Chapter 170 Introduction

AN: Celebrating hitting 400 power stones for the first time! So here's an extra chapter :) Thanks a lot for all the power stones.

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Rui closed the mission bill, having learnt everything he wanted to learn. He immediately headed to the commissions department to finish the application.

The paperwork for a royal mission was actually much more extensive than those of missions from other classes, this was because he had to sign many more acknowledgements, non-compete agreements, non-disclosure agreements with the Kandrian government before he was allowed to undertake these missions officially.

Once he completed the exhausting amount of due process, he immediately headed towards the dispatch facility as the commissions department informed the Kandrian Bureau of Investigation that their commission had been accepted.

Even the dispatch procedures were different.

For one, in addition to the standard gear that Rui obtained, he was also given a badge with the Royal Insignia. After all, he would be acting on behalf of the Kandrian government and by extension and the Royal Family by extension. He possessed a greater amount of authority over civilians just by being a government authorized agent.

Furthermore, the consequences of attacking him or hurting him were much more severe than if he was undertaking a private commission from civilian clienteles. After all, when he undertook commissions civilian clienteles, he was officially just a service provider accepting commissions via a private union, although assaulting people was a crime in the Kandrian Empire, he wasn't any more special than any other civilian, officially, anyway.

But whilst operating in a royal commission, he was temporarily now a royally-authorized agent. Assaulting him was a far more severe a crime under these circumstances.

Rui was beginning to understand the allure of royal commissions. Initially, he didn't understand why Martial Artists would undertake such stuffy missions outside of having a Martial Art suited to offense-class missions. But the perks of royal commissions were much stronger than those private commissions. Having such a deterence on your side must be quite reassuring, Rui realized.

He quickly donned his gear, the royal badge and his mask. He absolutely did not want to let his identity slip up so he even procured a full-head mask that did not allow even a hint of his facial features to let slip. He even wore super-thin contact lenses that distorted his unique eye-colour.

And he set off as soon as he finished the dispatch protocols.

The Kandrian Bureau of Investigation had a branch in most towns in the country. The Hajin branch was actually quite close to the Martial Academy, which was near the center of the town itself. Rui reached it within ten minutes.

The Kandrian Bureau of Investigation had a rather huge headquarters, not as unreasonably large as the Martial Academy, but quite extravagant nonetheless.

When Rui entered the gates and front door, he immediately walked into what looked like a security checkpoint and a reception.

It was a rather large hall with a wide table with at the opposite end, occupied by many receptionists.

"Are you here for a bureau commission, sir?" A receptionist asked him when he approached the desk.

"Yes." He nodded.

"Please provide the verification token tell me your mission code." She requested.

"HJN03486" Rui replied, as he reached for the token that contained the verification code that proved that Rui was indeed the Martial Artist assigned to the stated mission and not some random imposter.

"Alright. You have been verified." She stated, as she stamped his token with the royal insignia with strange coloured ink. "Please proceed to the commission department of the Bureau and provide this token to them, you will be guided to your assigned supervisor."

Rui nodded, he'd expected the process to not be as simple as bodyguard or hunting mission due processes were.

"Office number 28, third floor." The attendant at the commission department told him. "Your supervisor is special agent Effels Muhil

Rui sighed as he went on yet another journey in the elaborate facility, the levels of due process reminded him of airline industry back on Earth.

"Ah, Martial Artist." A woman in her thirties sitting at a desk said. She glanced at him with her judging green eyes. "I am Effels Muhil. Please provide me with your token."

Thankfully she only took a glance at it before returning it. "I am your supervisor for this mission. Follow me, we will meet up with the rest of the members partaking in the operation your mission is centered around."

('Finally.')

"Have you memorized the intel in we provided to you via the Martial union?" She asked him sharply.

"I have." Rui said, before proceeding to paraphrase all important and relevant information.

"Good." She threw him an approving look.

Soon they entered a dispatch facility with dozens of men in Kandrian combat gear had been occupying. Among them, an older man with black and white hair and a scarred face, noticed them approaching.

"Effels." He said simply. "That him?" He asked throwing a skeptical glance at Rui.

"Special agent Barnard." She addressed with formality. "This is the commissioned Martial Artist from the Martial Union."

Instantly, the atmosphere changed.

Rui could feel the eyes of all the agents gathered staring at him. He could even the amusement, skepticism and even the confusion of all the agents that were supposedly part of the operation.

"He looks like a kid." One of the murmured.

"Can he do shit?" Another asked.

"This ain't a picnic lil boy." Another grumbled.

Rui sighed, he was about to focus his mind to pressure them and trigger their subconscious sense of danger with a little bloodlust when suddenly.

"He's the real deal alright." He heard the soft voice of a woman.

Rui didn't even turn around to understand who she was.

('Martial Apprentice.') He glanced at the newcomer.

She was a short woman, even shorter than he was despite being an adult. She had long brown hair and eyes, and subtle aura that emanated a faint danger. He wasn't able to identify the Type of her Martial Art from just observing her, which was unusual for him

"Sorry I'm late everyone." She smiled, before turning towards Rui. "I am Neira Falual, pleasure to meet you!"