The Martial Unity

She stood up, gazing at Rui with a serious expression, as she began walking over to him, much to the shock of everybody involved. “I accept your offer and am willing to join you in creating a nation of change and imposing law and order upon the Martial World.”

Rui simply smiled at the gesture of public support. “You have my gratitude, dear sister.”

She maintained a determined expression, but internally, she was not completely pleased by Rui’s stated vision for the Kandrian Empire. He had told her that he wanted his power to become the power of the Empire, but only now had he fully elaborated on what that meant, and it did not bode too well for seafare.

In the audience, not a single person was fooled by the impromptu act. They instantly connected the dots and understood the truth. It wasn’t that Rui had chosen to endorse her; it was that he had earned her endorsement in their meeting. That explained why she had immediately summoned her inner circle and trusted confidants and had begun to make unfathomable, but drastic changes to her faction.

She stood by Rui’s side, as Secretary Claris and the Shepherd also stepped up, joining Rui on the stage, standing behind him.

For now, his faction had four people.

But Ranea was merely the first.

“As the Martial Pontifex of the Virodhabhasa Theocracy, I speak on behalf of all Virodhabhasan Martial Artists that we offer our absolute support and loyalty to your vision of change for the future of our civilization, Your Divinity.” The voice of Sage Sariawar drew everybody’s attention as she and her fellow Martial Sages appeared before him in the blink of an eye, kneeling before him in abject deference and reverence.

The Virodhabhasa Theocracy had had a field day with the changes that Rui had undergone in sixteen years of metamorphosis in the manifold. It only confirmed their delusions that he was a god in living form and the deity who would deliver them from the great apocalypse that the Transcendent Prophet had foretold.

“I accept your pledge, loyalty, and support.

” Rui smiled.

He knew that he could count on these fellows, no matter what.

Then, there was another.

“I support your bid for the throne, Rui Quarrier Silas Kandria.”

A familiar voice drew everybody’s attention as their eyes rested on a grinning Esoterist. His presence in the crowd had been uncharacteristically dim. People even had a hard time recognizing him without his visors and without his high-tech suit, replaced with black formals custom-tailored to his lean body. He simply sat for most of the ceremony with a bored expression, growing lively when Rui made his announcement and declaration.

It was not difficult to understand why this man was eager for Rui’s vision of human civilization. He had the most to benefit from it, and his ambitions relating to surpassing Martial Art were known, too. The Esocline Federation was also the greatest example of the prosperity that Rui referred to. The prosperity that Martial Artists impeded with the uncertainty and instability that their lawlessness brought about.

It was why Rui appreciated the man. He didn’t need to hypothesize about some abstract prosperity when he could point to the immortal sage’s nation, where non-pathwalkers thrived.

Yet, the support for Rui was not limited to just non-Martial stakeholders.

“I, too, support your initiative, Your Highness.”

Not a single person could contain their shock as they instantly recognized the voice of Transcendent Candidate Sage Jinryong Namgung. They stared at the man as he stood up, directing a deep gaze at Rui.

Almost nobody understood.

Transcendent Candidates were untouchable as far as the law went, whether it was domestic or international. They were civilizational treasures that protected Panama from external threats that nobody else could handle. They enjoyed absolute immunity within human civilization, short of treason.

Rui had made it clear that his regime of law enforcement would not exclude anybody, including Transcendent Candidates, and they knew that he was more than powerful enough to enforce law upon them.

So why did this Transcendent Candidate willingly jump to supporting this regime? With Amare, it could be explained by the relationship she had with Rui, but nobody understood Sage Jinryong’s decision.

Rui simply smiled knowingly at Sage Jinryong. “Thank you, my friend. Let us work together to create a regime of law and… order.”

Sage Jinryong lit up with genuine enthusiasm at those words.

Rui’s gaze shifted back to the royal funeral hall with a knowing gaze.

“Who else?”

His eyes grew more intense.

“Who else wishes to join my faction?”

With two Transcendent Candidates by his side and two Sage-level powerhouses already pledging loyalty, the avalanche had been set off. The initial indecision, uncertainty, and shock that froze action have been melted away by the sequences of major endorsements that followed.

“As President of the Republic of Gorteau, I too offer my fullest support for your regime in the Kandrian Empire and for the Panama Continent,” President Margrave stood up, offering a dignified show of support.

“As the guildmaster of the Adventurer’s Guild, I offer my support for your vision of law and order over the Martial World, Your Highness!”

Several powerful waves of support came in his favor as his base of support ballooned by an enormous degree in just a minute. Support for his initiative came beyond just Sage-level powerhouses, as many powerful organizations began pledging support to him immediately, once the growing momentum reduced the inhibition that many had.

“Bradt Distribution Services stands by you a second time, Your Highness,” Chairman Bradt Patrick stood up, gazing at Rui with a deep, knowing expression. “Your vision for the future is exactly what everybody who isn’t a Martial Artist desires.”

“The South Panamic Consortium supports your regime for the future and pledges loyalty to you, Your Highness!”

“As the CEO of Kaddar Capital Ventures, your vision is the dream that I have envisioned for our civilization for many years! Please allow us to join your faction!”

A remarkable wave of support from industrialists, financial firms, and corporate sectors rolled in, unsurprisingly. These folks were the most to benefit from the vision that Rui had shared with them.

Conversely, the voices from the Martial Sages were more muted.