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Feeling Makarov's gaze, subtle yet present, Siegrain's heart sank, realizing his Thought Projection had been seen through.
As expected of a veteran Ten Wizard Saint.
Personally escorting his main body and holding a high-level meeting was all to stall him, giving his guild members time to go to the Tower of Heaven to find evidence that "Siegrain" and "Jellal" were the same person.
After all, with his status as a Magic Councilor, unless Makarov had absolute proof, the high-ranking members of the Council would not believe his one-sided story.
Most Magic Councilors were accustomed to their lofty positions—they could tolerate others being their equals, but the authority of a Magic Councilor was absolutely not to be infringed upon.
Siegrain smiled faintly. It seemed he still had to thank these old geezers for giving him time to operate.
"Everyone, Jellal, the master of the Tower of Heaven that Makarov mentioned, is my twin brother, separated from me for many years."
"I am not saying this to plead for him, but the most important thing now is how we should deal with an R-System that has already been completed."
The Tower of Heaven was not yet completed—Siegrain knew this better than anyone, and the reason he emphasized "completed" was to sow confusion and make the Magic Councilors nervous.
Sure enough, this statement immediately made the Magic Councilors uneasy. That was the "masterpiece" of the Black Mage, a Black Magic said to be able to revive the dead.
Siegrain seized the opportunity and dropped a bombshell. "I have learned from Jellal that the one he plans to resurrect with the R-System is the creator of this Magic!"
"The Black Mage—Zeref!"
At these words, not only the Magic Councilors but even Makarov was startled.
Makarov didn't understand if this was a smokescreen thrown by Siegrain or Jellal's true intention.
Chairman Crawford, who was as round as a ball, looked eagerly at Makarov. "Makarov, since you've come to us, have you already investigated the location of the last Tower of Heaven?"
The annihilation of the Black Magic Cult's "Tower of Heaven" project seven years ago was the most important achievement in Chairman Crawford's career, so of course, any oversight now had to be resolved.
Makarov shook his head. "I don't know the exact location yet, but our guild members have already gone to the Tower of Heaven. He will send me a message with a Communication Lacrima then."
After silently cursing Crawford as a fool, Siegrain spoke with righteous indignation:
"My opinion is that the Tower of Heaven must not remain in this world!"
"To make the R-System completely disappear from this world, and to prevent the Black Mage from returning, we only have one method left!"
At the Council table, Siegrain's excited voice was firm and resonant. "Chairman, and fellow Magic Councilors, the time has come—activate Etherion!"
Upon hearing this, the other Magic Councilors looked conflicted.
The Ishgar continent had once suffered a dark disaster due to the existence of the R-System, so the Council regarded this Magic as taboo.
Under normal circumstances, since the R-System had been discovered, according to the Council's procedure for dealing with Black Magic, it would certainly be destroyed.
However... any area enveloped by Etherion would be reduced to nothing.
This was a terrifying Magic capable of destroying a country in a single blow—the Council would not activate this trump card unless absolutely necessary.
Although Crawford was shortsighted, he wasn't an idiot.
Based on the experience of the Tower of Heaven siege seven years ago, there must be a large number of innocent people inside the Tower of Heaven. If Etherion were activated, the ordinary people within would also suffer.
Crawford, who only wanted to secure his position as Chairman, hesitated and said, "Let's wait for Fairy Tail to send back news first. What if they can solve the problem?"
Just then, the Communication Lacrima in Makarov's pocket vibrated, and coordinates appeared from it. Noah and his group had found the Tower of Heaven.
With the coordinates provided by Makarov and located by the Magic Council's Magic satellite, a high tower with a spiky design piercing the sky clearly appeared on the large screen in the meeting room.
Deep in the Kargilu Sea.
Looking up at the nightmare tower that once stood isolated on the small island, Erza's heart was filled with emotion.
The pain was a thing of the past. The girl came today to rescue her companions who had once resisted the Heaven guards with her, only to be deceived by Jellal into continuing to build the Tower of Heaven.
After Noah sent the message to Makarov, he had Snow eat the Communication Lacrima. Such an expensive Magic tool was better off in Snow's magical cheek pouch.
As the ship drew closer, the Tower of Heaven was already in sight.
Looking out, several fully armed figures walked back and forth outside the tower, and at the entrance leading into the tower, Mages personally stood guard.
With this level of defense, secretly infiltrating seemed out of the question.
However, Noah hadn't intended to sneak in. After all, a sailboat appearing on the open sea—unless all those patrol teams were blind, how could they not be discovered?
Watching the patrol team gathering on the shore, Lucy spoke somewhat timidly. "It looks like there are a lot of people guarding here. Do we really have to fight our way in directly? Or maybe..."
"Don't worry."
Noah swaggered to the bow of the ship, looking at the shore with disdain. "Who do you think we are? Get the ship closer!"
Only then did Lucy remember that Erza, Natsu, and Gray were also with them, and she immediately gained confidence, no longer worried.
"Who goes there?!"
"This isn't where you should... Ah!"
Before the patrol member could finish speaking, he was knocked unconscious by a flying kick from Noah. The young man was like a tiger entering a flock of sheep, and none of the surrounding patrol members could withstand his punches.
In a moment, Noah had cleared the area.
"Seriously, at least leave a few for us..."
Gray grumbled about Noah hogging the action, while grabbing one of Natsu's legs and forcefully throwing him ashore.
As his body left the mode of transportation, Natsu's strength immediately returned to him, and he flipped in mid-air, landing steadily.
"This feels great! I'm all fired up!"
Looking at the fully revived Natsu, Noah only felt that this guy was truly overly energetic, able to get excited anytime, anywhere.
A commotion came from ahead, and then Noah saw a large number of guards pouring out from inside the Tower of Heaven.
Turning around, he placed the hamster Snow on the ship, and Noah tapped its small head. "Don't just focus on eating, help us watch the ship."
"Squeak, squeak, squeak!"
Snow responded, then immediately pounced on the snack bag Noah had left on the ship.
After only briefly instructing Snow, Noah looked back again, only to see that the guards who had been so menacing moments ago were now scattered on the ground, fallen.
Although they were soldiers, they were ultimately ordinary people, and Natsu and Gray charged straight through them, while Erza had already entered the Tower of Heaven ahead of them.
Lucy knew her combat experience was insufficient, so she did not charge with her teammates but followed behind with Happy and Cheese, dealing with any stragglers and any guards who got back up.
Watching his companions enter the high tower one by one, Noah did not immediately follow but instead observed the structure.
Being able to get close to forbidden Black Magic, even in an unfinished state, Noah still cherished this opportunity.
Strolling leisurely, as if casually wandering, after touching the tower a few times, Noah suddenly smiled as he realized something.
"So that's it..."
"It's just a massive container for receiving Magic Power, isn't it?"