The Martial Unity

The powers of Kandria grew excited when Prince Rui Quarrier Kandria announced a press conference, inviting more news distribution companies than one could count. Whatever this announcement was, it was big.

It was certain that he was going to be announcing the commencement of his campaign, which was different from announcing his bid for the throne, which he had done three months prior.

It was only once the campaign began that he could actually begin accepting donors, patrons, and benefactors. Until then, there was no avenue for them to easily support him. It was also why all the national and international stakeholders of Kandrian and East Panama had yet to approach him directly.

There was no point in trying to join a faction that didn't exist.

However, now that Rui had a faction comprised of a thousand-strong staff and administration and many divisions and departments to handle the rigors that a faction underwent, only now did it make sense to try and join the faction.

That was why Kandria had been waiting for the Final Prince to announce the commencement of his campaign.

Many were waiting with abated breaths as the day of the press conference finally arrived.

An enormous crowd of reporters stood before an elevated podium. They carried recording artifacts and notepads, alert and prepared to record everything that happened.

The Rui Administration had also hired a stenographer to transcript the exchanges.

Everything had been set up.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Rui addressed the crowd of reporters from behind his speaker's booth. "Welcome to this conference."

The noise from the crowd lessened as Rui commenced.

"A little over three months ago, at the Royal Addressal Ceremony, I was not only revealed to be a royal prince but also declared as heir to the Emperor," Rui began his speech without any further formalities. "A short while later, I announced my bid for the throne."

His eyes narrowed. "I have not forgotten my word. In the past three months since, I have worked hard to take the first steps towards achieving my goal of becoming Emperor. I have formed the foundations needed for me to begin striving for the throne in earnest. I have formed the platform that will elevate me to the crown."

His eyes grew steely. "On this day, I declare the founding of the Rui Faction!"

FLAP!

Behind him, a large banner unfolded, revealing a grand banner. It bore the new emblem of the Rui Faction, shining and glistening as a matter of the esoteric fabric used to construct it.

The entire conference hall unrolled the various banners, dying the entire conference hall in the colors of the Rui Faction.

A wave of murmurs spread through the reporters as they excitedly captured images and took notes.

"On this day, I, Prince Rui Quarrier Kandria, declare the commencement of my campaign for the throne."

His tone was strong and intense.

His eyes conveyed his determination to ascend the throne and become Emperor.

"On this day, I begin my unstoppable march to the crown."

The air tingled as his strong voice reverberated through the throne hall.

He closed his eyes. "And when I ascend the throne, the world will look back at this day and remember my declaration."

He opened his eyes, eying each of the reporters deeply. "When I ascend the throne, I shall raise this Empire to even greater heights than my father did."

His eyes narrowed. "When I ascend the throne, I shall restore the harmony that my brothers and sisters seek to disrupt."

His expression darkened. "The harmony that my father dedicated his life to creating and cultivating. The harmony that lies at the core of the Kandrian Empire. The harmony that allowed the Kandrian Empire to soar to greater heights while the flames of civil war burned down all those around it."

His tone grew stronger.

"Harmony is my doctrine." Rui narrowed his eyes. "I intend to remind this nation what our greatest strength is."

His tone grew more intense.

"Our greatest strength is neither our powerful Martial Art nor the mighty Martial Union."

The reporters stirred as Rui uttered some rather bold and controversial words. The Martial Union was his biggest supporter and fan; undoubtedly, how would they feel about that statement?

Regardless, the reporters were happy with the juicy content.

"Our greatest strength is not our government," Rui boldly declared. "Nor is it our valiant royal army, not our economy, nor our maritime sector, not even our people are our strongest strength despite their greatest importance."

He had arrived.

"…Our greatest strength is the harmony that exists, and has existed, between all of them," Rui remarked. "While the world was plunged into civil war, the Kandrian Empire took this opportunity to progress and skyrocket while other nations stalled and even regressed. That is why our Empire, young as it is, is able to stand equal to powerhouses with a history and accumulation spanning millennia prior to the Age of Martial Art."

His words could not be denied.

"If any of the sectors of our Empire ceased to exist, we would still not lose our status as a powerhouse despite being hurt," Rui boldly declared. "However, if the harmony of our Empire disappears and we fall into a destructive civil war, we will undoubtedly fall off our pedestal, burning as we regress to a state three centuries ago."

Rui narrowed his eyes. "That is why harmony is the doctrine of the Rui Faction. Our faction firmly believes that any force that tries to disrupt the harmony of our Empire is an enemy and a traitor."

The reporters murmured.

"I believe that there are many who believe in the doctrine of harmony. In the doctrine that my father imbued into the soul of the great Empire," Rui declared. "I believe, in my heart, that I am not the only one who feels the way I feel. I believe that there are many who are sick of the extreme proclivities of my siblings who seek to turn the Empire into a vessel of their own personal ambition without care for the delicate harmony that they threaten to destroy."