"So this is the standard gear of the Martial Union, eh?" Rui glanced over to the items on the table in the dispatch facility. On the table was a mask, a uniform and a strange looking device.
The mask was optional, but highly recommended by the Academy to all Martial Apprentices. Many a times, the Martial Apprentices inevitably earned the ire and the grudge of powerful third-party organizations during their missions. Although these organizations had no power to do anything to the Martial Union as a whole, that wasn't necessarily true for individual Martial Artists.
Martial Artists were scary and untouchable to most people, but this wasn't truly the case for the more economically powerful. It was possible for these organizations to bully individual Martial Artists, especially the younger and lower Realm Martial Artists.
Thus, a mask was recommended to younger and weaker Martial Artists. The masks were designed to hide away all facial features without hindering vision or any of the other senses. In Rui's case, they even provided him a mask with a hair colour-changing function, specifically meant to hide unique or unnatural hair colors that would give away their identity.
Rui had accepted, even if this was a lower-graded mission, he did not want to take the risk. Although he himself might be secure because of his combat prowess, the same could not be said for his family back in the Orphanage who were vulnerable in comparison.
The uniform was supposed to be resistant to piercing-weapons, meant specifically for Apprentices. Apparently higher Realms were naturally resistant to piercing attacks and generally did not need any aid. The uniform bore the emblem of the Martial Union as well as the color scheme associated with Martial Apprentices.
The last object was rather strange. Rui had been told it was a device with which he could record the moment of dispatch, client verification, mission commencement and conclusion as well as mission failure or success. Rui could apparently record and relay the timing of these events through marked buttons on it. He could even send out SOS signals and request for emergency aid.
What shocked Rui about this was that this was the first time he had seen communication technology in this world!
He did not think it existed because he hadn't seen any hint of it during his life in the Orphanage or even in the bustling town of Hajin. But he was proven wrong, the fact that this was standard-issue equipment meant that this technology was much more prevalent than he had thought. It was quite likely that this technology was based on some esoteric resource or phenomenon, if the esoteric substances responsible for the communication technology were somewhat scarce, then it could explain why this technology wasn't ubiquitous.
The device allowed Rui and other Martial Artists to effectively and easily communicate with and update the Martial Union on the progress of the mission.
Once Rui completed all the procedures, it was time for the dispatch. After recording the timing and signing some paperwork, Rui began jogging to the location of the specified commencement destination. A little hotel in one of the outskirt districts of the town of Hajin.
As Rui made his way to the location of the assigned mission, the infrastructure and population density of the districts dipped progressively. Within an hour of using Parallel Walk and Balanced Direction tentatively, he could see the hotel.
('Such an offbeat and remote location, and yet they still want a bodyguard?') Rui pondered, before dismissing the thought. He was just grateful to have a mission, he had already made up his mind to make the best out of this mission no matter what!
He only noticed something strange when he reached the location, pausing at a distance. A gang of men had gotten into a conflict with who seemed to be the hotel owner.
('Bandits or robbers maybe?') Rui tilted his head as the men forced their way in despite the owner's protests. Rui resumed, sprinting towards the hotel. If these men had bad intentions, then his client was in danger too!
As he reached the hotel, he saw a young blue-haired lade creep out of the window.
('That hair color matches the account and sketch.') Rui rejoiced, despite being confused, before panicking as she bumped into one of the men patrolling the parameter. What shocked Rui was that the man apprehended her and dragged her away.
A Vital Pressure strike to the temple from a blind spot knocked the man out, giving him a concussion. He sighed in relief as he studied her.
"Hm, you're definitely Bella Hier." Rui nodded sighing relief. "Thank god, it would be so embarrassing if I lost my client on my very first mission!"
Kane and Fae would never let him hear the end of it!
"I don't know what kind of mess you've gotten yourself into, young lady." He solemnly added. "But we need to get out of here."
She stared at him with speechless confusion. "You... are my bodyguard?"
"Yes." Rui caught her hand. "No time! Let's g-"
"HEY! I FOUND HER." A man's voice loudly announced.
"Tsk." Rui tutted. "Too late. Guess I'll have to deal with them."
Thankfully Rui didn't sense any Martial Apprentices among them. Martial Apprentices did not possess an imperceivable aura or pressure that was as defined as that of a Martial Squire or Senior. But a Martial Apprentice like Rui could easily distinguish them from normal people.
"Careful! He has the Martial Apprentice uniform on!" The man warned the others as they huddled banded around.
Rui didn't waste any time. He sprinted over to them faster than they could effectively react before launching a Flowing Canon and knocking several of them flying away.
Rui weaved around, dodging their crude haymakers while cleanly punishing them Vital Pressure into especially vulnerable and painful areas left them flat on the ground or reeling completely open for swift strikes to the chin, knocking them out.
In the span of ten seconds, fifteen men had been taken down by a single adolescent boy. Bella stared dumbfoundedly at him as he wrapped up and walked back to her.
She had always been generally aware that Martial Artists were strong, but knowing that and actually witnessing them in live action were two different things. She was surprised that someone who appeared to be so young could already be a Martial Apprentice.
"Are you okay?" Rui stuck out his hand offering help, breaking her out of her reverie.
"I'm okay." She managed squeeze out, pulling herself up.
"Those men will wake up eventually, we need to get out of here quickly." Rui insisted. "We'll talk once we've reached a better place."