The Rise of the Black Plain

Chapter 2798  The Result of Almost 5 Decades (2)

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Minos listened attentively to Chancellor Higline's words, despite noticing Tiolos materialize at the entrance to the Armhands' sector, his countenance brimming with unasked questions. Deciding to address the Chancellor's concerns first, Minos prompted, "What's transpired? Any developments regarding Mylecent and her family's affairs?"

"Indeed," the Chancellor began, his gait measured. He seemed oblivious to the staff of strangers flanking Minos and the women. "Nearly five decades have elapsed since I was informed of your indefinite unavailability. In the interim, Mylecent has encountered… complications. The Eternal Death, it's whispered, has been stirring."

The Chancellor's expression grew grave as he met Minos' gaze. "But fear not, if that's your concern. She frustrated the enemies. Ysolt is an exceptionally gifted seer. Few could hope to ensnare her without considerable forewarning. Mylecent narrowly escaped certain doom on multiple occasions and she has now gone to hiding."

"And the royal family? What's their current stance?" Minos inquired, acutely aware that the Eternal Death was associated with the 13th stage.

"Oppressive, to put it mildly," the Chancellor replied with a grimace. "We foreigners have never endured such stringent repression as in recent decades." His eyes swept over Minos' entourage, a hint of amusement creeping into his voice. "Which brings us back to that wondrous realm you've undoubtedly inhabited these past years. Perhaps your… unique perspective could prove invaluable to them."

Minos, sensing the direction of this conversation, arched an eyebrow. "What exactly did you have in mind?" he asked, a wry smile playing at his lips. "I recall being deemed too feeble for her machinations previously."

"You were," Chancellor Higline conceded, his gaze unwavering. "That's evidently no longer the case." He paused, weighing his next words carefully. "What I offer you is the location of the rebel stronghold. They're in dire straits, surrounded and desperate for aid. We must intervene, for as long as the royal family hounds them, those despotic tyrants won't come after us.

Mylecent covets the throne. I'm sympathetic to her cause and recognize the potential advantages of having a monarch on our side. However, my fellow citizens and I merely seek our place in Uzira. Her war serves our interests only to a point…" He trailed off, standing before the entrance to the Armhands guild area, leaving the implications of his words hanging in the air for Minos to interpret.

As Tiolos and other guild members, drawn by the commotion of Minos' group's arrival, gathered, Chancellor Higline softly withdrew, taking his leave.

Minos and his women observed his departure in silence. Abby, positioning herself closer to Minos, finally broke the quiet with a hushed observation. "He's not wrong, you know. In his own way, he's safeguarding his city—our city."

The group didn't view Mylecent and Ysolt as their own, but rather as valuable allies on the continent. Much like Chancellor Higline, they relished the benefits of this alliance, yet would naturally seek to mitigate any potential fallout that could adversely affect them.

Despite their ambivalence towards Mylecent's war against Uzira's current sovereigns, Minos, and his group found themselves without alternatives. Mylecent had proven a valuable ally, while the royalty remained hostile. Given their specific objectives on the continent, they couldn't simply turn a blind eye to the ongoing power struggle.

"We'll address that later," Minos said, his gaze shifting to Tiolos, who appeared to have remained at the same level of cultivation as when they had departed decades ago.

"Minos…" Tiolos approached his old ally, clapping a hand on the now considerably more powerful man's shoulder. "I thought I'd never witness anyone advance so rapidly through the 12th stage after seeing your progress back then. But now, I see you've not only shattered your own record, but one of your companions has ventured even further." He gestured towards Abby with a mixture of awe and curiosity.

Abby's lips curved into a smile at the recognition, while Minos returned his old friend's greeting. "Heh, let's continue this conversation inside. Our growth is but a small part of the tale. I'm afraid it's not a feat easily replicated, if you know what I mean."

"Oh, I wouldn't dream of trying," Tiolos chuckled, ushering the group into the guild's section of the Hilltop City Council building. "You're clearly a band of madcaps who've no doubt danced with death more than once to reach this point."

As they entered, it became apparent that the space had undergone a dramatic transformation. What had once been a modest area with a few tables and a comfortable room for guild representatives had expanded significantly. Thanks to the ingenious application of space formations, the available area within the room had been multiplied fivefold, creating a vastly more expansive and impressive environment.

Minos and his group noticed the differences there as they passed through the doorway, finding a much larger place than the outside counted. There was now a series of private rooms, each of them closed for the moment, and an entrance hall where some guild members were currently hanging out.

Among the gathered individuals, Tiolos stood out as the sole familiar face to Minos and his wives. The others were recent additions to the guild, recruited over the past five decades. Some were fresh inductees who had yet to visit the headquarters, instead being assigned directly to this outpost.

Minos acknowledged these newcomers with a courteous nod but refrained from engaging in lengthy discourse. Instead, he followed Tiolos into the room serving as the latter's temporary quarters while he oversaw the guild's affairs in the city.

Once settled, Tiolos leaned forward, his expression a mix of excitement and concern. "Much has transpired during your absence," he began, his gaze sweeping across Minos and the three women seated opposite him. "I'll start by explaining my presence here. The guild has experienced significant growth, and our Hilltop City outpost has consequently faced more challenges than we previously encountered.

In essence, we've outgrown our former status of being small and easily overlooked. We're no longer 'invisible' to certain local powers, a development that's demanding the attention of more formidable cultivators within the city."

Tiolos heaved a weary sigh. "It might appear that Hilltop City's forces are amicable, given Chancellor Higline's cordial interaction with you earlier. However, the day-to-day reality is far more fraught with tension. Some local leaders are, if you'll pardon my bluntness, absolute assholes."

Minos cut straight to the heart of the matter. "Have they taken any serious action against the guild?"

Tiolos paused, carefully weighing his response. "Not exactly," he began cautiously. "We haven't suffered any direct harm, if that's your concern. But our safety owes more to our competence than to any benevolence from our rivals.

These local powers aren't above employing underhanded tactics to complicate our operations. They've made resource acquisition in the area increasingly difficult, spread malicious rumors to tarnish our reputation, and hindered our recruitment efforts. You've led Armhands groups for centuries, Minos. You're well acquainted with the strategies competitors employ to safeguard their interests while undermining their opponents."

Minos nodded grimly. "Is there a situation here that requires my personal intervention?"

At this point, Tiolos's demeanor shifted, becoming more grave. His gaze swept over Minos's group, appraising them anew. He pondered the extent of their power growth, not overlooking the six formidable helpers accompanying them.

A weighty question hung in the air: Was it prudent to involve Minos and his notoriously aggressive approach in these delicate matters? This was the crux of the dilemma Tiolos grappled with as he planned his response to his superior.