While the group of 11 carriages traveled quickly through the Cromwell Kingdom, covering the distance between Hadia and the Chambers base in that region, other complications were happening on a small island south of Stone Island.
This was an island that was a few hundred kilometers from the nearest coastal town on Stone Island. The land there was small in area, with space only for a small village and a medium-sized port.
In that place, there were some ships moored in the local port. At the same time, some items were left in the warehouses of that place, and others were transferred to other ships, which occasionally returned to Stone Island.
If Minos were here, he would quickly realize the power behind this place due to the symbol on some ships that docked there.
This was a symbol of a silver ship!
This island was the Nash family's transfer port, where this power had an outpost, which the young Elen was using to receive items from the Black Plain.
She had been bothered by the noble and wealthy families of Stone Island constantly. Some of those powers even had already begun to spy on the routes used by the ships of the Nash family.
Because of that, to protect the information of the products being sold in her family's markets, Elen had started to use this island to delay the discovery by those Stone Island powers about the present Black Plain.
Elen had arranged for an unmarked ship to travel between the Black Plain and this island, as was customary when the Nash family placed orders for goods from kingdoms south of Stone Island.
Following that, the resources transferred to that island would be transported in a few days to the Nash family's traditional ships, transporting the Black Plain's products to be sold on the Stone Island.
This wasn't an infallible plan, Elen knew, but it was what she could do for now. She and Minos wanted to earn crystals together, so they had no choice but to take certain risks.
In addition to delaying investigations into the origins of her items, Elen dispersed the resources sent from young Stuart's territories to several different locations on Stone Island, attempting to avoid attracting more attention.
However, with each passing month, the resources sent by the Black Plain increased in quantity, leaving Elen's actions less and less efficient.
It was tough to hide such a massive deal!
Anyway, today was another typical day on this island, receiving and sending items from different parts of the northern region of the Central Continent, including the Black Plain.
Given the current development of agriculture in the Minos' territories, new shipments were dispatched each month, as the different cultures had unique ripening times.
So, instead of only sending resources to Stone Island every 2 or 3 months, now the offer was becoming more regular, with monthly shipments.
And while that place had a typical day, a few kilometers away from that island, there was an unmarked boat, which seemed to be stopped in the middle of the sea.
There wasn't many crew around there, as this was not a cargo boat, just something used to transport people.
And in the bow of the ship, two men were standing there, dressed in light clothing, as they watched the island used by the Nash family from a distance, with severe expressions on their faces.
"Looks like we finally figured out what you're up to, huh, Elen Nash..." One of them muttered as he noticed the cargo ship transferring items to that place right now.
"Looks like the Nash girl is using this place as a transfer port to delay our investigations into her partner." He commented to his partner, who was also paying attention to that place.
The man he had spoken to was quiet for a while until he finally said. "Now that we've found the transfer location, we have to create a group to chase the ships that arrive on this island. Then, we can finally find out where those products are coming from!"
Hearing this, the other man finally yelled aloud as he looked at a young man who was cleaning the bow of the ship. "Boy, send a message to the Allen family headquarters. We need 20 small ships to pursue the clues..."
He then gave his orders so that the family headquarters would authorize reinforcements to this mission, which could finally yield some result.
...
Meanwhile, in the capital of Stone Island, Elen Nash and her friend, Elena, were quietly resting while drinking spiritual tea in one of the Nash family's palace gardens.
At two o'clock, they were around a wooden table on a lawn in that place, not far from a small artificial lake.
There was a tree shading where they were sitting, along with a nice breeze that passed every few minutes.
The sun was at the top right now, and the two young blondes were chatting calmly in that spot as they rested from the training session they had just finished.
In addition to being close friends and business partners, Elen and Elena also had training matches every few days since the two of them had started their journeys in the cultivation world.
They had attended the spiritual academy together and had been close friends ever since. After this, they continued their friendship, training many times together and comparing their respective strengths.
Despite being from a family of blacksmiths, Elena had become a warrior and was only one level lower than Elen. Consequently, the two were very compatible with training together, supporting each other, and providing healthy competition that stimulated both sides.
Anyway, as they talked about everyday matters, without much importance, Elena suddenly changed the subject while getting a dubious expression on her face.
"Elen, you said you wanted to visit Minos in the Black Plain. When do you plan on doing this?"
Hearing and seeing her friend's expression, Elen laughed and asked. "In the next few days, why? Are you by any chance wanting to go to bed with him again?"
"Hehehe, but of course. Did I ever tell you how vigorous he is? Back then, even though he was several levels below me, he still managed to keep up with me pretty well…" She commented, recalling the excellent night of fun she and Minos had months ago.
"You have so many other contacts around here. Are you sure you want to travel to such a faraway place just for this?"
"Hmm, it's not exactly just that. The way you say it, it seems like I only think about sex!"
"And that's not true?"
"Of course not!" She snapped, feeling a little miserable.
"Unlike you, I've never traveled outside of Stone Island, and lately, I've been thinking a lot about seeing the Dry City."
"Oh? It's nice to travel and see new places. Still, you usually prefer to stay around doing business for your family with me. Why this change now?"
Hearing this, Elena looked up at the blue sky in that region for a moment and then answered her friend. "I'm a warrior, but I rarely have real opponents, especially since I come from a family of blacksmiths, who have virtually no enemies on Stone Island."
"But you can still fight Stone Island's people. There are certainly outlaws who don't care where you come from." Elen teased her. Elen wanted to make her friend by saying that she wanted to go to the Black Plain just to meet an old lover...
"Hmm, it's true. But going to the Black Plain, I can combine business with pleasure. I bet Minos must be a lot stronger now, so I'm looking forward to seeing him again. Usually, I don't get the opportunity to hang out with young men like him, who are more talented than me..."
For the women of the Spiritual World, there was a certain self-pride that came with more outstanding talents and levels of cultivation. Many of them did not get involved with men of lesser power/talent. These women had their own arrogance and felt better when 'interacting' with more talented or powerful men.
Of course, not all of them took that pride very seriously and 'interacted' without taking these factors into account. However, it was undeniable that more talented people had more energy and better looks.
This was related to cultivation speed. If someone reached the 6th stage of cultivation at age 100, while another reached it at age 30, there would be a noticeable difference in their appearance!
And for people who wanted casual relationships, as in the case of Elena, this was something relevant to take into account.
"Anyway, I'm also curious to see that place. You had already told me several things about the Dry City that made me anxious to travel there. Not to mention that Minos must constantly have to fight to solve the problems in that region. This can help me in my training as well." Elena finished, looking into her friend's eyes.
"Well, you have your point. I'm also curious to see Minos. It's been over ten months since I've seen him... But we'll have to take a long detour to do that."
"Is the Allen family very close to discovering us?"
"So-so. But it will still take a few months for them to reach the Black Plain. As long as we're careful, we still have some time." She said before letting out a worried sigh.
This had been troubling her more and more, and she wanted to discuss this and other matters with Minos. Many Stone Island's powers wished to have connections with him, so she could not delay this meeting any longer!