That day, word of a strange sight spread around the town of Hajin that day. A Martial Artist of the Martial Union bearing the Royal Insignia had dragged a woman by her hair all the way from the outskirts of the town of Hajin to the central district. It was a sight that reinstated the fear in the civilians had in the Martial Artists of the Empire.
Considering the Martial Artist seemed to be from the Martial Union and the Kandrian government, it probably meant that that woman had fucked up big time. If that treatment of the woman was unjustified, it would not have been done so publicly. The fact that she was being treated so horribly out in the open meant that she was being used an example by the Kandrian government and the Martial Union, this was the conclusion people came to.
Of course, they couldn’t be more wrong. Rui honestly just didn’t care for the optics. He didn’t want to start sprinting with her already mangled body. There was a chance she might aactually die if he was too rough, as much as he would have loved to kill her, giving her to the Kandrian Bureau of Investigation would probably save more lives.
She had valuable intelligence to offer regarding the child-trafficking industry, without a doubt. Suppliers, traffickers, purchasers and consumers. The hidden identities of these people that had lurked around in the shadows could potentially be exposed and uprooted by the Bureau and the Martial Union based on her intelligence.
He had covered her face in a mask, and wrapped up most of her body in cloth, even her hair. He did this because he did not want anyone identifying her.
Of course, common citizens would have no clue who she was, but those in the know would realize that she’d been caught, and they might get exposed. He had been exceedingly meticulous and had ensured that there was almost no chance of that happening.
The only thing that could be inferred about her was that she was a female adult, given the size of her voluptuous breasts.
Soon enough Rui had reached the Bureau headquarters. It had taken him a while to get past the general bewilderment of the front reception staff and guards, but eventually he was greeted by several members of the team he was assigned.
“You son of a musket.” Barnard revealed a grudging smirk. “You actually did it, you madman.”
Several others chipped in as well.
“We knew you had it in you!”
“I knew he was capable the second I laid eyes on him.”
“As expected of a Martial Artist.”
“Why do I recall you saying the exact opposite when we first met?” Rui grumbled, but inwardly he couldn’t help but feel just a tiny bit validated.
“Great job.” Neira beamed at him. “You singlehandedly fulfilled one of the main objectives of the mission.” She said before sighing. “In comparison, I was rather useless.”
“It’s just a matter of compatibility.” Rui consoled. “It would be unreasonable to expect someone with your specialty to accomplish much more than what you did.”
He turned to Barnard. “How are the children?”
His face turned grim. “Physically? Just fine. We rejuvenated and healed them up in a jiffy. Those with infections and other conditions were promptly given immediate medical attention and will make a full recovery.” he said, pausing before continuing. “But mentally…”
He shook his head.
Rui nodded. It would be rather strange if the children’s mental health was perfect. He expected pretty much all of them would bear these wounds and scars for pretty much their entire lives. It would permanently alter and shape who they grow up to be. He couldn’t have expected the horrors the endured, and the even more horrifying effects it had on their psyche.
He could only hope they would heal, a slim, feeble hope.
He had succeeded in fulfilling the main objective. Taking down the bitch would undoubtedly save many, many more children out there, and her intelligence and information would also do the same.
But the damage had already been inflicted. He found it hard to be too happy about the mission, not after what he’d witnessed. But there was the silver lining that his goal of eliminating the risk the Quarrier Orphanage was under, had been completed.
“Good work, your job is almost done.” Effels, his supervisor stated. “Now you just have to complete some post-mission protocols here.” She said, handing over a stack of papers that he needed to sign. Rui sighed as he got to work.
(‘That took forever.’) He thought, once he finished.
He bade goodbye to them once he was done, returning to the Martial Union.
On the way back, he gathered his thoughts on the mission. He had chosen to get into an offense-oriented mission because he wanted to gain some experience with active hostile conflict with other Martial Apprentices, but this mission was anything but that.
He had experienced more head-on conflicts in his bodyguard missions and his sole hunting mission. Which was definitely not what he was expecting. So to some degree, he was a bit disappointed.
(‘Well atleast the mission ended in less than half a day.’) Rui shrugged. He had gotten a decent number of credits for it too.
(‘Now what…?’) He wondered. He was still quite energized after having taken a rejuvenation potion, he didn’t feel like taking a break or rest. He had already slept for nine hours the previous night.
(‘Another mission it is…’) Rui shrugged. He had little over seven months before the Kandrian Martial Festival arrived. The preliminaries were scheduled one month before the actual interschool contest. Which meant he really only had six months, he had already scheduled one month after his training for adjusting and refining his usage of the new technique he had learnt into his Martial Art.
That left five months.
He needed four months for training, generally.
That left one month.
One month of missions, four months of training, one month of refinement.
And the preliminaries would begin.
(‘The next one month is crucial, I have to make the best of it.’)