Chapter 2152: Compelling Sages

Rui wasn't sure what to expect from his visit to the Panamic Martial Federation. However, he did look forward to it nonetheless. Whatever it was, it was undoubtedly important if it demanded the visit of all martial masters.

However, he couldn't just up and leave immediately.

He knew that if he left and the mass breakthroughs stopped happening for a while, then it would be no different from announcing to the world that he had some connection to the mass breakthroughs.

Therefore, he made sure to break enough Apprentices through to keep up appearances even when he was gone.

He didn't need to worry about breaking enough Squires and Seniors through, though. After all, that was still a secret. Thus, no one would notice that halting even if he stopped.

He took his father's advice to get it done before the war began quite seriously. He knew that it wouldn't break out until the three other Sage-level powerhouses gave up on learning the mass breakthrough method and decided to focus on destroying the Kandrian Empire before it grew too strong to be stopped.

"No more than a year," Rui estimated. "The first year is usually one where the most amount of progress is made. If they fail to make any meaningful progress in the first year, then they will most likely conclude that it isn't worth spending what is shaping up to be decades and centuries of effort to crack the truth."

After all, all large and long-term intelligence objectives had diminishing returns as time went on.

Furthermore, this was just the consequence of one revolutionary power. The three powerhouses didn't even know about the other treasures of the Kandrian Empire, such as the Elder Tree Connection, the training manifold, and the Divine Doctor, yet.

Once they did, they would realize how imperative destroying the Kandrian Empire before it forever escaped their clutches was. Rui was sure that that would be the day when they not just waged war but did so with the full determination to not let the Kandrian Empire escape whatsoever.

Frankly, Rui still wasn't entirely sure as to how his father intended to deal with the combined might of three powerhouses. Regardless, he left it to his father. If there was anyone who could do it, it was his father, and Rael didn't need his son's help in this matter.

"I need your help in this matter." Emperor Rael gazed at Rui from atop his throne. Rui simply stared at him with a bland expression. "I thought I told you I'm not going to be partaking in this war in the role of a politician. I'm a Martial Artist. I won't forsake time meant for Martial Art for the sake of helping the Kandrian Empire. Not anymore."

"You won't need to." Emperor Rael shook his head. "I have a mission for you during your time in the headquarters of the Panamic Martial Federation. It is a rather simple one that is not particularly challenging either."

Rui peered at him suspiciously but did not object.

Emperor Rael smiled. "In the advisory council of the Panamic Martial Federation is a Martial Sage named Kole Kellin. She was once a proud and highly active Martial Sage warrior but she was forced to retire after she was diagnosed with the Shivering Disease that, I was told, caused her hands and body to constantly move and shiver due to some neurological issue. I want you to approach her and..."

Emperor Rael's smile grew wider. "...compel her to join the Kandrian Empire and fight to protect it in the upcoming war in exchange for healing her of her condition and returning her to her prime."

Rui's eyes widened with shock as he understood how his father intended to bolster Kandria to withstand enough pressure in the short term. While breaking Martial Apprentices through could not affect the short-term strategic outlook, healing a Martial Sage and returning them to their prime in exchange for their loyalty was something that immediately increased the Kandrian Empire's ability to cope.

"Is this your strategy?" Rui asked faintly, still immersed in thought. "To bolster the Kandrian Empire by gathering as many Martial Artists of the Upper Realms with the services of the Divine Doctor?"

If so, it was a highly effective political strategy that Rui couldn't deny the effectiveness of. If the price of obtaining an additional Martial Sage was merely dedicating some of the Divine Doctor's time to them, then it was a price that yielded an outcome that was far greater.

"But..." Rui furrowed his eyebrows. "...This strategy alone cannot deal with the massive gap in power between one powerhouse and three."

Emperor Rael shook his head. "This is just one small part of my grand plan. I have chalked up many potent strategies and tactics into a single design of victory and success in the long run. Rest assured, the Kandrian Empire will emerge victorious."

Rui grew more confident in whatever this grand plan was. It became extremely clear that Rael knew what he was doing when he threatened to provoke a war of unprecedented intensity in the history of East Panama.

"Alright," Rui replied. "I accept that mission. I will need an intelligence briefing on the target and more details regarding the exact specifications and the objectives."

"Of course, I do not intend to send you in blind," Emperor Rael informed Rui calmly. "Furthermore, to be specific, I desire her to join the Royal Army of the Kandrian Empire under my direct command. She was from a military background before she was crippled; she is highly accustomed to serving as an officer who executes commands. It gives me confidence that she will be able to fit more quickly into the Kandrian Royal Army than into the Sage Council of the Kandrian Empire."

Rui gazed at him carefully as he understood what his father was trying to do.

He was trying to balance out the addition of his grandmother to the Sage Council, causing the Martial Union to gain a slight edge over the Royal Army.

"Correct." Emperor Rael gazed at his son knowingly, reading his mind. "That coward Aggragor cannot even begin to compare to your grandmother as an asset."