The Rise of the Black Plain

Two months later…

After many weeks since the West family’s talks with the Blackrock and Rosser royalty had begun, Lulu had already gone to the Black Plain and left that state for Vogel.

At the same time, the powers of those two states had concluded that Minos’ plan was worth investing in, even considering his dubious past.

They did not have many alternatives to avoid a war against the Flaming Empire, so they naturally accepted the risks concerning him to at least have one more chance for peace.

Because of this, when Lulu and Elen Nash arrived in Vogel to begin talks with the local noble houses, Albano, Rosser, and Blackrock groups were already in such a state to do the same.

Elen was one of Minos’ partners who specialized in doing business and was little needed in the current Black Plain to maintain its security. Because of this, she was the one representing King Stuart’s state, along, of course, with other members of the army who were there for the bureaucratic process.

In any case, Minos had communicated with his state during this period and given Elen some liberties to act on his behalf.

Thus, this woman was already preparing to start putting her skills to use in a state of a higher level compared to her homeland.

She had never left the northern region in the past, but still, as someone who had seen so many amazing things on Minos’ account, she was facing the current situation firmly, ready to do her best.

And that is what she and her group were doing at the moment, talking to one of the noble families of Vogel!

…

“Let me get this straight…” A man who looked to be the same age as Elen, tall and strong, level 70, said this while having a funny smile on his face. “You want to convince us that the Black Plain royal family has the right to become our royal house?”

“Not only that, but they are also saying that if that happens, House Stuart will magically solve all our problems, brother…” A woman sitting next to that Spiritual Saint, level 69, said, also smiling wryly at Lulu and Elen, sitting across from them in a business room.

Lulu closed her eyes as she noticed that those two representatives of the family they were visiting today did not take them seriously. But Elen did not react that way, having just quietly stayed in her seat, watching the expected reaction of those people.

This blonde woman then said. “You got it right. That is what we propose. The Stuart family became Vogel’s royal house and will guarantee the peace of the four kingdoms north of the Flaming Empire.”

The other three individuals in that room besides these four, one from Rosser, one from Blackrock, and someone else from Albano, silently stood there as they heard that, watching those two local nobles.

The man and the woman there looked at each other, finding the whole thing absurd.

She looked at Elen and asked. “Are you drunk? How do you think something like that is possible?”

Elen then answered her. “Miss Rose, we are not proposing something impossible. On the contrary, when the Vogel family attacked the Black Plain, disobeying the rules of the Spiritual Church, it set a precedent that guarantees us a spot in the local throne contest.”

“We already have the support of the three royal families of your states’ alliance against the Flaming Empire, something no other Vogel family has. So, what’s so absurd about my proposal?” She asked sincerely.

“Tsk!” The man did not like it and then asked while making a mocking expression. “And how many Spiritual Saints do you have? Or do I intend to lead us with Spiritual Emperors?”

“When King Stuart conquers Vogel, we will have every living Spiritual Saint in this state,” Elen calmly replied, understanding that individual’s problem. “But don’t worry about that. Our leader doesn’t think you will give us absolute powers.”

“We only ask for the position of administrator of the kingdom, the one who will regulate local activities and maintain stability among the organizations of this state. As for other factors, we will guarantee economic and political freedoms to all noble families who support us.” She spoke seriously.

One of the representatives of the allied royal families of this state then said. “In addition, we have already spoken with Miss Nash, and she has told us that King Stuart is willing to return his position after our states’ moment of greatest weakness has passed.”

“Then, in a few decades, the local noble families may unite to strip him of his position as king and begin a new royal succession process when the situation is favorable!” Another person completed his colleague’s speech.

The brother and sister looked at each other after these words from these visitors to their home, pondering the situation.

It was tough to accept the idea of outside power and, worse, weaker than the weakest of the local noble organizations, becoming the royal sovereign. Even more so considering all the local disputes, from families who were already interested in this position for themselves, from others who just wanted to hide until the storm passed.

But thinking about all the points raised, they could not help but agree that there were exciting things in this whole thing that could be beneficial, or rather not harmful, to them.

It would be humiliating to go through with all that, but their fear of facing the Flaming Empire without the help of their allies was much more significant than this problem.

Since time was not on their side, they had to give these people at least a chance to talk and maybe even negotiate the best possible deal for this to become a reality.

The man clenched his fists and looked at the representatives of the royal families of his allies. “Are you going to support the Stuart family? Does everyone here realize that this organization is only interested in its own good?”

Elen was silent while one of them said. “It would be strange if someone trying to help would not be doing it for some benefit …”

Another of them commented. “That’s true. There is a cost for them to help us, so it’s only natural that this organization would want to take advantage of Vogel. But what can you do? Even though they are weaker and have fewer resources, they have a better chance than you in making peace possible.”

“Or does anyone here think that a local family can play that role? With this Minos Stuart, you guys will at least have a chance to use him temporarily and get him out of power later. With a local family, that will never happen since they would try to take the state for themselves and have the conditions to do that during the period of tension with the Flaming Empire.”

“In short, the Stuart family is the least bad alternative for you Vogel people!” She said as Elen stared at the ceiling, trying to restrain herself from laughing at these people who did not know Minos.

Lulu watched her, but she had no idea what Elen had in mind. “What’s the worst that could happen?” She asked those two. “Minos is only a level 61 Spiritual Emperor. It will take decades for him and his state to reach enough to have the power to compare to one of your families…”

“Then take your chance and accept this fake sovereign!”