The Martial Unity

The tensions in the room declined a little as Rui accepted their decisions and convictions to stick by them. He tried to pry more information out of them regarding the Beggar's Sect, but they firmly declined.

"We also don't know anything at all," Farion remarked. "No strategically valuable or important information whatsoever. Not even mundane stuff, we truly know nothing. However, even if we did, we wouldn't tell you, Rui. We can't betray their trust."

Rui nodded. "I understand, I apologize for asking untoward questions."

"No need to be so stiff," Alice smiled, hugging him. "You're our precious little brother, after all."

The air cleared as the mood took a turn for the better. The three of them got back to their boisterous discussions, this time with a little more earnestness.

"I'm proud of you for having taken down the Carnil Mafia's operations in the Gereign Region," Farion stared Rui in the eyes. "You have no idea how many people you saved. Truly."

"I'm glad to hear that," Rui smiled. "Had I known that it was affecting people in places close to the orphanage, I would have done it much sooner."

Of course, that would have been nearly impossible. Especially when considering how narrowly he almost failed even after tapping into the potential of mental techniques and his affinity with them.

Regardless, it was eventually time for the actual transaction. Rui quickly handled the brief paperwork, handing in the debit statement that would allow the Beggar's Sect to receive his payment for the information.

In turn, Alice handed him a densely wrapped heavy package of documents. "This is the package of information you requested."

"Hmph. Looks like you're up to no good again," Farion grumbled.

"Heh, you know me," Rui smirked. "Regardless, I'll be sure to put this to good use."

"Be sure to do that then. Get going now, it's getting late."

By the time Rui returned, he found that the Martial Union had sent its own intelligence package, when he returned, having automatically deducted the Martial Credits from his account.

With this, he had access to two sources of information about the same topic. He was much more able to account for the biased reporting this way. He quickly got to work, reading through the Martial Union report first and then the Beggar's Sect report second.

Both reports were quite detailed, although he found the Beggar's Sect's information to be a lot more comprehensive. Reading through both of them and storing the information in his Mind Palace allowed him to gain a broader overview of the political state of the Kandrian Empire.

"I see…" Rui murmured. "So this is how it is…"

The Kandrian Emperor had many progeny since his crowning with many concubines. These concubines were usually in important positions of power or from important nations and organizations. By having them bear his child he could create a familial unit that would consolidate his power across the Kandrian Empire.

Many of the concubines were important figures with high statuses in other nations. Accepting them as a concubine was simply a way to deepen his bonds with the nation. Doing this over and over again had resulted in more than a hundred offspring!

The ruler of the Kandrian Empire had the authority to appoint and dismiss people to important positions of power within the executive government, the judiciary, and the Royal Army, which was a separate entity directly under the command of the Emperor or Empress.

Thus any of the competing princes and princesses that gained the most recognition from these three branches of the government would be able to ascend the throne and be crowned ruler of the Kandrian Empire.

Appealing to as many of the branches of the government required economic, Martial, and political capital. After all, those with more power had more to offer to the broader government, earning more support in return. The candidates that were able to accrue as much capital as they could would have a much better chance of gaining the most widespread recognition, allowing that person to ascend to the throne.

That was the Kandrian Throne War in a precise nutshell.

'This is a circumstance where, for once, the government is more significant than the other power blocs of the Empire,' Rui heaved a sigh. 'This is due to the nature of the ruler.'

The ruler of the Kandrian Empire had two broad categories of power. The first was their nigh-absolute authority over legislation and the second was their nigh-absolute authority over the government. It could be said that these two powers defined the authority of the ruler. Possessing these two powers was what made the ruler the ruler.

Thus, whichever prince or princess could gain as much of those two powers would be the closest to the throne.

The first power of legislation over the law was solely by virtue of law, thus the princes and princesses could not attain it. but the second power, power over the government, was something that could be obtained.

Everybody had agendas and interests, both personal and professional in nature. This included the members of the government. A prince or princess with more economic, political, and Martial power would be able to fulfill those agendas better than those without. In doing so, they would gain more support from the government. Gaining more power over the government would bring them closer to the throne.

That was why the government was the powerful force in this war. They were the objective. Other power blocs like the Martial Union, the various corporations across many industries and sectors, the civilian population, and the Martial community were less important.

'Not less important per se…they're just not the objective. They're means to an end,' Rui realized. Whichever candidate earned the full support of the entirety of the Martial Union would essentially win the war. The reason for this was that earning the full support of the entire organization meant that they would be able to earn more support from the government than anybody else. That was the sheer magnitude of the power that the Martial Union had.