The Martial Unity

Chapter 2297: Foreign Forces

Rui had no intention of finalizing or fleshing everything out in the very first meeting with Charles Diviliers. With the first meeting, he simply wanted to confirm the prospects of a partnership and ensure that Charles understood what the Water Sect needed.

The two of them spent nearly two hours talking about the project as they simply sketched out the most basic details so that both parties had a shared understanding of the services and goods being transacted.

”Well, technically, youʼre forming a deal with the government.” He smiled. ”I do not own Diviliers Industries anymore; the Ministry of Commerce and Industry does. Iʼm just a government employee who runs it.”

Rui snorted. ”Yes, but I know you have full discretion over Diviliers Industries as long as you adhere to the broad orders from my father.”

He smiled. ”I most certainly do. However, my budget has already been allocated to dealing with the shortage of Martial esoteric resources caused by the influx of new Martial Artists. I can make formal requests for additional budgetary allocations, but that is all. However, with the current budget, the room for the development of the Martial resources you seek does not exist.”

”...Then Iʼll take over the costs,” Rui replied. ”You handle the development, but, in return, the Water Sect gets the patent for all the proprietary Adaptive Evolution training resources.”

Charles chuckled at his words. ”I suppose I can arrange for that. Of course, Iʼll need approval from the Minister of Commerce and Industry, but considering that it is you. Iʼm sure sheʼll approve it in a heartbeat.”

Rui was just unstoppable within the Kandrian Empire. Only his father or the Sage Council could put him in check, and neither did he have any need or desire to do so. If anything, the success of the Water Sect was a favorable outcome if it meant the production of powerful Martial Artists.

Ideally, they were hoping that his ability to break Martial Artists through could be born in other Martial Artists so that they didnʼt have to rely solely on Rui for the breakthroughs. A single major point failure was quite risky.

Especially when the point of failure was to subject himself to dangers and risks.

Regardless, Rui wasnʼt worried about any resistance.

Normally, when Martial Artists tried to create a sect, they would receive resistance and suppression from existing sects.

After all, the more sects there were, the more competition there was, and the greater the difficulty of progressing in their own field.

Oftentimes, new sects needed to start in extremely humble villages in the Kandrian Empire before upgrading to provinces and districts, before finally heading to the minor and major towns. Otherwise, they would get bullied economically, socially, and sometimes even financially.

However, Rui was certain that no one would dare dream of trying that with him.

He was simply too powerful.

He had no time to waste with any nonsense like that; he didnʼt mind crushing any sect that dared to pick a fight with him.

Actually, if they had given him the opportunity to fight Masters seriously, he wouldnʼt have minded them picking a fight with him.

It simply meant more experience with him.

”However, even if you streamline the process and accelerate it. It will take at least a year for the design process.” Charles mentioned, drawing his attention back.

Rui shrugged. ”Thatʼs a non-issue with the manifold.”

”The manifold is highly in demand, Iʼm afraid. Itʼs primarily reserved for Martial Artists, making it almost impossible for non-Martial Artists to reserve a slot.”

Rui shrugged. ”I own a third of the manifold. Iʼll arrange for space for your design team.” Charles stared at him with an admiring smile. ”You have risen so far so fast. Had I known that this was your destiny, I would have put much more effort into having you on retainer.”

When Rui was merely an apprentice, he had been scouted by Charles Diviliers. The man had offered Rui generous terms in exchange for simply being on retainer with him.

Rui had refused, of course.

”I shouldnʼt have let you,” he pondered aloud. ”History would be very different had I got my hands on you. The throne war, these magical resources, mass breakthroughs. Instead, I got that loser of a prince, Rajak.”

He spat the name out.

It appeared he held a grudge against the late Underworld Prince.

”It wouldnʼt have happened.”

He turned to Rui with a strange expression. ”Not as you are now, no. But no Apprentice can resist everything that I have to offer.”

Rui shook his head. ”I would have.”

The man stared at Rui, heaving a sigh. ”Perhaps that is why you have managed to grow at the shocking speeds that you have.”

Rui shrugged, getting up. ”Anyway, that brings us to an end with everything that I discussed. I have to speak with the Minister and whip up a contract with her for some things that we discussed that are outside your authority. After that, we will flesh out and finalize our plans.”

Charles simply smiled. ”That sounds good to me.”

Rui nodded, heading to leave.

”Ah, one thing.” Charles drew his attention.

Rui paused, turning around.

”You may have no impediments within the Kandrian Empire, but you will experience greater impediments from foreign powers than any other sect ever has. After all, your Martial Path has produced the ability to trigger breakthroughs; it has become even more valued than the Martial Paths of the Silas Clan. Youʼre smart enough to understand what that means, are you

not?”

Rui narrowed his eyes at his words, nodding lightly, before taking off.

Charles Villiers found himself chuckling with amusement.

He had a feeling that he was going to enjoy what was to come very much. Furthermore, he could even participate in it with the authorization and protection of the government. It was even more convenient than when he was an individual player in the political sphere.

”Being a government official has its perks; perhaps I should have done this from the start.”