The Rise of the Black Plain

It had just dawned in the Dry City, and at this time, the weather was stable when an enormous beast that looked like a tiger was standing outside the northern entrance to the city wall.

In that place, several soldiers watched the surroundings while some people were talking in front of that beast, with two youths already on its back.

Minos and Abby had woken up very early and were already leaving town by now.

The two had some destinations where they would need to go in the Kingdom of the Waves, like the capital of this state, where the best professionals were. They were also planning to go to the Cohen family headquarters to negotiate certain things.

However, although much of his business can be done in these two locations, given the greatness of the Kingdom of the Waves, Minos would have to visit more cities.

For example, the most famous alchemist guild in that state was not in the capital, but in a city in the mountainous region, in the central area of that kingdom.

And similar things happened for the other professions. While most crystals were concentrated in capitals and cities with the best services, it was sometimes more beneficial for certain specializations to flourish near specific areas. Like places with large mineral reserves were more attractive for blacksmiths.

And because of that, these two youths would have a long journey, having to pass through various locations in that kingdom.

However, when they left the Dry City, in addition to the Yellow City, the next town was almost a day's journey away in a 4th stage beast, as in the case of Abby's. Because of this, the two wanted to start the trip early to reach this place before midnight.

This town was a few hours away from the Yellow City and was the first border post of the Kingdom of the Waves.

Anyway, Dillian, Eda, and some government officials of the Dry City, like secretary Mia, were there to say goodbye to Minos and Abby.

As for Elen and Elena, the two of them had already said goodbye to Minos the night before and were still sleeping at this moment. They both knew he would leave early, but neither of them had anything else to talk to him before this trip.

Elena had had enough fun with him the day before, and Elen had already explained everything she knew about the Kingdom of the Waves to Minos and Abby.

"Ms. Abby, be careful on this trip. Try to stay alert whenever the two of you are in the middle of forests and open places." Eda worriedly said as she watched Abby and Minos on top of that beast.

She couldn't help but feel some affliction. In over 12 years, this would be the first time Abby would travel without this woman, and Eda naturally felt a little awkward about it.

Not being there to protect Abby was a different feeling for her, who had played the role of bodyguard for so many years.

"Okay, big sister Eda. I will be fine." Abby said to Eda, a little emotional too. But she didn't feel insecure about it. No, with Minos by her side, she felt pretty protected. It was just the feeling of parting that felt a little strange.

And, at the same time, in which Abby said goodbye to Eda, Minos was saying his last words before leaving this town. "Secretary Mia, now that the butler Dillian will spend more time working as a doctor, I hope you'll help him take care of the Dry City. Same for you, Sergeant Pyke."

"You are one of the most respectable soldiers, and I hope you bring these new soldiers in order. Then, when I return, I want the strength of our army to have increased exponentially." Minos gave his instructions as he looked at the two senior members of the local government.

"Yes, young master!"

Dillian then said before Minos and Abby left that place. "Hehe, good journey to you two, young master, Abby. Don't worry about the city. We'll take good care of this place. I hope you two come back as soon as possible."

"Hmm, see you later!"

After that, the two youths headed north, with Abby sitting in front of Minos, controlling her spiritual beast.

...

While Minos and Abby traveled to the Kingdom of the Waves, Christian and his two subordinates had already arrived in the capital of the Brown Kingdom.

At this time, the three individuals were in a hotel in the central region of the City of the Setting Sun while viewing the orange sky through the balcony of the room in which they were.

After arriving in this town, this group began to investigate whether any of the individuals involved in the competition for that medicine at the Peak of the Fog were affiliated with any local organizations.

But despite having been at the Brown Kingdom for a few days, they still hadn't discovered anything. After all, although there aren't many noble families in this state, there were at least 2 or 3 hundred local powers. These numbers refer to organizations of all kinds, small families like Robin's, with enough economic power to send people to the Spiritual Tournament.

After all, despite the fact that it was a great competition dominated by descendants of great powers, thousands of participants came from small forces that were not even nobles.

That's why Christian's group hadn't had results yet, nor had they decided to leave this town.

Finally, one of the subordinates said something to his young master, handing him a letter. "Young master, the family has already received the information sent previously. They sent this letter saying that they will send some subordinates to start investigating those symbols in other states and ours as well."

"Oh? That's good…" Christian commented as he read the letter sent by his father.

Initially, he hadn't recognized any of those symbols, so he thought none of that group could come from the Kingdom of the Waves. However, after starting to investigate the Brown Kingdom, he realized that he had completely underestimated the lesser powers of his state.

He might know all the symbols of noble families there, but that didn't mean he knew the little ones!

And even though the Brown Kingdom and the Kingdom of the Waves were equivalent in strength, there were at least 5 or 6 hundred small organizations in this young man's home state.

Of course, these organizations could not nurture several youths who could participate in the Spiritual Tournament. However, sending one or two every eight years didn't seem so difficult.

And that was what Christian had learned from analyzing with his subordinates some records he had obtained in the capital of the Brown Kingdom.

The Reid family could be considered quite strong, and naturally, this young man had managed to use this position of influence to act freely in this state.

Of course, the fact that family symbols weren't a state secret had also helped his mission. Still, it was undeniable that things were going smoothly for Christian.

"Well, that's good! But let's continue our work here in this place, maybe our first clue is here, and our investigation could be pretty advanced..."

"Yes, yes, young master!"

...

Quickly time passed, and it had darkened in the Brown Kingdom and the Kingdom of the Waves region.

By this time, Minos and Abby had already crossed almost all the way to the first town where the two would spend the night, upon officially entering the Kingdom of the Waves!

They had passed through the Yellow City on their journey. However, even before it was abandoned, that place could not be considered the entrance to the Kingdom of the Waves. No, that city, or rather the southernmost region of the kingdom, was abandoned by the state.

The Kingdom of the Waves' first border post was only a few hours away from the Yellow City because Minos and Abby traveled in a 4th stage beast.

If it were in a 3rd stage beast, as was common among Minos' army carriages, such a trip could take 2-3 days!

And with that distance, this border town already had a much better spiritual density than the Yellow City, being a place that could yield crystals for the sovereign family of that area.

Anyway, quickly, a tiger approached the southern entrance post of that city, with a young woman with blue hair controlling the beast, while a young man with brown hair hugged her from behind.