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.

Lashara's expression fell.

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

in, pulling him

returned her

simply wordlessly hugging him,

I'll be back." Rui tried

"…"

important

relented,

gazed into his eyes

"I promise."

her eyes. "Tell everyone before you go.

"…I understand."

breaking the news to the rest of the orphanage, coaxing

But ultimately, they understood.

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

I once told you, your life is yours, and you must bear the

words were not light, but they

spend his days in the orphanage, unfortunately. He explained it away as being busy with work inside and outside the nation

that

he departed the Quarrier Orphanage for what would be the final

POW POW POW

of attacks from Kane, returning

narrowed his eyes as he maneuvered around

you think that?" Rui

"I can tell."

BAM!

kick

I'm not surprised that

been friends for a long time. Kane had a decent grasp of what Rui's thought patterns

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

WHOOSH!

into