"Damn, why does this place keep getting worse?"
The farther they went, the fewer green trees they could see. There were barely any signs of people at all. As far as the eye could reach, it was nothing but abandoned land, dry and desolate, already showing signs of turning into desert.
"We should be getting close to the battlefield, right?" Kather Lin had never been here either, so there was uncertainty in her voice.
"The battlefield where our three countries fight doesn't belong to any nation's territory," Bai Chuan explained. "That's why nobody manages the land around the main front. There's no one living here."
"Then what's the point of you people fighting?"
War in a public zone. Was it just to prove who was stronger? If they were not even taking land from each other, what did it matter?
"In the past few years, we did take territory from each other," Kather Lin said. "But lately, my father seems to have reached some agreement with the other two kingdoms. It's been a long time since there was a large scale war."
"If I'm not wrong," Bai Chuan said, "your father made that agreement not long after your older brother was killed by Rogue."
"…Yes." Kather Lin's voice sank.
"Alright. That's in the past. I shouldn't have brought it up."
"It's fine," she said quietly. "Rogue is dead. I think Father will be happy about that."
It had already been four or five days since they left the mountain stronghold. The food they had brought was long gone. What none of them expected was that along the entire way, they had not even seen a single rabbit.
Bai Chuan was fine. Even if he didn't eat for a long time, he wouldn't starve to death. Buggy and Shanks were a little worse off, but still manageable.
Kather Lin was the one who couldn't take it. She was so hungry her vision was starting to blur.
"Hang on a little longer," Bai Chuan said. "We'll find food soon."
"Mm." Kather Lin had stopped walking on her own and was now slumped on Bai Chuan's back. She looked utterly drained.
"This one's on me," Bai Chuan muttered. "I didn't expect there wouldn't be any food at all near the battlefield. Looks like this country's soldiers get their rations shipped in from the cities."
"Bai Chuan, look," Shanks said suddenly. "Someone's up ahead."
At the same time, the group on the other side spotted them too.
"From their clothes, they look like battlefield soldiers," Bai Chuan said. "Heaven's helping us. They've definitely got dry rations on them."
"Who are you people?" The squad of soldiers walked over, their tone sharp and serious as they questioned Bai Chuan.
"We're merchants passing through," Bai Chuan replied smoothly. "A band of mountain thieves robbed us of our goods and food. Could you spare us something to eat? Look, she's already fainted from hunger."
Kather Lin cooperated perfectly, closing her eyes as if she'd passed out.
"And," Bai Chuan added, "we've got two kids with us."
"Captain," one soldier whispered to his leader, "the person on his back looks like the princess of the Mor Kingdom. And those people look like the ones on the wanted posters."
Hearing that, the captain looked them over carefully. Then his expression twisted with anger.
"Good one. You almost fooled me," he snapped. "Get them. Now. Arrest them and escort them back to the royal capital!"
Facing the aggressive soldiers, Shanks and Buggy pulled out their weapons, but it was obvious both of them were in bad shape.
"I didn't want to use violence," Bai Chuan said calmly. "But since you came looking for trouble, you asked for it."
He didn't let Shanks or Buggy move. Instead, Bai Chuan released his Conqueror's Haki, sweeping it over the soldiers.
The squad collapsed.
Right after that, they stripped every last bit of food off the soldiers. Even Kather Lin forgot all about propriety, reaching straight into the pockets of the unconscious men like her life depended on it.
Watching her devour the rations, Bai Chuan finally let out a breath of relief. If Kather Lin starved to death or got sick from hunger, his mission would be over before it even began.
"Slow down. No one's taking it from you," Bai Chuan teased, amused as he watched her cram food into her mouth while still trying to shove more in.
"Mmm, mmm." Kather Lin nodded, but her hands and mouth showed no sign of stopping.
"Look at the kid," Shanks said. "She's starving."
Buggy and Shanks didn't look any better. They could endure hunger, sure, but with food right in front of them, who would choose to keep suffering?
Bai Chuan handed Kather Lin a sip of water and then ate a little himself, more out of courtesy than anything else.
"Ah… I'm finally alive again."
After taking a big gulp of water, Kather Lin let out a soft, satisfied sound.
"But are we really okay eating here?" she asked, glancing nervously at the soldiers sprawled around her. "They won't wake up soon, will they?"
"Relax," Bai Chuan said. "They won't be waking up for a while."
"Oh… good." Kather Lin exhaled, finally easing up.
By then, Shanks and Buggy had eaten their fill too. Their stomachs were round, and they lay on the ground unwilling to move.
"You two, is that really necessary?" Bai Chuan said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
"You don't understand what it feels like to starve," Shanks drawled lazily. He even shook his head at Bai Chuan like Bai Chuan had missed out on some rare experience.
"I don't understand," Bai Chuan said. "And I don't want to."
"Alright," Bai Chuan continued. "Let's talk business."
"You say it," Kather Lin said, looking at him. Shanks and Buggy also turned their attention over.
"Since a squad of soldiers has already appeared, that means we're not far from this country's border," Bai Chuan said. "There'll definitely be heavy troops stationed there. We need to figure out how to get through."
"Let's disguise ourselves," Kather Lin suggested. "Like we did before."
"That won't work," Bai Chuan said bluntly. "You're a princess. You of all people should know how strict border patrol is."
"Then we fight our way through," Shanks offered.
"That's even less realistic," Bai Chuan replied. "They'll have too many soldiers. Even if we're all elites, they can still wear us down and kill us."
"This won't work, that won't work," Kather Lin said, frustrated. "Then what do you want to do?"
"I plan to fly out."
"Fly out?" Kather Lin blinked. "With your ability, taking us with you would be easy. If you've already decided, why even ask us?"
"Nothing," Bai Chuan said. "I just wanted to hear your opinions. Not that I'm going to use them."
"Hmph. Taking off your pants just to fart. Completely pointless," Buggy grumbled.
"Hehe." Hearing that, Kather Lin suddenly laughed. "The way you talk is really interesting."
"I learned it from Bai Chuan."
"I didn't think you'd be such an unserious person."
"If I were serious, who could be with you right now?" Buggy shot back. "Wouldn't that just be asking for trouble?"
"Aren't you the one asking for trouble?"
"Hey, you little girl," Buggy said, bristling. "We're escorting you out of kindness. If you won't thank us, fine, but don't say I'm asking for trouble. If that's how it is, then go back by yourself."
"Sorry, I was wrong."
Kather Lin immediately backed down. Going back alone was basically the same as walking to her death.
/-\
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