The Martial Unity

He hadn't even spent more than ten minutes in Ferendul, but he had managed to gain a good understanding of the nation with keen observation and his sharp intellect.

He glanced at the ravaged infrastructure. 'This isn't due to poor civil engineering. The structures are extremely simple, it is harder to mess them up than to get them wrong in the first place. Furthermore...'

He glanced at the ground. 'This nation is blessed with a solid bedrock that flatly extends indefinitely across the entire nation and even region. It is highly conducive to infrastructure and civil engineering.'

There was only one conclusion to be drawn. 'The cause of the infrastructure was ruined by man. I suppose it could be an earthquake, however, the port of entry was unharmed and pristine in comparison. So that doesn't make sense.'

That combined with the state of the people of the nation and it was painfully evident that the reason for the state of this nation was definitely a combination of political and economic.

He wagered it was the former. The state of the nation indicated a lack of governmental aid of any kind whatsoever. He had already judged that the buildings were not recently ruined or damaged, and yet he was unable to spot even the slightest bit of disaster relief governmental initiative whatsoever.

That indicated a corrupt or incompetent government.

VROOOOM!

Rui hid as he detected the first motorized carriage in the nation.

A military carriage carrying a bunch of soldiers bearing elementary muskets traversed the roads vigilantly. Their uniforms were pristine in comparison to the tattered clothes of the citizens of Ferendul.

'A military dictatorship...?' He did think he was on the money. There was no shortage of that on Earth throughout its history. Militaries could overwhelm any resistance through force and could not be stopped as long as they were unified under a single leader.

His senses caught another presence approaching their general area.

A Martial Apprentice.

Also in military attire.

Martial military

authority in the minds of the citizens when they were suffering so much due to deprivations of basic fundamental needs told Rui everything

where Martial Artists were integrated into the military. The Martial Senior of the Ferendul nation probably rallied the military and tried to take over the

a guess. Several details could easily be different, but

about leaving an impression that he didn't care about the common folk if he used

on getting to the Derimon

weaved through the many alleyways as he avoided attention. He did not

needed

have any money? Tax fraud is a serious

certain voice, extending

"Mama!"

money anywhere in town." He heard a woman's

do you plan to pay the taxes? You have to pay the taxes you know?" The man

"T-That..."

can't fess up the money up-front, then... you'll have to pay with your body." The Martial Apprentice grinned as he started taking off his belt. "Taxes need to be paid,

woman was preparing herself for the

The next moment.

THUD

him loomed an even bigger masked

dumbfounded. He didn't have the horrifying sense of peril that Martial Artists generated in her. Yet when she looked into her eyes, instincts told her that he was profoundly more powerful