Rui and Kane immediately followed him, relieved that they didn't get caught in a new mess. Rui, however, was a little concerned by his lack of awareness of the circumstances of their new destination.
Normally, whenever he reached a new location for a new endeavor, he was well-prepared ahead of time and knew everything that he needed to know.
However, their previous encounter showed that this was most certainly not the case with Crexeet town.
For instance, he mentioned the Frenten Duchy, and the Senten Kingdom when inquiring about who they were. Why bring that up? He wouldn't have done so if the two nations weren't relevant to the town of Crexeet.
If they were relevant, then what was their relationship with the town of Crexeet?
The intelligence supplied by Chairman Deacon most certainly mentioned that it was a sovereign town.
('That almost certainly means that the relationship between the aforementioned states and the town of Crexeet is not good,') Rui sighed.
Given that a sovereign town was far weaker than a kingdom or a duchy, the power differential naturally meant that the latter would be in a dominant position over the other, and look to control and exploit.
This was just the way things were, generally. The weaker submitted.
The fact that the town of Crexeet hadn't was something that Rui had found interesting but also was the reason that he was worried that the town that they were stepping into and looking to exchange with, in a mutually beneficial relationship. He had managed to deduce the rough circumstances that of the town of Crexeet with just a few words from the Martial Squire who guided them into the town personally.
Rui carefully observed the town once they entered it, taking note of all significant observations.
What surprised him was that the town had a particular vibe to it, one that he was familiar with not in this life, but in his previous one.
('It has the air of academia,') Rui mused.
He had been bright enough in his previous life to finish his degree in reputed institutions with large campuses that felt like their own little society. The vibe that he got from this town was quite similar to that.
Most of the inhabitants wore attire or garbs that one would expect to see from those involved in fields of purely intellectual pursuit.
Rui frowned.
That was quite strange. Why was there a town like this in the middle of nowhere? Why did so many people who were clearly in the research fields flock to this remote region in order to be in this place?
Rui felt as though he could gain a lot of insights surrounding this town, but he wasn't able to see through the core of it all.
Another interesting observation he made was the fact that almost all of the Martial Artists he saw were Martial Apprentices.
He saw very few Martial Squires, and he could not sense a single Martial Artist above the Squire Realm across the entire town.
It was quite likely that the town did not have any such Martial Artists. That coupled with the fact that the town had managed to retain its sovereignty meant a lot of things. It meant that this paltry level of power was enough to assure the independence of the town.
('That automatically means that the power of the surrounding kingdoms isn't all that much.,') Rui mused.
"We're here, the Crexeet Institute" The man paused as they stopped before the largest array of buildings in the town. "Wait in the reception down straight ahead, and the mayor will see you in time."
Rui recalled that the town was founded by a researcher, of all people. He found that quite strange, why would a researcher go through all that effort to found a single measly town?
The fact that he was inside what looked like a research facility rather than a governmental office was quite strange too.
The moment the two of them entered the gates and started walking down, they immediately attracted the eyes of various people. They had put on their Martial uniforms since they needed to reveal their status as Martial Squires, thus it was quite evident that the two of them were Martial Artists.
That drew a lot of attention from the students and professors on campus for some reason.
('It is because this institute is apparently a research institute for Martial Art?') Rui furrowed his eyebrows.
Even the more ordinary employees showed them an excessive amount of deference.
The two of them waited in the reception for nearly half an hour before an employee finally addressed them.
"Sir Derr is ready to receive you," She informed them with a smile. "Please follow me while I guide you to his office."
It wasn't long before they had finally arrived, she gestured them in before walking away while they opened the door.
"Ah! I'm sorry to keep you Martial Squires waiting! Please come in, have a seat," Derr greeted them cheerily. "I'm the Mayor of the town and also the head researcher and professor of the the head institute to the town! Haha."
He was not what Rui expected from the leader and founder of the Crexeet town. He was short and plump with circled spectacles. He had a light and nonchalant attitude despite meeting with stranger Martial Squires for the first time.
"Now then, I heard you traveling Martial Squires were interested in Crexeet town?" He glanced between them with interested eyes. "What are your names."
"I am Squire Norman, and he's Squire Falken, and yes," Kane nodded. "We heard that the town contracts Martial Squires for defense and security, in exchange for training and growth resources."
"Right you are!" The man pointed at Kane emphatically. "Are the two of you perhaps interested?"
Rui couldn't help but feel strange. This did not feel like a conversation between the leader of a town and two Martial Artists who were potentially able to become powerful assets of the town.
"We're interested," Rui replied this time. "We seek rather specific training resources and information, along with other basic necessities. In exchange, we are willing to lend you our Martial Art services."
"Oh?" The man's eyebrow rose. "Interested in specific training resources and information, hm? Just what might that be?"
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