...
Mavis slowly nodded. She knew this was the best compromise Shin would offer. If she pushed him any further, he wouldn't hesitate to completely shut her out.
For an entity this terrifyingly powerful to agree to even a minor concession was a miracle in itself. What right did she have to demand more?
It was laughable, really. But the reality of the situation forced her to consider the long game.
She missed her son deeply, but she knew acting on impulse would ruin Shin's plans. If she wanted her family back, she had to hold back her feelings and wait. If she made a mistake and Shin found out, it would all be over.
Shin was a brilliant tactician. Since he had chosen her to help establish this new Empire, he would likely delegate a massive amount of responsibility to her.
If she failed him, she would prove herself entirely useless.
Mavis looked at Shin, her mind racing even though her face stayed calm. Shin's real intentions didn't matter now. All that mattered was survival.
She had to obey his every command. It was the only way she and Zeref would ever have a chance at a peaceful life.
To Shin, they were just pieces on a chessboard. But she couldn't dare voice that thought out loud. If she did, Shin would likely wipe her from existence before she could even blink. The risk was simply not worth it.
"I accept your terms, Shin," Mavis said softly. "I will follow your plan perfectly."
Shin nodded in satisfaction.
"Since you are going to become the King and wage war against Zeref's empire," Mavis continued, stepping fully into her new role. "I would like to offer my services as your Prime Minister."
"I am intimately familiar with Zeref's tactics, and I appreciate your... decisive leadership style. I know my personal feelings are irrelevant right now. The true war hasn't even begun, and we have much to prepare for."
Shin offered an approving smile. "I knew you were the right choice. The position of Prime Minister is yours. You absolutely possess the intellect and strategic mind to manage a kingdom."
"To successfully oppose the Alvarez Empire, Fairy Tail will need to stand against an entire nation," Shin explained.
"But you don't need to panic. I am fully aware that sending the current guild members into that war would be a suicide mission. I have my own methods to unlock their absolute maximum potential."
Mavis had been wondering how Shin planned to bridge the massive power gap between Fairy Tail and the Spriggan 12. His confident answer immediately put her strategic mind at ease.
If Shin said he could do it, he could do it. Worrying about the impossible was pointless when dealing with a man who rewrote reality on a whim.
"Since that is settled, we have an enormous amount of work to do," Mavis said, her eyes flashing with a sharp, calculating light. "If we are going to wage war against another continent, we need detailed intelligence on their top-tier fighters."
"Furthermore, since Fairy Tail is about to become the Royal Guild, I need to thoroughly brief the members. We cannot afford any unnecessary mistakes or diplomatic blunders."
Shin nodded. Mavis was incredibly efficient. He didn't even need to micromanage—she was already laying the groundwork for his empire.
"We are officially declaring war on neighboring nations," Mavis strategized aloud. "Our first objective must be to conquer the Royal Capital of Fiore. That means we will inevitably clash with the Ten Wizard Saints."
"I will leave the heavy hitters to you, Shin," Mavis concluded. "The rest of us will focus entirely on fulfilling our assigned roles. We will operate flawlessly, and no one outside the guild will ever suspect who is truly pulling the strings. Are my assumptions correct?"
Mavis paused, momentarily overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the coup they were planning. She was still trying to process the fact that she was alive, let alone helping a dimensional traveler overthrow the government.
She was basically agreeing to let Shin conquer the world. She was agreeing to wage war against her own lover. It was completely absurd, but she didn't dare voice a single complaint.
"Lord Shin, I must ask," Makarov interrupted cautiously. "Do we truly possess items or magic capable of drastically increasing our members' strength? I fear that if we rush into this unprepared, we will face absolute annihilation."
Shin raised an eyebrow. Makarov was much more grounded and pragmatic than Mavis. Mavis had just discovered her husband and son were alive, and her mind was understandably clouded by a mix of desperation and hope. She viewed Shin as her only chance to save them, regardless of the cost.
"You don't need to worry about the details, Master Makarov," Shin replied smoothly. "When the time comes, Fairy Tail will be more than ready."
Makarov nodded respectfully. "Then we will take our leave, Lord Shin. We have said all we needed to say."
"Very well. I will see you both later," Shin said, dismissing them.
As Mavis and Makarov walked back down the dark tunnel, Mavis turned to her old friend.
"We are leaving the cavern, Makarov. Even though my heart aches, we have a massive amount of work to do," Mavis whispered. "We are no longer on the same level as Shin. Our only option is to obey his commands absolutely."
Mavis was deeply confused by Shin's behavior. He was overwhelmingly arrogant, yet he never went out of his way to humiliate or degrade them. He was a tyrant who played by his own twisted set of rules.
"I understand, First Master," Makarov sighed softly. "Whatever happens next, Fairy Tail will weather the storm."
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