The Martial Unity

2543  Catching Up

The Quarrier Village had managed to weather the Beast Incursion's effects on civilization and people much better than he had expected. Not only did they manage to maintain a positive outlook, they had also managed to sustain themselves despite many of them losing their jobs in the Town of Hajin due to the economic collapse.

"Nowadays, we just rely on you and Julian," Farion grumbled. "Tsk, we have truly become a useless lot." "Don't say that," Rui chided him. "This is happening everywhere. Frankly, the Kandrian Empire has it better than the citizens of other nations."

Rui had taken the time to speak with the various people at the orphanage, especially those he had grown up with. "Hmph, I suppose that is thanks to Martial Artists like yourself. Our Kandrian Empire is blessed in that regard." Farion heaved a tired sigh. "I was hoping that we would get some peace after the war, but instead… we got hit with an apocalypse. May the Almighty save us all."

This was a sentiment that pretty much every single person shared. It was only people like Rui who could regard both the war and the Beast Incursion as opportunities. He wisely kept his feelings on the matter a secret.

"Rui." Rui's eyes lit up as he ran into a familiar face that he hadn't seen in a long time. "Julian!"

Out of all the people in the village, Julian was most definitely his favorite. He had the most to talk with Julian compared to everybody else. They had plenty of interesting topics that they discussed, especially since it had been quite some time since Rui last spoke to him. The two of them walked together as they conversed with each other.

"I have been put in-charge of several research and development projects in the Ministry of Research and Development," he informed Rui. "Since the dawn of the ominous Era of Darkness, there has been a greater demand in developing essential goods and services right here in the Kandrian Empire. And I am in charge of teams that are focused on healing potions of the Martial Body."

"That's a pretty important project," Rui mused appreciatively. "If we are able to develop those in the Kandrian Empire, we will be less dependent on the immature seafaring distribution network that is still going up in place. We will also avoid being prone to potential delays that cause shortages."

Julian nodded. "Fortunately, things have been going well, I expect it won't be too long before we are able to put together a proof of concept. Thus, I'm quite optimistic that the work that I'm doing will benefit the Kandrian Empire."

"It most certainly will,"  Rui replied. "I can't tell you just how important healing potions are for all Martial Artists. I would be dead without them, no doubt. Your contributions are priceless."

Julian smiled good-naturedly. "Speaking of which, I recently consumed a life-prolonging potion with the internal merits that I have accrued within the Ministry. And thus, I shall live an additional lifetime."

"Congratulations, I look forward to spending more time chatting with you in the coming decades."

"Haha, I do indeed look forward to that."

"Probably won't happen anytime soon, I'm afraid." Rui shook his head. "I will be leaving the Kandrian Empire soon."

His words took Julian aback. "…In this apocalypse?"

"I have the power to survive," Rui calmly replied. "And it's precisely because of this apocalypse that I have decided to leave the Kandrian Empire. I need greater sustenance for my Martial Path which I can't get in a place as safe as the Kandrian Empire. On top of that, I can contribute more to the Beast Incursion if I spend more time at places that need me."

The Human Summit was still highly confidential, thus Juliann didn't even know what Rui had done for human civilization in its resistance against the Beast Incursion. And that was fine as far as Rui was concerned.

"I see…" Julian heaved a sigh with a wry smile. "It is not unlike you. That's for sure. How long will you take?"

"I have no idea," Rui shook his head. "Probably will not be coming home in the short-term. I fear…"

His expression darkened. "This might be the last time I see some of the people in the orphanage."

It was not a pleasant thought, certainly.

Unfortunately, it was a realistic possibility.

Many of the earliest generation of the Quarrier Orphanage that had raised him were already coming close to the end of their natural lifespan. They were adults when he was an infant, after all. And now he was hitting fifty, even if many of the years in his age had gone by in the manifold.

He didn't know if he would be able to meet all of them when he next returned to the Kandrian Empire.

"Well, if that's the case, you should say a proper goodbye to all of them this time," Julian reminded him. "Otherwise, you will regret it for the rest of your life." n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"…I know."

Rui heaved a sigh. One of his most dreaded moments drew closer and closer with each passing year.

Outliving his loved ones was something he knew would eventually happen when he first chose to become a Martial Artist. He had adjusted his expectations, but it was not pleasant now that the moment was finally arriving.

He shook his head. "Putting that sordid matter aside, I do want to get your thoughts on one of the most recent technological inventions that the Kandrian Empire has decided to aggressively adopt."

As someone in research and development, Julian knew exactly what Rui was talking about. "MECHAs."

Rui nodded. "I don't think that it's an exaggeration to say that MECHAs are one of the most revolutionary inventions. And in this apocalypse, the world will aggressively adopt these powerful Martial weapons and it will give birth to a class of Martial Artists that will be stronger than all other classes Martial Artists."

Rui's words were strong, but they were not wrong.

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