The Martial Unity

"Your Highness! We have received inquiries and appointment requests from more than a hundred distinguished economic and political tycoons!" His chief of staff exclaimed.

Rui smirked.

Just as planned.

"Ensure that each of them receives an appointment within the month," Rui replied. "In the latter half of the day, preferably. I'll leave the scheduling management to you."

"Understood, Your Highness."

Rui grinned, amused, as he went through the list of those who were once of the faction of the four royals that he had eliminated from the competition. They had considered him fairly, something that they would not have done if they had known that he was the reason that their favored candidate had dipped from the race and ran away with their money.

He certainly didn't intend to tell them.

No one would believe that a prince who had recently entered the race would be able to arrange for the immediate removal of four of his competitors. It would be an extraordinary level of competence to eliminate powerful competitors so quickly.

While the other three princes would undoubtedly work hard to reel in as many candidates as they could, Rui wasn't too worried that they would be able to exceed his efforts. If they failed before, there was no reason to think they would succeed, especially when they were in a tougher spot.

Rui sharpened his eyes as his mind furiously raced to make considerations of the future. He had a clear vision of what was to come and what he was to set out to achieve.

His political goals were to quickly monopolize each of the freed-up patrons, donors, and benefactors from the four former factions. Eventually, he intended to wring away at least seventy-five percent of support from high-ranking government officials.

This way, there was absolutely no chance for any of his competitors to succeed at becoming Emperor.

On top of that, if he failed, he would be able to keep up his oath. He was sincere when he had sworn the oath to Sage Sayfeel, and he doubted that the powerful Martial Sage would allow him to go back on his word even if he tried.

If that was the case, it was best to prepare for failure.

His eyes narrowed as the air grew heavier.

If he failed, he would become Emperor.

"Huff…" Rui closed his eyes, shaking his head.

When he opened them, a deep determination lit up within their depths.

"Your Highness," his chief of staff contacted him once more.

"Hm?" He turned to the communication artifact projecting her voice. "What is it?"

"The Martial Union has just invited you for an official deliberation regarding its patronage of your campaign," she told him.

Rui's eyes intensified as he read through the statement that the Martial Union had issued the Rui Administration. It was a rather formal invitation to discuss the arrangements between the Martial Union and Prince Rui Quarrier Kandria in his campaign for the throne.

Rui noted that the two Martial Masters standing behind him of the Martial Union hadn't told him anything about it. Master Zentra was one thing, but it was rather strange that Master Ceeran hadn't informed him beforehand.

'He didn't know,' Rui realized. 'Would he really not know if it was just a bunch of Martial Masters?'

That was impossible. The Ranging Sect was undoubtedly powerful enough to have a voice in this panel of Masters that would collectively address Rui. The fact that he didn't know meant that it wasn't just going to be a panel of Masters.

Rui's eyes narrowed as realization dawned on him. "When is it?"

"…It's now, sir," His chief of staff remarked with an indignant tone.

Her tone made it clear she didn't appreciate the Martial Union summoning Rui without prior notice, expecting him to drop his work and run to their summons.

Yet Rui only grew more certain of his realization.

"I'll go," He remarked, getting up hastily. "Send me the location."

Very soon, he found himself sky-walking across Kandria at top speed. The sheer speed at which he was traveling was so great that it looked like a comet was flying through the sky at astronomical speeds!

He didn't want to leave whoever it was that he would be speaking to waiting. That was why he even activated his Martial Heart along with Gale Force Breathing and Outer Convergence, reaching speeds dozens of times greater than that of even sound.

Master Zentra, Master Vericita, Master Ceeran, and Master Iskan effortlessly kept up with him, of course, using a fraction of their full power to ensure that they were in close proximity at all times.

"Is that it…?" Rui narrowed his eyes as he spotted a structure on top of a mountain three hundred kilometers away from them.

"Indeed, Your Highness," Master Vericita smiled. "That is the Monastery of Mysteries, a place for meditation built by the Martial Union that is usually reserved for..."

"…for Martial Sages," Rui completed his words with a heavy tone.

His nerves tingled.

The air prickled.

He could almost feel the strain of heaven and earth under the weight

"Hehehe, you seem to have attracted the attention of bigshots, my friend!" Master Iskan grinned. "Be honored; it is not every day that those of the Sage of Realm see fit to give their time to Martial Seniors! It is a testament to how much of an impact you have made as a Martial Artist!"

"…I think it's because I'm a prince rather than a prominent Martial Senior," Rui smiled bitterly.

"That's where you're wrong."

Master Zentra's calm voice denied his statement.

"The only other prince who has gained the personal audience of a Martial Sage was Prince Raul," He calmly remarked. "None of the other Martial Sages have deemed the royals they supported to be worthy of a personal audience. Prince Raijun had desperately begged the Flickering Elder for an audience for many years, yet she never relented, deeming him unworthy of her personal time."

Master Ceeran smiled at him. "Your accomplishments were previously deemed impossible. You have earned the right to be proud of them."

"…Thanks."

Gratitude echoed in Rui's voice.