In the past, he is one of the general of the World Government. But nowadays he is more known as the other leader of the Shadow Guards.
He had abandoned his samurai armor and don the dark leather armor of the Shadow Guards. Most of the members of the Shadow Guards usually wears leather armor.
But this did not mean that their leather armor could not withstand attack like a metal armor could.
In a world of magic, the category of armor does not play as much as importance as its material. A high level leather skinned from a powerful beast could even exceed the defense of a metal made armor
Not to mention there is still tattooist that could draw totems on one body, or Inscriptionist that could inscribe Words of Power and many other supplementing class that could raise the level of the armor.
Shinji look left and right. His hand is at the handle of his sword
He would be ready to slash the moment he senses any danger coming to him.