Time slowed down to a halt in Rui's perspective as scrutinized the frozen prince. He glanced at the two Martial Masters beside the man. While they looked forward, he could feel their attention and alertness. If he made so much as the wrong move, he would die before he realized it.
He glanced back at the Martial Prince, evaluating him. 'He's rhetorically effective with his Martial supremacy, I'll give him that.'
The answer to his question was obviously in favor of his rhetoric, but it also tied back to their first exchange where he stopped Rui from bowing down to him.
It was a good compelling way to try and gain Rui's approval.
Yet Rui also knew that he was putting on an act, to a certain extent. He had sensed the aristocratic and Royal bearing in the man's demeanor and body language. It was an interesting nuance.
'Together…they most likely serve as the basis for why he thinks he is more fit than the other princes and princesses for the throne; the fact that he's a Martial Artist who, by his Martial supremacist philosophy, ought to be part of the ruling class.' Rui realized, deep in thought. 'But I wonder if he's willing to apply that to himself with stronger Martial Artists.'
"…It is quite unpleasant as a Martial Artist," Rui replied, answering his question. "Part of the reason I seek power is to ensure that I don't need to bow down to those who seek to control me."
"I began feeling this way as well as a mere Martial Apprentice, I cannot imagine how you as a Martial Senior feel being forced to humble yourself," Prince Raijun smiled. "My goal is to ensure that that never happens again as emperor."
"Then allow me to ask you this, Your Highness," Rui remarked. "You are a Martial Apprentice, would be willing to abandon your authority as Emperor and elevate Martial Artists to the head of state and government?"
The Martial Prince faced Rui head-on. "I would."
Rui's eyebrow rose in surprise as his senses evaluated the Martial Prince as well as they could.
They could see only one thing.
Sincere honesty.
It appeared that the Prince was dead serious about creating a nation where Martial Artists became the ruling class, replacing the Royal Family.
'Interesting,' Rui mused to himself. 'I had expected that he would have refused to do that. But no Apprentice-level technique can fool me, so he's definitely being serious.'
"The biggest issue I face is not reconciling my Royal Family side with my Martial Art side. I have chosen the latter, although I have been raised a man who bears the name of Kandria from birth. The biggest issue is making it possible in the first place. The Royal Emperor is not limitless in his authority and power, he cannot just do anything he pleases. The Founding Emperor Ra created the Bill of Royal Axioms, a set of rules that are absolute and binding even to the Royal Emperor that limits my power when I do ascend the throne," Prince Raijun explained. "Changing the political system of the nation from its very roots is something that is going to be extraordinarily difficult even as Emperor. However, once I ascend the throne, it's merely a matter of time before this happens. Naturally, there will be enormous resistance, perhaps even a civil war, but it will happen with my power as the Emperor and the Martial Union."
"And who will suffer the most under a civil war, Your Highness?" Rui's eyes narrowed. "Is it the Martial Artists whose innate power always ensures that they're the least affected by any disaster? Is it the upper class of society that has so much wealth and resources that nothing short of an apocalypse can reach them? Is it the other various power blocs of the upper echelons of the socioeconomic landscape of this nation each with vast wealth, resources, assets, Martial power, and authority that will suffer the most?"
He paused for a moment, before continuing. "…No. While they may expend much pursuing their own agendas and goals, none of them are going to be the most affected by any war. The most vulnerable class of society that will suffer the most are the people of Kandria."
Prince Raijun remained silent but did not seem too surprised. His intelligence network had doubtlessly informed him of Rui's attachment to his family. The same intelligence network had informed him that Rui had refused the deal to become a member of the Martial Union's internal corps in exchange for protection for his family, instead choosing to expend billions of his then newly-earned wealth to do so.
That had told the Martial Prince many things. Firstly, of the three interests; wealth, freedom, and his family, Rui Quarrier cared for money the least. He cared for his freedom and family the most.
Prince Raijun's strategy for winning over Rui to his philosophy had been to capitalize on the former of the two interests. By tapping into Rui's displeasure at helplessly serving forces that were unworthy of commanding him.
He hadn't accounted for the latter of the two getting in the middle of an ideal execution of his lobbying attempt. Regardless, this was far from insurmountable.
"Philosophically, a single war is a lesser evil than a century of rule without Martial Artists as the ruling class," Prince Raijun replied. "This is true because ruling the country is easier for Martial Artists than any other class of society. No set of politicians, class of intellectuals, fields of skill, or labor can rule a country as well as those in the field of Martial Art. I'm sure you know why with your proven political acumen, Senior Quarrier."
Rui couldn't deny it. "Martial Artists impede all ruling parties since they are walking weapons of mass destruction with their own drives, interests and agendas, desires and displeasures. Managing them is extremely difficult and impedes the ability to rule a nation successfully. The only way to get rid of this impediment is to make Martial Artists the ruling force of the nation so that they are no longer an impediment to the rulers, but the rulers themselves."
