A Close Call

After resting for a while, they set off again and continued onward. At last, they spotted Iron Wall, the city at the very edge of the country.

Why was the city called Iron Wall? Not because its walls were made of iron, but because it had never been conquered since the day it was built.

"This city really does feel different," Shanks said, standing outside the walls. If they went into the city now, they'd definitely be discovered.

"That's for sure. This city must have been through dozens of wars, big and small. The walls must have been bathed in the blood of countless people."

Standing at the foot of the walls, anyone would feel insignificant.

They found a relatively secluded spot outside the city walls and waited until nightfall. They had decided to fly over after dark so they wouldn't attract anyone's attention.

Shirakawa didn't want to get riddled with arrows in broad daylight.

Night fell quickly. The weather was cool, a gentle breeze stirred, and the lovely moon shone down with pure light from the pitch-black sky.

The night was quiet, with only a few small animals calling out now and then, trying to catch their attention.

Unlike other cities, Iron Wall wasn't bustling in the evening. Instead, its soldiers were intensely focused.

They stared straight ahead, determined not to miss the slightest clue.

"The country's politics may be a mess, but there's no faulting the quality of its soldiers."

Looking at the soldiers on the walls, all of them utterly meticulous, Shirakawa felt a measure of respect for them.

"It seems this country has some kind of strict regulations for its soldiers, so they don't dare slack off at all. If they're caught, they'll probably face a harsh punishment."

"So that's how it is?" Shirakawa nodded in agreement. Having someone push them from behind could help them perform better. But if that person disappeared one day, they'd become extremely lax, perhaps even worse than soldiers from other countries.

"Let's get moving."

"Mm." The three of them nodded.

Shirakawa picked Kaiser Lynn up. It wasn't to take advantage of her, but to make her feel safe in the air so she wouldn't scream.

As for Shanks and Buggy, they grabbed onto his clothes. Given their personalities, they shouldn't have been the type to get scared.

But Shirakawa had seriously overestimated Buggy. They had to fly across the whole city, so it would take a while. To avoid being spotted, Shirakawa flew very high this time.

At first, Buggy didn't mind. After all, Shirakawa had taken him flying plenty of times. But as they climbed higher and higher, Buggy's heart began to pound faster and faster. It was especially unnerving at night: when he looked down, he saw nothing but darkness, with no way of knowing how high they were. He clung tightly to Shirakawa's leg.

Seeing Buggy like that, Shirakawa couldn't resist teasing him. He plunged down a short distance, as if he'd lost his powers. Buggy let out an ear-piercing scream that sounded loud enough to carry for hundreds of miles.

Luckily, Shanks reacted quickly and covered Buggy's mouth. Shirakawa didn't dare joke around anymore and resumed flying normally. Even he had been startled just then.

"Hey, did you hear a scream just now? It sounded pretty awful," one of the soldiers on the wall asked the man beside him.

"No. Maybe you imagined it."

"Maybe I did." Since his comrade hadn't heard anything, he must have been imagining things.

"You've been working too hard these past few days. Your body can't take it anymore. Get some sleep as soon as you're off duty. Stop wasting your energy in women's beds."

"Mm, I guess I really should take a day off." He looked up and thought he saw a shooting star, twinkling as it drifted overhead before disappearing.

Could I really have worn myself out that much? He couldn't help but sink into deep self-doubt.

As time passed, and with Shirakawa no longer messing around, Buggy gradually calmed down.

"Buggy, you should've seen yourself just now. What a coward." Shanks immediately started mocking him as soon as he got the chance.

"Hmph, don't talk about me. Weren't you scared too? We both know each other's tells."

"Still, I didn't scream."

"That's because I screamed first and distracted you. Otherwise, you'd have been the one screaming."

Buggy was certain Shanks would have screamed. It just wouldn't have been a scream of fear—it would have been one of excitement.

Shirakawa simply listened to the two clowns bicker with a smile. Hearing their amusing conversation made the dull flight a lot more interesting.

"Why don't you just take me straight to the capital of my country?"

Kaiser Lynn wasn't sure whether she'd taken a liking to flying or to being held by Shirakawa, but she made the suggestion anyway.

"No." Shirakawa rejected it without a second thought.

"Why?" Kaiser Lynn puffed out her cheeks and asked, both baffled and indignant.

"No reason. I just don't want to."

"Hmph, you really are stubborn." Kaiser Lynn turned her head away, intending to throw a little tantrum. But in the end, she was the only one who had to put up with it.

"Hey, why haven't you gone down yet? We should've left the borders of the Kingdom of Kolun ages ago."

Kaiser Lynn felt they'd been flying for a long time. They should have passed the Kingdom of Kolun's border already.

"I'm planning to fly straight to your country."

"Hm? What do you mean? Didn't you say you wouldn't fly straight to our capital?"

"Yeah, but I never said I wouldn't fly to your country. I'm just a little bored and want to get this ridiculous task over with as soon as possible."

"What do you mean by that? Are you saying you're bored because you're with me? Fine, put me down right now and I'll go back by myself."

"Are you throwing a tantrum?" Shirakawa's tone suddenly turned cold.

"Throwing a tantrum? How am I throwing a tantrum? You're the one who said you were bored. How did that become me throwing a tantrum?"

"So you want to take advantage of me and then refuse to pay? I took this job for a reward. If I put you down now, who am I supposed to ask for payment?"

Hearing Shirakawa's words, Kaiser Lynn fell silent.

Just then, a series of "bang, bang, bang" sounds suddenly came from below them. There were gunshots, cannon fire, and people shouting.

"What? What's going on?"

Buggy, who had only just calmed down, sprang back to life.