“Apprentice Quarrier, here is the item you requested.” A staff member said to him, while handing an object.
It was a mask.
Rui studied the mask thoroughly.
“And this will reliably ensure my identity won’t be leaked through normal means?” He asked.
“Yes. The mask is a proprietary product of the Martial Union developed specifically for the purpose of reliable identity protection for sensitive and risky mission.” She explained.
“I see.” Rui nodded with relief as he put on the mask. “Thank you.”
He walked out of the dispatch facility, as he began jogging towards the location. Fortunately, the town of Harrifel was close enough to travel to on foot.
Today was his first mission representing Freier Ester Inc in a fight. Rui had signed a contract for a single fight for a test, if all went well, Rui wouldn’t mind signing up for additional fights.
Strictly speaking, he hadn’t signed up for a single fight, more of a single day. The fights were semi-formal. There were some fights scheduled and sine were spontaneously scheduled on the spot. It was ultimately for entertainment and sport.
Soon, he arrived.
“Apprentice Quarrier.” A butler bowed to greet him. “Please follow me this way. Madame will join you shortly.”
Rui nodded as he worldlessly followed the butler inside.
“What is this?” Rui paused as a the butlet led him to what looked like a conjoined luxurious bathing and changing room with several maids waiting inside.
“The madam has tasked me with providing bathing and grooming services and aid as well as appropriate clothing.” The butler explained.
“And the maids…?” Rui tilted his head.
“They will aid you with bathing and clothing your body.” The butler explained plainly, as if there was nothing unusual with the arrangement.
“I can bathe and clothe myself, thank you very much.”
“But-“
“I insist.” Rui pointedly said as his powerful mind exerted some weight on the butler.
“Understood sir.” The butler gulped.
“Also, what is this about ‘appropriate clothes?'” Rui asked.
“The madam wishes you won’t fight in your Martial uniform.” He explained. “Thus she has prepared clothes for you.”
The butler gestured to a pair of pants.
“…”
“…”
“…Is the top missing or on its way?”
“There is no top.” The butler crushed his hopes.
“She wants me to fight in just pair of pants”
“Correct, sir.” The butler reaffirmed.
Rui stared at him hard looking for any hint of this being a big joke or prank. But the butler’s expression was inscrutable, alhough he was sweating hard due to the pressure Rui’s mind was exerting was hi.
Rui picked up the shockingly small pair of pants. “There is no way this’ll fit me.”
“They’re a special product meant to stretch to accommodate your body size and shape. The cloth will contract to accentuate the shape of your posterior for the spectators.” The butler explained.
Rui grew pale at those words. “Do I have to wear these?”
“The madam has insisted.” The butler explained.
Rui sighed. (‘I’m an underage minor. If it’s this bad for me, I can’t imagine how gross it must be for female Martial Artists. Seems rich people are universally degenerates be it Gaia or Earth.’)
His eyes knitted in irritation as he pictured a bunch if gross old men leering at Fae, Milliana and Fiona.
“Alright, I’ll handle myself. All of you leave.” Rui insisted.
The butler bowed as he took the maids away with him.
Rui shook his head as he sighed. Yet the luxurious bathing area made his eyes raise.
“This isn’t so bad.” He admitted. He relaxed himself in a tub bath for quite a bit before getting out and drying up.
His eyes hurt whenever he looked at the clothes she had prepared. It took him a while but he got it on, and remarkably, it was comfortable, even if he felt awkward wearing it. The design seemed to be intended for combat, because it didn’t hinder his movements at all.
When he entered, the butler was waiting for him.
“The madam awaits, please come this way.”
He guided Rui to a spacious office where Nartha awaited him.
“Looking good.” She spoke informally. “Are you sure you don’t want to show your face? With your accomplishment and your rare features, I’m sure there will be several women who will have an interest in you.
“Firstly, I look ridiculous.” He corrected. “And what you said is the very reason I want to hide my identity.”
She merely smiled at those words as though he were a cute little toddler who amused her as she donned a luxurious fur coat atop a loose one piece dress. “Shall we be on our way?”
Once they boarded the carriage, it took no more than fifteen minutes to reach.
The location of the event was a large multi-floored luxury gathering hall. Outside thete were a number of extravagant catriages each with their own emblems and insignias signifying which family or corporation the carriage belonged to.
The main entrance to hall had its own ostentatious emblem on it, claiming the entire hall. The emblem
“This is the private property of the DiViliers family.” Nartha said as she noticed his gaze. “Today’s Martial games, as we call it, is being hosted by the DiViliers Family. They’re a bigshot in the Martial Industry of the entire Kandrian Empire. The DiVilier Martial Corporation is one of the leading Martial Art esoteric technology producers. They’re good at what they do, so much so that the Martial Union and the Royal Family have both independently signed partnership contracts with the DiVilier Corporation. I imagine a lot of the training and mission equipment have been produced in partnership with them. Charles DiVilier is a well-known lover and connoisseur of Martial Art.”
Rui’s eyes widened as he realized why the name DiVilier sounded so familiar. This was the same family that commissioned him for his Martial Art! The mission bill had listed how Charles Divilier roped in Martial Artists with unique and exotic Martial Art and Martial Paths with lucrative personal commissions initially before eventually dragging then away from the Martial Union entirely.