The Martial Unity

"Well, that was quick," Rui murmured out loud as he sipped some tea.

It hadn't been that long since he submitted his report, just a few hours. He had barely gotten any time to relax, in reality.

"Do they really process through reports this quick?" Rui scratched his head.

He didn't think this was the norm. Unless the Martial Union had a ridiculously loaded administration and staff, it shouldn't take lesser than a day, at least, for all of the procedures and due process to be completed.

"Assuming that's true, then would that mean my reports underwent a different stream of processing?" Rui wondered aloud.

It wasn't impossible.

For the Martial Union to have finished processing his report quickly made him suspect that perhaps his profile was flagged for priority, though he couldn't be sure about that.

('Not that it matters.') Rui sighed.

Time passed until the time for his meeting had arrived. Rui quickly sky-walked to the Hajin branch of the Martial Union.

"Excuse me," Rui addressed a staff member on the Martial support counter.

"How can I help you?" She offered a courteous smile.

"I actually have a meeting scheduled with the Martial Union," Rui replied, showing her the message.

"May I see your Martial license, please?" She requested as she accessed her terminal.

Once Rui obliged, she began fiddling with her terminal, before finally looking up at Rui.

"You have an appointment with Senior Ceeran Deriol," She informed him. "He's a Martial deputy director of the long-range development department of the Martial Union. The appointment is scheduled in his office."

"Which is where exactly?" Rui asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Here." She gave him a sheet of paper with the address of the large branch of the Martial Union and a map with the route indicated on it.

"Thank you.," Rui walked away as he studied the sheer of paper.

('Martial deputy director of the long-range development department, eh?') Rui scratched his head.

Unfortunately, his lack of familiarity with the hierarchy of positions within the research and development department of the Martial Union impeded his understanding of exactly how high up the totem pole a Martial deputy director was.

However, the fact that he was a 'Martial' deputy director gave him some clues. If the logic behind its presence in the title of the occupation was the same as that of the military ranks, then it would mean that Senior Ceeran had the power and authority that came with being a Martial deputy director, but none of the nominal management, administrative and research-oriented responsibilities that came with a deputy director of a rather significant research department.

This made sense as Martial Artists were not usually trained and equipped to handle administrative duties. Furthermore, it was a waste of their time and energy. A Martial Artist's greatest asset and avenue for contribution was in their Martial prowess.

The best thing that a Martial Artist could generally do for themself and the people they were an asset to, was become stronger. This was the rationale behind the emergence of a separate equivalent hierarchy of positions without the duties and responsibilities that came with said positions despite retaining the authority that the position nominally held.

Thus, Rui was sure that most Martial Artists that were retained by the Martial Union did not really engage in ordinary work that other employees of their equivalent position would be expected to.

Just as he finished that train of thought, he arrived at the office. Outside were two guards Martial Apprentice guards that blocked his path, despite them being a Realm below him. Though Rui d

"I have an appointment with Senior Ceeran," Rui simply explained.

"Please provide us with the authorized invitation," They simply replied.

Only once Rui showed them the digital invitation did they open the door to his office.

"Ah, you're here." A tall dark-skinned man greeted him with a courteous smile, reaching out for a handshake. "Squire Rui Quarrier, It's a pleasure to meet one of the most promising young Martial Squires of the Empire. You're more than just a little well-known in the Union and even in the Martial community, you know."

"So I've come to realize," Rui smiled wryly. The fact that a Martial Senior, who was also a Martial colonel, had chosen to commission him to train his daughter had given Rui an inkling that he was probably more well-known than he might have previously suspected. Colonel Geringan should have had the capital and the connections to commission even experienced Martial Seniors to train his daughter.

However, he had ruled all of his plentiful options to instead commission Rui, a rather new Martial Squire with no accomplishments in the Squire Realm at the time.

This was far from ordinary.

"Come," The man gestured to the lavish couches adorning his ostentatious office. "Let us have a seat."

Rui inspected the room as he took a seat. Immediately, he made several observations, concluding that his previous understanding of Senior Ceeran's role as a Martial deputy director was not inaccurate.

It wasn't hard for Rui to deduce that this office was sparingly used. It was well-maintained, but it lacked the signs that would indicate regular prolonged usage and occupation of it.

His table was devoid of anything suggesting regular usage or that he spent much time at it. There wasn't even a digital terminal, so what kind of work would someone as high up as Senior Ceeran even accomplish at such an empty table?

Furthermore, he could feel that Senior Ceeran was out of place and unaccustomed to the office despite it being his.

"So, Squire Quarrier. We have much to talk about." He began. "Almost don't know where to begin."

"The invitation mentioned my most recent mission," Rui helpfully replied.

"I suppose that is set this into motion," The man replied with an amused smile. "Your report was more than just a little surprising. When I was alerted to some excerpts of your account, I was naturally more than just a little surprised."

"I can imagine," Rui smiled wryly.