Warrod, one of the founding members of Fairy Tail, had somehow boosted the Guild's reputation in Bosco, though not necessarily in the way Rhodes expected.
The Council officers quietly admitted to themselves that while both men carried the title of Wizard Saint, Saint Rhodes was far easier to deal with than Saint Warrod.
Sighing, they picked up the unconscious Dark Mages scattered across the ground and began another sweep of the forest to make sure none had slipped away. Once tasks were assigned, the Captain accompanied Warrod, who had finally finished his "greening work", back to the hotel, hoping to learn more about what had just unfolded.
He had tried bracing himself to ask Warrod questions on the mountain earlier, but it wasn't until Rhodes clearly explained everything that the Captain truly understood the sequence of events. To his surprise, it was… moving. Talking with a Wizard Saint who communicated plainly was such a rare and pleasant experience.
Rhodes caught the Captain giving him an oddly admiring look. 'Where have I seen that expression before?' Then it clicked, Jason, that overeager reporter, had looked at him the same way. 'Could this Captain actually be a Fairy Tail fan?'
'Good taste,' Rhodes thought.
"That's about it," Rhodes finished his explanation. Then he added, "When you interrogate them, could you also find out how they knew about our gathering?"
That thought made him pause. He glanced at the others. "Wait… was this gathering supposed to be confidential?"
Hyberion answered without hesitation. "Not especially. It's a private meeting, but I mentioned my schedule to a few friends before I came. Anyone who asked around could have found out."
Ulfheim snorted. "It's just a gathering, nothing unusual. We've done this before. What's there to keep secret?"
Sensing Rhode's unease, Jura gave a gentle smile. "Saint Rhodes is simply cautious. He's concerned about safety, which is understandable."
But to the others, such worries hardly mattered. Jura guessed this was probably Rhode's first time attending such a meeting and wanted to put him at ease. So he went on:
"To be honest, I mentioned it in Lamia Scale before I left, and quite a few people overheard. I even took a request this morning. Anyone who wanted to track me could've done so easily."
"…"
Rhodes was speechless. Jura's words had been disarmingly smooth. He not only explained how casual this gathering really was but also used himself as the example, so Rhodes couldn't fault Hyberion or Ulfheim.
Still, the contrast gnawed at him. They had just discussed the West Continent's military buildup, the deaths of two Wizard Saints, and the possibility of the Underworld's Gates resurfacing, issues so heavy they could shake the entire continent.
And yet… it all came out in the same tone as Guild gossip around a dinner table?
Rhodes slowly realized the truth. The Wizard Saints weren't a formal council, not a structured organization with strict rules. The title was just that, a title, bestowed by the Magic Council on the strongest Magicians of the era. These people weren't bound together by any real system.
Even when they did gather, exchanged information, or took responsibility, it was purely by choice, each moved by their own sense of duty.
To outsiders it might look like a great "council of sages." But sitting here now, Rhodes couldn't shake the feeling that the Wizard Saints were more like… a makeshift group of eccentric seniors who happened to be the most powerful people on the continent.
Although the Wizard Saints carried enormous influence in the Magic World and their voices could sway the Council, the truth was that they didn't actually wield any direct authority.
What they truly possessed was fame and prestige.
So when they gathered like this, it wasn't wrong to call them a loose coalition rather than an organized order.
Rhodes rubbed his temples, realizing that his expectations had been off the mark.
"Alright, I misunderstood." He dropped the matter of how their gathering had been leaked and quietly resolved that if he ever attended another, he'd at least post a few sentries of his own for peace of mind.
The Captain of the Council's local enforcement unit, seeing that the discussion was winding down, spoke up:
"We'll interrogate these Dark Mages thoroughly when we return and file a full report to headquarters. Any youngsters who can still be rehabilitated, we'll try to educate and give another chance."
He produced a list of confiscated goods. "Also, here's an inventory of all the Magic items recovered. Per regulations, anything related to Curse Magic, Charm Magic, or binding spells must be destroyed. The rest, if intact or repairable, can either be handed over to you or bought back by the Council at market price. May I ask..."
He glanced toward Hyberion, waiting for instruction.
But Ulfheim cut in gruffly, "Whoever made the captures, gets the loot."
Hyberion nodded smoothly. "Since everything was subdued by Mr. Rhodes, naturally the decision rests with him."
Jura and Warrod shrugged indifferently; neither was hurting for money.
Rhodes looked toward Makarov, only to find the old man's eyes had turned into J-shaped symbols of joy.
No further consultation needed.
"I'll pick a few items to keep," Rhodes said casually. "The rest can be liquidated, and the funds sent to Fairy Tail after processing."
'Not a bad haul… A few trinkets to take home as 'local specialties' sounds about right.'
The Captain was quietly impressed. 'He even respects procedures. For such a young Wizard Saint to be this disciplined, it's a blessing he returned to us alive.'
Makarov's chest swelled with pride. Rhodes wasn't just raising the Guild's prestige now, he was also bringing in profit. The boy was learning!
While Rhodes and the other Wizard Saints enjoyed their "casual" gathering, the latest issue of Sorcerer Magazine had already hit the stands.
The headline? The Return of Fairy Tail.
The cover boldly displayed a group photo of the Tenrou Team.
Of course, in true Fairy Tail fashion, the rest of the Guild had refused to sit out. A jumble of bodies crowded into the frame, but in ways only Fairy Tail could manage, Laki and Kinana peeked out shyly from the edges, while others only stuck in a hand, a boot, or the back of their heads.
Yet for anyone who knew them, each odd limb was instantly recognizable. It gave the picture the chaotic warmth that only Fairy Tail could radiate.
Elsewhere, at Saber Tooth's guildhall, someone had already picked up the magazine.
A young man in a wide-brimmed red hat leaned against a pillar with a smug air, one foot crossed over the other, tapping his temple with a finger.
"Fairy Tail, huh? I remember them. The old number one guild in Fiore."
Beside him, a broad-shouldered man with long green hair snorted, unimpressed.
"All anyone talks about these days is their comeback. Now even Sorcerer Magazine gives them a full feature. What's so special about an outdated guild? We're number one now."
"Don't be so quick to dismiss them. After all, there are two Wizard Saints in their ranks now."
The blond youth narrowed his eyes at the Sorcerer Magazine photo, focusing on Natsu and Gajeel. His lips curled into a grin. "I can't wait to meet them in battle. What about you, Rogue?"
The dark-haired boy in the black cloak turned away slightly, his voice cool and flat.
"I'm not interested."
"Liar. You used to admire him, didn't you?"
Rogue's eyes flickered, but his expression remained stoic.
"That 'Wizard Saint' title was only awarded after his supposed death. Now that he's alive again, it may not even stand. Besides, the days when I looked up to the Fire Dragon and the Iron Dragon are long gone. We've surpassed them."
"Exactly!" The little red Exceed puffed out his chest with pride. "Saber Tooth's Twin Dragons are the strongest in all of Fiore!"
Frosch, snug in his pink frog suit, cheerfully echoed, "Frosch thinks so too!"
...
Stones Plzzz
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