The Martial Unity

In a wide hall was a large number of individuals seated semi-circular, facing a podium at the center.

The atmosphere prickled.

The air was wrung taut with tension.

The many men and women seated were garbed in ostentatious business attire, yet none as much as the man standing at the speaker's podium.

"…And on to the main agenda of the day," Guildmaster Bradt announced. "Motion for the re-consideration of the Shionel Confederation's neutrality stance towards the candidates for ruler of the Kandrian Empire. Agenda proposed by…"

Guildmaster Bradt glanced up from his paperwork. "…Me. I hereby commence an open-forum unmoderated caucus on the motion."

The first thing that Guildmaster Bradt did when the revelation of Rui Quarrier's princehood and heirship had reached his ears was pass notice for the termination of some of the more ambitious agreements with Princess Ranea that involved her becoming Empress.

The moment he learned that Rui was of royal blood, he knew that Princess Ranea never had a chance of ascending the throne.

Even when he removed the fact that Rui Quarrier was a powerful Martial Senior, the gap in competence and ability to navigate circumstances by exploiting opportunities prudently alone would have been enough to make him deeply reconsider supporting Princess of the Seas. He would most likely still defect from her to a certain extent.

bridge. After all, he was still connected to the Kandrian Seafare Association, and that connection was

he completely removed Princess Ranea from his mind when it came to choosing somebody to support

just try to approach Rui as the chairman of Bradt Distribution Services. Unfortunately for

Prince Rui Quarrier Kandria's

Confederation as a whole. If he could approach Rui with the authorized support of the entirety of the Shionel Confederation, then he would

Guild to do that. Unlike the Emperor of Kandria, the position of Guildmaster did not lend him the authority to levy war or

and balances ensured that the guildmaster

he had also run out of all his veto authority and decision votes to essentially force his way through the voting session, having exhausted his limited supply for them this

he was going to have to compel the cabinet

not going

against it!" One cabinet merchant boldly

at Guildmaster Bradt. "I know what your game is. You wish to drag the Shionel Confederation into your secret alliance with Prince Rui Quarrier Kandria! I refuse

Bradt and Chairman Deacon. Ever since Deacon Industries took a massive hit after the fiasco of the massacre on the final floor of

young Chairman Decker, who had taken over the

the sensible leadership under the qualified Chairman Decker had managed to stop the sinking company and even cause a small hint of growth for the first time in ten years,

option by any metric of evaluation," Guildmaster Bradt

victory is not the only variable to be considered when evaluating the merits of forging alliances," Her eyes sharpened in retort. "Compatibility of interests

our lives in his hand. However, the promises of far greater benefits, ones that wealth cannot buy, can be obtained upon his victory in exchange for relatively humble capital investments. On