Chapter 2125: Weighing Considerations

For a moment, Rui was shocked.

Then, his mind remembered all the ways that his father could have found out about his secret. Maybe he had ordered one of his Martial Masters to watch Rui's battle against Senior Frinjschia, or maybe Sage Sayfeel had spied on them the time he broke Kane through to the Senior Realm.

The details didn't matter.

What mattered was that his father now knew.

"Well, I suppose I ought to be grateful that you didn't bring it up until now," Rui grumbled lightly. "Still, you just couldn't help but include it in your plan, could you?"

Emperor Rael lightly shrugged with a hint of wry amusement. "I suppose I couldn't."

The two of them remained silent for a moment.

"If I were to refuse, I suppose you would attempt to persuade me."

"I would certainly try, but I'm afraid that it would be a failing initiative." Emperor Rael's powerful voice was calm. "You have grown too powerful. You still don't understand what it means to be a Martial Master in human civilization; perhaps you will learn more when you visit the Panamic Martial Federation. On top of that, you are especially unique and powerful in more ways than words can describe. I am unable to influence your decision as Emperor any more than what I am willing to do. I suppose the same is also true for the Martial Union."

Rui stirred lightly at his words.

They were true.

Nothing Rael had to offer him could compel him. His father was far too intelligent to even consider standard mundane bargaining chips such as wealth, resources, or land.

Rui would outright scorn him if he dared to offer him political power. In other words, there was no way, even with his authority as Emperor, that he could compel Rui.

After all, the Kandrian Empire was not an absolute monarchy. It was a constitutional monarchy where even the emperor had limits to the extent of his ability to command. He couldn't, with the authority vested in him as Emperor, order Rui to obey all his commands.

Of course, he could deploy the Royal Army to threaten and forcefully extract any service from anybody. But that would never happen for many reasons, of course.

"So what do you say?" Emperor Rael asked with a relaxed tone. "Care to aid me with your services?"

Rui stared at him silently for a moment, heaving a sigh. "Within reason, and as long as it doesn't meaningfully impede my main priority, and as long as I can avoid the dangers that come with that, sure."

Rui stared at him silently for a moment, heaving a sigh. "Within reason, and as long as it doesn't meaningfully impede my main priority, and as long as I can avoid the dangers that come with that, sure."

Rui refused to sacrifice his interests for the sake of Kandria.

As far as he was concerned, he had done enough and more for the nation. He had bestowed upon it multiple treasures essentially free of cost. Even his father had to concede that he didn't owe this nation anything. Of course, that didn't mean he didn't care at all. It just meant that he had firm priorities and boundaries established.

Emperor Rael smiled back. "Your willingness is deeply appreciated, of course. Naturally, this isn't something I intend to pressure you to do at the cost of your personal ambition. With the training manifold, any amount of time you graciously extend to the cause will naturally translate to extremely high results."

That was true.

Even if Rui spent less than an hour a day on this matter in the manifold, that would translate to many hours of effort per day. This was especially unproblematic to Rui because he intended to employ the manifold to speed through at least some amount of time—gaining experience as a Martial Master and experience with the new technique was his intention all along.

During that time, he could easily break a bunch of Seniors and Masters through in the manifold.

It was no wonder that the Emperor was unperturbed by his firm intentions.

"However, there are some things that you should know," Rui told him solemnly. "My power to break Squires and Seniors through is not unconditional. There are risks. If the drive isn't strong enough, it could shatter their Martial Path."

Emperor Rael's expression grew more severe. "That is a drawback I did not expect. It does alter my considerations a bit, but not too much. After all, that risk can be minimized, can it not?"

Rui nodded. "With my mind sense and SOUL System, I can gauge the intensity of their drive quite well. Thus, I should be able to evaluate whether or not one has the drive to be able to handle my breakthrough trigger."

Emperor Rael listened with deep interest. "And, as long as your intuitions are reliable, the risks ought to be minimal then."

"Perhaps," Rui remarked. "Also, it seems that you are only aware of half the truth when it comes to my ability to trigger breakthroughs."

Emperor Rael raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what is this other half?"

"My ability to trigger breakthroughs to the Apprentice Realm."

Emperor Rael grew surprised. "...I have never heard of such a thing."

"I only ever used it once." Rui's tone was calm. "I kept it a secret because I wasn't strong enough to bear the consequences back then, but I am now. Of course, within reason. If the whole world came to know, I'd be screwed."

Emperor Rael grew silent as he fell into deep consideration. A new and powerful variable had appeared. He needed to account for all of its consequences on the war between Kandria and the three Sage-level powerhouses of East Panama.

"...If what you're saying is true, then it means we've gained yet another treasure that will greatly benefit us in the long term while simultaneously bringing us more pressure in the short term," Emperor Rael keenly analyzed the matter. "This particular treasure will merely confirm to the other three Sage-level powerhouses that this war is do or die. With this, there will be no doubt in their minds that if they do not manage to overcome Kandria in this war, they will never be able to do it again."