Master Vericita raised an eyebrow softly, giving Rui a knowing look. "I am not unaware of the suggestions and ideas regarding your Martial Art that were born from Master Ceeran's revelations regarding it. I do not know how true they are. The Breathing Sect cannot simply throw its support behind something that isn't substantiated with merit."

"Is a Martial Master's word not enough?" Rui raised an eyebrow. "Master Ceeran informed me that there was additional verification conducted on his claims." This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.

"It's a matter of standards. The Martial Union can afford to invest capital and even take minor gambles fiscally. But Martial Sects are different. We have a reputation to maintain when it comes to supporting a motion. We need a higher standard of certainty. We also need to be sure that it is what you say it is."

"I intend to present it to a variety of Martial Masters before the committee meeting happens," Rui replied. "If it satisfies you, then I presume I have your support?"

"Most certainly young man," Master Vericita smiled. "I, and my fellow Martial Masters of the Breathing Sect, will naturally be voting in favor of the motion to instate you as a member of the fiscal committee."

"Then I suppose we have ourselves an agreement," Rui remarked with satisfaction. "I didn't expect to lobby support in our meeting, but I'm glad that I was able to."

"It was long coming, young man," She remarked. "As I mentioned, I have known about you for a long time, ever since you defeated one of my descendants, heir to the Nepomniachtchi Family, as an Apprentice many years ago."

Rui furrowed his eyebrow in confusion for a moment until it clicked. His eyes widened "Ian Nepomniachtchi?"

This was the Martial Apprentice that he had faced in the semi-finals of the Kandrian Martial Contest held between the sixteen Martial Academies. He was a dynamic all-rounder with breathing techniques that were quite powerful and allowed him to manipulate his physical configuration like the Metabody System.

Rui had managed to defeat him with great effort, overcoming him in their battle. Since then, he knew that the Martial Artist bore a grudge against Rui.

Rui hadn't thought about the man in so many years that the memory was buried deep in the dark depths. If not for Master Vericita bringing him up, Rui may have forgotten about the man altogether. He glanced back at the Martial Master with a wary expression. He could only hope that this wouldn't affect their agreement to cooperate.

"Rest assured that such a trivial matter is far from enough to sour our relationship," She calmly reassured him. "Martial Artists lose. This is an unchangeable fact. My descendant lost because he was weaker. You won because you're stronger. Only a fool would blame you for winning. Ian had behaved in a manner that is not befitting that of a scion of the prestigious family born from my blood, indicating that he was lacking."

Rui heaved a soft sigh. "I am relieved by your graciousness, Your Mastery."

"I am hardly being gracious as much as fair and truthful," She heaved a soft sigh. "My descendant was born with prodigious talent, breaking through to the Apprentice Realm several years younger than even what would normally be considered gifted; at the age of twelve as a child. His progress has been remarkable, all things considered."

She turned to Rui with appreciative eyes. "It is a shame that our family was not blessed with a Martial Artist like yourself. In fact, would you be willing to be adopted by the Nepomniachtchi Family?"

Rui coughed uncomfortably. "Let us dispense with the jokes."

She smiled with a hint of mischief. "It is a shame, but I shall do so. In addition to our prior agreement, I would like to add that I am willing to consider investing heavily in the Martial Art techniques of your Martial Art that you will be spreading. If they truly impress me, then I am willing to spend hundreds of millions of Martial Credits."

Rui's eyes widened at those words. "That is an excessive amount, Master."

"I would have agreed with that statement even a few years ago," She remarked with a smug smile. "But rest assured that that is a very manageable amount these days as a supporter of the Rafia Faction."

Rui raised an eyebrow at those words. It was an interesting remark, and certainly not one that she brought up for no reason.

"I was not aware that the Nepomniachtchi Family was a part of the Rafia Faction," Rui replied with an intrigued tone. "Seems unusual for a Martial family."

"What the Breathing Sect needs more than anything is the capital to fund extensive rallying and lobbying," Master Vericita remarked. "People assume that Martial Artists don't care or need money, especially those of the higher Realms, but the world runs on money and capital. An innumerable problems simply melt before its power. Martial Art is more absolute, of course, but there's no harm in possessing both instead of just one, especially when you are faced with the daunting ambition of wanting to alter the foundations of the Martial World, such a thing cannot be accomplished by Martial power alone."

Rui listened with intrigue. "I see, so the Breathing Sect has aligned with the Rafia Faction to boost the campaign to bring breathing techniques more recognition."

"That correct," Master Vericita remarked, sipping her tea. "We have deemed it to be a necessary measure to achieve our ambition.

Rui wasn't sure about how he felt about that. "Doesn't Her Highness wish to criminalize worker unions to make it easier for a company or organization to access labor? Technically that would include the Martial Union, right? Do you really support that outcome?"

"Not at all," She sipped some tea. "However, I believe that it is inconsequential. That is why I don't care about her extreme ambition to create a world that favors of commerce and trade. The Martial Union will never accept abolition and no force in this world, short of a Martial Transcendent, can abolish it against our will."