The Martial Unity

1550 Shocking Revelation

He sneaked away, heading to the section of the Intelligence Department within the branch, approaching a staff member at the counter.

"Ah, how may I help you sir?"

"I'd like to make a certain purchase," Rui replied, slipping a sheet of paper listing the intelligence that he had purchased.

Her eyes widened when she read the itemized list of information. "W-We'll process your commission and get back to you."

Rui simply nodded, activating Lesser Phantomind Void as he left the place, heading back home.

Eventually, he found himself back home at the Quarrier Orphanage, heaving a deep sigh.

Now it was simply time to wait for the two intelligence entities to gather the information packages that he had commissioned and send him the bill.

He wasn't worried about being short on funds. Although he had used up all the funds that he got from Esosale Suppliers.

He still hadn't touched all the income he earned by serving as a diplomat for the Martial Union for a year and a half in Vilun Island and for successfully resolving the diplomatic dead-end with the G'ak'arkan Tribe.

That had actually earned him quite the handsome reward that he hadn't really touched, in addition to the revenue from many missions from when he was a Martial Squire. Considering he wasn't asking for sensitive strategic information, he was hoping that he could resolve this with the income he had.

"Rui?" Alice knocked on his door.

"Hm?" Rui walked over, opening the door.

"Why don't you come to our house for tea?" She smiled. "Farion and I have wanted to talk to you about some matters, you see."

Rui tilted his head, shrugging. "Sure. Matters? Is there anything you need help with. Because you just need to say the word and I'll help with all I can."

Rui was quite eager to offer his help to the Quarrier Orphanage. With his current level of power, there was nothing they could reasonably face that he couldn't resolve by himself.

"It's nothing that serious. We just want to speak with you, it's been so many years since we spoke to you ourselves to our heart's content," She stood up on her toes, pecking him on the cheek before going away. "Don't forget, ok? This is really important."

"Ok…" Rui frowned, confused. "Sure thing."

It wasn't long before he found himself sitting at their little house next to the Orphanage, as Alice served all three of them a hot cup of tea. Their daughter, Ruina, played with dolls by the fireplace.

It was a warm and cozy place, one that truly brought peace to the heart.

"I'm happy that the two of you got together," Rui remarked. "I didn't expect it, considering your personalities are the opposite, but I'm happy that you're happy together, and gave me the honor of being your daughter's godfather."

"Hmph, now that you're her godfather, you better not be going going away too far or too long."

Rui smiled wryly, turning to Ruina, sitting down beside her.

"Hehehe!" Ruina giggled as Rui played with her.

Alice smiled at the sight. "You were always the golden boy of the orphanage. I missed you so much when you were gone. In a way, naming her after you was to preserve your memory, the memory of adorable little brother who had done so much for us."

Her smile grew bittersweet for a moment before returning to its cheery self. "But now that you're back, we're going to make the best of our time together!"

The three of them spoke for quite some time about various personal topics until Ruina eventually groggy. Alice put her to bed, returning back to the the little living room.

"So then…" Rui spoke up. "What exactly is going on with you two?"

He glanced at the two of them. He knew that something was up, they were uncharacteristic at the moment. "It's fine, you can tell me anything."

Alice stared at him for a moment with an unusually blank expression before procuring a sealed envelope, and handing it to Rui.

Rui took the envelop, glancing back at the two of them with a puzzled expression, before opening it.

What he saw inside shook him.

It was an itemized bill for the intelligence commission that he had made to the Beggar's Sect earlier that day!

Along with it, was a blank form for a transaction bill statement from the Martial Union. He would be able to specify the amount of Martial Credits that the specified receiver would be able to redeem for gold.

His eyes widened as he realized what this meant. He slowly turned back to the two of them, shocked.

"The two of you…" He whispered. "You're part of the Beggar's Sect?"

Neither of them said anything in response, silently meeting his gaze. A torrent of emotions washed over Rui, he didn't even know what to feel about this revelation.

He only uttered a single word.

"…Why?"

Farion heaved a sigh. "We did what we thought was best for us and the orphanage, Rui. We're not like you. We're not super strong. We don't have the power to level a forest with a single motion of an arm. We're just ordinary humans. We're powerless…This is the only way we can fight back against the forces of the world."

Rui closed his eyes, breathing deeply as he tried his best to maintain his calm and composure. He did not want to intimidate them with the aura of his Martial Senior. A strong Mind Mask wrapped around his mind, reducing his presence to that of an ordinary human.

"How did this happen?" He asked a single question, looking them in the eyes without any reproach.

When he thought about it rationally, there was no reason to lose his cool. His feeling of being betrayed was irrational. He hadn't been around for eight years after having put them in danger. He was in no position to lose his temper or cool. All he wanted to do right now was understand.