After thanking those individuals, Minos heard from Warner that they would take advantage of being around the Black Plain to take care of other matters. Examples of this were the trade between their states and the tensions in the border region of the four kingdoms with the Empire.

However, as it was late at night, Minos sent them away, leaving them to deal with this the next day when he would be working.

With that, those individuals sent by Harold soon left, leaving only Minos' family in that office.

"I wonder what this situation is that they reported to us?" Ruth asked, not understanding how there could be forces opposed to the Church to the point of attacking that organization because of the recent Albano and Vogel cases.

But she was unaware of the rivalry of certain states in the western region of the Central Continent with the powers of the Evergreen Empire, home of the Spiritual Church.

In the distant past, a large state in the western region was among the strongest in this world. It was a historical rival of the Evergreen imperial family, the main arm of the Spiritual Church.

The Ancient Empire had fallen and transformed into two great states, Western Empire and Eastern Empire. Still, the tradition of hostility with the Spiritual Church had continued in these places.

Hell, even the sphere of influence of the Ancient Empire, states that still existed in the present, still had terrible relations with such an organization.

Then, there were powers in opposition to this great organization in the Central Continent, which had no problem attacking the ranks of their rivals if a good reason arose.

So that black-haired woman, who did not know the same things as Minos, Abby, and Gloria, could not help but ask her previous question.

Gloria then said. "I don't know. I don't think it makes sense to attack the Church just because of the situation in Vogel and Albano. Neither of those organizations had relations with forces in that region, and that sect and the Vogel family could be considered weak in the eyes of the high-level powers with enough to do that."

Minos thought about the matter silently for a while but could not conclude what this was, what the real purpose was, and who would be behind it. "Well, there's not much we can do beyond what we already do. So let's keep that problem in mind and continue with our training."

"Anyway, we have enough dangerous stuff to encourage us to get stronger..."

"Hmmm." The three nodded as Maisie continued to hold her granddaughter, who was sleeping peacefully in her arms.

"Sigh..."

"We are getting stronger, but trouble keeps coming." Ruth sighed, remembering the regional problems that had arisen in recent years. "Even in our region, problems arise. Brown Kingdom and Cromwell Kingdom, as well as the situation in the Endless Snow Mountain Range."

The situation in these two neighboring kingdoms of the Black Plain was not so good. From time to time, some battles would take place between the remaining powers of those states, reaping some of the regional experts.

On the other hand, in the Endless Snow Mountain Range, after the leader of the Immemorial Graves Sect bent the knee to Minos, the other sects in that area started to fall out, generating more clashes.

These powers did not dare to fight when soldiers from the Black Plain Army showed up to appease the situation. But since this organization had to worry about the circumstances in its own territory, often such soldiers would leave, and the conflicts would return.

The Black Plain had grown a lot in the last four years. However, this was still not enough for this state to compare to the power of the prominent organizations of, for example, Albano. As such, Minos needed his army to stay on his main territory to protect his interests.

And because of this, they constantly heard complaints of conflicts happening in those two states or in that mountain range, which was already tiring them out.historical

Minos' eyes narrowed, and he said. "Maybe it's time for us to do some more changes in the region."

"Oh?" Abby looked at her husband with interest. "You mean the Empire Plan?"

"That's right." He stated.

The Empire Plan was the project to turn the Black Plain into an empire.

Empire and kingdom in the Spiritual World were differentiated not by the strength of their leaders but by their size regarding area and population. So to turn a kingdom into an empire, anyone would need to increase their territory and absorb new populations!

"These powers in these places are not behaving well and find it unfair to be led by families not so different from them. So, let's give them a real sovereign." Minos said in a calm tone. "First, we will turn these two states into semi-autonomous parts of the Black Plain. Then we will occupy the Endless Snow Mountain Range."

What Minos had started in Vogel had been working so well for him that he had thought about doing it for the rest of the northern region. That is, he wanted to become the true ruler of all these states but give some of the power to a council made up of noble family members.

At the same time, he would retain the title of kingship for the royal families, placing kings or queens as leaders of these regions, overseen by their respective assemblies.

Above them would be the Black Plain, which could intervene or not in their affairs.

Minos had been experimenting with this with Vogel, with the slight difference that the assembly of this state had more powers than he did. But, in any case, such an experience, that is, having advantages and not having to worry about actually ruling, had pleased him very much. So he was already planning to do something similar in his region and thus form an empire!

The three women of Minos already knew the details of his plan, so they immediately understood it was time for such a thing to be put into practice.

He then said. "Abby, give the orders tomorrow. Send groups to these three places to organize the new order of things."

"Hmmm."

"As for you, dear, take care of the bureaucracies regarding the Spiritual Church." He said as he looked at Gloria.

"All right."

The Spiritual Church was the one that made divisions, unions, new reigns, etc., official in this and other regions. It gave legitimacy to governments in front of the continent's population. But this organization did not prevent independent powers from acting against each other, and conquests were entirely acceptable.

Sometimes one power might have a good connection with members of the Church and thus be able to slow down some processes. But at the end of the day, what decided the state of things on this continent was still the strength of those with the will to change.

Hence, since Minos' plans did not go against the Church's rules, Gloria could help her husband in this regard.

Minos' wives put this matter in mind to resolve the other day before leaving for their residence together with Maisie and Sarah.

Halfway there, Maisie, who had overheard her son's conversations, asked him. "How do you intend to do these things and keep your promise to your grandfather?"

...