The Martial Unity

Rui's eyes sharpened. Now he understood why he could feel everybody's eyes on him. It made sense; who wouldn't want to witness such an exciting meeting?

The young man was smirked with a hint of mischief. "What's the matter, Senior Quarrier? Cat got your tongue?"

"As I was saying," Rui continued. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Chairman Decker."

"Come now, you needn't be so formal, Senior Quarrier," The young man chuckled. "I know you so well and have known you for so long that we're practically already friends."

"I, on the other hand, learned your name less than a minute ago," Rui replied calmly. "Perhaps we should address each other as what we are: strangers with no relationship to each other."

"Ah, but you're the man who killed my father after he hunted you for nine years," The man smirked mischievously. "This may be the first time we've met, but our paths have crossed each other's for a long time."

The atmosphere grew colder.

The air was wrung taut. Many watched the heat of the conversation escalate as Chairman Decker boldly accused Rui of murdering his father.

"I would advise you to abstain from making false remarks," Rui narrowed his eyes. "I could sue you for defamation for those words."

"Indeed, but I'm sure you're intelligent enough to know that you shouldn't," The chairman smirked. "You may win in court; hell, I would probably even plead guilty. But the court's decision doesn't matter; what matters is the court of public opinion, and that court will not find me guilty."

"I don't take patrons," Rui replied. "It brings about obligations, in the long term, that shackle me. I don't like shackles."

"I see," The young chairman remarked. "That's a shame. Many people, even in this conference, would love to be your patron; I can assure you of that."

Rui glanced around; he could feel their attention and curiosity even if they weren't looking at him directly.

It couldn't be helped. His return to the Kandrian Empire was a spectacle in and of itself. After that, there had been several more high-profile incidents featuring him. He had become hot news in the Kandrian Empire.

"Still, it is good to meet you face to face," The young chairman smiled. "I would love to be your friend. We are in the same generation, too, after all."

Rui raised an eyebrow. "Friendships involve trust. I'm afraid what we have doesn't come anywhere even remotely close."

"True," The man remarked, nodding. "Still, everything starts somewhere. Regardless, I am content with just making your acquaintance today. For now, let us focus on the event that we have gathered here today."

Rui glanced around; the convention hall had grown even more densely filled as even more guests entered one after the other with their own Martial Artist bodyguards. Each of them wore tailored suits and scrupulously groomed appearances. They possessed an invisible weight to them that wasn't nearly as pronounced as the pressure that Martial Artists exerted, yet it existed.

It was a pressure that came with the power to impact nations with a single command. Its indirectness meant that it did not directly convey itself the way it did for Martial Artists, but Rui was not fooled. Each of the people here was an elite of the international economy and market and was not to be trifled with, even for him.

Eventually, a door at the end of the conventional hall opened. A woman with golden hair and golden eyes walked through, followed by two Martial Master bodyguards. Her attire was business-oriented, yet an exorbitant Royal crest was embroidered onto the chest area of her attire.

"Her Highness Princess Rafia Leoufil Kandria has arrived."

Every member of the Convention Hall bowed in adherence to the code of conduct when graced by a member of the Royal Family.