Freyja didn't raise her head; she just glanced at Rhode with her eyes and then stared at Natsu.
She recognized this person, not in the usual sense, but because he was mentioned in Ivan's plan against Fairy Tail.
Natsu, Fire Dragon Slayer Mage, impulsive and easily angered, his weakness is transportation.
There were two more plans to deal with him, but they were unlikely to be necessary now.
Actually, Raven Tail also had a file on Rhode and several strategies against him...
But the results...
"I don't know you, pink-haired," Freyja's voice felt similar to Jubia from the Ghost era, with a somewhat eerie feeling.
She thought for a moment and added, "I don't recognize the blonde either. Only the black-haired one, and today is the second meeting."
"Really?" Natsu thought that since Purgatory Sub-Dragon specifically asked him to meet this woman, there must be a reason.
He looked at Freyja and eagerly said, "Take a good look again; if you're a companion, I'll break you out of prison immediately!"
The two Frog People were shocked. What was he planning to do?
"Idiot Natsu!" Hapi reprimanded, "How can you talk about prison break here? Discuss it after we leave!"
"Is the problem about where to discuss? She's about to be released; we don't need to rescue her!" Lucy placated with a smile towards the two uneasy Frog People.
Rhode also soothed, "Please don't mind them, they speak without thinking."
The two Frog People reluctantly nodded and reminded, "Please adhere to visiting hours; even you can't overstay."
Natsu and Freyja again stared at each other, neither recognizing the other.
Seeing time was almost up, Rhode had to ask his question: "May I ask what the emblem on your chest represents?"
Freyja lowered her head, pulled her collar aside, revealing the entire emblem: "This one?"
"Oh?! Don't look!" Lucy was startled by her action and immediately covered Natsu's eyes.
But realizing nothing inappropriate was exposed, she relaxed.
Rhode saw the round emblem—a simple line drawing of a spiral pattern, surrounded by a circle of small triangles, seemingly depicting the sun.
He thought he might have seen this emblem somewhere.
"It's the village crest," Freyja said, somewhat sadly, but her tone still sounded eerie, "After the guild disbanded, Raven Tail's emblem was replaced."
So the emblem wasn't changed by her, there might be some special power associated with it.
If he could touch it, maybe—maybe he wouldn't die?
Considering the risky option, Rhode decided to continue asking: "May I ask which village you belong to?"
"…" Freyja looked down at the floor, "I don't want to say."
A Frog Person immediately raised the magic staff in his hand: "How dare you decline to answer, this is a question from the esteemed Rhode, one of the Ten Wizard Saints!"
Freyja showed a frightened expression.
Rhode quickly pressed down the Frog Person's magic staff: "Don't be like this, it's not an interrogation, just...a casual conversation between friends."
Lucy quickly reassured Freyja, "It's okay if you don't want to say, we're just casually asking, there's no need to be afraid."
She wasn't a heinous criminal, just a young girl nearing the end of her sentence; they didn't want to use harsh methods.
Rhode planned to have a proper chat with her after she was released.
"I…I actually ran away from home," Freyja seemed still somewhat scared, "I embarrassed the village, so I don't want to mention it."
The term 'ran away from home' hit Lucy hard, suddenly reminding her of her own experience.
Back then, besides Fairy Tail, Master of Ghosts was also a consideration for her.
If she had joined Ghost...Lucy dared not imagine what might have happened.
She said emotionally, "It's hard, isn't it?"
Freyja was stunned: "What?"
"Leaving family, struggling alone outside, it's hard, isn't it? Especially in such a guild." Lucy's tone unknowingly became a bit sorrowful.
She always seemed able to empathize with others' struggles.
Freyja looked into Lucy's eyes, her nose suddenly feeling a bit sour, recalling the various difficulties she encountered after leaving the village.
This included the sudden situation where she was pinned by a dragon claw.
At this moment, she deeply missed the village, the adults there who treated her with love and care.
Tears began to gather in her eyes.
The Frog Person hesitated and could only remind: "Rhode, time's up."
Rhode nodded: "We have to go; we'll come see her again later."
Lucy lastly said to Freyja: "If you don't want to go back to the village for now and have nowhere else to go, come to Fairy Tail!"
Freyja dazedly watched them leave; it was only after everyone disappeared from her sight that she whispered: "But I don't want to go to Fairy Tail."
Maybe going home was the best choice.
…
Rhode didn't forget to tell the two Frog People wardens not to treat Freyja with special harshness.
Finally, remembering 'easy to deal with King Yan, troublesome little devils', he gave them two bottles of fine wine from the Gioa Kingdom as a token of gratitude for guiding them.
This evil Fairy Tail member was ruining social morals again.
When he registered the visit information and came out, Natsu and Lucy were still discussing Freyja.
"I don't mind her scent."
"Pervert!"
Natsu said: "Lucy's scent too."
Lucy hugged her arms and stepped away from Natsu: "Even more of a pervert!"
"We also don't mind the smell of fish."
"Don't compare fish with me!"
"Besides, fish are tastier."
"You darn cat!"
As they bickered, a piercing noise sounded in the sky, and a small flying ship descended again landing at the Council's entrance.
They looked over and saw a saber-toothed tiger's head carved on the bow.
"What a coincidence." Rhode chuckled; this must be Sabertooth's president Jerman being summoned, right?
Sure enough, once the flying ship stabilized, the side of it unfolded a gangway.
—After opening the hatch of such a small flying ship, though the steps were only a few high, they installed such a flashy item; how much do they prioritize extravagance?
Sure enough, two people slowly walked down from the ship.
One was a burly man, wearing a monk's hat and robe, in a martial monk's attire, with Buddhist beads around his neck, each the size of a fist.
The other was a slender lady, wearing a blue dress with a low neckline and high slit, her hair styled in twin chignons, painted with exaggerated eye shadow and dark lipstick, a white mink scarf around her neck.
These two were indeed Sabertooth's president Jerman, and his daughter Minerva.
Jerman's expression was stern, with anger brewing between his brows.
Minerva seemed quite relaxed, a hint of a smile playing at her lips, exuding an aura of confidence.
They walked towards the Council's door but upon recognizing Rhode stopped, casting unfriendly glances at them.