Kino, what about the wood-chopping?
Shh!
Too bad.
What's wrong, Kino?
You look like you're eating sand.
No, this sausage is good.
Even cold, it's still plenty good.
I was just...
Just what?
Remembering Master.
That's rare.
What were you remembering?
The time she turned the tables on me during training.
Why?
Why, indeed...
Oh, that reminds me.
After that, she told me a tale from her travels while we ate sausage like this.
From back when she was young?
Yeah.
It was about a country with a tall clock tower.
Supposedly it's somewhere near here.
Historic Country
Kino's Journey
Master.
What is it?
We'll be reaching the next country soon.
Let's sell the gems we have on hand there.
We're running low on food and fuel, so we'll need cash.
Let's use the rest to buy liquor and other things we can trade easily.
I suppose we'll have to, but...
Make sure to sell high, right?
I know.
This looks like a nice country, doesn't it?
Looks like their technology is fairly advanced, too.
You can sell them real high in countries like this.
There are a lot of police officers.
True.
Maybe this country has a military police force doubling as their army.
In my experience, you can't let your guard down in nations like this.
Bad public order?
No, the problem is with those who have the authority.
Let's stay quieter than we usually do while we're here.
Roger that.
Then you can take it easy at the hotel, Master.
I'll be back by lunch.
So there you have it.
Your lover has been arrested for possession of illegal drugs.
I see.
However, I must make one correction.
He is not my lover, but simply a fellow traveler.
My pardons on that.
Where is he now?
He's in the detention cells underground.
You have an underground floor, too?
What an awfully large police force.
This used to be the palace back when our country had a king.
It's such a historic building, the clock tower has been preserved as a cultural monument.
Now it's being used as a combined office for multiple government organizations,
but, well, we're the ones in control of things.
This place is effectively the police headquarters.
I see.
It's exactly as I suspected.
What is?
I understand the situation, but as you can see, I'm a traveler.
Could you show mercy and use your authority to issue exile as his punishment?
What'll you give me for it?
I can offer this much.
That pittance is out of the question.
You should leave the country soon, too.
I'll keep quiet about your attempt to bribe a police officer.
I will gladly do that, then.
That man is simply a stranger I happened upon during my travels,
and there's nothing to be done if he's been arrested for doing something wrong.
I'll leave him behind.
Wise decision.
Would you allow me to give him some final words of farewell?
Can't do that.
After all, possession of illegal drugs is a serious crime.
I would appreciate it if you could provide your assistance in this matter.
Sister! You've come to rescue me?!
After all those times I told you not to do anything illegal?
No way! I was falsely accused!
Please face your trial here.
I have a country I need to visit, so I can't wait for you.
Oh, come on!
I've never done anything wrong in my entire life!
Too bad for you.
From now on, you should mind your pockets.
You never know what might be in them, after all.
Sister!
You know that one case I've never revealed the contents of?
Please use that to fund your travels or something.
Please sell it high!
When I bought it, it cost me 434 silver coins!
Understood. I'll do that.
That's enough.
Yes.
These are that man's belongings.
What about the gems he had or the money he exchanged them for?
We assume that was the capital he used to buy his illegal drugs,
so it's all been confiscated as evidence.
I see.
A silencer and a plastic knife.
Wire.
Poison capsules?
They're all tools for assassinations.
Good grief. What was that man doing before?
That woman has left the country.
I'm told there was no suspicious activity.
That so?
Don't let her reenter the country.
It'll bring all kinds of trouble.
Yes, sir.
Also, the director currently dining with our statesmen said,
"Good work. I'll send your cut later."
Good. You all did well, too.
Thank you, sir.
What should we do with that man?
We could just exile him wherever,
but putting him to trial and making him work twenty years for us would be good, too.
Maybe I'll decide later with a roll of the dice.
Now, then...
I see.
Now this is an interesting article.
Guess it'll take a while longer.
Next...
Kino's Journey
Ah, this is nice!
So warm!
Huh?
Run!
A fire?! Someone planted bombs!
The building's gonna collapse!
Everyone, retreat! Hurry!
Wh-What about that prisoner?!
Forget about him!
Man, I knew you'd come,
Master.
Honestly, you're such a troublesome apprentice.
Sorry I let my guard down.
By the way, were my toys helpful?
Well, to some extent.
Once you're done changing, we're leaving,
What's the plan?
It'll be impossible to leave the country right now.
That's true... So what should we do?
What would you do?
Well...
I'd go hide somewhere we wouldn't be found, like an attic or a sewer pipe.
Then about three days later, after they've worn themselves out hunting for us,
I'd either sneak out or launch a short, intense offensive and exit the country.
You're on the right track, but not quite there.
Oh?
Waiting three days is indeed correct, but you're wrong about hiding.
Then what?
We make a scene.
You want to unleash your full strength every now and then, right?
The view from up high is quite nice.
Yeah.
So what happened after that?
Well, after that, the two of them first went into the armory.
Everyone had already run out of the building because of the commotion she caused,
so they leisurely loaded up a cart full of weapons and ammunition.
Wow, how terrifying!
Talk about adding fools to the fire!
Yeah, it was, Hermes.
So... continue with the story about Master.
Sure.
They then went into the provision stores
and loaded both food and water into the cart in much the same way.
And then, and then?
They went up to the highest floor with the cart.
The highest floor?
They didn't run?
The exact opposite.
Master and her apprentice climbed to the clock tower roof,
the highest point in the country, and made their stand.
They used explosives to cut the cable on the only elevator,
dropping it to the basement.
Ker-smash!
Then, when the police finally returned after quelling all the commotion,
the two of them took aim and...
Ka-bang?
Yup.
They killed them one by one?
No. That's what was amazing about Master.
She didn't kill them.
What? What do you mean?
She intentionally aimed for their knees, shins,
and other places that wouldn't be lethal
with precise marksmanship.
Ah! So then she killed those who jumped in to help the wounded, right?
Snipers often use that tactic.
She didn't do that, either.
Huh?
Master didn't kill those who ran, and she didn't shoot those coming to help.
Why not? What for?
I asked her the same question.
She gave me time to think of the answer myself,
but at the time, I couldn't figure it out until she got further into her story.
Then I give up.
Continue the story, Kino.
Master knew very well that the two of them couldn't break through the gate on their own.
So she decided to wait
until the country said, "We've opened it for you, so please go through."
Ah, I get it.
By holing up in the clock tower,
they caused huge problems for the people who worked there every day,
so the citizens demanded that the police hurry up and do something about it.
But...
They'd be shot.
Yup.
Plus, shooting them in the legs was more wicked than shooting them to death.
Since their comrades weren't killed, fear grew stronger than the desire for vengeance.
I see.
Plus, the apprentice they captured on false charges got really into it.
He sent every officer who charged on them to the hospital.
Eventually, they put a letter in an envelope and dropped it down.
Using the officers' own equipment, of course.
"To Whom It May Concern:
The blowing winds have grown colder as of late,
but I hope you and all of the officers are enjoying good health."
"To the point: The two of us villainous scoundrels have accepted this as our grave.
We shall defend this position to the death
with everything we have until we exhaust our bows and arrows,
causing as much chaos as we may in the meantime."
"At any rate, we may be but two amateurs,
but we humbly ask for your kind leadership and encouragement in the coming days.
Sincerely Yours."
That concludes the statement from the two occupying our clock tower.
The various directors have demanded urgent response from the police.
The director has explained they will launch a raid operation this evening,
and has requested the citizens remain calm and patient.
Sounds like we can take it easy until nightfall.
That was foolish.
Yeah. Master said the same thing.
She said the broadcasts were a big help, telling them exactly
what the police were going to do.
So how many days did they stay holed up there?
Three days and nights.
Can you hear us, you two?
There's nowhere for you to run!
You will die in there, as you wished!
If you don't die in there,
we'll hang you after dragging you through the streets!
Prepare yourselves!
We have you completely surrounded!
If you quietly surrender, we'll spare your lives!
Do you two have something you'd like to say?
We'll be gracious and hear you out.
Good morning.
We have a message for you.
If you two wish to leave our country,
we will gladly permit you to do so.
Please. Honestly, from the bottom of our hearts, please stop this.
Help. Stop this already.
If you're willing to go that far,
we're willing to give up on dying here and leave this country.
R-Really?!
So what'll you give me for it?
What...
What'll you give me for it?
Um...
How about the amount I've written here?
We'll offer more!
So that's how it ended, apparently.
She's a demon.
And thus Master extorted money from their government
and safely left the country.
And they lived happily ever after.
Ah, what an amazing tale.
It's in sight now.
Perfect timing.
It's octagonal. This must be it.
There's the clock tower, too.
Mama!
Kino.
Look there.
There's a monument.
What does it say?
The letters are too small to read.
Oh, that...
That's a monument erected to commemorate the two brave heroes who saved our country.
Two brave heroes?
I'm a traveler, but I'm interested in the history of your nation.
Could you tell me more about it?
Gladly.
When I was still young, corruption was rampant in our government.
Oh? Go on, go on.
The standing police force was guilty of wrongdoing, too.
But one day, two righteous travelers stood up on behalf of the people.
And then, and then?
Then, with the power of the people behind them,
they petitioned the government in this very building.
Incredible.
Then our politicians and policemen, influenced by the passion those two bore,
grew ashamed of their deeds
and ceased their wrongdoing.
Thanks to them, our country is now very prosperous and pleasant.
We're living happily ever after.
Grandpa, your stories always end with "happily ever after"!
I see. So this stone commemorates that?
That's correct.
It's now recorded in our history textbooks as the "tale of two travelers of justice."
Sorry to change the subject,
but what happened to your leg?
I see that many of the elderly in this country, especially the men, are using canes.
O-Oh, I wonder what it was...
So in the end, which do you think is true?
You already know the answer to that question, don't you?
Yeah. But what an optimistic country.
It's good to be positive.
Maybe, in a sense.
But what do you think would happen if Master visited here again?
Huh?
Don't worry.
She's not here.
Y-Yeah.
So face forward and drive.
Y-Yeah...
Historic Country
Country of Radio Waves
Country of Radio Waves.