The Martial Unity

The meeting with the Martial Union lasted long as Rui addressed the many problems that had emerged as a result of the war. The sheer amount of economic, political, and logistical problems that had emerged as a result of the third Great East Panamic War was a lot. After all, as a commercial Martial broker, the Martial Union was sensitive to market shocks that had happened as a result of supply and demand disruptions in the economy.

Nonetheless, Rui provided them with the best solutions then and there with his sheer political acumen. He was not nearly as much of a whizz as his father was, of course. But, given that his father was extremely busy as the Emperor of the Kandrian Empire, he didn’t have time to look after the Martial Union at this time.

On top of that, the Martial Union was too proud to ask him for help.

Thus, Rui had no qualms about offering fixes to the various problems brought up.

After a certain point, the others simply stopped commenting and simply waited for him to give them the answer.

After all, they were Martial Artists.

The only reason they had any understanding of the problem was because they had been thoroughly briefed on the problems and potential solutions at hand by the analytics department of the Martial Union.

“…And with that, we’ve arrived at the end of all agendas on the docket of this meeting. We shall reconvene for another unmoderated caucus at another time.” The Flashing Flier nodded at everyone.

“Alright. See you guys next time.” Rui was the first to get up and leave.

He had too many things he had to do.

The only reason he had gone first to his father and the Martial Union was that these meetings took precedence in significance to the war, which was the most important matter to all Kandrian Martial Artists of the Upper Realms.

The most immediate thing he did next was shoot towards the direction of the Quarrier Orphanage as fast as he could.

Of course, tempted as he was to travel at top speed, he didn’t want to use his Martial Heart or his Martial Mind in case he was ambushed when his stamina was depleted. Although he didn’t really think that any assassin would attempt such a crude attempt, it was still better to same than to be sorry.

As he sky-walked through the vast expanses of the Kandrian Empire, he felt a strange sense of nostalgia. It was as though he hadn’t traveled through the Kandrian Empire in recent times or something like that.

Which was strange because he hadn’t really gone anywhere after returning to the empire from the Beast Domain.

“Maybe I should spend truly spend time in the nation itself.” He pondered aloud.

Usually, when he wasn’t in the Quarrier Orphanage, he would be training at Daracol in North Kandria or, more recently, in the manifold. It had been a while since he traveled to his home nation itself.

“Maybe I should take the opportunity to do just that when I visit my friends.”

It had been a long time since he met with his friends, barring Kane and Nel. He definitely wished to check up on them. Although their vastly differing positions in life had pulled them apart, he still thought fondly of them.

“I also need to check up on my friends among the Martial Masters.”

He hadn’t gotten too much of a chance to get a stock of which Masters died because he had eagerly chased after Kane to see how he held up.

After he woke up, he had had two back-to-back meetings at once.

“But first, I need to check up on how my family is doing.”

WHOOSH!

He shot through the air at a remarkable speed until he eventually reached the Quarrier Village.

Thankfully, upon arrival, the mind sense of his Martial Mind told him that emotional energy was overall positive.

In other words, the war and the evacuation had not caused them too much anguish.

His arrival, however, had not gone unnoticed.

“…Look, it’s big brother Rui!”

“He’s come back!”

“Teach me how to walk in the sky too!”

The children of the little village grew excited at his return, swarming him. He had become a bit of a legend at the Quarrier Orphanage, inspiring many to follow in his steps to aspire to become a Martial Artist.

Most did not succeed, of course.

The Martial Union filtered out an overwhelming majority of aspirants simply with their rather difficult entrance exam. In hindsight, it was merely a filter to ensure that those without the mental, physical, and Martial aptitude. Too many people lacked one more of the three, which made investing in their potential to be a Martial Artist not worth it. The Martial Academies were too resource-intensive to justify giving access to them to anything other than the top one percent who were most likely to actually break through.

Of course, there were those among the Quarrier Orphanage who had indeed managed to break through and become Martial Artists. They were among the most eager to see Rui.

“Big brother Rui, teach me a technique!”

“If we all gang up on you, can we beat you?”

“What’s the secret of the breakthrough to the Squire Realm?!”

“Alright, alright,” he smiled wryly as he tried extricating himself from the crowd of children who’d surrounded him. “All in good time.”

Perhaps it didn’t hurt to indulge the kids in a sparring match every now and then.

“Big brother Rui, you’re returned.”

Max and Mana drew his attention.

The two of them had grown quite considerably as Martial Squires, having become high-grade Squires and reached a grade that was quite close to the peak of the Squire Realm. Perhaps anytime these days, he would be tasked with breaking them through to the Senior Realm.

Doing so would keep the Quarrier Orphanage a lot safer with the protection that they would be undoubtedly offering.

Regardless, he put the matter away as he returned home after what felt like a long time.

–