The Martial Unity

“I am grateful for your hospitality,” Rui replied with a hint of formality.

He expected the Beast Incursion to erode away the more tedious and time-consuming elements of cultures around the world, but apparently the powerful Sekigahara Confederate had resisted this change, still able and willing to engage in elaborate formalities and customs.

Rui’s eyes inadvertently glanced at the Martial Sage that stood guard of the entire conference. It appeared that the powerful woman was also adhering to the universal principle that bodyguards were invisible-not to be acknowledged, and not subject to formalities and customs.

At first glance, it appeared that the clan leaders were in charge of the entire nation, but Rui knew that wasn’t true.

The Sekigahara Confederate leaned Martialocratic. The Martial Artists were in charge, but were entirely uneducated and unskilled in the field of statesmanship. Thus, the Sages simply appointed leaders of the clan that they approved of to take over these responsibilities.

Of course, the clan leaders were more than just figurehead executives. They were also legislatures who truly ruled the Sekigahara Confederate as they deemed fit as long as they ultimately served the political goals of the Martial Sages who appointed them. They were more akin to kings who asserted their authority and right to rule by virtue of God.

In this case, however, it was by virtue of actual godly beings in the form of Martial Sages.

“Prince Rui,” the clan leaders of the Sekigahara Confederate addressed him

straightforwardly. “We would like to begin by expressing our heartfelt gratitude for your aid to our nation in our time of need despite our… rocky history.”

That was putting it rather mildly.

An existential war was more than a little turbulent.

However, Rui simply remained silent, letting them continue.

“The Sekigahara Confederate will remember this debt forever. And in the name of the fourteen clans, we vow to fulfill our debt to you in the future,” the clan leaders continued with a powerful tone. “Rest assured that while we may not be able to entirely compensate you immediately due to the emergency of the Beast Incursion ravaging our borders, we will do our best to ensure that you are not dissatisfied in the sincerity of our appreciation.”

The clan leaders did not give away the slightest hint of hostility in their tone, conduct, or body language, even to his detailed and powerful senses. This was impressive because Rui was certain that they hated him, even if he couldn’t directly sense their emotions due to the Martial Sage protecting them.

It was clear that they understood their place.

While Sage Shinken’s emotions and ego impeded his judgment severely, the clan leaders had retained their rationality and clarity.

They understood that the Sekigahara Confederate desperately needed the Dawnbringer’s blessings.

They also understood that he didn’t need them for anything.

And yet, he had come to help them anyway. Mostly out of practical self-interest in ensuring that human civilization survived but perhaps partly out of altruism as well. Regardless, he had come to their nation to help them; it was beyond stupid to antagonize him and potentially lose out on his gifts.

Of course, they didn’t possess the authority to instruct or admonish Sage Shinken for speaking to him rudely or in a hostile manner, but, as expected, the Dawnbringer possessed the composure and pragmatism to dismiss his antics.

His background and prowess as a diplomat was well-known in the political sphere by now. As a man who had bested none other than the prime minister of the Britannian Empire, he was shockingly adept at diplomacy and negotiations for a Martial Master and someone of his age.

“We are in the middle of a war against an apocalypse, Prince Rui,” the patriarch of the Nindo Clan began. “So let us not engage in empty talk. I’m sure that you too will appreciate a distilled conversation that gets right to the heart of the matter.”

Rui stirred at their words. “Go on.”

“The matter is very simple,” the clan leaders asserted. “We would like to become allies with the Kandrian Empire.”

Rui managed to contain his surprise well, hiding all indications of it.

That didn’t change the fact that he was very surprised.

If the Sekigahara Confederate possessed a Martial Master with a Martial Mind more powerful than his, they would have tried to discern his thoughts, but alas such a Martial Mind didn’t exist.

Personally, Rui found it very understandable from their perspective. It made sense considering that the Kandrian Empire provided unconditionally support and protected their allies from the apocalypse of the Beast Incursion.

The Sekigahara Confederate desperately needed support.

That wasn’t all.

The war was over.

Not only was it over, it was frankly irrelevant in the Era of Darkness.

A new war between species had come to erupt, swallowing the entirety of the continent. This war in the present was infinitely more important than some old war of a previous age.

The Sekigahara Confederate was blessed to be the only Sage-level powerhouse that was closest to both the pillars of the solution to the Beast Incursion. To its southeast was the Kandrian Empire and to its west was the Esocline Federation.

The Dawnbringer and the Esoterist lay within their reach.

They would be fools to let go of this chance.

Rui had no doubt that even as they spoke, they were brokering some deal with the Esoterist to get some of his upgraded siege technology as well as plenty of MECHA infrastructure. It was a wise way of going about things.

Unfortunately, they were delusionally optimistic if they thought that he would just say yes and embrace all of them as friends.

“Do not misunderstand my aid to all of you as a gesture of friendship.”

The clan leaders narrowed their eyes.

“Frankly, I would not have come here if not for the Emperor of Kandria,” Rui continued with a

steely tone. “I am here out of long-term strategic self-interest for the Kandrian Empire, not because I want to be friends with you.”