The Martial Unity

If he truly wanted, he could cripple the Kandrian Seafare Association by manipulating the people with their absolute adoration and loyalty to him.

If he truly wanted, he could cripple the Underworld by cutting off demand for the illegal goods and services that they supplied.

If he truly wanted, he could cripple Princess Raemina's ambitions to control the citizens even after she became Empress.

If he truly wanted, he could cripple the domestic market of the Martial Union.

If he truly wanted, he could cripple the Royal Army's low-level soldier count, having them boycott the army.

If he truly wanted, he could cripple all the corporations that constituted the Rafia Consortium by simply cutting away their domestic market and employees.

This was a power that terrified each and every single one of them. None of them could impact the others the way that Prince Raul could disembowel their entire faction.

Yet he didn't.

Not once did he employ his almost hypnotic control over the masses to cripple his competitors for the throne.

The reason was rather simple. It was not because of strategic considerations or tactical analysis. It was not because of geopolitical and economic reasons.

It was simple: the people who would be hurt the most if he executed these sabotages would be the people of Kandria and not the power blocs that he would be targeting.

Crippling those power blocs would mean crippling his citizens even more.

That was unacceptable to Raul Kandria. Thus, he never once employed his power to cripple his six competitors and try to leap for the throne even though there was a good chance that he could succeed.

Rui had been beyond overwhelmed by everything he heard about Raul Kandria. It was almost too good to be true.

There had to be a catch.

Perhaps his kindness was an elaborate facade, and he was a corrupt bastard underneath. Perhaps he was secretly exploiting all the people who loved him. Perhaps he was a narcissist who simply lusted for validation and attention.

Rui was almost certain that something like that is going on.

"You wish to meet Prince Raul?" Senior partner Kayla of Lambargeau Xavier Legal Services raised an eyebrow when he had gone to meet her, looking for a meeting with the prince.

"Yes," Rui replied, nodding. "He's finally returned from his endeavors to procure food imports for the impoverished during winter, right? I was hoping I could speak to him."

"Of course, you can," She replied. "His Highness speaks to everybody that seeks him. Everybody has a place in his heart."

Rui raised an eyebrow as he looked at her with an expression of skepticism and disbelief. He knew that the Beggar's Sect had wholeheartedly supported Prince Raul, yet he couldn't believe she was seriously saying something that cheesy and embarrassing unironically.

"…Uh huh. So where can I meet him?" Rui furrowed his eyebrow.

"Currently, he is situated in the shelter town of Varmaria, at the center of the nation," She replied. "Go there, and you shall be able to speed with him."

"…Ok."

Thankfully, the Beggar's Sect didn't charge him with anything for learning that piece of information. They were undoubtedly eager to pull Rui into the Raul Faction. Since, unlike the entire Kandrian Empire, the Beggar's Sect knew exactly what Rui was capable of.

They had watched as he singlehandedly annihilated the assassination industry of the Derschek Region.

They had watched as he singlehandedly shut down the Carnil Mafia in the Gereign Region. They knew that he was not someone that they would like as a foe or an enemy. It was best to secure him as an ally and make use of niche and powerful skills as a Martial Senior.

The shelter town of Varmaria was a town that had been created by the Kandrian Ruffians to house the bottom one percent of the most impoverished people. They supplied these people with not just food and housing but also employed them for basic manual labor. In this way, these impoverished people could not only be fed and housed but also earn their food and housing and become fully contributing members of society.

Everything that Rui had heard about it was quite good, although he had never actually visited it.

Traveling there didn't take more than fifteen minutes for someone as fast as him. He zipped through the sky, leaving sonic booms in his wave as he approached the shelter town of Varmaria.

"There it is," Rui spotted a collection of settlements and houses.

Yet just as he approached the town, two Martial Seniors appeared in his path, halting him.

"Name and purpose of visit," They sternly demanded.

On their Martial attire was the emblem of the Kandrian Ruffians.

"Rui Quarrier," He calmly complied, disregarding their reactions. "I am here for an audience with His Highness."

They glanced at each other before turning back to him. "…You may proceed. Do not activate your Martial Heart. It will be interpreted as a sign of hostility, and you will be dispatched with prejudice then and there. The shelter town is under deep surveillance and security while it homes His Highness."

Rui nodded wordlessly as the two Martial Senior guards let him pass, allowing him to enter the town gates.

He was quite surprised by how well the town was constructed. It was nothing extravagant, but it was clean and gave off a healthy impression.

He spotted a middle-aged man with golden hair, blue eyes, and dark skin sitting beneath a tree. His clothes were ordinary, the kind that most Kandrians wore. Several children leaned on him, sleeping peacefully as he petted their heads with affection and warmth.

Rui almost hesitated calling out to him, not wanting to disturb the peace and harmony that he seemed to radiate.

A serenity that one ought never to disturb.

He turned towards Rui with a welcoming smile. "You must be new here."

"Pray tell," His voice was warm and nurturing. "What is it that one with a hungering void within yourself seeks from a town of shelter?"