A large number of important individuals had gathered deep in the Martial Union headquarters in the capital town of Vargard.
The seating arrangements were structured strangely.
A hundred and eleven seats faced the speaker's podium, each occupied by a Martial Master.
There were two more sections of seats on either side of the Martial Masters, facing each other, occupied by various different non-Martial officials within the Martial Union. Commissioners, managers, directors, and so on and so forth.
Although they didn't have any real authority, they did have the right to spectate and voice their opinions, offering a non-Martial perspective.
"I presume that everybody knows why this emergency meeting has been called." The speaker calmly remarked. "This assembly has been called for one and only one agenda."
A moment of silence lingered in the air.
"The stance of the Martial Union on the recent revelation of His Highness, Prince Rui Quarrier Kandria's royal bloodship and heirship," The speaker remarked. "As everybody here is aware, this committee was unable to arrive at a consensus on the decision of the Martial Union on the cold war ensuring in the Kandrian Empire at the moment. In light of the aforementioned revelations, there have been a large number of calls for reconsideration on this matter."
Different Martial Sects and factions within the Martial Union supported different princes and princesses.
Although Prince Raijun had received the most amount of support from the Martial Union, each of the six other princes and princesses had also received support in varying amounts, including Prince Raul and Prince Rajak, who had managed to earn the support of several unorthodox sects who wanted to decriminalize several forbidden substances and products that were relevant to their Martial Path.
Thus, the committee never arrived upon a consensus on which candidate the Martial Union ought to choose.
Now, however, many people felt it was possible that the Martial Union may unanimously or overwhelmingly approve of one and only one candidate.
"Let us not beat around the bush," The speaker remarked. "What is the will of the Martial Union about Prince Rui Quarrier Kandria. I open the stage for free discourse."
Not a moment passed, and all hell had broken loose."
"THE FIRE SECT APPROVES!" Master Iskan bellowed with a wild grin. "His Highness, the Void Prince, has proven time and time again that he is a Martial Artist among Martial Artist. A Martial Artist cut from a different cloth! A general supermind who, for once, chose to pursue his Martial Path instead of boring shit like medicine or history!"
"Hear hear!"
"The Fire Sect fully supports Prince Rui Quarrier Kandria!"
"The Void Prince shall lead the Martial Union and the Kandrian Empire to eternal Martial glory!"
The boisterous Martial Masters Fire Sect began causing a ruckus as they vocally supported Rui.
"Order… Order…!" The speaker urged them to calm down. "I encourage all members to partake and allow others to partake equally."
However, the Fire Sect wasn't the only sect that expressed support for Rui.
"The Lightning Sect supports the Martial Union supporting Rui Quarrier," A thin, lean female Martial Master stood up, declaring. "We have come to a unanimous decision that of the potential candidates for Emperor or Empress, the Void Prince must be the Fourth Emperor of Kandria."
"The Earth Sect is also deeply in favor of the Martial Union supporting Prince Rui Quarrier for Emperor."
The three major sects of the Martial Union had made their decisions.
It was clear that nearly single Martial Master among the three had an extremely favorable impression of the prospects of Prince Rui becoming Emperor.
"The Breathing Sect also unanimously approves." A Master from the Breathing Sect declared.
"The Mind Sect also unanimously approves."
"The Balance Sect also…"
One by one, Martial Sect after Martial Sect declared their approval for Rui Quarrier ascending the throne.
Yet, not all Martial Sects were in favor.
"The Poison Sect disapproves!" A Martial Master with an unnatural paper-white skin declared.
The momentum of the pro-Rui power bloc was halted as the first sect thoroughly opposed them.
"Ungrateful bastards!" One Martial Master cursed. "You have benefited from the Hungry Pain technique, and this is how you repay him?!"
"We have indeed benefited from him," The leading Martial Master of the Poison Sect replied. "However, our decision is based on future considerations, not past. So long as Prince Rui does not announce his intention to decriminalize the thirty- one illegal poison substances under Kandrian law as Emperor, we will not support him!"
The Poison Sect was firm on what they wanted from the Kandrian Emperor. While it was true that Rui had earned their admiration and respect, it was not enough to overwhelm the actual benefits that supporting Prince Rajak would bring them.
Stronger poisons meant stronger poison-oriented Martial Artists, and that was very difficult to beat.
"…The Merge Sect is firmly in favor of Prince Rui!" One man from the non-Martial section declared.
This sent a wave across the gathered members. Yet, it was not unexpected. In their eyes, Rui Quarrier may as well have become a beacon of hope. Not only was he the platinum boy of the Martial Union, but he was also clearly the platinum boy of the Royal Family, heaving earned the heirship of the Emperor of Harmony.
He alone could fulfill the dream of the Merge Faction. The dream of the Merger Faction to unite the Martial Union with the Kandrian government. With his strong ties to the Royal Family and the Martial Union, it was not impossible for him to rewrite Kandrian law and convince both parties to unite in some fashion.
"We will support Prince Rui till the end of time!" The unofficial representative of the Merge Faction within the Martial Union firmly declared. "We urge the Union to fully support the Void Prince!"
However, they weren't the only faction with an opinion on Rui Quarrier.
"The Martial Supremacist Faction…" One member began. "…is torn in half."
She faced the entire committee. "We, of the pro-Rui Martial Supremacist Faction, fully support His Highness to rule Kandria."
