The Martial Unity

Speaking to Kane was quite good; they went on to speak for a whole day, talking about a whole slew of topics. "So your Hungry Pain contribution was a whopping success," Kane remarked. "I can't believe you planned for that ten years ago when you gave it to us to create samples and evidence that the Martial Union could use to verify the effects of the technique. That's unbelievable!"

He marveled at Rui's foresight in and outside fights. "Yes, but it also had a lot of unintended consequences," Rui heaved a sigh. "For one, it came at a rather sensitive period, considering how groundbreaking it is. It has caused many waves and drawn a lot of attention."

Rui recalled what Master Krakule had told him about how the Hungry Pain technique benefited Prince Randal and the Hawk Faction the most. It was certainly something that he hadn't expected, largely because he was not aware of the internal political situation of the Kandrian Empire when he had given the technique to Commissioner Rez.

Though he wouldn't have changed his decision either way, he needed the funds to blackout Master Uma, and at the time, that was the best way he had.

"So that's about it for me. Nothing else has happened in the past three months. It has only been three months," Rui remarked.

"So you are planning on staying in the Kandrian Empire for now?"

"Yes, unless something drastically changes, forcing me to leave, I will definitely be sticking around in the empire. It doesn't feel like it, but it has only been four months since I came back home after Chairman Deacon passed away."

Rui carefully avoided self-reporting for fear of it being used against him.

"Good to hear. Then we'll get to hang out with each other like we used to," Kane nodded, smiling. "Yes, but I imagine you'll be a bit busy," Rui replied. "With what?"

"With other people," Rui replied. "You're the second youngest Martial Senior in history, Kane. You were known to be a generational prodigy even before that. A lot of people are interest in that kind of potential and talent. There's a good chance that you will be approached by Raijun Faction."

"I don't know enough about this shit to make a proper decision," Kane sighed. "I can help you out," Rui offered. "Though you might want to stay out of it altogether."

"Yeah, I'm probably going to do that," Kane replied. "I avoided this stuff back when I was a Squire. I also was never approached by anyone since I was only a Martial Squire. The only thing I was aware of was the fact that the Arrancar Family had sided with the Randal Faction."

Rui raised an eyebrow, stroking his scruffy chin. "Interesting. I suppose that makes sense."

The Hawk Faction was the warmongering faction among all the factions of the Kandrian Empire. It made sense that Sage Damian Arrancar was aligned with them, knowing his temperament.

"So he's a leader of the Fire Sect and of the Hawk Faction, that's truly curious," Rui remarked.

"You haven't decided which prince or princess to support, right?" Kane asked. "…I am hesitating between Prince Raul, the People's Prince, and Princess Ranea, the Princess of the Seas," Rui replied. "They sound the least disruptive, but I don't know enough. I only purchased basic information. It's also too important to rely solely on second-hand information when I have the option of speaking to them and verifying the truth myself."

He could only hope that those two were not extreme enough in their ideologies, but he wasn't sure. Generally, when people appealed to a specific power bloc, it was not unusual for their policies to be overwhelmingly in favor of that power bloc. "I am meeting Princess Ranea in a week," Rui replied. "She's hosting a small social convention on the unveiling of the first submarine of the Kandrian Empire."

"I see," Kane remarked. "What's a submarine?"

Rui explained the recent developments relating to the Princess of the Seas, explaining to him everything she strived for.

"Woah…" Kane murmured. "Turning the Kandrian Empire into a naval Empire? That sounds… rather drastic."

"It's better than most of the others that will result in war," Rui heaved a sigh. "Ideally, I'd rather a status quo be maintained. All these princes and princesses are too eager to dye the Kandrian Empire in their colors. There should be a lot of people who simply want to maintain the current status quo, but because these princes and princesses are appealing to specific powers, their policies naturally are inclined to serve them."

There were probably a lot of people who for the Kandrian Empire to maintain its stable inertia. For a nation of its size and power, the Kandrian Empire was remarkably balanced compared to other Sage-level powerhouses.

The Shionel Confederation had gained two sages and was an absolute corporatocracy where merchants were essentially nobles. The Britannian Empire was often called an army with a nation rather than a nation with an army. The Sekigahara Confederate was barely considered a single nation as opposed to a bundled group of warring clans that constantly bickered and fought amongst each other. The Republic of Gorteau was known to be one of the most corrupt nations in East Kandria, with a democratic system that had been utterly sold to a deep state of several competing power blocs.

The delicate balance that the Kandrian Empire had was definitely precious; it was just a shame that these princes and princesses were not inclined to maintain the balance and inertia that made the Kandrian Empire one of the most desirable nations to live in East Kandria.

Rui heaved a sigh, shaking his head. "If I were a prince, I would form a faction that was centered around preserving and conserving the current balance of powers that exists within the Kandrian Empire. That is probably the only way another prince could compete with the seven prime princes and princesses of the Kandrian Empire."