It was a shame that even though it was an open secret that he was backed by the Underworld, the Underworld had mastered the art of evading Kandrian law enforcement, making it extremely difficult to charge him with crimes due to a lack of substantial evidence.

"You are unworthy." The Emperor declared. "Unworthy to bear either the power or the burden of the crown. You are unworthy to be my heir and inherit my power."

Prince Rajak glared at the Emperor, not saying a word.

The Emperor's eyes drifted through his many progeny. "Most of you do not war for the throne, and of those of you who have the ambition to become Emperor, only seven of you have displayed the competence to forge their path to the throne needed to earn my support."

Many of the princes and princesses winced and grimaced at the Emperor's words.

After all, he called all but seven of the incompetent.

And, unfortunately, it could not be denied.

Their campaigning efforts were, frankly, embarrassing. Most of them struggled to reel over even a single power to their so-called faction.

"Of the remaining six of you…hm, let's see," The Emperor's eyes shifted to the closest one.

Princess Rafia stared at him emotionally as he gazed into his daughter's eyes.

"Rafia…my poor girl," He remarked.

"I am not poor," She retorted. Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

"Certainly not in wealth, no. But you may as well be bankrupt when it comes to emotional intelligence," The Emperor remarked. "So long as we live in a world where people are more irrational than rational, more emotional than intelligent…the capacity to comprehend, harness, and manipulate emotion is more important than the ability to process data."

She didn't reply to that.

She didn't know how to.

Yet a glint of frustration flashed in her eyes.

"I had hoped that in the many years since our last exchange…

you would have grown to experience and understand emotion, yet…" He shook his head. "When I gaze into your eyes, it is clear to me that my hopes have not been fulfilled. Seek the human heart before you seek the throne."

His eyes shifted away from her, moving on to Prince Randal. "Ah…my warmongering son."

"…Father," Prince Randal regarded him with a respectful tone.

"You see, war to the others is a negative externality that ought to be limited," The Emperor suddenly remarked as he eyed Prince Randal. "There is a shared understanding that it is destructive and ought to be avoided. But you…"

The Emperor's eyes sharpened. "You have made war your entire objective."

"…"

"You have delusions of grandeur of being a conqueror and conquering all of East Panama," The Emperor remarked. "You are unable to critically analyze the probability of success, blinded by your desire for conquest."

He shook his head. "If you were truly capable of conquering all of East Panama with brilliant strategic and tactical application of power, you would have won the Kandrian Throne War by now, ready to crown yourself Emperor the moment I passed away, yet even if I were to pass away today, you would certainly not be the one to ascend the throne."

"…" Prince Randal exerted great control on his desire to lash out at the Emperor's judgment.

He needed the Emperor's power to break free from the clutches of Rui Quarrier.

"Father, Your Majesty…you yourself demonstrated that we have the power to overcome the resistance of all of East Panama during the First East Panamic War," Prince Randal respectfully countered the Emperor's words.

Prince Randal appealed to history, pulling a page of the Emperor's book.

The First East Panamic War was triggered by Emperor Rael's discovery of the first marine mine of esoteric gold a short distance off the coast of the Kandrian Empire in the Great Nam Ocean. It was estimated to have more than ten thousand tons of Marina Gold, a highly beautiful golden esoteric with a known non-addictive psychological soothing effect on the brain through esoteric visual stimulus.

It was a substance that was highly in demand across the entirety of the Panamic Continent. Emperor Rael's brilliant decision to make it the basis of the Kandrian Empire's currency was the reason that the Kandrian Empire became an economic powerhouse surpassing even that of the then-

young Shionel Confederation.

The demand for Kandrian currency shot up after the currency became Kandrian Marina gold coins; it consequently skyrocketed the value of the entirety of the Kandrian economy internationally, which was measured in Kandrian Marina gold. The more valuable the currency, the more valuable everything that was measured with that currency became.

That was the first that the Kandrian Empire truly stood equal to the other three powerhouses.

The balance of power shifted drastically, diminishing the significance of the other three powerhouses.

It became the trigger for an East Panamic War as the Sekigahara Confederate, the Republic of Gorteau, and the Britannian Empire could not only not tolerate the rise of a new powerhouse but also sought to get their hands on a piece of the Marina Gold pie.

Yet, they could not. A combination of using topographical defenses, strategic and tactical allocation of resources, and brilliant geopolitical campaigns, Emperor Rael created powerful deterrence until the three powerhouses eventually gave up five years later, signing a peace treaty with the Kandrian Empire.

"You proved that the Kandrian Empire is superior!" Prince Randal declared. "You showed the world that not even the three powerhouses could overwhelm Kandria!"

"Fool."

Emperor Rael's words cut through his jubilation.

"The more you speak, the more I am convinced that you possess neither the rationality to see the errors of your thronely ambition nor the competence to execute your self-

destructive ambition without bringing ruin to this nation."

Prince Randal froze as the Emperor passed his judgment.

His disapproval was palpable.

"Father, I-

"Silence."

The Emperor's command was decisive.

His glare weighed down on the Military Prince, pinning him in place.

"I will not entertain your nonsense any longer."

Prince Randal's expression grew ugly, yet he didn't dare speak after the Emperor commanded him to shut up.