"I think I smell Lucy!"
"Even though I know you mean nothing by that, you'd better not say it at her place."
Rhode was a bit worried they might get thrown out.
Although their current "Find Lucy Team" was pretty formidable, it wasn't appropriate to start fights at Lucy's home.
Gray crossed his arms and looked at Natsu disdainfully: "No need for sniffing, the largest building over there is obviously Lucy's house."
"Put your clothes on first." Erza reminded, then sighed, "No wonder it's the top financial group, the house is even bigger than Kardia Cathedral, no, bigger than the Council's meeting place."
Rhode nodded, such a big house, it would take at least a few minutes to tear it down.
The River Crab headed straight for the most conspicuous mansion, but was stopped just at the courtyard, perhaps by some security or guards?
"The area ahead is the Hartfilia family's residence, may I ask who you are?"
Erza responded: "We're mages from Fairy Tail, companions of Lucy, and we've come to see Lucy."
"Friends of the lady? Please wait a moment." The guard went into the courtyard to ask a maid, Mrs. Speeter, who had been taking care of Lucy since she was little.
Looking closely, there were quite a few people in the courtyard, like maids and gardeners; just the ones visible numbered nearly twenty, and that was just the courtyard—who knows how many people were cleaning in that large mansion.
Gray commented, "Surprising that Lucy can get used to living alone."
Hapi added, "Aye, and she's self-sufficient."
Rhode added, "And she's often invaded by you guys."
Natsu laughed carelessly, "Because she's Lucy! Fairy Tail's Lucy."
Because she is Lucy, she's able to get used to a life where she worries about rent every month, and because she's Fairy Tail's Lucy, she can tolerate her chaotic companions.
"That's no excuse for bullying her all the time! Though I also bully her…" Rhode stated righteously, "But I only do it verbally!"
"Sorry, Master Jude is discussing important matters with Miss Lucy and cannot be disturbed. So please wait a moment."
Mrs. Speeter and the guard approached: "If you don't mind, please come in and have some refreshments?"
She was being a bit presumptuous, as Lucy had no friends of her age growing up, Mrs. Speeter knew the master didn't like people from Fairy Tail, but she still wanted to entertain a bit quietly.
Natsu's eyes lit up, "Refreshments!"
Hapi wanted to rush forward too, "Are there any fish?"
Erza grabbed Natsu by the back of his shirt and Hapi by the scruff of his neck, like picking up two cats, "No need, thank you for the offer, we'll come back later."
Natsu and Hapi were dragged away, and the group turned to leave.
The "later" Erza mentioned was probably only a few seconds.
Considering that Lucy might be forced by her father to do something she didn't want to, the group decided without hesitation to sneak in.
Rhode, being someone so steady, certainly wouldn't let them go wild while he watched; he wanted to follow them in.
Thus, it wasn't fooling around anymore, it was a plan.
The group found a secluded spot, Hapi carried Natsu, Beaked Bird carried Erza, and Rhode carried Gray, all flying up to the rooftop of the large mansion.
Hapi went window by window, found the room where Jude and Lucy were, and then everyone rappeled down, eavesdropping from outside the window.
Erza provided the rope, and she even brought a set of black tight-fitting clothes, though it was a pity she couldn't use it now.
When they got into position, they just heard a stern male voice: "…This marriage alliance is very meaningful for the future of the Hartfilia family."
Then came Lucy's somewhat disappointed voice: "Father…"
The other side seemed indifferent to what she wanted to say: "That's all I have to say, you can return to your room now."
Lucy's voice turned resolute: "Please don't misunderstand, the only reason I came back is not to compromise with you, but to express my decision."
"What?"
"Don't make decisions about my marriage so easily, I have my own path to walk!"
"Lucy?" The man's voice became a bit stunned; his daughter had never dared to speak to him in such a tone before.
"If you hadn't done such things, perhaps I could have calmly talked with you, but you shouldn't have found people to harm my companions!"
Lucy tore her extravagant dress with a ripping sound and declared emphatically, "Don't touch Fairy Tail again! Otherwise, everyone in the guild will consider you an enemy, including me!"
"Do you know what you're saying? The wealth and power of the Hartfilia family, you should know it better than anyone else."
"It doesn't matter! What I want is not money, nor this house, but a place that truly recognizes 'me' as a person! Fairy Tail is my other home, a warmer home than here!"
As long as I'm with my companions, there's no need to fear any power of the Hartfilia family!"
Natsu, outside the window, became excited by Lucy's words, and Rhode quickly picked up Hapi to cover Natsu's mouth before he could shout.
However, Erza was also moved by Lucy's words: "Well said… Ugh!"
Rhode grabbed Gray's shirt to cover Erza's mouth.
Gray looked at Rhode in shock, you actually covered Erza's mouth like that, if you don't want to live, don't drag me into it!
Rhode glared at Gray; he wasn't afraid of retaliation, Erza was a reasonable person, and who told Gray to start undressing at this moment.
"Over there, who are you?!"
Hanging on someone else's wall was indeed too conspicuous, initially, the guards mistook them for window cleaners, but when they lingered, it seemed suspicious.
The group swiftly retreated back up to the roof.
Lucy opened the window to take a look, and the guards below were already busy: "There are suspicious individuals intruding, quickly find them! Protect the master and the young lady!"
For people to invade the Hartfilia family so blatantly like this… Lucy sighed, having an idea who it was.
She closed the window, adjusted her emotions: "That's all I have to say, if Mom were still here, she would definitely support me… Goodbye, Father."
The last sentence had a great impact on Jude, and it seemed like he saw Reela's shadow in Lucy.
Jude couldn't say a word, just dazedly watched Lucy leave.
Reela…would support her?
…
"Didn't I tell you to stay silent and still, now we got discovered?" Rhode decided to shift the blame first.
"Sorry!" The three plus one cat, like students being scolded by their teacher, bowed their heads obediently.
Rhode's action plan couldn't be wrong, so the mistake must be theirs.
"You'll have to work twice as hard as punishment when we get back."
"Yes…"
Once they were sure Lucy was okay, they relaxed a bit; it was just extra work, no big deal.
Gray said, "Speaking of which, since Lucy wasn't confined or anything, we can go see her directly, right?"
"Delicious refreshments!" Natsu was still obsessed with the thought of delicious treats.
"Fish!" Hapi was just like him.
Erza smiled and said, "Don't even think about it, Lucy has already abandoned her lady status, she'll need us to help her earn her rent when we get back."
Rhode sighed and said earnestly, "Please try to cause less trouble next time… let the president and Lucy worry less."
"Yes…"
Whether they could do it or not, they agreed first anyway.