The Martial Unity

The four of them widened their eyes at her appearance as she stormed into the spacious automobile with an irritated expression, this time accompanied by two Martial Sages as bodyguards who stood outside.

”Ria…” Runark murmured, staring at her with a dropped jaw. ”You’re… beautiful.”

”Stunning,” Sternon concurred.

”Thanks, I’d be pissed if it didn’t look good after that annoying make-up session,” she tersely muttered before turning to the pilot. ”Please commence. The destination hasn’t changed. Esocline Federation.”

”Yes, Your Majesty.”

VMMM…

The automobile began to hum as the five of them felt more power emerge from the engine.

Then, it just disappeared.

WHOOSH

Just like that, the automobile teleported to the Esocline Federation.

Within Gaia, negatron matter had become prevalent enough that people above a certain class of wealth could simply purchase a negatron-empowered, teleportation-able terrestrial automobile that could complete the entirety or most of a journey through teleportation.

They crossed more than a hundred thousand kilometers in the blink of an eye.

WHOOSH

Their environment shifted radically in the blink of an eye as a dark shadow fell upon the floating vehicle. One moment, they were in the posh premises of the Vargard Royal Palace, and the very next moment, they found themselves in what resembled a modern high-technology city would look like if they were turned into the size of ants.

The infrastructure was absolutely titanic, so much so that it completely covered most of the skies and the sun, preventing sunlight from entering the city. It was as though the time was later in the evening despite the fact that the location wasn’t that many time zones away from the Kandrian Empire.

Cities in the Kandrian Empire also towered to extraordinary heights, but there were special technologies in place to ensure that sunlight proliferated across them, something the Esocline Federation didn’t seem to care about.

MECHAs patrolled the city and stood guard at important facilities across the infrastructure around them, boiling with tremendous power.

This was despite the fact that their immediate environments was a relatively open space, showing the sheer extent to which the Esocline Federation infested every inch of the volume within its territory with infrastructure or technology.

CLACK

The five of them emerged from the automobile, finding several people walking towards them. Out front was an older woman with graying hair, wearing a formal suit and skirt, with a badge that read ’Vice President Veena,’ with two guards behind her of distinctly non-pathwalker identities.

Yet, despite clearly not being pathwalkers, they had an aura of power around them. They wore terrestrial combat suits, with their hands not far away from weapons.

STEP

Vice President Veena stood before Ria with a perfunctory smile that was inscrutable even to Ria’s senses. She couldn’t sense the woman’s emotions despite her exceptionally powerful Martial Mind. Clearly, the brain-wave suppression technology of the Esocline Federation was flawless.

”Your Highness Princess Ria, as Vice President of the Esocline Federation, I welcome you to our state. It is a pleasure to greet you in our state. It has been more than five years since your last visit, I believe,” she said, extending her hand out to Ria.

She had spoken with a perfectly courteous tone that didn’t contain any cracks but was also superficial and formal. Ria wondered if the woman didn’t appreciate the short notice that she had given to the Esocline Federation.

”Vice President Veena, I am honored to be welcomed by you personally. I must offer an apology for the short notice of my visit to the Esocline Federation. It has indeed been a long time since I last visited,” Ria spoke with a formal and gracious tone, remembering the etiquette protocol that Aunt Ru had drilled into her as she shook the woman’s hand.

”Allow me to escort all of you to the housing arrangements we have prepared for you. I see you have brought companions with you.” The Vice President gestured to them welcomingly as she guided them into a giant skyscraper. ”Please do forgive us for not having prepared an itinerary for you, not having received any notice on the purpose of your visit,” Vice President Veena gently broached the subject. ”If you wish, we can prepare a tour of our facilities, including some of our classified research and development projects for you specifically, Your Highness, or arrange a meeting with any of our R&D leaders, if you so please.”

”Ah, I do not wish to burden the Esocline Federation with a prolonged stay,” Ria spoke with a formal tone. ”I did wish to speak with the President, if possible. I was informed that he was here and was not beyond reach at this point in time.”

”He is busy, as always.” Vice President Veena smiled at her. ”However, if you wish, I can arrange a meeting as soon as tomorrow. His Excellency will make time for a guest of your significance, Your Highness.”

”I truly do appreciate that, and forgive me for being demanding after already having come here on short notice, but could you request him for a meeting as soon as possible…? Potentially… today?”

Vice President Veena turned towards Ria with a superficial smile that looked like her trying to hold back the urge to blast Ria for her impudence. She certainly might have offered a sharp word if not for the fact that Ria was the daughter of the most powerful man in the world.

Ria hated the feeling of her father’s shadow looming behind her, influencing every single interaction in her life, but in this case it was probably helping her, so she simply allowed it to work.

”…I can convey the request,” Vice President Veena offered after thinking for a few moments. ”Is the meeting urgent? Is it an emergency? That might persuade His Excellency to meet with you sooner.”

”It’s not an emergency, but I believe it will be something that is of great interest and significance to His Excellency.”

”…I will be sure to mention that to him, but I cannot make any promises. His Excellency is very busy and does not enjoy being thrown out of schedule. Are there any other details you wish to add?”

Ria considered the question for a moment before smirking.

”Tell him it has to do with increasing the supply of esoteric matter.”