria stopped him from finishing amid her tasting of red wine. “We already know that you will no longer challenge us. After all, why else would you come here if you weren’t going to do that?”

Oliver looked steadily at Godfrey to stop winding up and say everything he should.

That fellow sighed and said. “We intend to secure the empire’s border with our state and free the men of the Black Plain Army from having to do this service in the Snow region. At the same time, we will publicly retract our protestations, showing the entire continent that we are on your side.

Furthermore, we are willing to lower the price of several resources native to our state to the empire and still accept calls from Your Majesty.” He said, looking at Minos.

They were proposing not to become a territory part of the Black Plain Empire, like Vogel, but rather a weaker ally who would receive protection in exchange for various other services.

Minos was not against that. On the contrary, he was inclined to accept agreements of that nature.

“Very well.

I feel the Blackrock family is sincere in their wishes and can enter into an agreement with my family based on these initial terms.” Minos said as he finished eating his meal.

The members of Godfrey’s group sighed in relief when they heard this, more relaxed that this individual hadn’t put everything at risk and that they had gotten the support they needed.

After this, they would exchange a few more words with Minos until he sent them elsewhere in the Dry City core, where they were to negotiate the minor details of an agreement between House Blackrock and the imperial family.

Only after that would Minos sign Soul Contracts, marking his increased influence in strengthening the empire.

…

After those people left, Minos stayed with his wife and daughter, talking about recent matters concerning his last stint in the Flaming Empire.

“Your mother and father tried to get me into the Church after they admitted defeat relative to that bet.” He said to Gloria as he saw Sarah running through his residence.

“That’s the natural thing to do… If I were in their shoes, I would try the same thing.” Gloria smiled at him.

“Speaking of which, I forgot to tell you something…” Minos remembered something.

“What?”

“Your mother has reached level 78. You should send her congratulations…”

“Oh? Is that true?” Gloria’s eyes sparkled as since she had been born, her mother was at level 77.

So this advancement was no small thing for that woman, and Gloria was naturally happy to hear that her mother was getting stronger!

She constantly saw Abby’s parents getting stronger, as these two were just Spiritual Emperors, relatively young. Both were only a few hundred years old, with Eliot at level 66 and Nicole at level 64. So Gloria, like Ruth, was anxious about seeing the same thing happen to her family.

“Has Grandma Margot gotten stronger?” Sarah asked upon hearing that.

Of all her grandparents, only Gloria’s parents had not advanced in recent years.

Maisie had advanced recently, and Abby’s parents and Ruth’s parents had improved since that young girl’s birth.

So she was happy to hear that, jumping toward her father.

Amid this family moment of Minos, his daughter, and his wife, a flying beast from afar suddenly flew over Dry City, causing a large shadow to appear over this territory.

Such a shadow caught the attention of the top specials in that city, promptly causing not only the Gray Clouds Sect members but also Minos and Gloria to look up into the sky and move.

Minos immediately sent his daughter into the Spatial Kingdom before flying out of the Dry City Defensive Dome with his wife.

“Your Majesty…” The level 79 elder in that city said, while already standing next to Minos, Gloria, two level 78 individuals, and five level 77.

Minos then said. “I know… Let’s see what’s up with that.”

They headed towards that level 79 being, a beast that was so strong but was only serving as a mount for a human.

Because of this, the local forces were on alert, as only a Spiritual Sage or someone as strong as one could make a beast at this level subject itself to become a mount.

Thus, they came across a young-looking man with blond hair, tall, dressed in dark blue armor, level 84.

“Who of you is Minos Stuart?” He asked calmly. “I have a message for you from Grant.”

…