The Martial Unity

Just as Rui was about to leave, the man who had guided him here interjected.

"Excuse me..." He sheepishly said, drawing attention. "I do not mean to be rude, but the Martial Apprentices of our group have informed me of some troubling observations surrounding you..."

Rui sighed, having expected this. "I don't feel like a Martial Squire?"

"Yes." The man replied. "It's not that we're distrusting the Kandrian martial Union's credibility by any means, but it would be of great relief if you could provide us with some form of demonstration of your power or status as a Martial Squire."

Rui sighed, yet before he could even respond, the old man interjected.

"That won't be necessary." A grin cracked at the edge of his mouth. "This man is the real deal."

An amused smile cracked underneath Rui's mask. "Are you sure about that?"

"Do I look uncertain?"

"But sir.." The man tried to appeal to him

"Forget about it." The old man snorted before turning to Rui. "Please, forgive the indiscretion."

out towards a tent that had been prepared just for him, he was deep in thought about his conversation with the old man. Everything about him made him feel wary about the mission. He realized he needed to pay careful attention to this mission.

camp that was well-hidden in the densest region of the canopy of the forest. This roughly matched

occupying the fort was not small either. According to the Martial Union, Fort Zurtun was occupied and controlled by a five-thousand-strong military battalion

little smaller than the rebel force, they had other advantages that more than made up for the gap in numbers with superior Martial Artists and soldiers, superior militaristic technological assets and weapons, as well as terrain advantage as the rebel group would be fighting against the Britannian battalion uphill while the latter was

in a head-on symmetrical war was practically suicide, it was a wonder they hadn't all been

must be thanks to the old man.') Rui hazarded a guess. He couldn't be sure since the mission bill didn't cover that information but based on what he had gathered about Fushin Hunfer, the former general of Fort Zurtun and the leader of the Zurtun rebels, it was clear that the

a large number of horse-pulled carriages. Many of them were stocking up the final bits of food supplies that would be necessary for their climb to the fort. It did seem as though

tray made her way

addressed him from the

"Come in."

young woman carrying a tray with a bottle of water and some light edibles walked in. "Some water and food for

as she placed the tray on a table in the tent.

before

balls on a disposable plate that was supposed to be his food.

expected. The rebels were not leading a particularly luxurious life such that they could provide guests with lavish meals at any given point in time. Rui suspected that for the most part, food pills were consumed for

much sense, they were cheap, portable, and had a long shelf life. They weren't appetizing, but they were nutritious and gave the human body everything it needed. They were perfect