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When a group is unified in attitude and works together, efficiency can increase to an unimaginable degree.
There are many examples to prove this point.
For instance: the Magic Council's handling of Phantom Lord for violating Guild agreements and unilaterally starting a Guild war.
According to standard procedures, the Custody Enforcement Unit would first apprehend members from both sides of the Guild war, questioning and interrogating them individually.
After thoroughly understanding and carefully discerning the cause and progression of the Guild war, the Custody Enforcement Unit would submit a complete investigation report to the higher-ups.
Finally, the Magic Council's higher-ups would make a ruling, imposing penalties or warnings on both parties involved in the Guild war.
This entire process would take at least over a month.
However, from the capture of Jose and others by Lahar to the Magic Council's public announcement of Phantom Lord's punishment, it only took a mere three days.
Perhaps it was to ease relations with Makarov.
Or perhaps it was out of fear of the terrifying strength Fairy Tail displayed during the Guild war, where Phantom Lord's combat power was overwhelmingly suppressed, and Jose, a Ten Wizard Saint-level Guild Master, was even defeated by four juniors.
Under the interplay of various reasons, the Magic Council worked overtime, giving the green light every step of the way, staying up for two consecutive nights to complete the investigation, interrogation, and judgment of the incident without violating regulations.
The Magic Guild Phantom Lord severely violated the agreement by unilaterally attacking Fairy Tail, a fellow Legal Guild, and used Forbidden Magic to threaten the lives of Magnolia residents.
Therefore, the Magic Council revoked Phantom Lord's Guild license and ordered it to disband its headquarters and all Phantom branches within seven days.
Among Phantom Lord's five executives, Totomaru, Gajeel, and Juvia received Fairy Tail's forgiveness, and the Magic Council decided not to pursue charges against them.
But Aria and Sol, those two scoundrels, were not so lucky; they will face twenty years of Magic-prohibiting imprisonment.
As for Jose, the Guild Master of Phantom Lord…
"Hahahahaha~~"
In the Fairy Tail Guild hall, at the familiar bar, Makarov couldn't stop smiling whenever he thought of Jose's fate.
Jose, one of the esteemed Ten Wizard Saints, was ravaged beyond recognition by a few juniors, and the desperate Magic he unleashed by sacrificing his life force was directly obliterated by Noah.
Paralyzed, unable to care for himself, his Magic Power drained, no longer able to use Magic—this was Jose's final outcome.
From a towering, peerless strong Mage to an incompetent cripple unable to care for himself, the immense disparity in status was, for a man like Jose, an ultimate insult to his body, mind, and pride.
It was also the best punishment for an ambitious man.
"Everyone! It's party time!"
"Let's toast to protecting our home!"
As Makarov's powerful voice rang out, dozens of glasses clinked with clear, crisp sounds, and a chorus of celebratory shouts immediately filled the air.
"Cheers!"
"Long live Fairy Tail!"
"I'm fired up... Gray, why are you bumping into me? Want to fight?!"
"Who bumped into you? Don't flatter yourself."
"It was me who accidentally touched him. A true man should admit his mistakes honorably!"
"You damn stripper!"
"You brainless simpleton!"
"..."
Elfman's timely admission of error was useless; after all, what was bound to happen always did. Natsu and Gray, those two sworn enemies at the end of the table, were, as usual, wrestling in a tangled mess.
Gray's clothes had disappeared again at some point, and Natsu still had three sausages stuffed in his mouth, yet even that didn't stop their daily "battle."
"Hey! You two over there!"
Erza's glass hit the table with a heavy thud, and her authoritative aura immediately caused the ice and fire Mages, who moments ago looked like mortal enemies, to instantly cling to each other in fear, trembling under the Fairy Queen's pressure.
Seeing Natsu and Gray settle down, Erza shook her head helplessly, "When will they ever learn? If they want to fight, they should do it outside. What if they break something in the Guild?"
"Forget it. Can we even count how many tables, chairs, and benches those two have broken by now?" Noah advised Erza to relax, but his gaze was on Cana.
Cana, with one hand, lifted an oak wine barrel nearly half her height, and amidst the cheers of her watching companions, she tilted her head back and chugged down enough alcohol for three or four people to drink in a day, all in one go.
Will she really not die drinking like that? ...By the way, is it blood or alcohol flowing through Cana's veins?
Noah felt the lively atmosphere. It was strange; even though the Guild was as noisy as a marketplace, he didn't feel bothered at all.
Indeed, after spending so much time in Fairy Tail, had his own lazy self also been infused with other flavors?
"Woof woof woof woof~"
Noah looked down; the cute little white dog was rubbing against his leg, acting spoiled.
After Yuki was revived through the power of the Card, her appearance returned to that of a young dog, and Cana often brought her to the Guild to play.
Cute animals always stir up a maiden's heart. Erza bent down, picked up Yuki, and petted her, "Yuki came to play with Cheese again, huh?"
"Woof~"
Although just an ordinary dog, Yuki had become familiar with the Magic cat and Magic hamster during this time, and she came to play with Cheese or Happy every day.
The little white dog happily ran through the corridor. Macao, at the next table, watched this scene and suddenly sighed, "Time really flies. Cana and she were both so tiny back then."
Listening to his good brother's sigh, Wakaba also couldn't help but recall the past, slowly exhaling a beautiful smoke ring, "Yes, I remember Cana was Gildarts' fan at first."
"It's a shame Gildarts is never in the Guild. Otherwise, I'd really like to see who can drink more, him or Cana."
Noah, who had been listening to the middle-aged men's conversation the whole time, of course knew who Gildarts was.
He was one of Fairy Tail's five S-Class Mages, an older generation Mage who traveled extensively, yet held the title of "Fairy Tail's Strongest."
Laxus, that battle maniac, his ultimate goal was neither to challenge the Ten Wizard Saints nor to become a Mage surpassing Makarov, but to defeat Gildarts and become Fairy Tail's strongest Mage.
In Laxus' eyes, Fairy Tail's Strongest > Ten Wizard Saints.
However, it was strange that in such a large Guild, there wasn't a single photo of Gildarts. It was said that he himself requested it.
What a strange person.
Noah couldn't help but feel curious and asked Erza and the two "fireworks": "What kind of person is Gildarts?"
"He's a strong person, very strong." Erza succinctly summarized Gildarts, though it was as good as saying nothing.
As for Macao and Wakaba, those two old foxes who were Gildarts' contemporaries, in their eyes, Gildarts was a "charming wanderer."
Mirajane, having temporarily finished her work, sat down next to Noah, stretched, and joined the conversation: "Are you talking about Gildarts? I feel that big drunkard and Cana, this little drunkard, are very similar."
Cana?
Noah looked back at the drunken girl who had started her second barrel of wine. He remembered Cana saying that she joined Fairy Tail to wait for someone.
But it probably had nothing to do with Gildarts, otherwise Cana wouldn't have waited until now.
"Kids! I have one more thing to announce!"
Seeing that everyone's round of celebrations was almost over, Makarov stepped onto a wine barrel and jumped onto the main table, announcing loudly:
"The Magic Council has sent over Phantom Lord's war reparations. That Jose might be useless, but he certainly knows how to make money, but now it's all ours."
"So, I've decided that starting tomorrow, we'll give the Guild a complete overhaul!"