The Rise of the Black Plain

Three more days have passed since the artificial lake was completed, and at this time, the seeds and the farming group were prepared. Minos had also reached level 6.

Today, the group of 200 farmers who had been selected would start preparing the soil. They were going to work on just 3 hectares initially. This was the current limitation, given the labor they couldn't afford.

However, three months later, when harvests occur, if everything is sold on the domestic market, a yield of 55,000 low-grade crystals would be obtained if the grains were sold at the same price as the competition.

With that amount, Minos could triple the labor force, pay for the construction of a low-level array to improve the city's spiritual concentration, and increase the number of local guards.

Minos would also build an academy for future members of the Black Plain Army in a few more months, youths who would receive Black-grade and Silver-grade techniques and large amounts of resources in the future.

However, this would only be the beginning. With a production of 10 tons in the first months, they would reach a small share of the monthly demand in the Black Plain region. Therefore, it would still take time for this region to have a strong presence in trade in the North of the Central Continent.

But this was also a time that they needed to strengthen themselves since some economic powers wouldn't like a new competitor!

…

That afternoon Minos went out to meet three people. In fact, they were young students at the Black Star Academy, the local spiritual academy.

The spiritual academies in question were locations where children aged 6 to 10 could acquire fundamental knowledge about cultivation, conventional specializations, and, depending on the location, even geopolitics.

Spiritual academies existed in virtually every human city. After all, not everyone could learn the essential information in their families. So, these places were created a long time ago.

Even the most prominent families sent their children to the best spiritual academies!

Of course, the Black Star Academy wouldn't attract attention compared to the academies present in the capital of the Brown Kingdom. But it was what the citizens of the Dry City could have.

Anyway, Minos would see three students who would be graduating soon because the census he had ordered was already finalized. And to Minos' surprise, three youths from the Black Star Academy had Black talent!

That was incredible! But despite being challenging to find in this region, since almost all the residents had talents in White or Blue, it wasn't entirely impossible that some individuals were born with talent far superior to their parents.

This kind of situation could happen when you were looking at a large population. It was just that the chances of it appearing were small.

And as to why these individuals weren't seen more often in this region, this is because their families usually moved after discovering their children's talent, which was something done before the children turned 10 and started to cultivate.

So, Minos wanted to bring those three to his side. He wanted to make a generous offer for these families to stay and develop in the Dry City.

He had asked his secretary Mia to prepare for this meeting at the Black Star Academy. This is because two youths were admitted through a social program that exempted a select number of young students from paying academy fees.

This program was like a loan that these students would pay after they graduated if they had a talent of, at least, Blue. Otherwise, they would be exempt from payment.

This is because all regional forces needed a little weaker people to do certain services. And since most people with Blue talent could reach level 39 easily, there would be a great demand for people with this strength in the North of the Central Continent.

And of the three, two were boys by names, Ralf and Lee, and one was a girl named Alison. None of them were members of a large family or nobility, so they had no surnames.

In this world, those with a surname usually did this after establishing their own force or had it when they were born into a healthy family.

Anyway, after a few minutes of walking, Minos arrived at the entrance to the Black Star Academy.

The place wasn't so far from his mansion, just a few blocks. It was a building that was in good condition, shaped like a star, and just one level beyond the first floor. It was gray and had many windows to the street.

Today, Minos was accompanied only by two personal guards, who were at levels 35 and 37. Dillian was taking care of agricultural matters and couldn't come. But for such a negotiation, there was no need for more strength.

So, the three men were entering the building when they were stopped by a middle-aged woman who appeared to be slightly overweight and had a large mole on her right cheek.

"Welcome to the Black Star Academy. Can I know the intention of your group's visit?" She asked in carefree.

"Hmm, I'm Minos Stuart. My secretary had set up a meeting with the principal Lionel Gill and the students Ralf and Lee."

She was then surprised that this young man was the new sovereign of the Black Plain. After all, although the population knew he was young, most people didn't know that Minos was only 15-years-old. And as the rulers are usually much older…

"So is the young master Stuart. Mr. Lionel is in his office. I'll take you there." After that, she said a few words to Minos and then accompanied him to the principal's office.

After some time, they arrive in front of the room, where there was a large wooden bench with two boys sitting and talking. These were Ralf and Lee.

Soon afterward, Minos entered the principal's office following the middle-aged woman. There were three men in the room talking.

Two of them were sitting on the same side of the table, while the other was at the edge. These were responsible for Ralf and Lee, while the latter was the principal Gill.

"Mr. Lionel, this is Minos Stuart."

Lionel then replied with an expressionless face. "Nice to meet you. I heard from secretary Mia that the young master wanted to meet the students Ralf and Lee, is that right?"

"That's right, I recently arrived in the Dry City and got some information from the census that was recently done. Through this, I learned about the talents of these two youths." Minos responded politely.

"Today, I'm here to make an offer that I believe can attract the families of these two. I know very well that you must have already made a lot of plans to leave the Black Plain, but before that, think about my offer."

One of the two responsible for the boys then said with a mocking face. "Hmph, do you want us to stay in this place without future? I don't know what offer you're going to make, but I doubt you can offer anything better than the Gill family!"

This was Ralf's father, Railan. He looked like that simple type of person who doesn't think much about the more general situation, who values only what is in front of him.

The other man was Gryff. He was Lee's older brother. Their parents had already died, and he was responsible for his two younger siblings.

One was Lee, and the other was a 7-year-old girl, Ayn. Gryff was a more astute person than Railan. He was curious about this new sovereign who had miraculously solved the problem of the Black Plain.

At least, that was what was most talked about today.

Gryff then asked. "What can young master Stuart offer for us? We also already have an agreement with the Gill family. I don't know if that can be undone."

The principal then nodded and said. "That's right, we have invested in Ralf and Lee for almost four years. We cannot just give up on them."

After listening to the three comments, Minos finally spoke again. "I understand the situation, but I have an offer for both sides. Of course, those responsible for the two young boys are those who have the choice here. As for the Gill family, it only paid for basic education. That shouldn't have cost even 1,000 low-grade crystals for those two..."

Minos then looked at Lionel and said. "What I offer is something that the Gill family cannot offer. I'm not despising your family, but they'll be less important if they go there. They'll receive fewer crystals and inferior techniques than they can earn with me."

"I'll pay the Gill family a refund of 4,000 low-grade spiritual crystals for each of the two boys, who decide to stay on the Black Plain. As for the youths' families, think for a few days about what you can gain from the Gill family and come to talk to me at my mansion. I'll say exactly my offer at that time. But I can assure you that I can deliver a Black-grade cultivation technique as soon as the youths reach 10-years-old."