The next day, Rui abstained from training, instead preparing himself for another audience with a member of the Royal Family. He had grown used to them by now, so he wasn't perturbed to any extent.
There wasn't really much to think about; he simply sky-walked over to the Royal Palace of the Mantian Region.
By the time he arrived, there were maids already ready at the front gate, bowing to him as he appeared.
"Welcome, Senior Quarrier, please allow us to guide you to His Highness."
Funnily enough, the journey of walking through the absurdly elaborate palace was more tiring to Rui than traveling across the Mantian Region. Just beholding the sheer extravagance and the lavishness that the Royal Family splurged on was something that he didn't care to be bothered with.
Eventually, they arrived at a large, exorbitant chamber in the Royal Palace; the doors opened immediately, revealing the seated visage of the Martial Prince along with three Martial Masters standing behind him and an array of maids and butlers across the entire chamber.
"Your Highness," Rui bowed.
"I have already informed you to abstain from observing such protocols, Senior Quarrier," The Martial Prince chided him with a gracious tone. "Have a seat. We have much to discuss."
Rui followed suit, taking a seat opposite to the Martial Prince, who simply stared at him.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of this meeting, Your Highness?" Rui asked.
"Do not play dumb with me, Rui Quarrier," The Martial Prince rebuked him. "You know why you are here."
Rui smiled. "Perhaps. Then again, it has been three months since our last meeting. I was beginning to wonder if you had forgotten me, having ignored me for so long."
An obvious lie that the Martial Masters did not even bother rebuking him for.
"I did not forget you," Prince Raijun narrowed his eyes. "However, the sheer magnitude of the proposal that you made to me was such that even three months is rather swift a timeline. The decision I make on it will affect the course of history of our great empire."
His words were heavy, yet he didn't stop.
"I have consulted my entire faction extensively over the past three months. There are powerful and influential people who have invested in me and have a stake in my campaign. Only then was I able to take a decision."
Rui simply stared at him silently. He had nothing to say until he had heard what he had come to hear. (C) content.
"Senior Rui Quarrier," Prince Raijun's tone grew officious and ceremonious. "I accept your proposal."
A soft sigh escaped Rui's mouth. For better or worse, this was the outcome of the decision he had made back then.
It appeared that the prospect of becoming a Martial Squire was too alluring to the Martial Prince. He couldn't possibly let go of this opportunity, especially since it had become clear to him that he had no other way of going about it. If he refused Rui, then he may never become a Martial Squire in his entire life.
Ceasing all counteractive measures against Princess Ranea and Prince Raul was definitely quite difficult, but it was something that he was willing to tolerate. As long as he leveraged his new status as a Martial Squire to rope in people who were previously skeptical of drive as a Martial Artist, he was confident that he could more than compensate for the self-
harm that he would be bringing upon himself by leaving Prince Raul and Princess Ranea alone.
All of the princes and princesses were constantly trying to counter each other; this was especially true among the seven prime candidates for the throne. Any candidate that gained a free pass from any of the other candidates was bound to be less hindered and thus make more growth.
He just needed to ensure that he grew faster.
"Now then," Prince Raijun waved his hand as a butler placed two sheets of paper featuring the terms and conditions of their agreement on the table. "Let us officiate our agreement once you have revised the terms."
Rui skimmed through a single, albeit large, sheet of paper that documented the terms of the proposal that Rui had made to him three months prior.
Half of the sheet was simply an array of definitions that defined every single important term mentioned in terms of their agreement, while the remaining half of the document specified the actual terms and conditions.
In return for immense wealth and the complete abstinence from any and all counteractive measures against Ranea Faction and the Raul Faction, Rui would train Prince Raijun to ensure that he achieves Squire candidacy.
The section that specified his abstinence from sabotage was quite large since every form needed to be specified.
[Persuant to clause three, notwithstanding the completion of Part B's tutoring services as described under clause two, Party A hereby undertakes that the Raijun Faction, and all its constituents, directly or indirectly, through funds from private, external, or funds accrued from any organization in partnership, patronship, association, membership or transactions with Raijun Kandria will hereby:
5.1.2) Abstain from engaging in dissemination of harmful information through media including but not limited to publications, distributions, projections, remote communication or any other form of organized form of information communication.
5.1.3) Abstain from engaging in any form of agreement that, directly or indirectly, infringes upon supply channels and transactions of goods and services, involving any and all organizations associated with individuals Ranea Kandria and Raul Kandria.
5.1.4) Concede a right of priority to any and all conflicts of interest between Party A and parties associated with Raul Kandria and Ranea Kandria in any business venture of any kind.
5.1.5) Concede the right to invoke the identities of Raul Kandria and Ranea Kandria in any and all public discourse.
5.1.6) Abstain from contact with any and all individuals in any form of registeredrelationship of any form with parties associated with Raul Kandria and Ranea Kandria.
5.1.7) Abstain from...]
What Rui was particularly interested however, was a clause that specified that Rui had the right to cease any and all supply of his services at any time he deemed necessary and retained the right to void the contract at any time, including the non-disclosure agreement that he would be under if signed the contract.