The Martial Unity

Wern glanced at Rui, sizing him up overtly. "A Martial Apprentice from the Martial Union, eh? You're quite young for a Martial Apprentice."

Rui didn't respond, there was nothing he had to say to those words. Furthermore, although he grown a little chummy with Bella, he still wanted to maintain bodyguard etiquette. Bodyguards didn't talk unless absolutely necessary. This conversation was purely one between Bella and Wern, his job was to protect Bella no matter what.

Wern eventually turned back to Bella with sorrowful eyes. "I'm sorry for everything you've been through Bella, it must have been hard."

Bella shook her head. "You have nothing apologize for, uncle Wern."

Wern sighed. "So, what can I help you with Bella? I assume you didn't come here to just catch up?"

"I need to get to Laxus." Bella explained.

Wern understood her intentions. "You want to consolidate your position in a town where the Lowminers have no influence eh? Makes sense."

Bella nodded.

"But are you sure about this, Bella?" Wern asked. "Sure about fighting back?" He completed.

"Of course!" Bella retorted, bristled. "They killed my father!"

Wern sighed. "Yes, but what you're attempting to do isn't going to be easy. In fact, you're going to be risking your life. Even if you take the ultimate precaution and arm yourself with Martial Apprentice bodyguards for the rest of your life, you'll have to life with immense burden."

"I am completely prepared for this." Bella retorted sternly. "I have long made up my mind."

Wern sighed as Rui silently gauged the conversation. The latter could definitely see where Wern was coming from. Bella may have been educated for this all her life, but Rui was highly skeptical of how fit she was to lead and manage the Hier Industries.

Ultimately, she was merely seventeen-year-old girl. The objectives she aimed to complete even if she survived this predicament weren't tasks that could be accomplished without experience.

Rui was relatively sure that she wasn't ready yet. He could sense that Wern felt the same way.

Wern sighed. "Alright, if that's what you want, then so be it. You are already an adult. You have the right to take charge of your life and live how you want to life. I just hope you understand what you're getting yourself into."

Bella shook her head. "Thank you for your concern uncle. But I'm well aware of the gravity of my choices."

Wern sighed once more. "Alright, if that's the case, I have nothing more to say on that matter."

"Coming back to the matter of travelling to Laxus..." Bella reminded.

"Yes, I can arrange it for you. There are different routes, however, not all of them are safe, since they pertain supplies of goods and resources relevant to the business affairs of the Lowminers." Wern explained.

Bella nodded, deep in thought.

Even if the Lowminers didn't operate in the town of Laxus, didn't mean Bella could merrily hop onto a carriage in any trade or supply route between the towns of Laxus and Hajin.

Both the Lowminer and Hier Industries were suppliers, they acquired exotic resources from elsewhere and sold them to the esoteric technology sector that would process the supplies and manufacture technological products that would then be sold to the private and corporate markets of the town.

Meaning both Lowminers and Hier Industries had to import massive supplies from outside Hajin into it. Although they each had their own transit capacities, it was extremely difficult to cover all their shipping needs of their own capabilities.

Thus, both industries partially relied on smaller transportation and shipping companies that offered transit services, that took care of the remaining shipping needs.

The Wern Company was one such company. Wern and Karl Hier had initially met when Karl when Hier Industries had first initially taken off in Hajin, they had hit it off immediately on a favourable shipping contract and had grown closer and closer over the years as their companies grew.

Bella had to avoid routes between Hajin and Laxus that would put her closer to Lowminer influence. If she chose to get into a carriage on a route that the Lowminers frequently used to transport supplies, then she might get caught.

On the other hand, if the Lowminers were aware of her intentions to get to Laxus, then they might predict what routes she chooses and intercept her.

As for whether the aware, Rui was relatively certain they had gauged her general intentions. It was a simple and relatively common-sense plan from Bella, and it didn't take a genius to figure out what she was doing and why.

Which is why the details of Bella's plan became more and more important. Rui glanced at Wern and Bella. They had already taken out a map encompassing Hajin and Laxus, and had begun having an intense discussion, pointing to different lines of different colours that ran between Hajin and Laxus. Rui hoped they would make the best choice; the success or failure of the mission was on the line.

There was a good chance the next time the Lowminers caught them, Rui wouldn't be able to handle them as easily. The Lowminers must have already long been informed about the Martial Apprentice bodyguard that Bella managed to commission from the Martial Union.

This meant the next time there was a confrontation, they would be much more prepared, the end goal was to capture or kill Bella, meaning they didn't necessarily have to kill Bella. Ideally, they would want to kill Bella without killing Rui, in order to avoid poking the Martial Union. Meaning they would engage Bella and Rui in a manner solely meant to kill Bella. This would make Rui's job much harder. It was much harder to protect and evacuate someone else, than just himself.

"The Vorefire Horn supply routes are the shortest." Bella said.  "Furthermore, path hits Laxus closest to the closest Hier branch."

Wern shook his head. "The Lowminers have begun expanding into the Vorefire Horn market in the past few months, it's no longer safe. Furthermore, the route ends too closely to other supply routes that the Lowminers use regularly. It's too risky."

They had yet to come to a decision.

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