The Martial Unity

CLACK

The doors opened, revealing an enormous conference hall that stretched out in all directions. Inside was a massive and ostentatious table that stretched far and wide, accommodating a series of seated dignitaries. Each of them were garbed in extravagant attire that featured the coat of arms of their respective nations and countries. They were none other than the various rulers and leaders of the allies of the Kandrian Empire. Behind them were several more chairs, occupied by their staff chiefs, secretaries, and assistants.

Their piercing gazes converged upon the Emperor of Harmony, pressuring him where he stood. Yet, his calm and composed image of power didn’t so much as falter. He smiled courteously as his eyes met with each dignitary, cold-reading them where they sat.

Each of them had well-trained poker faces. Yet, it took the Emperor of Harmony just half a second to discern their inclinations and positions.

More than half of them were more inclined to believe in the Fraud of Harmony investigative report that had struck East Panama like a meteorite. Another third were on the fence about whether or not he had committed fraud. Only a small minority of them were inclined to believe that he was innocent.

He was grateful for this small minority, naive as they were. Regardless, he instantly understood exactly what kind of approach he needed to take in order to restore the cohesion and spirit within his alliance in the time it took for him to walk from the door to the head of the table.

The air was tense.

It tingled the nerves.

Each of them understood that this meeting would be crucial to their decisions regarding this war and this alliance. The manner in which the Emperor of Harmony chose to address this would make or break the alliance.

The stakes were high.

“Kings and queens, rulers and leaders, emperors and empresses, delegates and ambassadors, I, Emperor Rael Di Kandria, welcome you all to the Kandrian Empire and to the first Kandrian Alliance Summit.” His smile deepened before taking on a tinge of regret. “I wish this summit could be held in better times and in a better light. But, alas, we play with the cards we are dealt.”

None of them reacted outwardly to his opening statement even as their firm gazes remained pinned on him. “In light of the urgency and importance of this summit, I think I speak for us all when I say that empty diplomatic protocols and formalities do not belong in this meeting.” Emperor Rael’s tone was calm and composed, yet intense and powerful. “And therefore, I shall be discarding all of them and proceeding right to the very heart of this meeting.”

His rich and melodic voice firmly grasped the flow of the meeting as he put his extraordinary oratory prowess to good use.

“All of you are here for one and only one reason,” he continued smoothly. “You have come in person for one and only one purpose.”

His gaze sharpened. “You wish to see, with your own eyes, whether the Kandrian Empire is still worth allying with or not.”

His voice cleaved through the tension that had wrung the atmosphere taut by speaking the unspoken.

“You wish to confirm whether or not the Kandrian Empire is worth trusting.”

They stiffened as he made the bold decision to articulate the more untoward intentions of the various leaders and other representatives.

And yet, Emperor Rael smiled candidly. “I understand, after all…”

His smile deepened. “If I were in your position, I would have broken off the alliance with the Kandrian Empire.”

Their eyes widened with shock at his words.

Their poker faces crumbled as they stared at the Emperor of Harmony with stunned eyes.

The Emperor of Harmony had just endorsed ditching the Kandrian Alliance very straightforwardly.

This was not what they had expected him to say.

This was not what any ordinary politician would have said.

Politicians were expected to endorse the interests of the nation almost blindly. To denounce an alliance with the Kandrian Empire in such a direct and straightforward manner was something so out of the norm that the various dignitaries in the large conference hall almost failed to parse what he had said with such nonchalance.

Yet, what followed shocked them even more.

“Because the truth of the matter is that every word uttered in the investigative report titled ‘Fraud of Harmony’ is true.” His powerful gaze swept across all of the allies of the Kandrian Empire. “I, in self-preservation, defrauded all of East Panama and instructed my son to use all the funds from fundraising to facilitate my return instead of ascending the throne as my successor.”

They shook where they sat.

Their jaws dropped as their mouths fell open.

Their expressions crumpled with shock and bewilderment as the Emperor of Harmony patiently waited for their emotional turmoil to subside.

It didn’t.

They stared at him with dumbfounded shock.

An admission of guilt.

It was the one thing that a politician was never supposed to do. It was the most universal rule in all styles and forms of political lobbying, fundraising, and statesmanship. Never admit to guilt for any admission of guilt meant administering an apology as well as adhering to reparations. It also amounted to a lot of national humiliation for the citizens of that nation, earning the politician or leader who apologized the ire of the entire population.

And yet, a man regarded as the greatest politician, ruler, and statesman in the entirety of the Age of Martial Art had very calmly violated this fundamental law of being a politician.

To say they were shocked was simply an understatement.

“I will not apologize,” Emperor Rael continued unperturbed. “And if I had to do it again, I would.”

They had thought that nothing he could say could shock them anymore.

They were wrong.

“If that truly crosses your bottom lines beyond absolutely any and all salvation whatsoever, then I encourage those individuals to leave this meeting, this alliance, and join the East Panamic Treaty Alliance.” He smiled. “However, if you are willing to hear what I have to say, then…”

A hint of mirth appeared in his eyes. “I can promise you that it will be the greatest decision of your entire lives.”

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