Rui smiled calmly. "An astute observation and one that I have a solution for. Good thing it is that already know about her."
Sage Sayfeel narrowed his eyes. "...'her?'"
"The Silent Shadow," Rui remarked. "You know, Master Reina Cara. She possesses the ability to transform her body to mimic the appearance of anybody; she also possesses the ability to mimic their body language, demeanor, and microexpressions to the T. She can do it to a degree that not even non-sensory Martial Masters can discern. It's one of the reasons she's among the very best of the best as far as Master assassins go."
Sage Sayfeel's eyes widened as he understood the depth of Rui's plan. He realized it was quite impressive. "You plan to create a faction, and once you've created the bulk of it, you then intend to have Master Reina Cara serve as a stand-in to mimic you to maintain your faction while you secretly leave the Kandrian Empire."
"Indeed," Rui closed his eyes. "If I am unable to return to the Kandrian Empire with the Divine Doctor before Emperor Rael succumbs, then the Rui Faction, maintained by the disguised Master Reina, will stop any of my insane half-siblings from ascending the throne."
"And then what?" Sage Sayfeel narrowed his eyes. "Someone needs to ascend the throne."
"...I'll figure something out," Rui narrowed his eyes. "Now, tell me. Where is the Divine Doctor."
"Figure something out?" Sage Sayfeel's displeasure grew. "Figure what out? You tried to figure something out, and that failed, didn't it?"
"It's only a problem if I fail," Rui sharpened his eyes. "I don't intend to fail. Where is the Divine Doctor?"
"You will fail," Sage Sayfeel narrowed his eyes. "That is why I demand to know. What will you do when you fail?"
"Why are you certain that I will fail?" Rui growled. "If you've watched me for much of my life, you should know what I am capable of."
His eyes grew more intense.
"I can see the past and the future."
His tone escalated.
"Half of which gave my father hope that he could find the Divine Doctor."
Sage Sayfeel was undoubtedly aware of the Angel of Laplace. He also undoubtedly witnessed Rui using it in action when he used it to track stealthy Martial Masters from the future, peering into the past.
A Senior effectively bypassing a Master's stealth was a feat that would shock the entirety of the Martial World if they knew about it.
Sage Sayfeel would be lying through his teeth if he said he hadn't been shocked and silent that day.
Rui stared at him with askance. "What do you know that ascertains you of my failure?"
Sage Sayfeel narrowed his eyes. "...You are capable--highly capable--more so than any Senior that I have ever seen. However..."
His tone grew grave.
"...Do you think you can find the Divine Doctor within the entirety of the Beast Domain before the Emperor dies in half a year?"
Rui's eyes widened with shock. "...Half a year?! What is a human doing in the Beast Domain?!"
He couldn't believe what he was hearing.
The Beast Domain was highly perilous and highly expansive. The idea that a human could walk into it and survive for long periods of time was absolutely absurd!
Even Martial Artists had a shockingly high mortality rate within the Beast Domain; it was truly a hellish place for anybody not powerful enough to survive.
"The information is verified and vetted," Sage Sayfeel remarked with resignation. "He is somewhere in the Beast Domain."
Sage Sayfeel narrowed his eyes, turning to Rui Quarrier. "So tell me, Your Highness, can you find and bring back the Divine Doctor from god-knows-where in the Beast Domain before His Majesty passes away half a year from now?"
Rui's expression grew grave. "…I didn't know he has half a year left. Is that why you said he was unavailable?"
Sage Sayfeel's expression crumpled with frustration and resignation. "He fell unconscious shortly after you departed. I was prepared to announce it shortly after you made your decision. He has…entered the phase of eternal sleep."
This was the final phase, where the patient entered a deathly state where they would be indistinguishable from death, barring a scarce heartbeat and mild respiration. It would continue slowing down until the patient passed away sometime after.
His eyes returned to Rui. "You haven't answered my question."
His tone was demanding.
"Do you think it is possible for you to find him across the entirety of the Beast Domain in just half a year?" Sage Sayfeel's voice grew fiercer. "Do you think you can even convince him to help the Emperor when he is known not to defer even to Martial Sages? Only Martial Transcendents and so-called 'kindred souls' can earn his aid."
The Sage's gaze intensified. "Even at the threat of death, he does not budge. Martial Artists have killed him for his impudence in the past, yet eventually, he simply returns from the dead. How are you going to compel such a man to help you?"
"…Returning from the dead," A strange expression appeared on Rui's face. "…'kindred souls'?"
A strange possibility entered his mind.
A deep curiosity burned in his eyes.
"Even if you could somehow compel him," Sage Sayfeel narrowed his eyes. "Half a year is too little time for you to possibly accomplish this!"
RUMBLE
Heaven and Earth quivered under the weight of his emotion. They bent, straining to accommodate his titanic presence.
Rui grew grave. "Half a year…"
He knew it was impossible.
"There has to be something…" Rui's eyes swam around as his powerful mind furiously burst into action, processing every possibility. "Something that can ameliorate that timeframe…"
"…Why do you do this?"
Sage Sayfeel's voice was tired.
Rui narrowed his eyes at that question. "Why are you so determined to stop me?"
His tone grew more frustrated.
"I am trying to save my father!"
His eyes intensified.
"I am trying to save the man you pledged undying loyalty to!"
