MEMELAND

Several hours later—

The endless plains slowly gave way to civilization.

Andrew rested both hands behind his head as the wagon rolled forward.

"We're almost there."

Kai climbed onto the driver's bench.

In the distance—

Massive walls stretched across the horizon.

Unlike Asphyxia's elegant stone fortifications...

These looked brutal.

Thick steel plating reinforced gigantic concrete walls.

Countless watchtowers overlooked the surrounding plains.

Heavy artillery lined the battlements.

Ballistae.

Cannons.

Mana-powered anti-air batteries.

Everything screamed one thing.

Defense.

The gates themselves were enormous.

Large enough for several armored transports to pass through side by side.

Smoke rose beyond the walls.

Not from destruction.

From industry.

Black smoke.

White steam.

Orange furnace light.

Andrew grinned.

"Beautiful, ain't it?"

Kai looked at him.

"...Beautiful?"

Andrew laughed.

"You'll get used to it."

As they drew closer—

Kai noticed something else.

The land around Muscle City had been cleared completely.

No forests.

No ruins.

No hills.

Everything within several kilometers had been flattened.

Nothing could hide.

Nothing could ambush.

Andrew noticed Kai staring.

"Demons tried attacking us plenty of times."

He shrugged.

"They learned pretty quickly that charging a city full of lunatics isn't healthy."

Kai looked back toward the walls.

"...Looks like they learned."

Andrew chuckled.

"They sure did."

The wagon continued forward.

Then—

Andrew's smile faded.

His voice became serious.

"Kai."

Kai looked over.

"When we get inside..."

"...Stick to my side."

Kai frowned.

"Why?"

Andrew sighed.

"We've had problems."

"What kind?"

"Assassinations."

Kai's expression changed.

Andrew counted on his fingers.

"Three nobles."

"Two military officers."

"One merchant."

Kai remained silent.

Andrew continued.

"They sent an investigator."

Kai nodded.

"Reasonable."

"He died."

"..."

Andrew scratched his cheek.

"...The dog with him died too."

Kai blinked.

"...Dog?"

Andrew shrugged.

"I don't know."

"Apparently the investigator had some tracking dog."

"They both ended up dead."

Kai stared.

"...That's oddly specific."

"I know."

"People still talk about the dog."

Kai couldn't tell if Andrew was joking anymore.

"So..."

Andrew pointed toward the city.

"We're monsters on the outside."

He gestured toward the walls.

"No demon army has broken through these defenses."

Then he tapped his own chest.

"But inside?"

He slowly shook his head.

"We're a mess."

Kai understood immediately.

Strong military.

Weak politics.

The exact opposite of Asphyxia.

Andrew looked directly at him.

"So don't wander off."

"If someone sees a random drifter asking questions..."

"They'll start asking their own."

Kai nodded.

"...Got it."

The gates slowly opened.

The wagon entered Muscle City.

Kai immediately understood why it carried its name.

Everything felt...

Heavy.

The roads were wider than those in Asphyxia.

Buildings were shorter.

Broader.

Built from reinforced steel and concrete rather than elegant stone.

Every few streets—

Training grounds.

Not one.

Not two.

Dozens.

The sounds echoed everywhere.

Metal striking metal.

Weights crashing.

People shouting.

Instructors yelling.

Sparring matches.

Explosions from military testing ranges.

Even children carried weighted backpacks while running laps.

Nobody looked surprised by it.

It was normal.

Posters covered the streets.

BUILD STRENGTH.

A STRONG BODY SAVES LIVES.

TODAY'S SWEAT IS TOMORROW'S SURVIVAL.

Another advertisement showed a man flexing absurdly oversized muscles while holding a cannon.

"Why carry it... when you can lift it?"

Kai blinked.

"...Seriously?"

Andrew burst into laughter.

"That's one of the older ads."

They passed another building.

A massive sign read—

Titan Gym No. 12

Across the street—

Military Combat Enhancement Center

Further ahead—

Weapon Handling Academy

Even the restaurants reflected the city.

Huge portions.

Entire roasted animals hanging outside.

A sign proudly advertised—

"Five kilograms of steak. Finish it alone and it's free."

Kai quietly muttered,

"...This city has problems."

Andrew nodded proudly.

"It sure does."

The wagon eventually stopped near a large government building.

A steel plaque above the entrance read—

BOUNTY REGISTRATION OFFICE

Several officers approached.

Andrew tossed a stack of papers onto the counter.

"And twenty-three bandits."

The officer looked toward the wagon.

Then sighed.

"...Again?"

Andrew grinned.

"They practically arrested themselves."

Kai watched several guards drag the unconscious bandits away one by one.

Captain Inoy.

Boss Helford.

And everyone else.

The officer counted quickly.

Then handed Andrew a heavy pouch.

"Payment approved."

Andrew tossed it into the air.

Caught it.

"Pleasure doing business."

The officer rolled his eyes.

"It never is."

Back outside—

Kai looked around.

"So..."

"Where's Taai?"

Andrew pointed toward the northern district.

"Training."

Kai blinked.

"Still?"

Andrew laughed.

"That's like asking if the sun still rises."

"He practically lives there."

Andrew climbed back onto the wagon.

"C'mon."

"I'll take you."

Kai followed.

The wagon rolled deeper into the city.

Toward the largest building Kai had seen since entering.

A gigantic arena surrounded by hundreds of outdoor training fields.

Even from several streets away—

The sound of fists colliding echoed through the city.

Andrew smiled.

"There."

"That's where you'll find Muscle City's strongest idiot."

Kai looked toward the enormous training complex.

"...Taai."

The wagon continued forward.