The Martial Unity

He would have loved to say that he did have the means to compensate for an absence of experience, but in truth, he didn’t know that for a fact. He had several powerful theories that, if true, would be revolutionary.

But as of yet, he didn’t have conclusive proof.

Currently, his large language-behavior predictive model, or large soul model as he liked calling it, was running in the background, collecting data on himself as it fleshed out what was shaping up to be a titanically colossal model of data.

Additionally, he had weaker suspicions that the Gigabrain could potentially allow him to reach the Sage Realm sooner, but he was less certain about this. Even if it could, it would mean he would be asleep for more than a month; this would slow down his journey to the Sage Realm due to being entirely absent from reality consciously at that time. ”I have… ideas,” Rui replied with a mixed tone. ”I also have planned to use the dying strategy to reach the Sage Realm.”

”There is a reason that the Panamic Martial Federation stopped promoting that lethally risky strategy, Prince Rui,” Sage Himar’s tone grew more stern. ”It is disturbing to know that one of the pillars of the Era of Darkness has seen fit to practice it.”

”Yeah, well, when you have issues like mine and tribulations like mine, you tend to get a little desperate. Besides, it has worked out well so far. The stronger I get, the fewer the risks.”

His tone betrayed his nonchalance.

”The stronger you get, the more risks you need to take in order to truly execute that strategy,” Sage Himari corrected him with a knowing tone. ”I suspect your willingness to fight a Martial Sage is due to this risk-welcoming mindset that you have adopted.”

”Well, that was because I was in a trance,” Rui heaved a sigh of exasperation. ”Like I said, this wasn’t on purpose.

”Trances do not change who we are, Prince. They merely reveal it,” she retorted. ”Regardless, let’s put an end to the discussion, we have arrived.”

The carriage stopped outside of the Clan Convergence, where he had first engaged in dialogue.

”Come, the clan leaders are truly anxious to speak with you,” she informed him.

”Oh boy…” Rui heaved a sigh as he stepped outside of the vehicle.

He was immediately escorted to the conference meeting room with all fourteen patriarchs and matriarchs of the Sekigahara Confederate. The cold expressions on their faces told him everything that he needed to know. They were so pissed off that they even skipped out on their most important rituals and formalities, simply opting to glare at him for several moments while he took his seat opposite all of them. ”Prince Rui…” A chilling murmur escaped the Patriarch of the Shinken Clan. ”We have truly longed to speak with you for the past thirty-six days. You have no idea just how much I have prayed that you would wake up every day for the past thirty-six days. I even watched over you while you slept, wondering when you would wake up.”

Rui felt a strange peril at the eerie words of the clan leaders. They were truly furious at him. ”Before we continue,” Rui heaved a sigh. ”I would like to apologize for the assaulting Embodiment upon all of you and the entire nation. I am truly sorry for the disruption and commotion that I caused, and I am willing to offer compensation for the event.”

Instantly, the apparent fury within the clan leaders disappeared when they heard the word ’compensation.’

”I knew it…” Rui grumbled. ”Bunch of fakers.”

”Ahem,” Patriarch Shinken fixed his expression to restore the rage that had all but disappeared a moment ago. ”Prince Rui, did you think you could just apologize and we would forgive?! Do you have any idea how much damage you have caused to our nation?! Your transgressions are a long list that I intend to cover every avenue of! Now listen…!”

What followed was a long speech, a long monologue where the patriarch of the Shinken Clan ranted about the sins, crimes, and transgressions of the Dawnbringer. His words earned nods and several interjections of ’hear hear’ from the other clan leaders. It was a while before he was finally done.

”…And now that I have covered all of that,” he calmed down with a hint of a smile cracking at his mouth. ”Let us discuss compensation on your end.”

Rui grumbled inwardly as he realized that the fourteen clans didn’t give a shit about the Embodiment assault since it had not cost them anything.

They were merely feigning anger to convey that there needed to be hefty compensation.

”What do you want?” Rui began with an exasperated tone.

”We would like the healing fruit reparations from our end to be negated as compensation,” Patriarch Shinken readily supplied him with an answer.

”Absolutely not,” Rui resolutely shook his head. ”Have you lost your mind? What I did to your nation does not even compare to what you have done to the Kandrian Empire. You have tried to eradicate us twice. You have killed our Masters. You have harmed our allies. You think that a nationwide illusion that lasted for a few seconds is even remotely comparable to the sheer amount of harm that the Sekigahara Confederate has inflicted on the Kandrian Empire over the course of the third Great East Panamic Wa?”

Rui could not allow the reparations to be let up so easily if he wanted to form a deterrence to make an enemy of the Kandrian Empire. Nobody would fear making an enemy of the Kandrian Empire if they could be forgiven this easily.

”Then… we would like to propose a fixed supply of breakthroughs from you to the Sekigahara Confederate,” the Patriarch Shinken replied with some thought. ”Since you have demanded a continuous supply as reparations, we, too, seek a continuous supply as compensation.”

Rui fell into thought at his words.

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