The Martial Unity

Listening to the sacrifices that Rui was willing to make to ensure the consequences of his mistakes didn't hurt the people he cared about made Kane feel a little immature.

"Alright, I'm in," Kane told him, ironing his resolve. "What's your plan?"

"We need to get in contact with Commissioner Reze immediately," Rui replied. "There's no time to waste, I'll tell you all about it on the way."

Kane nodded.

The two of them left the dungeon, using Void Step as they headed towards the little base that the Martial Union ran. Unfortunately, they couldn't just waltz into the regional Martial Union branch office just like that. Rui knew that Chairman Deacon was probably watching every publically registered site connected to the Martial Union with a hawk, he had probably deployed many Martial Squires, perhaps even Martial Seniors on watch.

The two of them hurried, eventually making their way to the location.

"That's… a bold plan," Kane murmured when Rui finished explaining. "Are you really willing to do that to yourself? You will suffer. Your family is not exempt from the pain this plan will inflict on them. Isn't it better to just accept Commissioner Reze's deal?"

STEP

They reached the ground as they reached their destination.

"I… cannot. My Martial Path, my way of life is too important to me," Rui squeezed out with a grim expression, as he clenched his fist hard, drawing blood with his nails. "This means everything to me."

Kane could clearly see that the decision to go through with the plan was painful for him.

Rui stepped forward and he knocked on the door in a particular pattern. The door opened as a man ushered them in.

"Squire Quarrier, Squire Kane," The manager of the little secret drop-off base. "Please come this way to make the drop."

"We're not here to deliver esoteric ore deposits. We need to get in touch with Commissioner Reze urgently," Rui explained.

The manager nodded. "We can arrange for an appointment like always."

"We need to speak with him right now," Rui urged him. "It's of absolute vital important and extremely urgent."

The man frowned. "I'm afraid that is not really appropriate."

"I strongly insist!" Rui raised his voice a little, exerting a little pressure on the man. He disliked doing this on normal people who hadn't done anything to deserve it, but he didn't have time and he couldn't afford to waste time.

"L-Let me see what can be done," The man winced, raising his hands. "I shall inform Commissioner Reze of your urgent need to meet him. If he deems to accept it, he may choose to agree to remotely contact you at the moment."

"Thank you,"

Five minutes later, the two of them sat before Commissioner Reze.

"Squire Quarrier," Commissioner Reze addressed him. "I deemed your urgency as a justified reason to employ this highly secure, but costing and limited means of communication. What is the matter that you wanted to meet with me over that was so urgent?"

"I wish to purchase covert protection from Senior-level threats for as long as it is possible to purchase with six billion Shionel gold coins," Rui explained. "I'll pay the full price for it right here and now, and I want the highest level of official guarantee that the Martial Union can provide that the contract will be honored even in the case of my death."

Commissioner Reze's eyes narrowed his eyes at those words. "Squire Quarrier, what exactly has happened?"

"Before I explain everything," Rui told him. "I need this transaction to occur as soon as possible. I'm willing to pay whatever fees needed to speed up the process and ensure that it comes into effect immediately."

The man stared deeply at Rui for a few seconds before nodding. "Alright, the Martial Union accepts your commission. Fill out the form, and I will ensure that it is instantly put into effect, but it will cost you dearly since the fee is measured as a solid proportion of the total cost, so in this case, billions. Billions in order to obtain maximum expedition Are you willing to pay that price?"

"Yes," Rui nodded.

"Alright then," He nodded. "You will have to fill out the form though, nothing can be done before that."

Rui nodded, and soon enough he was given a form which he promptly filled out as fast as he could. Thankfully things weren't all that complicated, thus it was relatively easy. He did not want to waste even a single minute. The more time passed, the greater the probability that his family would incur a catastrophe. He did not want to destroy their lives because he was too slow!

"Done!" He declared, wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead. "And I have the cheque here."

Commissioner Reze nodded. "Alright, have it scanned, and once it's sent to me, I will immediately expedite the process and deploy Martial Artists needed to protect your family to the degree that you have purchased."

"How long will the protection last with the sum that I have purchased with six billion Shionel gold coins last?" Rui asked.

"No more than ten years," Commissioner Reze stroked his chin.

Rui cocked his head back, surprised. "It's six billion gold coins!"

Six billion gold coins were a million times above what he had earned from basic Squire-level missions, even if Senior-level missions were one thousand times more expensive than Squire-level missions, it was still enough to commission thousands of Senior-level missions!

"Covert protection is vastly more expensive than standard protection," Commissioner Reze explained. "Open protection also borrows the implicit protection of the Martial Union. Covert protection does not."

Rui immediately understood what Commissioner Reze meant. Open protection from the Martial Union deterred a lot of people from even thinking of attacking the target. But covert protection did not have that, and thus could not deter anybody ahead of time. It also required more protection because the protection needed to happen without the target's awareness.

Still, Rui was willing to endure the cost if it meant that their daily lives would not be disrupted.