The Martial Unity

He had completed all his political endeavors in the Kandrian Empire.

He crushed the Kandrian Throne War, emerging thoroughly victorious as the de facto next ruler of Kandria.

He obtained the intelligence he was looking for from the Beggar Sage. He found and won over the Silas Clan, bringing them over to the Kandrian Empire and using his grandmother's prophetic power to foresee visions of the Divine Doctor that gave him crucial information about the man's location and circumstances.

Now, he needed to meet with the guildmaster of the Adventurer's Guild and get even more information. Once that was done, it would be time to switch with Master Reina and head to the Beast Domain.

Naturally, his plans to visit the Panamic Adventurer's Guild brought up concern in his faction.

After all, he was an extremely high-profile target.

There were many parties that had powerful reasons to kill him.

Naturally, it was not feasible to kill him inside the Kandrian Empire, where he was in his domain power, but they had no qualms about killing him outside it.

Rui was aware of this.

"Relax, I will commission the Sloth Sage to join my security detail," Rui assuaged their concerns.

No one knew why he chose the Sloth Sage instead of a defense-oriented Martial Sage, but it was fine nonetheless.

A Martial Sage was a Martial Sage.

They didn't know that the reason Rui chose him was because he would not be able to switch with Master Reina if another Martial Sage joined him.

He would have chosen to bring his grandmother along with him, but unfortunately, she was still busy helping her clan find its place in the Kandrian Empire and getting used to a new life; she could not leave her clan during this critical stage.

Rui informed members of his faction and orbit of the decision, stating it was a short diplomatic visit and he would be back soon.

That was a lie, of course.

While he didn't feel an ounce of guilt lying to his faction, he was unable to bring himself to lie to his mother.

And thus, he didn't.

for a while?" Lashara's

get to the point. "Probably more than a year, maybe a few.

leaned in, pulling

returned her

didn't reply, simply wordlessly hugging him, refusing to

worry, I'll be back." Rui tried to console

"…"

It's important

relented,

his eyes intensely.

"I promise."

go. You will not leave them heartbroken a

"…I understand."

news to the rest of the orphanage, coaxing them

But ultimately, they understood.

not surprised," Xanarn smiled. "This is your life path, after all. It is

life is yours, and you must

words were not light, but they showed that they

who could spend his days in the orphanage, unfortunately. He explained it away as being

that did not draw

after he departed the Quarrier Orphanage for what would be the final time for

POW POW POW

blocked a flurry of attacks from Kane, returning them before Kane

aren't you?" Kane narrowed

you think that?"

"I can tell."

BAM!

kick

surprised that you can,"

had a decent

take me as well!" Kane pleaded, throwing a flurry of blows

WHOOSH!

crashed into