CHAPTER 2374: ONCE MORE

A week passed after the funeral of the Hugging Hegemon.

The Shionel Confederation and the Kandrian Empire swiftly signed an allyship pact that signified the official inception of their alliance with each other. Neither side wanted to delay the process, thus they had very quickly come to agree on the terms and conditions of their partnership.

The Shionel Confederation was most keenly interested in aid and support for reconstruction and restoration from the damages done to the nation by the attack of the East Panamic Treaty Alliance. In addition to that, they were also anxious about future attacks from the alliance that threatened to go even further.

After all, the Shionel Confederation had officially become an ally to the Kandrian Empire, which made it fall on the list of nations that the enemy alliance needed to attack regularly to deter as many undecided nations from allying with the Kandrian Empire.

In return, the Shionel Confederation vowed to fight to protect the Kandrian mainland with all its power in its time of need. Additionally, it also terminated all trade with the East Panamic Treaty Alliance and all its allies.

The latter would cause many nations to be more inclined to ally with the Kandrian Empire than before, as too many of them relied on the Shionel Confederation for some of their most essential goods and services.

These two reasons were why the Kandrian Empire had sought to ally with the Shionel Confederation in the first place, and now it had gotten what it wanted. In turn, the Kandrian Empire fully commenced the construction of a sovereign seaside territory for the Bradt Distribution Services, allowing the man to build the maritime and seafaring trade base of his dreams while employing the full extent of the Kandrian Empire's resources and services to complete its creation.

The man was no doubt extraordinarily busy, considering everything that had happened.

However, he still made time to speak with Rui.

"And so, I have returned to the Shionel Confederation and will personally remain to protect the nation as part of the defensive guard," Rui calmly informed him.

The guildmaster regarded Rui's words with an ambivalent reaction. "If not for your impressive Martial power, I would say that you attract more aggression than you're worth." Rui didn't like it, but it was true.

If not for the absurd Martial power that he brought to the table as far as Master level combat went, he would have been a liability to the Shionel Confederation.

"After all, the Britannian Empire would love nothing more than to see you dead," the guildmaster added with a knowing expression. "Aside from your father, I suppose. Still, if you fall, then much of the Kandrian Empire's value proposition also falls. After all, without you, the Kandrian Empire cannot break Martial Artists through. In fact, I'm surprised that His Majesty tolerates you partaking in battle at all. If you were to die in battle, the Kandrian Empire would be devastated."

Rui shrugged. "I don't really care. My father would rather I stay in the Kandrian Empire, but he knows that he can't possibly convince me not to. I don't mind helping, but I'm not compromising my ambitions and way of life for the Kandrian Empire. I have already done more than enough for my home nation, trust me."

It was an understatement.

The treasures that he had brought home were the reason that this war was happening.

"Still, it would behoove you to be careful." The guildmaster chose his words carefully. "All it takes is for one Master to land a single hit on you at the right moment, and you will lose your life just like that."

"I appreciate your concern," Rui calmly replied. "However, you're preaching to the choir. Every Martial Artist is very well aware of this. We have to be. None of us step into this field without being cognizant of the fact that despite all that power, because of all that power, Martial Artists have the highest mortality rate. We die in battle, we die outside of battle, we die in dangerous environments, and so on and so forth. It is part and parcel of being a Martial Artist. Not a single one of us is unaware of the risks associated with our paths."Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.

Guildmaster Bradt was unable to understand such a mindset.

What was the point of having power if it increased the probability of you dying?

Still, he wasn't interested in having a philosophical discussion with Rui on this matter as long as he was aware of the particularly high risks that he would have to face.

"The agreement that I signed with your father specifies a regular stream of breakthroughs as long as we heavily enforce economic sanctions on every power that dares to ally with the East Panamic Treaty Alliance. I'm sure you are aware of that."

Rui was not fond of what his father had promised the guildmaster, but he understood why and agreed with the rationale.

They needed to show absolute sincerity in their dealings with the Shionel Confederation after the catastrophe that it had suffered, or else they would spook undecided potential allies.

"I'm willing," Rui remarked. "Knowing you, you probably already found a way to monetize it and increase your earnings."

The guildmaster flashed a faint yet calculating smile. "I'm planning to draw more Martial Artists to the Shionel Confederation using it as bait. We need to empower ourselves now that the absence of a Sage will undoubtedly lead to a rise in the number of skirmishes and attacks on our business than ever before."

Rui stirred at his words. "It is similar to what the Kandrian Empire is doing at the moment. We have received a flood of Martial Artists in the Lower Realms. Unfortunately, not too many Masters have immigrated, and not a single Sage has joined the Kandrian Empire of their own volition without being invited to our nation. At their Realm, they are not easily moved by too many offers."

"I am aware," Guildmaster Bradt snorted as his tone grew melancholic and bittersweet. "Lauren was a greedy, money-grubbing bastard who squeezed us hard for our money. He would always say that even then, he would never die for this country. And to think he ended up doing just that..."

For once, he was unable to maintain his poker face.

Rui gazed at the hint of sorrow in the man's eyes. "...I'm sorry for your los-"

BZZT BZZT BZZT!

The guildmaster's comm artifact began ringing wildly.

His expression grew grave upon the message.

"We are under attack."

His tone wasn't one of surprise; it was bitter.

This was their new reality.

Attacks after attacks.

It was depressing, but he had prepared himself for it from the very moment that he had

decided to ally with the Kandrian Empire.

Yet, the news evoked an enthusiastic smile from Rui.

BADUMP!

His Martial Heart and Mind blazed into power.

"I can't wait to test my limits once more."