"So you are going to refuse..." The woman looked at herpanion, feeling this was most likely, considering the growing situation in this area.


    As free people with growth potential, it would be interesting not to ''auction off'' what they had without knowing exactly where they might end up. Maybe joining Calvert''s faction would be too worthwhile because their future was not as promising as they thought. But maybe it was the other way around, and it would be better to negotiate this in the future when they would be more sure of their limits.


    However, whether it was logical or not, they belonged to the Calvert faction and were unhappy with Minos'' decision to go that way.


    Not only that but in only a year since they hadst seen Minos, he had already advanced one level, something impressive, considering that less than two years ago, he had reached level 74.


    So this refusal had much more meaning now than if it had been made a year ago.


    The man said to his colleague in a mental transmission. ''They want to run free to see how far they can go... Considering Emperor Stuart''s cultivation speed, he can probably reach the 9th stage before he needs our help.''


    ''Yes, he doesn''t think he needs us now, so he will refuse our offer... Meanwhile, his wife will remain confident that she can grow within the Church with only the support of the ck in Empire.'' She agreed, seeing that it would be futile to talk further about this business with Minos and Gloria.


    She then said. "I see... You can make your own choices and live with the consequences."


    "His Highness Calvert has given you quite an opportunity. I hope you will not regret itter. The benefits won''t be the same if he has to renegotiate this in the future." The man said. "Then I hope you have considered that in your judgment."


    "But of course," Gloria replied. "If we have to renegotiate, the conditions would be different."


    She was thinking of better conditions for her side, not Calvert''s. But those two understood it as epting the risk of losing benefits with Prince Calvert''s faction.


    Minos smiled at them as he saw the threatening expressions of the two, not fearing this would lead to a conflict.


    Fighting against someone who refused them the first time made no sense. If the world worked like this, there would be no business, and society would probably live inplete chaos.


    Warlike conflicts only developed after disagreements, revenge, dishonest acts, collusion with enemies, etc. The group of Minos and Gloria had done nothing against the Calvert faction, only not epting the invitation to be members of this group.


    That was not a good thing, but it was not the end of rtions between the parties.


    These people knew that Calvert would insist on bringing Minos and Gloria over to his side, and after a while, they or others would be sent on a new business venture.


    Hence, there was no possibility of them fighting there. Only verbal threats like the one above had room, and even they could not be too exaggerated.


    Rancor only made rtionships like the one they wanted to form more difficult!


    At that pace, after a few meaningful nces at each other, withments loaded with hidden meanings, the two Spiritual Sages said goodbye to Minos and Gloria.


    They wished the faction of the two and the ck in Empire good luck, but Minos and Gloria did not take it seriously.


    On the other hand, they made it clear to those people that the empire was open to negotiations with Calvert''s group and a visit from members of his faction.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    They declined this invitation but were not cutting off rtions with Calvert''s group. Just a business deal that had not developed.


    As they watched those two leave, the couple realized that the pressure on them would begin to increase from then on.


    Soon they would receive invitations from other factions, and when they turned them down, they would have various Church groups not only vying with each other for the pose of the northern region but pressuring their group.


    There were endless ways to pressure them, even though these groups were only part of the Spiritual Church.


    As the ultimate protector of several states in the Central Continent, the Church could make it easy or difficult for people to enter its domains, as well as direct missions of various organizations to new areas.


    With the strengthening of the ck in Empire, which currently upied the entire northern region, there would certainly be ways for these forces to send trouble into these areas to show Minos and Gloria the disadvantage of being ''alone.''


    Another possibility was rted to economics, or rather thepetition of foreign resources with those local ones.


    The ck in was an anomaly regarding resources and prices offered. Due to imperial government subsidies, prices throughout the empire were rtively low. But forces outside and more significant than the Bank of the ck in could cheapen their products even more and set them up topete with those produced in the domains of Minos.


    These were some of the many possibilities that these Church forces could use against the group of these two, and both were sure that they would soon face many such problems.


    Seeing the departure of those two, Minos and Gloria sighed, realizing that the peace they thought they would achieve after the Flowers Kingdom would have to be dyed.


    "That will be tricky." She said to him, noting that from now on, the challenges on their path would be of a new level.


    He was silent for a moment, looking at the Spatial Kingdom ring. Then, after thinking for a moment, he said. "Maybe we should take a little risk..."


    "What do you mean?"


    "The map of the Seraphim Ancient Sarcophagus." He said seriously. "Maybe we''d better search for that location a little earlier than nned."


    Gloria frowned, thinking this would be a little riskier than she would like. "Do you think that''s the only alternative?"


    "No, but it''s the best one we have." He tried to imagine the challenges they would face. "I am confident of withstanding enemy pressures for a while.


    They don''t know us well and think acting on the ck in will be easy. So the mechanisms I have created over the years will protect us for a few months, maybe years. But eventually, they will raise their investments in pressuring us and seed in disrupting our ns.


    At that time, we will have to act quickly."


    Gloria knew that Minos was a great manager and better at predicting adversary movements. So she didn''t question him if that was the way it would be and asked. "And when will we act? I''m afraid going for it will take us quite a bit of time."


    "Not exactly... In any case, I think not before the people from the Blood Triangle Pirates group return to fulfill the 10-year agreement." He remembered that fact that was close to happening. "But after their visit, I will assess the situation. If it is not promising, I will act immediately!"