Neither the imposing Yingji Race man nor the chattering green-skinned Pirus noticed Gleipnir's arrival.
On the contrary, Edward, who looked the most inconspicuous, suddenly stopped what he was doing and turned suspiciously toward the door.
The door was closed, and he had not heard any footsteps.
Yet for some reason, Edward felt that something was off, as though someone were watching him.
The feeling made Edward deeply uncomfortable. It reminded him of when he had been imprisoned in the Instrument World and looked down upon by "people" beyond the world.
This sensation of being scrutinized and observed made him very uneasy.
"Hey, hey, did you hear that? The rent's going up, it's going up!" Baibo Pibai stood with his hands on his hips, chin raised, his face full of pride. "See that? This is a prime golden rental spot. There's a huge crowd lining up outside, all drawn here because my shop occupies such a golden location."
"So, we need to change the rent we discussed yesterday. Ten Condensed Crystals a day is too little. It has to be at least a hundred... no, two hundred Condensed Crystals a day!"
Muttering as he spoke, Baibo Pibai walked over to Edward. "Hey, why are you being so rude? Answer me. Don't think that just because you're a Crystal-Eyed Race member, and I'm in your Crystal City, you can just have me over a barrel."
"I'm telling you, behind me is—"
Before Baibo Pibai could finish, Edward lightly extended a hand past his cheek.
Under Baibo Pibai's startled gaze, Edward gave his arm a casual sweep and pushed the small, slight Pirus aside.
"Don't block my view." Edward did not forget to add that after pushing Baibo Pibai away.
Baibo Pibai had initially thought Edward was about to slap him. Seeing that