Chapter 2033: A Candid Conversation

Watching the orphanage gobble up his tales of the Beast Domain with ecstatic excitement was cathartic to Rui.

It was because he could directly feel their joy.

A part of his Martial Mind was always active.

His Martial Mind was particularly extraordinarily powerful, allowing him to perceive the depth of happiness that his words brought about.

It was a warm feeling.

It wasn't just the children, he could sense that his presence brought immense happiness to the many members of the Quarrier Orphanage.

These were people who had grown up under Lashara alongside him.

While he wasn't entirely comfortable with the ability to peer into people's minds passively outside of a conscious decision to do so in combat, at least he had the security that his presence in the Quarrier Orphanage was a positive one.

He patiently entertained everybody, making an effort to engage with everybody one after another throughout dinner and past.

"Where's Xanarn?" Rui realized she was missing.

"Ah..." Alice smiled awkwardly. "She said that she would be returning to Ajanta Island to meet her friends from long ago. She told me to wish you the best of luck and said she would visit from time to time."

"...I see."

The reason she had come here was to protect the Quarrier Orphanage in addition to the protection that he commissioned for them. Then, the threat was eliminated, and Rui gained immense political power, able to commission Martial Masters to protect the orphanage and a Martial Sage eventually.

He understood why she left.

Her Martial Drive had always been centered around using her power to protect something.

She was purposeless and unable to do that here.

On top of that, Rui had rejected her and her offer to pursue a family with her. While she had built bonds with the Quarrier Orphanage, she too needed something to strive for.

"...Shame," Rui murmured.

"Tsk tsk, you let a good fish slip, big brother."

POW!

"Ow!" Max glared at Mana.

A wry smile cracked at the edge of Rui's mouth, disappearing as fast as it came.

It wasn't long before dinner finished, and the adults and children dispersed. They each had their own lives and workload and couldn't spend their time entertaining Rui.

Instead, he found himself sitting opposite to Julian.

"You have gotten yourself into quite the mess this time." Julian stared at him intently.

His words were heavy.

Rui's eyebrow rose. "You know...?"

"I know the 'you' that has been in the Kandrian Empire this entire time, unbeknownst to the rest of the orphanage, was not really you," Julian remarked. "Confirmed by your stories in the Beast Domain. It is good you never allowed that fake doppelganger to come to the orphanage. I would never forgive you if you sent him in your place to mother's funeral."

Julian's words were firm.

"I would never stoop that low." Rui shook his head. "The doppelganger was never meant to deceive the orphanage; it was meant to deceive everybody else."

Julian nodded knowingly, having already deduced that Rui had never intended to deceive the orphanage. After all, if he had intended to deceive the orphanage, he would have never told them that he was leaving and tried to have the doppelganger take his place.

Yet, he told them the truth and ensured that Master Reina never met the orphanage.

"In fact, you were never supposed to know that the fake me was in the Kandrian Empire since I had intended her to remain away from the public eye."

"I have my sources," Julian remarked. "I am the head of a research division, so I was able to find out that you were in the Kandrian Empire and attending an address from Prince Rui Quarrier Silas Kandria to the Ministry of Research and Development."

"Wait, what?" Rui's eyes widened. "She did what?"

"The fake Rui gave a speech about how he was going to increase the budget of the ministry by sixteen percent."

Rui stared at Julian, stunned, speechless, as chills crawled up his spine.

Now, he was worried about exactly what Master Reina had been up to this entire time.

"Just listening to him talk, I could deduce that he wasn't you." Julian smiled wryly. "His mannerisms were indistinguishable from yours, but the content of his speech was not of the caliber I would have expected from you. From that, I could deduce that, for some reason, your goal was to fool everyone into believing that you had never left the Kandrian Empire. However, the fact that you came here abruptly and are freely talking about your escapades in the Beast Domain allows me to infer that your deception has already failed."

Rui gazed at Julian appreciatively.

This was why he enjoyed talking to his adoptive older brother.

It was a treat to talk to someone who was highly intelligent and also not utterly insane like the Divine Doctor was.

"You've hit the mark." Rui shook his head. "I am in some trouble, unfortunately. The only reason that the Martial Union hasn't stormed to me yet is most likely as a bare minimum courtesy to not invade my home, especially during a time of mourning for me. They have that much respect for me regardless of what misgivings they have of me."

"If your problems are solely limited to the Martial Union, then..." Julian's eyes narrowed in thought. "...it's still salvageable."

Yet, the severity of his tone could not be missed.

"You have angered an organization that is effectively a Sage-

level quasi-powerhouse in and of itself."

The seriousness of the situation could not be understated.

Rui's expression darkened. "It won't be easy but...I think I have the capital needed to quell them. I would be quaking in my boots if not for the extremely good relationship that I have built with the union."

Julian stared at Rui with intense scrutiny. "If you believe so...

then I have faith in your judgment, but do not think the union will simply forget your deceit and welcome you with open arms."

The air grew heavier.

"You will have to answer to the Martial Union, Rui."