The Martial Unity

The decision-making process this time was remarkably quick. He accepted the first mission that he came across pretty much unhesitatingly, and quickly headed over to the Derimont Bazaar to not only register with the operation but also to meet up with the coup force that sought to dethrone King Albus.

It wasn't too long before he arrived back at the inconspicuously conspicuous book market, heading in where he received a private meeting with his point of contact with the Beggar's Sect and explained his choices.

Sian nodded. "We are glad to see that you have commenced your commission payment immediately. The Ferendul Coup mission is certainly a good place to start. We shall connect you with the coup force that resides in the Beggar's Sect."

He was given a small map that marked a spot in the Martial Art section of the Derimont.

Apparently, the Ferendul coup force had been recuperating in the Derimont BAzaar while completing Martial Art missions for various clientele to gather capital to build up their forces.

It was said that they essentially had everything they needed except a Martial Senior, which meant they most likely had built up a number of Martial Apprentice and Martial Squire forces that could earn a lump sum of money. 

"Anything I should know before I meet them?" Rui asked.

"Their biggest concern is whether you will be able to defeat King Albus." Sian pointed out. "As long as you can convince them of that, you will be fine."

"I presume that the Beggar's Sect is going to help with that," Rui remarked. "You are aware that I am stronger than younger Martial Seniors. The power one possessed as a Martial Squire very directly carries over to the Senior Realm, and impacts your starting point in the Senior Realm. The fact that King Albus needed to break through to the Senior Realm to defeat a pregnant Martial Senior who could not activate the Martial Heart means that he is decisively weaker than me when it comes to his Martial Art."

Rui had defeated Martial Seniors without their Martial Hearts. A pregnant Martial Seniors was simply not an opponent that could take him on even as a Martial Squire. Unless the gap in their Martial Hearts was so large that it could bridge the gap in them as Martial Artists, Rui was rather confident that he was up for the task.

"We are aware that you are abnormally stronger for your age and for someone with your youth in the Senior Realm," Sian remarked. "We have passed this information on to the Ferendul coup forces. However, it is quite likely that they will seek confirmation of this by themselves. This matter is far too important to them, after all."

Rui could definitely understand that. Their battle would decide the outcome of the entire civil war, even if the coup won the Squire, Apprentice, and human-level battles, it would all be for nothing if Rui lost the Senior-level battle.

It wasn't long before his brief meeting with Sian ended and he immediately headed to the Martial Art market of the Derimont Bazaar. It was most certainly one of the most populated markets in the Derimont Bazaar, naturally. Martial Art services were extremely popular in almost all places in the world, and the Derimont Bazaar served as a natural broker between consumers and the Martial Artist suppliers themselves.

He attracted a lot of attention as he walked through the market. The normal humans sensed that he was an incredibly powerful Martial Artist, while the Martial Apprentices and Martial Squires recognized that he was a Martial Senior.

They all steered clear out of his path. Not a single person wanted to mess with a Martial Senior, such was the deterrence that Martial Artists who were just one step away from the Upper Realm possessed.

KNOCK KNOCK

Rui knocked on a large warehouse. This was supposed to be the disguised hidden location of the Ferendul coup force in the Derimont Bazaar. A few seconds later, a man cracked open the door with a wary glance, flicking his head up a little in a gesture to question what Rui wanted.

Rui didn't even bother responding, he simply provided the man with an envelope that Sian had supplied him as a way to confirm his identity.

The door closed as the man accepted it, heading inside, only to return in a minute.

"We've been waiting for you." He remarked. "Come in."

Inside were innumerable Martial Artists, most of whom were in the Apprentice Realm. Yet he even saw a few dozen Martial Squires, most of whom were low-grade.

The man led him deep into the warehouse until he stumbled upon a small compartment with anti-sensory measures blockading it. Inside was a man he recognized from the information provided in the mission briefing.

The former king of the Ferendul Kingdom. A man who became the king having married the queen after she succeeded the throne. He had been the first to rally the Martial Artists that refused to accept King Albus' reign as legitimate.

"Welcome to our humble abode, Senior John. I am Farun Ferendul" The man greeted Rui with grace. "It shames me that I am unable to arrange for greater hospitality for the Martial Senior that has chosen to aid us in our plight. I hope you found our commission payment satisfactory."

"I have a separate arrangement with the sect," Rui remarked. "But rest assured, I am satisfied with it. I have no compunctions about aiding you with your operation."

"I am glad to hear that." The man replied, nodding. "In that case, I hope you don't mind if we evaluate whether your prowess meets the satisfactory range, then. Although the sect has given us many reassurances, it behooves us to evaluate your nonetheless as a measure of caution."

"Do what you must." Rui simply said. "I don't have any compunctions with that, and am more than willing to cooperate."

"Good. Then I hope you don't mind demonstrating your skill against our Martial Squires, without the use of the power of the Senior Realm, that is."