Should Good Deeds Be Rewarded?

"Hand over everything valuable!"

"We're only after your money, not your lives. Be smart and don't force us to kill!"

A dozen bandits suddenly burst into the train car, brandishing knives and guns, ready to make an easy score.

What made Yun Feiyang and Makarov even more speechless was that the couple across from them also stood up, pulled out weapons, and joined in.

The well-endowed female bandit waved a knife in front of their faces.

"Enjoyed the show, did you? Hand over your valuables, or don't blame me for getting rough!"

Yun Feiyang and Makarov exchanged a glance, looking at each other in bewilderment.

"Guild Master, did you forget to wash your face this morning?"

"Nonsense, it's clearly you who didn't brush your teeth!"

The female bandit fumed. "Shut up! This is a robbery, get serious!"

"Hurry up, hand over the cash, or I'll poke a hole in you!"

Yun Feiyang raised his hands. "Boss lady, I've got no money. My pockets are cleaner than my face!"

"This old man's got cash—rob him!"

"Kid, is this how you screw over your elder?"

"Shut up!"

"Old man, your money or your life?"

"No! Don't kill me! Don't kill me!"

Staring at the ferocious female bandit, the "panicked" Makarov flailed his hands wildly.

Grope, grope!

Yun Feiyang's forehead darkened with veins. This lecherous old man was hopeless!

The female bandit flushed with rage and shame. "How dare you cop a feel, you old bastard, I'll kill you!"

Her dagger stabbed down at Makarov, but Yun Feiyang caught it.

"Enjoying yourself?"

"Ahem~ I can feel spring!"

"Fine, have fun then."

Tossing the female bandit to Makarov, Yun Feiyang stood up, clenched his fist, and aimed at the group of bandits.

"Wind Bind!"

A breeze swept in, forming shackles that tightly bound every bandit.

The trouble was resolved, drawing cheers from everyone.

"Anyone got rope? Tie these people up!"

"Make sure it's tight!"

After sitting back down, Yun Feiyang said in exasperation, "Guild Master, this is clearly a magic world, and these guys are robbing a train? Are their heads full of holes?"

"Well~ there are always people who gamble on luck. Nothing new."

Suddenly, the train jolted violently, then began to shake uncontrollably.

"What's happening?"

This abnormal phenomenon sent everyone into a panic.

Yun Feiyang stuck his head out the window, and his pupils contracted sharply.

"We're in big trouble!"

"What is it?"

"The train wants a mistress."

"Speak human!"

"It's derailed!"

It turned out that some bandits had stormed the driver's cabin, and during a scuffle with the crew, the train had derailed.

"Then hurry up and save people!"

Makarov climbed out the window and flipped onto the roof, with Yun Feiyang flying up right behind him.

"Even if you say that, how do we save them? This is a train, not a car!"

Yun Feiyang could destroy the train, but stopping it was beyond him.

"Even if we can't save it, we have to try. These are countless lives!"

Suddenly, both of their pupils shrank—ahead lay a cliff!

"No time!"

Makarov sprinted to the front of the train, leaped off, and transformed into a giant, bracing himself against the locomotive with all his might!

But it had limited effect—this was a high-speed train, and stopping it wasn't that easy!

"Guild Master, get out of the way!"

Yun Feiyang flew over Makarov's head and stopped ahead of the train.

He raised a Wind Blade and slashed!

"Black Tortoise!"

Countless Mystic Snakes coiled around the train, adding resistance, while the Mystic Tortoise blocked its path!

With a thunderous crash, the train's front crumpled, the Black Tortoise shattered from the impact, and Yun Feiyang was sent flying backward!

Fortunately, Makarov had shifted to the side of the cars, or that blow would have crushed him!

"Again!"

"Black Tortoise!"

Boom!

The Black Tortoise shattered once more!

Glancing back at the cliff drawing ever closer, Yun Feiyang gritted his teeth in determination!

"Today, I'm really locking horns with you—I refuse to believe I can't stop you!"

"Black Tortoise!"

Boom!

"Black Tortoise!"

Boom!

"Black Tortoise!"

Boom!

With each successive wave of resistance, the train's speed gradually slowed!

"Feiyang, push harder~~~"

Clutching the train, his feet plowing a trench through the ground, Makarov's face flushed red as he roared with effort!

Looking down at the abyss-like drop below, then back at the train still charging forward—

Yes, he had already been shoved off the cliff!

"Storm!"

Yun Feiyang bellowed as he charged toward the train, his feet forming twin cyclones as boosters, wrestling against the locomotive!

At the same time, gale-force winds howled like a typhoon, blasting fiercely against the train!

"Stop right now~~~~"

The two erupted with a massive surge of Magic Power, forming twin energy pillars that shot into the sky, scattering the dark clouds and letting sunlight pour down once more!

After one car had jutted out over the edge, the train finally ground to a halt!

The crowd, whose hearts had nearly leaped out of their chests, let out a huge sigh of relief, followed by wild cheers!

One by one, they burst out of the cars, shouting at the two!

Yun Feiyang landed on the roof and sat down beside Makarov.

"Damn, that nearly turned me into a dead dog!"

"Good work—our efforts weren't wasted."

"Of course, or where would your face as one of the Ten Great go?"

"Well~ it's definitely something to brag about!"

Looking down at the crowd below, Yun Feiyang suddenly said, "Guild Master, don't you think now's the time for me to collapse from exhaustion, and then they'll say pityingly, 'He's just a child!'"

Makarov's mouth twitched. This kid was great at everything, but his mind jumped around too much—it was hard to keep up with his pace.

"How about I get the Magic Council to give you an award?"

"That could work—the Royal Family has to reward us too, since we saved all these people!"

"Makes sense!"

Makarov's eyes lit up. That absolutely could work!

He didn't want anything else—just money, he was desperate for it, because the guild members were too destructive, and his meager savings couldn't cover the damages!

"Guild Master, does this count as an S-class mission?"

"Brat, don't push your luck!"

Then he added, "Let's call it a regular mission!"

"Fine!"

Makarov lectured earnestly: "When doing good deeds, you shouldn't ask for rewards. You need to correct this attitude!"

"No, no, no. That way of thinking is wrong. Rewards create motivation, and that encourages people to do more good deeds!"

"This is called cause in giving, effect in reward. Without rewards, wouldn't it just dishearten people? Over time, who would still be willing to do good?"

Makarov paused, having to admit that this kid's reasoning was devilishly sound!

Damn it, here I am, an eighty-year-old man, and I lose a debate to a teenager—how embarrassing!

"Guild Master, since you're so noble, how about you give all the rewards to me?"

"Ahem~~"

Makarov stood up and said: "We should get going, or there'll be a mess of cleanup to deal with, and we're almost late for the routine meeting!"

"The train's like this—how do we leave?"

"Don't we still have you?"

"Old Man, I'm reporting you for exploiting child labor!"

"You count as child labor?"

"Not an adult yet, so yes!"

Bickering all the way, Yun Feiyang lifted Makarov and soared into the sky!