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After dinner, before Noah could even speak, Ultear proactively divulged some intelligence. However, it wasn't the gossip Noah wanted to hear, but rather detailed information about one of the three giants of the Dark Guilds—Oración Seis.
Only Erza paid attention. After all, Fairy Tail, as a Legal Guild, was naturally at odds with Dark Guilds like Oración Seis, so knowing more information wasn't a bad thing.
Noah and Mystogan weren't very interested. One was a slacker who just wanted to rot away, and the other was a mysterious task fanatic who couldn't be seen by others.
"If I tell you this information, will you let me go?"
Hearing Ultear's words, Noah pouted, "At this very moment? You must be joking."
The corners of Ultear's mouth curved slightly, and a hint of slyness appeared in her eyes. "The strongest Dark Guild, Grimoire Heart, is plotting against your Fairy Tail sacred land, Tenrou Island. I can be your inside man."
"You're with Grimoire Heart?"
Noah frowned. Jellal and Oración Seis were closely related, and Ultear had just revealed her connection to Grimoire Heart. People from both Dark Guild giants were involved in the final Tower of Heaven plan.
He had long heard that the three major forces of the Dark Guilds might form an alliance. Now, it seemed it wasn't just a possibility, but already a fact.
"You're a Dark Guild member. Telling us this isn't just to escape punishment, is it?"
"Punishment? Heh heh..."
A flicker of sorrow crossed Ultear's eyes. Her sins were already countless, and the Magic Council's judgment was nothing more than an optional formality to her.
"Let's make a deal. You help me take down Brain, the Guild Master of Oración Seis."
"In return, I will give you all the information about Grimoire Heart, and even the mastermind behind Jellal's brainwashing and manipulation—her life, I will also offer up."
Late night.
On the small island, three people sat around a bonfire.
"Letting her leave like this, isn't it too hasty?"
Noah listlessly poked the bonfire with a stick. Ultear had already sailed away in the ship she arrived in, disappearing into the night. Erza had agreed to her terms.
Making a deal with a Dark Guild member indeed didn't align with the identity of a Legal Guild member, but for Fairy Tail to better cope with Grimoire Heart's covetousness, Erza felt it was necessary to take the risk.
As for the truth behind Jellal's brainwashing and drastic change in personality, Erza wasn't that concerned.
After all, Jellal was already buried at sea. Even knowing the truth wouldn't bring him back to life, nor could it cover up the crimes he had committed.
Seeing Erza's silence, Noah wisely changed the subject.
"Mystogan, you said you came here to search for traces of a certain Magic. May I ask what kind of Magic it is?"
After much deliberation, Mystogan still spoke to his two trustworthy companions, but he still concealed some details. "That Magic can forcibly transfer Magic Power, as well as magical creatures, including humans."
"In short, it's a very dangerous Magic."
Listening to Mystogan's vague explanation, Erza inadvertently glanced at Noah. Noah's use of Magic on the Tower of Heaven had left a deep impression on her.
To be able to transfer even such a massive, Magic-filled Lacrima, it felt somewhat similar to the Magic Mystogan described.
Could Mystogan have come for that Magic?
Erza wasn't very sure, so she looked at the white-haired young man beside her, only to find Noah staring intently at Mystogan without any avoidance, as if trying to see through Mystogan's black robe.
That gaze contained three parts suspicion, three parts surprise, and four parts an unknown emotion.
Erza had never seen Noah reveal such an expression. She suddenly thought of those romance novels she only dared to secretly read in her dorm, some of which contained taboo plots... Could it be!
"Cough, cough, cough, cough..."
Startled by her own wild thoughts, Erza's breathing became rapid, and she accidentally choked on her saliva, suddenly bursting into a violent cough.
Although they didn't know what the red-haired young girl was thinking, her slightly peculiar and guilty gaze made both Noah and Mystogan believe that it was definitely not a normal thought.
Getting back to the main topic, Noah looked at Mystogan with a slight smile, "It's actually you. Fate is truly wonderful."
Noah's words left Mystogan confused. Before he could understand what he meant, Noah suddenly pointed toward the sea.
"Look! What's that!"
Seeing Noah, who was usually carefree, actually show a shocked expression, Erza and Mystogan's hearts tightened, thinking something big had happened, and quickly looked in the direction he was pointing.
However, under the moonlight, there was only the vast, calm sea, with nothing noteworthy to be seen.
Suddenly, Mystogan felt a gust of wind assault his face, but at that moment, it was too late to dodge. In a flash, his mask was unexpectedly pulled off by Noah.
Erza also reacted, thinking it was Noah's prank, and curiously looked at Mystogan. In fact, she had wanted to do the same thing to this overly mysterious companion for a long time.
However, every time Mystogan returned to the Guild, Erza would fall unconscious under his Sleep Magic before he even arrived. She barely saw him a few times, let alone had a chance to uncover Mystogan's disguise.
Having finally gotten a chance to glimpse the true face of "Fairy Tail's Most Mysterious Man," Erza naturally didn't want to miss it, but this one look made her jaw drop.
"Jellal?!!"
Beneath the mysterious mask was a face identical to Jellal's, even the mark on his right cheek was exactly the same!
How could this be? Did Jellal really have a twin brother?
But Erza quickly reacted, no longer looking at Mystogan, who she didn't know how to explain. "Noah, is Mystogan the brother you were looking for?"
Noah nodded. The Magic Mystogan described was Anima, and only Edolas people would know that Anima could transfer Magic Power from other worlds.
Coupled with Mystogan's identical appearance to Jellal, Noah was now absolutely certain that he was Jellal's interdimensional counterpart, meaning Noah's brother, the Grand Prince of Edolas.
Noah had never imagined being able to find his brother in the vast sea of humanity, but in fact, he had already met his brother three times.
Passing each other at the station.
The small incident in the Guild hall due to a misunderstanding.
And today's encounter on the island.
Looking at the bewildered Mystogan, Noah couldn't help but marvel at the wonder of fate. Among countless people, that person was found where the lights were dim.
It was really like the old saying: "I searched for him among the crowd a thousand times, and suddenly, looking back, he was there, where the lights were dim."