The Martial Unity

"...So to summarize. An attacker approached the extraction force, and killed Senior Nereau, wiping out all of the extractors and Martial Apprentices, before disappearing, and you weren't so much as able to catch him?" 

Senior Zenshin's expression darkened. "...Yes, Master Haishi."

He was currently bowing his head, his expression crumpled with shame and frustration. 

Before him was a screen that transmitted a remarkably high-quality feed, featuring the person he was speaking with. It was a level of communication technology that was extremely rare, given the sheer distance between the Kandrian Empire and the Gereign Region.

"I personally recommended you as a leader to Lord Carnil," Master Haishi's delicate expressions sharpened. 

Senior Zenshin's expression crumpled even further.

"Your failure has affected me as well," She remarked. "However, there is nothing that can be done for the time being. I shall eventually arrive at the Gereign Region personally."

These words evoked a bit of surprise.

"Are you doubting my fitness?" Her eyes sharpened.

"I don't mean to question you, Master," Senior Zenshin hurriedly clarified. "However, the Hypnomaster…"

"He won't ever know that a Martial Master has arrived at his domain… After all, my stealth is perfect," She calmly declared. "It is said that the legendary Silent Shadow nearly succeeded in assassinating him. That means such measures are not ineffective against him."

"If you say so, then it must be true," Senior Zenshin bowed his head even further. "How long will it take to arrive?"

"Several matters need to be resolved before I head to the Gereign Region," She informed him. "Do not tarnish my reputation any further."

"…Yes Master," Senior Zenshin remarked.

"Cancel all harvesting operations until then," She replied. "Whoever this attacker is, if he could do it once, he can do it again. If you were unable to sense or repel him when you had Nereau on surveillance, then that means that he is mostly a high-grade Senior assassin, or potentially a peak-grade assassin. Though there are some issues with that conclusion as well."

"If he were a peak-grade assassin, then he would have no problems killing you and the other two," She calmly replied. "Yet he simply escaped. Either his objective was specifically Senior Nereau, which would mean his agenda is entirely unrelated to the Carnil Mafia, or he was unable to kill you. It is rather inconceivable that it could be anything else."

This made a lot of sense to Senior Zenshin. Killing the three Martial Seniors would definitely have been high on the agenda had he been able to, as long as it was the case that he was targeting their drug operation as a whole instead of Senior Nereau specifically.

"If that is the case…It would mean that this attacker is unable to fight off a high-grade Martial Senior and two mid-grade Martial Seniors," Senior Zenshin remarked. "Is it not overkill for a Martial Master like yourself to personally reside over this case?"

"Normally, you'd be correct," She remarked. "However, this operation is too important. Lord Carnil is displeased that it has been successfully sabotaged to such an extent. I will personally oversee it, and ensure that nothing else gets in the way."

"I see…it appears that I have disappointed Lord Carnil," Senior Zenshin heaved a deep sigh. "If that is the case, wouldn't a complete ceasing of all operations be a waste of time and resources?"

"You have already proved yourself incapable of protecting a large operation from the assassin even when you had Senior Nereau," Master Haishi narrowed her eyes. 

"I was not referring to large operations featuring an extraction team accompanied by a security detail," Senior Zenshin continued. "I was talking about individual operations with only us Martial Seniors. If the assassin chose to withdraw then and there, then it would mean that he is unable to handle opponents of my caliber that easily. Thus we can still gather some yield even while we are waiting for your arrival."

"…I'll allow it. However, only within a certain depth into the forest. I won't allow for operations beyond a certain extent, it's too dangerous. The forest is filled with many dangers that can threaten even Martial Seniors," She remarked. "Keep an out for the assassin, and maximize the gains you make. We need as much of a narcotics supply as possible."

"Yes, Master," He bowed his head. 

The conversation soon came to an end. Senior Zenshin gritted his teeth and clenched his fist. "It's all because of that bastard…"

He had worked hard for the past fifty years serving the Carnil mafia as one of the highest outer executives. It wasn't easy to get into the Inner Circle of the Carnil Mafia. It took both a lot of power and reliability as a Martial Artist to make it that far.

The Carnil Mafia had been expanding due to the brewing cold civil war in the Kandrian Empire. That gave a lot of opportunities to move up the ranks to an Outer Executive like himself.

However, now that was iffy, at best.

He knew from the way Master Haishi addressed him that he had suffered a major setback. Many years and decades of work had been put into question because of gigantic failure. He had many competitors who were just as driven and powerful aiming for the same goal who undoubtedly were looking a lot more alluring than himself.

All because of one fiasco.

A deep anger and hatred boiled up from deep within his heart. "I'll kill him."

He didn't know who the attacker was, but he knew he had to bring his head back, otherwise he would never be able to wash away this stain on his reputation. He immediately began planning about how he was going to take out this attacker. 

He hoped it wasn't due to a personal grudge against Senior Nereau. He needed the man to return. He needed the man to attack him.

Only then would he have a chance to kill him. He knew that he wouldn't be able to find and kill him any other way.