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Siegrain left.
Noah also took the opportunity to leave.
Only Makarov and Doranbalt remained in the office.
"Any news?"
Makarov skillfully asked Doranbalt, who, as expected, shook his head.
"The Western Continent has a very tight information blockade. Even the most elite intelligence agents of the Custody Enforcement Unit would need at least five or six years to gather enough useful information."
Hearing this reply, Makarov nodded slightly, showing no disappointment. He looked at Doranbalt. "You've worked hard, Mest."
"Don't say that, Guild Master."
"If you really think I've worked hard, then let me return to the Guild."
"Doranbalt," or rather, "Mest," looked wronged and immediately poured out his grievances to Makarov. "Guild Master, you don't know, that Lahar fellow's insight is terrifying."
"I even suspect he's already realized that I'm Fairy Tail's spy within the Council. I'm under a lot of pressure."
"Recently, I've even considered using Magic to seal away my memories of the Guild, otherwise I'm truly afraid my identity will be exposed one day."
Nine years ago, to leverage the power of the Magic Council to investigate certain intelligence on the Western Continent, Makarov sent Mest to infiltrate the Council as a spy.
With the two Magics of Teleportation and Memory Control at his disposal, Mest, under the alias "Doranbalt," took less than five years to rise to the position of Deputy Captain of the Custody Enforcement Unit, with authority only below the Magic Councilors and Captain Lahar.
Of course, to prevent his identity from being exposed, and with Makarov's permission, Mest made a small alteration to his guildmates' memories, concealing his own existence.
But now, nine years have passed, and Makarov still hasn't obtained the intelligence he needs. However, this can't be blamed on Mest—his position doesn't grant him the authority to deploy more personnel to the Western Continent for investigation.
As for getting a promotion and gaining more power?
One must know that above him are the Magic Councilors. Even Lahar has been the Captain for seven or eight years without moving up, let alone Mest, who is just a Deputy Captain.
"Three years, then another three years, and another three years after that..."
"It's almost ten years, Guild Master. When will it ever end...?"
Mest was full of bitterness, which immediately filled Makarov with guilt as he listened to his complaints, and he promptly decided to increase his spy allowance.
As for letting Mest end his spy career, Makarov promised it would happen next year.
Mest's eyes were resentful, but as soon as he thought about receiving both Makarov's funds and the Council's high salary simultaneously, he instantly felt much better.
After Mest left, the office fell silent.
Flipping through the interrogation records of Jellal that Noah had left behind, one name made Makarov clench his fist.
With trembling hands, he took out a photo album from the drawer. This was a record of some happy times in Makarov's life.
The short old man opened the album and skillfully found a group photo of six people. Makarov in the photo was still very young, surrounded by his five teammates, smiling very happily.
However, as his companions successively withdrew and left the Guild to pursue their own dreams, the once happy team was left with only Makarov alone, though everyone still kept in touch frequently.
Except for one person.
Caressing the old photograph, looking at the companion he hadn't been able to contact for a long time, Makarov murmured:
"Is this why Erza joined our Guild?"
"So many years with no news of you, it turns out you've already taken the first step... Rob..."
"Tell them this news."
That night, a Magic Councilor, two Magic Guild Masters, and a healer living in seclusion in the mountains all received a letter from Fairy Tail.
The sender was signed Makarov.
And the content of the letter was just one sentence:
Seven years ago, Rob died protecting children in the undiscovered Tower of Heaven.
The bright moon hung high, and stars filled the sky.
A hint of coolness still lingered in the spring night, and the night breeze, carrying a chill, passed through the wide-open balcony, gently stirring a few strands of the girl's crimson long hair.
The girl sat on the ground, her head buried in her chest, the moonlight casting her solitary shadow long.
The figure and the moon's shadow were equally lonely.
The battle with Jellal reminded Erza of the old man seven years ago in the Tower of Heaven, who had a "Dancing Fairy" tattoo on his back and saved her with his life during her resistance.
"Grandpa Rob, I have gained my freedom."
"But Jellal, he..."
"He brought it upon himself."
A sudden voice came from the balcony, interrupting the girl's soliloquy.
Looking at the white-haired young man, Erza spoke irritably, "Why didn't you use the main door?"
Noah shrugged, feigning innocence. "Well, I didn't have a key, did I? And I'm not going to violently pick a lock like someone I know."
Erza pouted. With Noah's antics, her gloomy mood dissipated considerably.
This was Noah's first time entering Erza's dorm room. He looked around the girl's private room with curiosity. After Erza had forcefully invaded his room so many times, he supposed he was just following suit, right?
Erza didn't mind Noah's impolite behavior at all. She was only curious why this homebody came to see her so late at night.
And Noah's answer was only three words:
Tower of Heaven.
Erza paused, then lowered her head again. "Are you asking about my relationship with Jellal?"
"No, I already know about you and Jellal resisting the Tower of Heaven guards from him."
Noah pulled a chair over and sat beside Erza, telling her that he had Warren use the Telepathy Magic to read Jellal's mind.
Once, on New Year's Eve, Noah celebrated Erza's birthday. He clearly remembered how touched Erza was, shedding tears, because only her left eye cried.
At the time, Noah was slightly confused but didn't think much of it, until today's interrogation of Jellal, when Warren revealed Erza's past through mind-reading.
Erza's right eye had been permanently damaged seven years ago due to torture while resisting the Tower of Heaven guards.
Her current right eye should be a magical prosthetic eye she received after coming to Fairy Tail.
Looking at the silent girl, Noah suddenly felt a pang of heartache for her.
Even when she was severely tormented, the girl, encouraged by her companions, continued to lead the enslaved people in resisting the Tower of Heaven guards.
After a painful battle, the girl succeeded, but the two people who had encouraged her—one died saving her, and the other fell into endless darkness.
She must be hurting too... Noah didn't know how to comfort her, but he understood that the Tower of Heaven was the knot in the girl's heart. He who tied the bell must untie it, so the young man spoke.
"Erza, do you know that Jellal is still continuing to build that tower? It's almost finished now."
"Wh-What!"