The Martial Unity

While the world abused Sage Kole for wasting a golden opportunity, she found herself being entirely unperturbed.

One of the reasons that she isolated herself in reclusive solitude bar her servants was precisely because she detested the tendency of the world to pressure her away from discharging her duties.

As a high Martial Judge, she was accustomed to dealing with particularly powerful Master criminals. Such powerful Martial Artists always had powerful parties invested in the outcomes of the trials.

She would always find her balance stuffed with credited transfers from multiple parties before each trial.

They were nothing more than blatant bribes.

However in the case of Rui, even she had been surprised when she had received hundreds of billions of gold coins in total from countless parties across the entirety of the Panama Continent.

Even if he was the youngest and most prodigious Master in history, she did not understand the fuss behind such powerful bribes to get him sentenced to the harshest sentences there were.

Unfortunately for them, she did not intend to operate any differently than she normally did. A lack of any history of criminality and a clean history of cooperation combined with the context of his actions led her to believe that he was not a threat to Martial Art. Thus, exile was hardly unfit, especially when the philosophy behind the protocols of the penal code of the Panamic Martial Federation was to preserve potential unless doing so came at the cost of Martial Art.

In truth, she had been blessed.

If Rui had had a history of criminality, then she would have no choice but to subject him to lifelong bondage or imprisonment. This would have made it much more difficult for her to head to the Kandrian Empire and swear loyalty. She could only hope that his offer still remained despite the exile judgment.

She should have been praised for her ability to withstand such external pressure. Yet, she was only chastised for her choices.

“What were you thinking?” Sage Larra confronted her friend with sharp eyes.

Sage Kole simply paused her automated wheelchair as she met eyes with the woman standing before her with a stern expression.

“About whether I should hand in my resignation now or later,” she replied with a stoic tone.

“What?!” Sage Larra widened her eyes with shock. “Why?!”

Sage Kole glanced at her shivering hands. No matter how much she tried, she was unable to control them. It brought her more despair and frustration than words could begin to describe.

“…To pursue a new future,” she answered as she spurred forward past her friend. “One that I have only experienced in dreams.”

Sage Larra frowned as she turned around to the leaving figure of her friend. “Where are you going?”

Sage Kole narrowed her eyes. “The Kandrian Empire.”

Sage Larra’s eyes remained wide with shock as she witnessed her friend leave silently.

It wasn’t long before news of the resignation of the High Judge Sage Kole spread throughout the Panamic Martial Federation.

However, she had already descended from the lofty headquarters of the Panamic Martial Federation in a special carriage. One that headed straight to a single destination.

The Kandrian Empire.

Mixed emotions appeared on her face.

Hope and fear.

The most logical course of action in her position, with benefits in mind, was to acquit Rui. This way, when she went to the Emperor of Harmony, she would be certain that she would be healed.

Yet, she chose not to go that route.

“It is not who I am.” Her eyes flashed with clarity and certainty.

She could only hope that the Emperor of Harmony was still willing to continue with the agreement that she had made with his son. Even though Rui had signed off on it, it was clear that it was his father who had initiated this offer.

By the time she reached the Kandrian Empire, she felt nervous for the first time in centuries. It couldn’t be helped.

There was too much at stake.

Yet, before her carriage could come anywhere near the Kandrian Empire fortress wall, she was stopped.

RUMBLE

Sage Kole narrowed her eyes as an immense aura of power washed over the carriage, paralyzing the driver. A Martial Sage.

“Exit the vehicle,” Sage Farana ordered with an unyielding tone.

In her current state, Sage Kole was in no position to defy one of her peers. On top of that, she did not want to increase the likelihood of being remembered as a pain in the past to deal with.

CLACK

She adhered calmly, showing herself before the Martial Sage of the Kandrian Border Patrol Force. The woman who stood before was garbed in ostentatious Martial attire adorned with a beautiful crest that was the coat of arms of the Kandrian Empire. She approached Sage Kole with a rigid and disciplined gait, sizing her up with a stern expression.

“Sage Kole,” she remarked with a composed tone, “His Majesty has informed us about your arrival and is likewise aware of your arrival.”

“Then…”

“His Majesty has summoned you,” Sage Farana calmly informed her. “He wishes to speak to you right away.”

Sage Kole understood that the domineering edge in her words did not belong to her.

No.

It belonged to the Emperor of Harmony.

Yet, that only made her hopeful.

The fact that he was summoning her despite knowing what she had done to his son was a good sign.

“Coincidentally, I’m informed that the Void Prince is there too and has also sought your presence,” Sage Farana continued. “I am ready,” Sage Kole declared without hesitation. “Take me to His Majesty.”

SNAP

Sage Farana bent heaven and earth as she shifted Sage Kole at incredible speeds, sending her coursing through the air like a flash of light.

One second, she was outside the Kandrian Empire.

The very next, however, she found herself in the Kandrian Throne Hall as she beheld the Emperor of Harmony gazing at her from atop the Royal Throne.

–