The Martial Unity

The air grew prickly.

Her expression grew ugly. "I-"

"Children."

His declaration was firm.

He narrowed his eyes, glaring at Chairwoman Veros. "Is this how a cabinet merchant ought to conduct themselves? Complaining like spoiled children every time someone else does it better than them?"

He closed his eyes, shaking his head. "As much as I disliked the late Chairman Deacon, I at least respected him more than I respect any of you. He most certainly would not have sat here complaining. He was a man of action; he would have fiercely gone all out and persevered till he overcame his problems."

He opened his eyes. "I commence the voting process on this agenda. All in favor of motion D48?"

Out of the hundred cabinet merchants, forty of them raised their hands.

Guildmaster Bradt's eyes narrowed. "All against?"

Sixty hands, including Chairwoman Veros', went up.

Guildmaster Bradt closed his eyes, shaking his head softly. "…This cabinet votes against Agenda D48. With no more agendas on the docket, this Cabinet Assembly comes to an end. Meeting dismissed."

Guildmaster Bradt shortly left the Cabinet Assembly Hall, followed by two Martial Masters as he headed to his own office in the guild headquarters.

His eyes narrowed as he found Chairman Decker and his two Martial Senior bodyguards waiting inside.

"Tough luck on that proposal." Chairman Decker remarked as Guildmaster Bradt entered his office.

CLACK

He closed the door behind him. "I don't recall an appointment with you."

Chairman Decker smirked mischievously. "Yes, but you can either kick me out or take a moment to hear out my proposal to you regarding Prince Rui."

Guildmaster Bradt narrowed his eyes, taking his his seat at the table, steepling his fingers as he leaned forward. "What do you want?"

FLAP

Chairman Decker nonchalantly tossed a file on the table.

"…Bradt-Decker Political Venture Capital Guild?" Guildmaster Bradt remarked, furrowing his eyebrows as he read through the document. "An organization comprised of cabinet merchants in favor of investing in Prince Rui Quarrier Kandria in his bid for the throne?"

"If we can't get more than forty hands up in favor of a motion to consider supporting candidates for the throne of Kandria, then we just need to make do with forty people," Decker shrugged. "By founding a guild that gathers us forty together, we can collectively invest in Rui Quarrier Kandria."

"…Hm," Guildmaster Bradt considered the proposal deeply. "Although the bargaining power wouldn't be on par with the Shionel Confederation had the motion passed, It is still better than if we individually negotiated with the prince ourselves."

"Indeed," Decker nodded. "As a united political venture investment guild, we will be able to demand more concrete and greater promises that benefit the forty of us together."

Guildmaster Bradt read through Decker's rough draft of the administrative and managerial details. "This is rather elaborate for a preliminary proposal."

He turned to Decker, narrowing his eyes. "You seem quite eager to support Prince Rui."

Decker shrugged with a smug smile. "What can I say? We're best friends, after all."

Guildmaster Bradt's expression grew skeptical. "He killed your father. You have met him only once."

"It's because he killed my father," Chairman Decker's smile grew darker. "Saved me the trouble of doing so."

"…Hmph," Guildmaster Bradt glanced down at the proposal.

He had to admit, the heir of his greatest rival had indeed come up with a rather resourceful proposal that made the best of what they had. The cabinet merchants were comprised of the top hundred merchants of the Shionel Confederation for any given fiscal year.

Forty of them represented an enormous amount of wealth.

Together, they could muster up an enormous amount of bargaining capital.

On top of that, as the name of the organization suggested, the ones who benefitted the most were himself and Chairman Decker. Normally, this would not be tolerated, but they could get away with it with their combined authority and influence in the Shionel Confederation.

On top of that, Guildmaster Bradt had not forgotten that Rui owed him a solid favor. He had made this investment a decade ago, choosing to believe in the shining potential that he saw in Rui, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions of his life.

Prince Rui Quarrier Kandria went on to become the youngest Martial Senior in history and had reportedly already become a high-grade Martial Senior. He had made enormous contributions to the Martial Union, earning him the position of Senior Ambassador and a seat on the Martial Fiscal Committee of the Martial Union.

While that was alluring in and of itself, he had wanted to wait until Rui at least became a Master.

Now, however, he had changed his mind. With Rui being revealed as a royal prince and clearly the most powerful candidate for the throne, there was no doubt that this was the best moment to try and cash in that favor for some absolutely game-changing benefits for himself exclusively.

Just the thought of it made him inordinately excited

When was the last time he had felt this excited?

'Ah…' An old memory resurfaced in his mind. 'It was when the Voider proposed a partnership that allowed both of us to dominate our respect battles.'

It was rather profound that ten years later, he would feel the same sense of excitement from the exact same person.

"Rui Quarrier Kandria…" The man murmured.

"Hm?" Decker tilted his head.

"Nothing," Guildmaster Bradt shook his head, his attention returning to the proposal by Decker.

He had already made up his mind

"I approve."

"Nice," Decker grinned. "Let's start setting up then."

Guildmaster Bradt nodded. "I'll leave the administrative and managerial establishment to you; I'll lobby the forty cabinet merchants to join the proposed guild."

"Makes sense," Decker nodded. "Let's keep each other posted with standard progress reports. I suppose we have a deal then."

The two men got up, shaking hands before Decker left the room eagerly, ready to immediately begin working on setting up the guild.

Guildmaster Bradt also got to work, determined to make the most out of a lifetime opportunity.