The Martial Unity

In a large office filled with hurried employees and stacks of documents was a large table in the center. A large map covered the table, a table assorted with all kinds of notes, pins, and pictures. Heaps of documents were stacked around it.

On one end of the table was the only seated man who studied the map while those around him stood each taking their turn to make reports.

He quietly listened as he studied the map in front of him with great care and attention, processing all the information. His eyes fixed on a picture pinned to a point on the map.

The picture was of a young man.

A young man with startling black hair and black eyes.

Just the sight of that picture caused his lips to curl and his eyes to sharpen. His jaws gritted while his teeth clenched.

"...According to a report from squad CF54 of the long-range surveillance division, we have yet to observe any signs of the target. Thus far we can only conclude that the target is not present in the town of Haj-"

"Enough," Deacon declared, interrupting the report. "Enough of this nonsense."

"But sir..."

"I SAID ENOUGH." Deacon bellowed loudly, shaking everyone in the room. "DO YOU THINK I'M A FOOL? IT'S BEEN MORE THAN FIVE YEARS."

He stopped, panting as he tried catching his breath and calming his racing heart down. His constitution had grown a lot worse in the past five years. His hair had begun whitening while his hairline had receded. He had lost weight, causing him to look gaunt and haggard.

His skin complexion had deteriorated, causing it to look sickly. There were eyebags underneath his eyes, causing him to look quite exhausted.

his actual presence even once since we began

We have only spotted figures matching the details of Rui Quarrier to a high degree of accuracy. We also have many

the past five years, how many

"...Four times, but..."

to be compromised due to the suspect being

"Yes..."

that despite creating an intelligence division just for him and spending years to establish a powerful intelligence network and surveillance ring in the Kandrian Empire, not once has Rui Quarrier actually been spotted in the flesh by even a SINGLE one of our people, despite FREQUENTLY BEING SPOTTED

secondhand intelligence sources are

ENTIRE division of intelligence agents and analysts being outplayed by a single Martial Squire. THINK. Why is that everybody EXCEPT

intelligence agents and analysts flinched, too

only ones searching for him actively,

"...Yes, sir."

ones spending millions of Shionel gold every year looking

"Yes, sir."

MOTHER SPOTTING HIM AND NOT US?" he bellowed, banging the table

you suggesting, sir?" One brave analyst mustered the courage

it." He growled, as his mouth curled. "And everybody is in on it. The Martial Union. The Kandrian

knew what to say to

map looking around. "Yet the secondhand intelligence is glowing with all kinds of wonderful reports of 'credible' people claiming to have spotted Rui Quarrier.

intelligence that had been collected recently since the intelligence network had been gathered since his intelligence network had been fully established

instance of credible firsthand confirmation and verification