The Martial Unity

Chapter 2605: Negotiations

His talk with President Amelia indicated that she hadnʼt caught on to his plans, most likely. It depended because the Martial Sages of the Republic of Gorteau had isolated her mind from him, so he had to rely on his super senses to try and discern her non-verbal communication.

It appeared that she had truly come to believe that he had relented. Considering that she informed him of the conditions for getting what he wanted in return for his services, she was most likely not harboring his scheme.

He tried to sell it as well as he could, genuinely specifying details as to how he wanted the money transferred and processed. He acted exactly like how a concerned supplier agonized about the payment.

She took the time to patiently explain the situation with former president Raymond and what Rui would need to accomplish.

”If I lobby for it, thereʼs a good chance that the leaders of the National Libertarian Party will outright reject it because the initiative is coming from me or my administration,” President Amelia informed him. ”Those damned libertarians call us all traitors for preventing a

destructive war of unprecedented proportions erupting in East Panama.”

Rui bit back a retort that they were right.

He could save his scathing remarks after he had successfully swindled her.

”So, if you want six trillion dollars for your services, then I recommend that you lobby Raymond and his compatriots yourself,” she calmly informed him. ”Heʼs not going to be easy to convince, especially when he was one of your greatest enemies. But if you succeed, you will get the six trillion you need.”

Soon enough, their meeting ended.

Thus, Rui found his second goal. ”Time to talk with Raymond.”

Arranging that meeting was not difficult at all.

The man was most certainly in the country and was also aware that Rui was in the nation, too. It was easy to convey a message and the desire to have a meeting with the man within the day. With how important Rui had become, nobody dared delay a meeting with him too much when he had the power to make or break nations.

Soon enough, a meeting was arranged in the headquarters of the Libertarian Party.

”I would say itʼs a pleasure to actually meet you, but I would be lying through my teeth,” Rui remarked when he saw the man. ”Frankly, I wished that I never had to run into you.”

”The feeling is mutual, I can assure you,” Raymond snorted. ”I only accepted this meeting because I suspect I might regret it if I didnʼt.”

”Well, youʼre not wrong.”

Eventually, the two of them sat opposite each other.

The man didnʼt appear to have any qualms sitting opposite Rui despite the fact that he only had two Martial Masters for bodyguards. Rui could effortlessly kill him at any moment, and to his credit, he was entirely unfazed.

That increased Ruiʼs respect for him.

He had always viewed the man as a tool. A tool to be used and manipulated, but he supposed that anybody could be rendered into a tool when dealing with extraordinary leaders like the Emperor of Harmony and the Britannian Prime Minister.

”So, Prince of Kandria, what is it that drove you to seek my audience, of all people?” The man steepled his fingers as he leaned forward with a hint of interest.

”Itʼs really simple, actually,” Rui replied nonchalantly. ”Soon, President Ameliaʼs vice president will present a bill in the Gorteaun Senate. All I seek from the senators and congressmen from the Libertarian Party is to vote in favor of the bill.”

The man simply stared at Rui with an unamused expression. ”What bill?”

”A bill detailing the expenditure of giving me six trillion dollars,” Rui replied calmly. The man scowled at Rui. ”Youʼre not making your case very appealing, you know that?” Rui smirked. ”Itʼs a bill to purchase my services for six trillion dollars, basically. In return, I will break as many Seniors, Squires, and aspirants to the next Realm.”

”Thatʼs an absurd price,” the former president glared at Rui.

”In times of peace, yes,” Rui replied. ”In times of an apocalypse, the price is just fine. Thereʼs nothing that six trillion dollars can buy you in these times that is as valuable in the Era of Darkness as my Hellbringer Model and breakthroughs.”

The former president fell into thought at Ruiʼs words.

It was true that there was no better way to spend six trillion dollars than to permanently get many, many Martial Artists and especially Martial Masters, some of whom would go on to become Sages. At least, in the Era of Darkness

”But donʼt worry,” Rui continued. ”All this money will ultimately go back into the Gorteau economy and will be spent on protecting Gorteau.”

Raymond frowned. ”What...?”

”My goal was to get President Amelia to relent and get Gorteauʼs Sages to head to the Beast Domain like your original intentions were when you participated in the Human Summit as the then president Gorteau,” Rui explained. ”Unfortunately, she refused pretty staunchly.” ”Hah, tell me about it,” the man snorted. ”I have had this debate with her at least a hundred times since the Era of Darkness began. She doesnʼt listen, that traitorous wench.” ”Thatʼs why I asked for six trillion dollars,” Rui explained. ”I will use those funds to commission the Martial Sages and send them to the Beast Domain. This way, we donʼt need to earn her approval at all. We can just bypass her hard-headed stubbornness altogether.”

President Raymondʼs eyes lit up. ”Thatʼs... genius. This way, you can bypass the executive branch entirely. I finally have a way to deploy Gorteaun Sages to the Beast Domain!”

He pondered upon the idea with enthusiasm, shifting his attention to Rui with a hint of grudging respect. ”Hah, like father, like son.”

Rui shrugged. ”Well, I take it that you are in? Can I assume that you will pass the bill when your senators and congressmen happen upon it?”

Unfortunately, the former president was even less of a tool than Rui had hoped.

”What proof do I have that you will live up to your word?” The man glared at Rui. ”This could all be an elaborate ploy, for all I know.”