The Martial Unity

The next day, Rui got out of bed earlier than he normally did, quickly preparing himself. It wasn't too long before he wore his Martial Art attire before quickly heading out after bidding his family members goodbye.

Today was his first day training the Martial Prince.

He immediately set off for the town of Vargard at high speeds, sailing through the Kandrian Empire.

Prince Raijun's staff had offered to take care of transport both ways, but Rui firmly denied it.

He knew what the Martial Prince was trying to do. He was trying to increase the association between himself and Rui, to increase the difficulty of Rui joining other parties.

That was why Rui firmly insisted that the contract between them occur through the Martial Union as a broker, making it seem much more business-oriented than a personal commitment.

Furthermore, Rui refused to allow the Prince to take charge of the security detail for his family, insisting that he transfer the amount needed to sustain the security detail. He also refused any personnel change in the security detail.

There were multiple reasons for this.

The first reason was to ensure that Prince Raijun did not gain any meaningful leverage over Rui.

Rui was far too sharp to not realize the ramifications of handing over his family's safety to a Royal prince who wanted something out of Rui. That was why he simply had him pay the amount needed for the security to Rui, and Rui would then personally purchase an extension for the commission of the security detail protecting his family.

even get rid of the Martial Union as the broker between himself and the security detail

measures to ward off the little trap that Prince Ruijan had set up. All of the remaining six princes and princesses would undoubtedly realize the significance of Rui's refusals of the deal that Prince Ruijan provided and instead take the matters of the protection of his family

he not in the same camp as the Ruijan Faction, but also that he did

attempt at implicitly roping him in to instead

mischievously at Rui when the two of them met for the second time after Rui arrived at his manor. "It seems

did make my stance clear back then," Rui replied calmly. "Naturally, I would not allow myself to get funneled into a path that I am unwilling to

flashed a knowing smile at Rui. "I heard you

already know that I rejected joining Her Highness'

not deserve deference from someone like yourself. I told you did I not? I want to create a nation where Martial Artists don't have to bow their heads to people undeserving of such a gesture. That includes mere Martial Apprentices like myself as well as controlling women like her. If not for the fact that only those of royal blood can ascend the throne, for now, I would not have

see," Rui simply

well, Rui could sense that he did possess the aristocratic and royal bearing that one would expect from

was remarkably line and informal, there were subtle hints in his body language

certain height. His eyes did not match the

was an interesting contradiction. Subconsciously, he retained the bearing that was undoubtedly programmed into him by his upbringing. Consciously, he was genuine about his Martial

highly doubted that he could fool all the Martial

high ability to peer into people and gauge the