The Martial Unity

Tensions in East Panama kept escalating as the controversy over Rui's actions in the eastern headquarters of the Panamic Martial Federation continued to become a boiling-hot topic.

The three Sage-level powerhouses did not cease applying pressure on the Kandrian Empire by repeatedly criticizing Rui for his crimes during a mere evaluation. Of course, none of them really gave a damn about the crimes—they couldn't care less about a random Master outcast from the Virodhabhasa Theocracy.

However, it was a good way of applying pressure on the Kandrian Empire. It was a good way to stoke war, which looked increasingly likely as the Republic of Gorteau and the Sekigahara Confederates failed to make much meaningful progress in finding out the method through which Martial Apprentices were mass-produced.

However, while the entirety of East Panama made a big ruckus, a few parties remained suspiciously silent.

The Kandrian Empire and the Virodhabhasa Theocracy.

The latter was not as strange. After all, Master Uma, the victim, was no longer a part of the religious nation-state.

However, the silence of the Kandrian Empire was truly shocking.

After all, Rui was not just any Master from the Empire.

He was effectively the crown prince of the Kandrian Empire.

The fact that the Emperor of Harmony didn't release a statement addressing this was truly shocking to the political sphere.

Yet, no matter how many thinly veiled abuses the three Sage-level powerhouses threw at Rui, the Emperor of Harmony didn't intervene whatsoever. Even the Martial Union released a statement declaring unconditional support for the Void Prince, which only fueled more controversy as it seemed like a refusal to condemn what was clearly a moral wrongdoing.

Yet, Rael remained silent.

However, that didn't mean he didn't act.

"Do you understand, Sage Laughner?" Emperor Rael's eyes narrowed as he gazed down at the prostrating Martial Sage from atop the Royal Throne. "I am accelerating certain timelines within Project Transcension in light of this event."

"I understand, Your Majesty," the kneeling Martial Sage replied with a powerful tone. "I shall assassinate the queen of the Jahobar Kingdom and serve her head to you."

This was one of the Martial Sages of the Martial division of the Royal Army. Known as the Sovereign of Silence, he was a covert-oriented Martial Artist who was deeply loyal to the Emperor of Harmony. He served as the Royal Army's counterweight to the Whispering Widower and was a powerful resource when it came to anything that required a furtive approach.

WHOOSH

He disappeared in a moment, as though he had never been there.

Emperor Rael fell into deep thought as his mind furiously coursed through all the information available, evaluating the nuances of the subtle shifts in various local and geopolitical dynamics.

He didn't miss a single detail.

His decision to avoid making a statement was the wise one, even if it frustrated him as a father.

However, he would be giving the enemies of Kandria exactly what they wanted.

They wanted to ensure that if and when they did declare war, it would be more well-accepted than not.

No matter what, public opinion mattered.

As long as they could prime East Panama against the Kandrian Empire, a war on the Kandrian Empire would go a lot smoother than if they were clearly the ones in the wrong. Being perceived as aggressive without provocation, unstable, and dangerous would make many political and commercial powers less willing to trade with them.

But, if they could frame the Kandrian Empire as a negative entity by inflaming controversy about the nation, then the problem was partially alleviated and the war would be viewed less negatively.

This had already happened, after all, with the Martial Union's response.

Emperor Rael was not in the habit of giving his enemies what they wanted.

That was why he accelerated the assassination of the queen of the Jahobar Kingdom.

The best way to cease attention to an incident was to misdirect attention to an even more significant event.

Such as the assassination of the leader of a Sage-level nation.

He had planned to get rid of her anyway so that her son, who was more pro-Kandria, would ascend the throne. The nation was divided in half between two power blocs that constantly engaged in assassination attempts against each other. Thus, it would not be traced back to him anytime soon.

This was the best option to drown out the controversy regarding Rui.

CLACK

The gates to the enormous throne room opened as an elderly woman walked in, garbed in the ethnic attire of the Silas clan, warping heaven and earth under the weight of her being, as those of her ilk did.

She peered at him with clear displeasure. "Make it quick."

Unfortunately, Emperor Rael was in no mood to indulge her today.

His harmonious body language crumpled with cold fury as his powerful glare pinned her in place.

She narrowed her eyes as the air grew more tumultuous.

It boiled.

It boiled under the rage of the Emperor of Harmony.

"You lied." His rich, deep voice heightened with anger. Matriarch Nephi met his piercing eyes with a firm gaze. "I did not lie, technically."

Yet, her words only evoked more anger from the Emperor of Harmony.

"Do not play word games with me, Matriarch of the Silas Clan." His voice was steely. "I would rather not show you that your power as a Martial Sage will not protect you from my wrath."

She heaved a sigh, closing her eyes. "I did deceive you. However, not in regards to the outcome of the operation that you deployed my grandson on. I simply hid the details of the trouble I foresaw him getting into."

"That is a violation of our agreement." He narrowed his eyes. "We agreed that you wouldn't hide any details from me when it came to matters relating to Project Transcension."

"This isn't related to your ambition." Matriarch Nephi snorted. "It is related to a personal matter involving your son. It is related to his path to the Sage Realm. Had I told you the truth, had I told you that this would have happened, would you have let your son go to the Panamic Martial Federation on that mission of yours?"

Emperor Rael narrowed his eyes.

Yet, he remained silent.

"Hah, that is why I didn't tell you." She snorted again. "You would have canceled the operation and sent someone else, depriving your son of the opportunity to learn more about himself and make progress to the Sage Realm."

"…"

"Have faith in him," she calmly told him. "He is your son, after all."

-

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