Once Rui made it clear that he wasn't simply a motivational speaker trying for the Emperor, the reporters grew more serious, asking targeted and specific questions.
"What is the Kandrian Empire's foreign policy going to look like under your rule?"
"What is your stance on social issues? Do you intend to focus on Martial-perpetrated crimes on non-Martial citizens? What are your thoughts the non-Martial-lives-matter movement by the Kandrian Ruffians and His Highness Prince Raul."
"What are your solutions to fiscal deficit and the growing debt-to-GDP ratio of the Kandrian Empire in the past seven years?"
These were incredibly difficult matters and issues to tackle for even seasoned statesmen.
However, Rui had done his homework in the past three months at the cost of training Angel of Laplace, something he mourned and lamented every day of his life.
"The Kandrian Empire's foreign policy is going to maintain the stance that it has had for three centuries. We are not territorially aggressive and have not engaged in conquest for three hundred years, ever since the first Emperor's passing. However, I also recognize that the world is not a friendly place and does not possess the harmony that the Kandrian Empire does. It is a world of the survival-of-the-fittest where the weak are bullied and consumed by the strong. Rest assured, the Kandrian Empire will continue to remain among the strongest under my rule and will actively take aggressive measures against foreign hostile forces that seek to bully or consume us."
"You have brought up a deep social problem that is extraordinarily difficult to solve. Unfortunately, activism cannot fix injustice. Only power can. The Prevention of Martial Crimes Act launched by my father nine years ago to deal with this growing problem has failed because it was unable to secure the cooperation of the Martial Union as well as his untimely health problems. I, however, am not subject to the same restrictions for obvious reasons as an influential member, to say the least, of the Martial Union. With the power of Emperor and the Martial Union combined, I alone, out of all candidates, possess the power to resolve this horrible social issue that permeates all of human civilization."
"Deficit is indeed a problem that the Kandrian Empire is faced with. I intend to raise the interest rates of the Reserve Bank of Kandria while also erasing the deficit and adding repayment of treasury bonds as a national interest in the roster of fiscal interests. It will be possible to repay the entirety of the national debt over the span of thirty years and drastically reduce the amount of interest we pay each year, freeing up the fiscal budget that I will redirect towards the expenditure of gross fixed capital formation."
With each answer, the reporters were taken aback by the sheer clarity and brevity of his answers to each of their probing questions, as well as the display of the deep knowledge that he possessed, having sharpened it over the span of three months.
Not a single reporter was able to muster up a follow-up to any of their questions due to the sheer wholeness and sense of completion that each of his answers possessed. While there were plenty of dishonest reporters with an agenda to make him look bad, he didn't offer them a single avenue to make him look bad.
And they certainly tried.
"As a member of the Martial Union's Martial fiscal committee, are you not completely biased towards the Martial Union?" One reporter challenged. "How can the citizens of this nation trust you when you may as well be a puppet of the Martial Union?"
"Yes, because it makes sense that a puppet of the Martial Union has openly and vehemently criticized Martial supremacy, had refused to join the Martial Union as anything more than an honorary member its entire career, and even duped the Martial Union on several occasions in the past, and refuses to allocate any additional resources or money or legislation in favor of the Martial Union. On top of that, I have even stripped their actual puppet, who has promised all these things, of all his support," Rui sarcastically replied. "I would be one hell of a useless puppet if I were a puppet, wouldn't I?"
A wave of chuckles washed across the reporters as the reporter left the podium before he could face any more embarrassment.
"Any final questions?" Rui asked.
Most of the reporters had gotten around to asking all the pertinent and important questions.
Just as Rui was about to end the session, a single had risen up.
"Go ahead."
"Thank you for the opportunity, Your Highness…" The man remarked. "You are a Martial Artist, yes?"
"…Of course," Rui remarked with a raised eyebrow. "
"…And yet you seek to be Emperor."
"…Is that a question?"
"No," The man shook his head. "My question is, how do you do both at the same time?"
It was a more innocent question.
Yet, the reporters turned to face Rui with askance.
"Is it even possible to do both at the same time? And if it isn't…which one will you be dedicating more energy to?" Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.
Rui stared at the man. "…Should I ascend the throne, I will fulfill my duties as Emperor without anything interfering."
"…I see. Thank you for your answer."
Rui nodded.
He didn't lie.
His statement conditioned it on him ascending the throne, which he didn't intend to do. Of course, if he failed to find the Divine Doctor, he would certainly ascend the throne in accordance with the oath that he made to Sage Sayfeel.
"If that's all, then this conference comes to an end," Rui calmly declared. "I am grateful to all of you for your time and questions. Glory to Kandria."
He walked off the stage, heading into the backroom.
"Well done, sir," His secretary complimented him. "The faction has already received many offers and inquiries through our official channels. It has appeared that your powerful speech and solid answers have appealed to many."