read my new story : American Fast & Furious NSFW
"Sorry, urgent business, talk later."
Shane didn't stop walking, muttering in his heart that after a whole month, Gray only just remembered to ask—what important matter could it be? Catching the train was the top priority right now.
"Wait! Wait!" Gray shouted from behind.
Before, his mind was full of how to defeat Shane. Now that he had calmed down and thought carefully, a girl who could be evaluated by Shane as surpassing him in Ice-Make Magic?
How was that possible? Among his peers, even Lyon couldn't possibly be better!
Moreover, Lyon was male.
He quickly caught up and grabbed Shane's arm. "Actually, my late master Ur—she had a daughter! I really care about this person you mentioned. Please, tell me!"
Shane was pulled to a halt, frowning slightly. "Ur?"
He pondered for a moment. "Speaking of which, that girl seems to be named—Ultear? Is there any connection?"
"Ul—tear?!" Gray's voice rose with excitement. "Is she really called Ultear?"
"It's impossible for both magic and name to be such a coincidence—maybe, maybe she is Ur's daughter!" Gray stared intently at Shane. "Where did you see her? What kind of person is she?"
Shane recalled his brief contact with Ultear.
He felt that the girl seemed to be constantly suppressing something inside, having already moved toward some extreme. If he had to describe her, she was like a girl whose soul was missing a corner, appearing somewhat "incomplete."
Mhm, her magic learning was also terrible.
Using that abstract magic of throwing crystal balls... Shane still hadn't figured out where Ultear got the confidence to face enemies.
"She might be far from what you imagine," Shane evaluated objectively, simultaneously trying to pull away Gray's hand. "And she's involved in quite a lot of trouble."
Gray lowered his head forcefully. "Master Ur was extremely kind to me—this is her only daughter. No matter what, I want to know news about her! Please, Shane!"
Shane was silent for a moment, then sighed softly. "I don't want to hide it from you. The business Erza and I are going out for this time happens to be related to Ultear. The reason I hesitated is because once I tell you, you will definitely clamor to come along."
"Of course I'm going with you!" Gray shouted without hesitation.
"That's exactly why I didn't want to tell you!" Shane felt speechless, rubbing his brow. "Your strength isn't enough yet. If we really encounter trouble, I may not have time to distract myself to take care of you.
At most, I promise you to ask clearly about your master's daughter for you. You stay honestly in the guild and wait for news, okay?"
"How can I stay honestly in the guild knowing this kind of news! I'm going!" Gray began to pester relentlessly, following closely beside Shane, with a posture of "where you go, I go."
Looking at his rogue-like appearance, Shane suddenly felt a strong sense of déjà vu, as if he had seen it somewhere not long ago.
"No means no." Shane refused decisively.
Although, rationally speaking, Gray following along might be a "favorable" thing.
Maybe it would be easier to draw out Ultear. But using a guild comrade as bait was too despicable no matter how he thought about it.
Moreover, if he really said this reason out loud, Gray would definitely take it as a "legitimate excuse" and follow even more righteously.
So, there was no room for discussion on this matter.
Even taking Erza along was a decision made only after testing her strength.
Seeing Shane refuse again, Gray immediately assumed the posture of a sticky candy, following every step.
Shane deeply appreciated at this moment the helpless and headache-inducing feeling Makarov usually had when facing those problem children in the guild.
"It's really not easy for the Master—remember to bring him some souvenirs when we return."
Shane thought silently. Just as he was preparing to use force to forcibly shake off this trouble maker, Erza, who had been watching quietly from the side, suddenly spoke up.
"If the Master agrees to let you go, we'll take you. Otherwise, we won't go anywhere, and you won't get any further news."
Gray was stunned, thought for a moment, and felt Erza made sense; continuing this stalemate was indeed not a solution. "Okay! You guys wait!"
He turned quickly and rushed back to the guild hall like a gust of wind.
Shane looked at the girl beside him in surprise, feeling that Erza seemed to have become much sharper.
"Don't worry," Erza's tone was calm, carrying certainty. "The Master won't agree."
Shane nodded and was about to leave. But seeing Erza still standing there motionless, he couldn't help being curious. "What, not leaving yet?"
A trace of puzzlement appeared on Erza's face. "Aren't we waiting for Gray to come back? After being lectured by the Master, he should give up."
"..." Shane was speechless for a moment, silently retracting the evaluation just now.
He grabbed Erza's wrist and ran toward the station without hesitation. "Idiot, what logic is there to wait silly on the spot for someone to come back after luring them away!"
"W-Wait a minute!" Being pulled to run, Erza said somewhat hurriedly, "I want to go home to pack luggage! Not just a change of clothes, but toothbrushes, teacups, pillows for sleeping, maybe even the shower head for bathing would be useful; best to bring them all—"
Shane rolled his eyes, his speed not decreasing at all. "Don't you have plenty of clothes in your Requip space? Just buy mine locally! Hurry up, hurry up, save Gray from pestering us again!"
After some tugging and sprinting, the two finally boarded the train about to depart before Gray caught up.
But just as they found seats and sat down firmly, their breath not yet fully settled, they heard a panting and familiar voice from the carriage connection: "Fin—Finally caught up!"
They saw Gray hunching over, hands on his knees, gasping for breath heavily, his face covered in sweat, looking incredibly wretched.
Shane looked at Gray and found his pant legs were wet; he probably even used magic.
"Didn't I tell you not to come!" Shane took a deep breath, only feeling his temples throbbing.
He managed to suppress the urge to throw this guy directly off the train with great difficulty.
"You—how did you—" Erza was also stunned. She clearly didn't expect Gray could really catch up, and so fast.
"Haah—haah—" Gray finally caught his breath, straightened up, a few points of smugness on his face. "I knew you guys wanted to trick me into leaving. I agreed on purpose, then detoured directly to the station to intercept you."
He raised an eyebrow at Shane, with an expression of "I'm already on, what can you do to me."
Shane was also shocked. Was Gray's IQ actually higher than his and Erza's?
Erza was on the first level, he was on the second level, and Gray was on the third level?
But he said nothing about Gray's triumphant appearance, just stood up silently and walked toward the other party step by step.
Gray immediately felt something was wrong and retreated repeatedly. "You—what are you doing?"
If someone asked, the troublesome person had already followed you onto the train, could you still throw him off?
Shane's answer was: "Yes!"