A year had passed since Emperor Rael's return.
East Panama finally got over the event despite its magnitude.
Or, at least, the people did.
The ruling class of East Panama watched with bated breaths and wary eyes as Emperor Rael's activity did not appear to cease or reduce whatsoever. A conference here, a eting there, imnse activity in the foreign affairs departnt. Nation after nation, he held long private talks with not only nations and states in the imdiate domain of influence of the Kandrian Empire, but also with all sixteen Sage-level nations.
It was a scary amount of activity.
At the sa ti, they could not help but grudgingly marvel at how imnsely effective he was as a statesman.
Within six months, the Kandrian Empire was firmly within his grip once more. He applied skilled use of the carrot and the stick, creating the most optimal incentive structures and penalty systems to firmly regain absolute control over the entire nation.
The mariti and seafare industry of the Kandrian Empire—which had suffered many losses and shocks when Rui eliminated the seafaring princess Ranea during the Kandrian Throne War— was now slowly returning to its pri within half a year as Emperor Rael graciously recuperated the sector with tax cuts and interest rate cuts.
It beca beholden to him in return as he appointed his own n to the board of directors of every mariti enterprise in the entire nation.
He employed a similar tactic in every sector of the nation, capitalizing on the failure of the seven pri candidates to regain his lost control in exchange for returning them to a state of normalcy.
Of course, money did not co out of thin air. He needed a non-capital-intensive power.
"Do you understand, my son?"
Emperor Rael gazed down from atop his throne at his son.
Prince Raul t his gaze with a wry smile. "You are good at making people feel good when you need them, father."
He had grown visibly older in the past four years. He had gracefully accepted his defeat at Rui's hands in the Throne War and had instead shifted his efforts to aiding Kandria during trying tis.
With the voluntary service of the Kandrian Ruffians, he was able to help many people get through the worst of the Kandrian Throne War.
"Your heart is as noble and pure as it has always been," Emperor Rael gently remarked. "Even as l gaze into your eyes, I am unable to detect even a hint of darkness. To think that you would be able to resist being corrupted by the entire world for this long. It has allowed you to inspire many who follow you in your path."
"…but?" Prince Raul smiled at his father knowingly.
"But you do not apply your power optimally." Emperor Rael's voice grew firr. "That is why you could not defeat Rui during the Kandrian Throne War."
Prince Raul shook his head.
"People are not power, father. At the very least, I don't think of them that way."
Emperor Rael heaved a sigh, shaking his head.
Everything was power.
There was a reason that the Emperor of Harmony had been one of the most effective leaders in all of human civilization.
It was because he saw power everywhere and in everyone.
He saw power in places that others couldn't have dreamt of.
He saw the greatest amount of power in harmony, which is why he had co to adopt it as his working doctrine. It resulted in one of the greatest success stories of any human nation.
While his son was certainly a far better human being than Rael had ever been, he was deeply unfit to be a leader, which was why Emperor Rael found it to be a sha that he had such command over so much soft power over people.
He decided to change gears.
"A war awaits Kandria on the horizon, my son."
Prince Raul's expression grew serious at those words.
"I tell you this because you are the only one in the Royal Family that I can trust, aside from Rui," Emperor Rael continued. "I need you to use the Kandrian Ruffians to aid my economic stimulus and national security agendas."
Prince Raul gazed at his father with careful eyes. His father did not utter such things lightly.
"What kind of war?" He frowned. "With who? And why?"
Emperor Rael simply shook his head, leaving the People's Prince sighing.
"If a war is coming, then I'll need to make preparations for supporting our people during warti," Prince Raul muttered. "I hope you can tell when."
"You'll know when the ti cos," Emperor Rael reassured him. "I need to make use of all the free labor you command for the ti being to ensure that I'm able to secure the best outco."
Prince Raul's expression grew a bit guarded. "…If I do not approve of your directives, then I will simply ignore them at any point. I refuse to make my people suffer if I think that your objectives are not for their benefit."
Emperor Rael knew that his son would not compromise on this condition no matter what. "I accept that condition, my son." He smiled. "Rest assured that you will only be working for the betternt of the Kandrian people. With the power that you command, I am certain that the Kandrian Empire will overco all the tribulations that seek to crush it."
Having secured the cooperation of the People's Prince, he had taken one more step toward his ultimate ambition and objective of elevating Kandria above all others. He had fleshed out much of his grand plan and had made concrete preparations to execute it. However, he couldn't execute the plan until Rui was done with his training.
Unbeknownst to Rui, Rael had made him one of the central elents of his grand plan to elevate Kandria to the heavens.
Just thinking about it put a smile on his face, the world had no idea what it was in for.
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