The Martial Unity

"That's rather quick," Rui furrowed his eyebrows.

"They gave us a map highlighting their migration route, allowing us to locate them based on the time of the year," Sage Sayfeel remarked. "Thus, I can take you to their location once I confer with it."

"Interesting," Rui murmured.

He hadn't known that meeting up with the Silas Clan would be that simple and easy. But if that were the case, then it certainly was a viable path forward. He didn't know how much the Silas Clan could help him find the Divine Doctor, but if his father thought that they were one of the few ways he could find him, then Rui was inclined to put some trust in this means.

He nodded at Sage Sayfeel. "I'd like to meet with them as soon as possible, certainly before I leave the Kandrian Empire and set out for the Adventurer's Guild."

"As you wish, Your Highness," Sage Sayfeel remarked. "I will require some time to have another Martial Sage protect His Majesty as well as conferring upon the Silas map before I can take you there. In the meantime, I would advise you to prepare yourself."

Rui nodded. "Will do. What are the things that I need to know before I meet them?"

Sage Sayfeel considered Rui's words for a few moments, gathering his thoughts. "From what I have gauged during my stay with the Silas Clan, along with His Majesty, they have inherited several characteristics from the Virodhabhasa Faith. They are firm believers in Martial supremacy and organize the clan as a Martialocracy. Matriarch Nephi was the strongest Martial Master of the clan at the time."

Rui considered the Martial Sage's words carefully.

"Interesting. If they appreciate Martial power, then it is possible for me to gain their approval in this avenue as well."

One of the things that he was also considering was the fact that he would also be going there under the protection of a Martial Sage. He wasn't sure how much that would hurt how they considered him.

"However, they aren't a pure Martialocracy either," Sage Sayfeel informed Rui. "As a clan that is entirely centered around the power of prophecy and the inheritance of Sage Silas, those with the most powerful Martial prophecy are given the highest regard, even if they aren't necessarily the strongest."

A smile emerged on Rui's face. "So the power to predict the future is of the most importance to them?"

"Correct, Your Highness."

"Heh," Rui smirked. "Then I think I just might have that covered."

Prophecy just happened to be something that he excelled at. He actually looked forward to trying to earn their approval by demonstrating the power of his pattern recognition system. He had recently gained immense confidence in his pattern recognition.

His recent battle with the Gatekeeper had proven beyond any reasonable doubt that the pattern recognition system was still the most powerful part of his Flowing Void Style. He had previously considered the Metabody System, the Yggdrasil System, and the Hypmnomatrix to be on par with the pattern recognition system.

However, the previous battle revealed that the pattern recognition system was still greater in terms of how much adaptive evolution it brought to the table. This was especially true after Rui had upgraded it with the Angel of Laplace.

It was the sole reason that the Gatekeeper hadn't crushed him the instant the battle began.

"How strong is their prophecy?" Rui asked, turning to Sage Sayfeel. "How does it compare to me?"

Sage Sayfeel considered the question, shaking his head. "I am unable to conceive that they are greater than you after witnessing your recent performance, however, I cannot say. I never witnessed their Martial Artists in combat. I can only assume that they are highly potent based on the legends and tales about them."

"Hm," Rui narrowed his eyes. "Then it remains to be seen, I suppose."

There was no point in considering the matter when they were entirely lacking in relevant data. Rui might personally find out when he met them.

His eyes narrowed as another important matter entered his mind.

"They are descendants of the Transcendent Prophet, right? Does that mean that they are adherents of the Virodhobhasa Faith?"

He needed to know this because this deeply affected how he interacted with them or whether it was even worth visiting them.

If they were anything like Master Uma, then he definitely didn't want anything to do with them.

These days, he didn't think about the Virodhabhasa Master, especially since he sealed her in an information blackout, however, the Master was once a deep source of distress to Rui.

It was his fault for underestimating how absolutely crazy the extremists could get. If he was going to experience something similar with the Silas Clan, then he would rather forget about them entirely.

"They are adherents of the Virodhabhasa Faith; however, they do not believe in the Virodhabhasa, they believe in the Transcendent Prophet," Sage Sayfeel explained. "They are part of a religious faction of the Faith known as prophetants who believe that the Transcendent Prophet is the true savior for bestowing humanity with his prophecy."

Rui furrowed his eyebrows. "I suppose that's a relief."

He wasn't aware of the nuances of the religious politics of the Virodhabhasa Faith. He didn't care to know; there were a million things that he would rather commit to memory.

However, his meeting with the Silas Clan was important. It was common sense to know everything that he could know about people that he needed to acquire something. He needed to study the nuances of their theological beliefs.

"I need to make a lot of preparations," Rui closed his eyes. "I will need at least twenty-four hours before we depart."

"Understood, Your Highness, then I will pick you up in exactly twenty-four hours. Please ensure that you're alone and are in a location with no other Martial Sage."

Rui nodded. "I'll lock myself up in highly isolated training and instruct no one to disturb me at any cost. The Kandrian Throne War in the Kandrian Empire has concluded; I'm not required in this nation for anything."

The two conversed for a bit longer as Rui thoroughly inquired about everything he needed to know.