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.