Magnolia Town
"We're back!!"
"We're back!!"
"That was fast!"
"Love!"
It had taken them an entire day and night to sneak out and reach the destination last time, but this time, they'd left in the morning and returned to Magnolia by afternoon.
"That's because Kaien was going way too fast on the sea!"
Gray still looked pale from the boat ride.
"Boat... urgh...!"
Just hearing the word made Natsu nauseous again.
Kaien sped ahead on his own vessel, while the rest of them bounced violently on the waves behind him. Even normally fine passengers like Gray, Lucy, and Happy were close to vomiting.
"Sigh, we stole the mission for nothing. Didn't get a single thing out of it."
"Serves you right! That's what you get for stealing a mission. Besides, it's not like you didn't have your chance. You got frozen the moment we started. If you'd actually beaten those three guys, maybe I would've shared a bit."
"How was I supposed to know that jerk would freeze me solid?!"
Natsu was fuming. If he hadn't been frozen, he could've taken out those three and even smashed that arrogant Lyon into the ground.
At that moment, Happy turned to Kaien and asked, "Kaien, that earthquake the other night—was that you?"
The others froze. Now that he mentioned it, the recent earthquake in Magnolia had felt very unnatural.
"What are you talking about? I have no idea."
Kaien awkwardly looked away.
"It was definitely you. There haven't been any earthquakes in Magnolia for years. And then boom—one happens the same night you got that white-bearded grandpa's power."
"You've got no proof! Don't go accusing people like that. I could sue you for slander."
"Give me a fish."
"I'll give you ten!"
"Yay! Awesome!!"
Just then, whispers started spreading from both sides of the street.
"Huh? What's going on? The guild looks weird..."
They looked ahead and saw the Fairy Tail guild pierced through with steel pillars, torn and shattered all over. The entire place looked like it had been hit by a full-on assault.
"Who did this?!!"
The sight of their guild in ruins ignited a blazing fury in their hearts.
"It was Phantom Lord Guild."
Mirajane's voice rang out. Everyone turned toward it, seeing her standing nearby.
Kaien rushed over, worried. "Mirajane, are you hurt?"
He had panicked when he saw the destroyed guild, fearing the worst.
Mirajane was touched by his concern and shook her head. "No, I'm fine."
Lucy quickly asked, "What about the others? Is everyone okay?"
"Everyone's safe. They're all in the basement. Come with me."
The group followed Mirajane down to the first basement level of the guild. This was Fairy Tail's backup storage area, usually used to hold supplies.
"Oh! Kaien, you're back!"
"Natsu and Gray are back too!"
The moment they entered, they were greeted warmly by guild members.
"Did you see what they did to our guild? Damn it..."
"Those Phantom bastards! Attacking our guild like this?! We should destroy theirs next time!!"
"Calm down. Our enemy is Phantom Lord."
Emotions flared in the basement. Everyone was yelling about getting revenge.
"Yo, welcome back."
Makarov greeted them with a mug of beer in hand, acting like nothing had happened.
"Old man! Now's not the time to be drinking! The guild's wrecked!"
Natsu was furious at Makarov's carefree attitude and shouted at him.
"Oh? Is that so? You all went on an S-Class mission without permission. Time for punishment! Prepare yourselves!"
Natsu yelled, "That's not the issue right now!!"
Makarov raised his palm and smacked Natsu and Happy on the head, then gave Lucy a swat on the butt.
Mirajane glared. "Master! That's not okay!"
Natsu was fuming. "Gramps! Do you even understand the situation right now?!"
"Calm down, calm down. It's not that big of a deal."
"What?!"
Everyone's face turned sour. If this wasn't a big deal, what was?
"Those Phantom idiots can't do much. They attacked when none of us were around. What's so impressive about a sneak attack? There's no need to get worked up over enemies who only strike from the shadows. Just ignore them."
"No way we're letting this go! I'm gonna smash them!!"
Natsu shouted, his face twisted with rage.
Mirajane explained, "Natsu... Master is frustrated too. But the Magic Council has forbidden guild-on-guild combat."
"But they started it!"
"It's not about who started it."
The Magic Council didn't care who made the first move. As long as both sides fought, they'd both be punished.
Makarov said, "That's the end of it. Until the upstairs is fixed, we'll work from here."
"Like hell anyone can focus on work now!!"
Suddenly, a cold voice echoed out.
"Oh? You can't focus on work?"
"GYAAAAAH!!"
Natsu, Lucy, and Happy all screamed in unison.
They turned around—only to find Erza standing behind them, exuding terrifying bloodlust.
"Erza—?!!"
Natsu might not fear the master, but Erza? He was absolutely terrified of her. She used to beat him up when they were kids.
"E-Erza... the guild's been destroyed!"
Natsu forced himself to speak through his fear.
Erza said coldly, "That's no excuse for stealing an S-Class mission."
"This isn't the time to worry about that! Phantom Lord attacked us! They destroyed our guild! Are you really just going to stand there and do nothing? Can you honestly say you're okay with this, Erza?"
Erza faltered at Natsu's words. She had grown up in this guild—it was her home. Of course she wasn't okay with it.
But she also understood one thing: the Magic Council strictly forbade combat between guilds. Fairy Tail already had a bad reputation with them. If they really clashed with Phantom Thief Guild, the Council might forcibly disband them—and then none of them would have a home anymore.
Besides, Phantom Lord Guild was powerful. A fight between the two would likely leave both sides devastated.
Makarov had swallowed his anger for the guild's sake—for everyone's safety.
Just then—
Kaien's voice rang out.
"Master, if there's a way to teach Phantom Lord Guild a lesson without getting punished by the Magic Council... would you be willing to go for it?"