Chapter 94: Declaration of War
"What?!"
Everyone in the Guild was stunned when they heard Ren's calm, analytical words. The basement, which had been simmering with frustrated, angry whispers, fell completely silent.
"Ren... even you..."
Makarov, who had been trying to project an air of nonchalant calm, hadn't expected Ren—who was usually so quiet and pragmatic—to also want revenge on Phantom Lord. He thought Ren, of all people, would understand his reasoning.
"Old man, I know what you're trying to do," Ren said, his voice cutting through the silence. "You want to smooth things over. You're worried about the Magic Council, and you're worried about an all-out war with Jose. But how can you be sure that they will stop after this one attack? How can you be sure they won't attack again?"
Makarov tensed. That was, of course, his greatest fear.
Ren continued, his voice logical and cold, "What if we just rebuild the Guild, and Phantom Lord ambushes it again, but this time, in broad daylight? What if they hurt someone? Are you going to guard the Guild every night, Master?"
"..."
Makarov was about to say that, as the Master, he would protect them, but Ren spoke first.
"There's an old saying, 'A thief can steal for a thousand days, but you can't guard against a thief for a thousand days.' Sometimes you think enduring for a while will bring peace, and that taking a step back will open up new possibilities. But in their eyes," Ren gestured to the ruined ceiling, "you're just showing fear. You're showing cowardice."
"What?! I'd be afraid of that idiot Jose?!"
Makarov's voice immediately rose, his pride stung. He wouldn't be afraid of that idiot Jose Porla, no matter who else he might fear.
"Perhaps you're not afraid, Master," Ren said, his gaze sweeping over the guild. "But in others' eyes, you are. And many in this Guild, in their hearts, might also think so."
Makarov's gaze swept over his children. He saw their faces. He saw Macao and Wakaba, his oldest members, avoiding his eyes. He saw Gray, clenching his fists. He saw Elfman, looking like he wanted to punch something but holding back. And he saw Natsu, who, oblivious to the danger, just kept nodding his head in agreement with Ren.
"Not only that," Ren pressed on, his argument building like a case in court. "If you don't respond to this, this matter will be widely publicized. Weekly Sorcerer will have it on the front page. Soon, the entire Fiore Kingdom will know. You represent not just yourself, but the entire Fairy Tail Guild."
"When we go out then, walking on the streets, people will point at us. They'll say: 'Look everyone! That's Fairy Tail, the cowards whose Guild was smashed by Phantom Lord and who didn't dare to retaliate.'"
Makarov's eyes widened, his face turning red. "They dare?!"
"Of course they dare," Ren said flatly. "After all, what they say is the truth. They won't care about your complex emotional journey or your desire to protect us; they only care about the outcome."
"..."
"Let me think... what else will happen then?" Ren continued, tapping his chin. "Our clients will gradually lose trust in the Fairy Tail Guild. The quest requests will drastically decrease. Guild members... they'll stop being proud. They won't dare to announce their affiliation when they go out. They'll start to cover up their Guild emblems. Out of necessity, everyone will have to find their own way. And then... Guild members will be lost in large numbers. Within a few months, the Guild will only have twenty or thirty people left..."
"Stop talking!" Makarov roared, unable to bear the image Ren was painting. "Is it really that exaggerated just because I endured it once? If he dares to attack the Guild again, I definitely won't let him off!"
Makarov was somewhat speechless. The brat's words were hitting too close to home.
"Master, you might think enduring once is a small matter, but for us, it's a big deal," Ren said, his voice softening just a fraction. "If you, our Master, don't dare to take the lead... what should happen if a Guild member is bullied by Phantom Lord on a mission?"
"What else can happen?!" Makarov yelled, slamming his mug down. "Of course, we'll beat the hell out of him!"
"Perhaps," Ren agreed. "Natsu would. Erza would. But I think more... ordinary Mages... would choose to endure it. After all, if the Master doesn't dare to resist, what right do they have? Why should they risk their lives if their home won't back them up?"
"..."
Makarov fell silent. Ren was right.
"Sometimes, sneak attacks like this are like infidelity," Ren said, his analogy strange but effective. "There's only a 'zero times' and 'countless times'. One act of forbearance only makes the other side think you're easier to bully. This time, they smashed the Guild. Next time... it might not necessarily be the Guild they smash."
Makarov's eyes widened, a new, terrible fear dawning. "He... he dares?!"
"Why wouldn't he dare?" Ren asked. "He's already crossed the line."
"..."
"Master, sometimes it's better to guide the river than to block it," Ren concluded. "Endurance and concession will never bring peace. True dignity, and true peace, only lies on the edge of a blade."
"..."
The basement was silent. Makarov stared at Ren, his mind racing. This kid... in six months, he had gone from a quiet newcomer to the guild's sharpest, and perhaps most dangerous, strategist.
"Phew~~!" Makarov let out a long, helpless sigh. This kid's ability to sway people was too strong. He felt so stifled he was about to explode. He looked around. Everyone in Fairy Tail was looking at Ren, their eyes now burning with a new, controlled fire.
"Brat... tell me what you want to do."
Everyone in Fairy Tail also looked at Ren, wanting to know what method he had in mind.
Ren knew Makarov had relented. A slight, cold smile played on his lips.
"It's simple. Since the Magic Council doesn't allow Mage Guilds to fight each other—to have a war—then we won't have a war."
He paused, letting the tension build.
"We'll spar with them."
"Spar?!"
Everyone was stunned when they heard Ren's words.
"Fighting... a guild war... violates the Magic Council's regulations," Ren explained, his plan now clear. "But sparring... a friendly competition... does not. We'll say it's for mutual progress, to promote friendship between our two guilds, and to have a friendly, amicable spar."
Natsu and Gray looked confused, but Erza's eyes lit up, seeing the loophole.
"We'll set the location in a relatively large, neutral arena. We'll make it a 6-on-6 showdown. Their strongest six versus our strongest six. With this small number of people, it won't be considered a 'war' by the Magic Council, right? It's just a sanctioned match."
"We can also sell tickets," Ren added, a glint in his eye. "We'll invite Weekly Sorcerer and every other reporter in Fiore. We'll make it a public spectacle."
"As long as we completely, utterly, and publicly crush them in this showdown, then no matter what dirty tricks Phantom Lord pulls, no one will care. Even if the Master had endured this attack, others would only think Phantom Lord is despicable, and they wouldn't, couldn't, think Fairy Tail is cowardly."
Everyone in Fairy Tail's eyes lit up when they heard Ren's words. This... this was genius.
"That's right! Then the Council Members will have nothing to say!"
"And we'll stomp Phantom Lord underfoot in front of countless people! They'll never be able to hold their heads up again!"
"Exactly! Phantom Lord has always thought they were the number one Guild in Fiore. This time, let them know who the strongest Guild in Fiore is!"
"Wait," Gray interjected, "will Phantom Lord even agree? Why would they risk that?"
Ren smiled. "We can declare war on those guys through the newspaper. A public, front-page challenge. If they don't dare to accept..."
"They'll be ridiculed as cowards!!!" Natsu finished, his face splitting into a wide, fiery grin.
"Master! You decide!"
"Yes! Master! I don't want to be ridiculed by others when I go out, especially by those Phantom Lord bastards!"
"If they dare to ridicule me, I will definitely kill them!"
Everyone in the Guild chattered, their morale restored, their fighting spirit ignited.
Makarov, who had been listening to Ren's plan, actually... smiled. He knew what kind of treatment his children would face if this matter was endured. But for their safety, he had been willing to bear that shame.
However... Ren had just given him a way out. A loophole. A way to get revenge, restore their honor, and stay within the Council's rules.
Makarov stood up, his small body seeming to grow. He raised his fist, his eyes burning with the fire of his youth.
"Good! Then let's do as Ren said! We will challenge them!" he shouted. "We'll declare war on Phantom Lord!!!"
"OH OH OH OH OH OH OH—!!!"
Everyone in the Guild cheered, their voices shaking the dust from the ruined ceiling. This was their Master. This was their guild.
How many good-natured, timid people join a Mage Guild like Fairy Tail? Being hit and not fighting back... that is not the style of Fairy Tail.
Mira, her face now glowing with a dangerous, excited smile, pulled out a communication lacrima. "I'll contact the reporters."
Mira had been a cover girl for Weekly Sorcerer, so she naturally had many reporters' contact information.
A few moments later...
"Jason? Hi, it's Mirajane! ... Oh, I'm fine, thank you! ... Yes, it was terrible... but listen, do you want the biggest story of your career?"
Soon, the reporters, upon hearing the news, immediately became excited. A public showdown between Phantom Lord and Fairy Tail—the two strongest guilds in the kingdom—this was a super major event. This news would definitely be a huge hit.
The Weekly Sorcerer news agency immediately had all its reporters stop their current articles and work full-time on this story.
In less than two hours, the new front-page headline was out, sent by magical post to every corner of Fiore.
[FAIRY TAIL CHALLENGES PHANTOM LORD: A WAR OF THE STRONGEST!]
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