MEMELAND

The largest training facility in Muscle City echoed with the sound of steel striking steel.

CLANG!

THUD!

BOOM!

Everywhere Kai looked—

People were training.

Some swung giant hammers heavier than most people.

Others wrestled without shirts.

Several practiced marksmanship with rifles.

A few stood perfectly still while letting others punch them in the stomach.

Kai blinked.

"...What."

Andrew walked ahead without looking back.

"Morning routine."

"...That isn't normal."

"It is here."

Kai decided not to question it.

Probably healthier that way.

The fewer people remained.

Eventually they reached the center arena.

Unlike the rest of the facility—

This place was almost empty.

Only one person occupied it.

THOOM!

A heavy sandbag exploded apart.

Another.

Another.

Another.

The man never stopped moving.

Punch.

Kick.

Elbow.

Knee.

Every strike carried terrifying precision.

Kai quietly observed him.

Smaller.

Not by much.

But compared to Nish and Andrew—

His frame was noticeably more compact.

Yet...

Every muscle looked compressed.

Dense.

Like someone had taken Nish's physique...

...and squeezed it into a smaller body.

He wore nothing above the waist.

Only dark military pants.

Combat boots.

Bandages wrapped around both fists.

His skin glistened with sweat.

Andrew leaned toward Kai.

"That's Taai."

Kai nodded.

"...He looks..."

Andrew finished the sentence.

"Dangerous?"

Kai slowly nodded.

"...Yeah."

Andrew grinned.

"He is."

Then he added casually,

"He also doesn't give a damn about politics."

Kai looked at him.

"What?"

Andrew shrugged.

"He hates paperwork."

"He hates meetings."

"He hates speeches."

"He left all of that to the cabinet."

"So why is he leader?"

Andrew looked genuinely confused by the question.

"Because nobody can beat him."

"..."

"If someone wants the position..."

Andrew pointed toward Taai.

"...beat him."

Kai stared.

"...That's your political system?"

Andrew nodded proudly.

"Simple."

Kai rubbed his forehead.

"That explains... a lot."

"It really does."

Andrew stretched.

"Anyway."

"My job's done."

Kai looked over.

"You're leaving already?"

Andrew pointed toward the exit.

"Boring stuff."

"You two can talk."

Then he paused.

"Oh."

"One more thing."

Kai waited.

Andrew leaned closer.

"...Be careful."

Kai became serious.

"Why?"

Andrew smirked.

"Taai might grab your ass."

Kai blinked.

"...What?"

Andrew burst into laughter.

"I'm kidding!"

"...Probably."

Before Kai could respond—

Andrew was already walking away.

He waved without turning around.

"Good luck!"

Kai watched him disappear.

"...Wacko."

He hadn't acknowledged Kai once.

Not even a glance.

Punch.

Kick.

Shoulder strike.

Another sandbag burst open.

Kai waited.

Several minutes passed.

Then several more.

Finally—

Taai threw one last punch.

BOOM!

The reinforced training dummy flew across the arena.

It crashed into the far wall.

Silence.

Taai grabbed a towel.

Wiped the sweat from his face.

Then finally looked toward Kai.

"So."

"...Who're you?"

Kai stepped forward.

"I'm Kai."

He reached into his coat.

"I have something for you."

He produced two letters.

The wax seals had already been broken.

Taai noticed immediately.

"...Already read?"

Kai scratched the back of his head.

"They're not addressed to me."

"...But circumstances happened."

Taai shrugged.

"As long as Alice wrote them."

He accepted both letters.

Opened the first.

Read quietly.

Then the second.

Kai remained silent.

Watching him.

The strange thing wasn't Taai's muscles.

It was the pressure.

Standing several meters away—

Kai could still feel it.

No mana.

No magic.

Pure physical presence.

Like standing near a sleeping beast.

Eventually—

Taai folded both letters carefully.

Placed them inside his pocket.

Making sure they wouldn't crease.

Then looked directly at Kai.

"...Well then."

"Kai."

"You're a guest."

A small grin appeared.

"Welcome."

Kai smiled politely.

"Thanks."

Taai suddenly lowered his center of gravity.

One foot slid backward.

His fists rose.

A perfect fighting stance.

Kai's smile disappeared.

"...What's this?"

Taai cracked his neck.

"The welcome ceremony."

Kai instinctively stepped back.

"...Excuse me?"

Without another word—

Taai exploded forward.

The ground cracked beneath his feet.

Kai's eyes widened.

Fast.

Way too fast.

He barely twisted aside.

WHOOSH!

Taai's fist tore through the air where Kai's head had been.

The shockwave alone pushed Kai backward.

Taai laughed.

"Nice dodge."

Kai quickly regained his footing.

"What kind of welcome is this?!"

Taai rolled his shoulders.

"The Muscle City kind."

He pointed at Kai.

"Alice says you're interesting."

"Raj says you're stubborn."

He grinned wider.

"I wanna see for myself."

Kai sighed.

"...I knew accepting those letters would somehow end in violence."

Taai laughed.

"Good!"

"Now..."

He tightened his fists.

"...Let's kick it up a notch."

Kai immediately raised his guard.

"...This city has issues."

Then Taai vanished from where he stood.

And Kai realized—

The welcome ceremony...

...had only just begun.