Noah recognized the name immediately.
Brian wasn't that the former Director of the Magic Development Bureau?
Back when they raided the Bureau, Brian had slipped away without a trace. The Magic Council had even issued a substantial reward for his capture, but for years, there'd been no sign of him.
Until now.
Seeing his name in the transaction records sparked a thought. If he could track Brian down, it might not just mean justice it could mean reward money to funnel into his research.
Still, something about it bothered him. Why would the Black Magic Cult outsource something like this? Why not handle the trade themselves?
Noah decided not to overthink it he'd get his answers through interrogation.
During questioning, several members of the Dark Guild confessed they had overheard snippets of a conversation between Black Magic Cult operatives. Apparently, after the last major crackdown, the cult's numbers had been severely reduced.
To avoid exposure, they'd started relying on Dark Guilds to handle their logistics particularly the transport of sensitive "goods."
Noah asked where the exchange was happening.
Once he got the location, he handed the prisoners over to Harris as usual and teleported straight to the scene.
The place was a barren wilderness flat, open land with no cover or obstacles. A perfect spot for a transaction that needed to stay out of public sight.
When he arrived, the traders from the Dark Guild hadn't shown up yet.
Noah began preparing.
First, he scanned the entire area using detection magic. No threats, no movement completely quiet.
He quickly set up a perimeter spell to trap enemies and safeguard the children. Then, satisfied with the trap, he climbed up onto a large boulder far from the clearing and crouched down, eyes fixed on the field.
He didn't have to wait long.
Soon, a ragged group appeared, walking straight into the open. Their clothes, posture, and aura practically screamed "villain." They dragged along a covered carriage curtains pulled tight over the windows, concealing whatever was inside.
Noah's eyes narrowed.
He cast detection magic again, focusing on the interior of the carriage. His magic sense picked up on a dozen or so weak signatures children.
But one of them stood out.
The magical aura was strikingly similar to Yukino's.
Noah's heart stirred. He'd found her Yukino's sister.
Still, he didn't rush in. He waited. If Brian really was involved, then he was worth a hefty bounty. And Brian was clever. He might still show up.
But time passed, and nothing happened.
The Dark Guild traders milled around, laughing, cursing, kicking dust, but no new arrivals.
Noah expanded his detection field again, sweeping a larger radius. Still no results.
He narrowed the range, focused harder, and began combing the wilderness inch by inch scanning for even the faintest trace of magic.
That's when he noticed it.
Several unremarkable stones, scattered in the grass, held a tiny trace of magical fluctuation so faint it almost went unnoticed.
They weren't normal stones.
Noah sighed, lips tightening. Brian had been here or at least, he'd been watching.
These magically concealed devices were far too advanced for ordinary Dark Guild mages. They had Brian's handiwork written all over them. And the fact that Brian hadn't appeared by now confirmed it.
He knew he'd been discovered. He had backed out.
Noah knew the trade was off. Still, the children were here.
Time to act.
He activated the trap spell he'd set earlier:
"Anyone without the Fairy Tail emblem movement forbidden."
Instantly, the entire area shimmered as the spell activated. Every person within its radius froze in place.
Noah teleported beside them in the blink of an eye.
The dark mages tried to speak, to curse, to call out, but the magic sealed their mouths as well. All that came out were choked grunts and muffled groans.
Noah didn't spare them a glance. He moved straight to the carriage and threw open the door.
Inside were roughly a dozen children.
There wasn't much space, and they were crammed together tied, frightened, trembling. One child almost tumbled out the moment the door opened. Noah caught him with one arm.
His eyes swept quickly across the group. By the window, he saw her.
A girl with light blue hair so much like Yukino's.
Noah raised his hand and activated gravity magic. The ropes around the children fell slack, and one by one, they began to float gently into the air.
He guided them out of the cramped carriage and into the open, lining them up like fragile dolls drifting through space.
Their eyes were wide with terror, darting from Noah to the frozen traders. They didn't know what to think.
Noah spoke softly, his voice low and calm:
"Don't be afraid. You're safe now."
With that, he reached for his communication lacrima to contact Harris and arrange for pickup.
While waiting for Harris to arrive, Noah first checked the children's physical condition. Thankfully, they were just weak malnourished and tired, but without serious injuries or curses.
He moved them to a safe spot, far from the captured Dark Guild members, but still within the spell's range of effect. He made sure they were positioned with their backs to the criminals out of sight, out of fear.
Then Noah turned to interrogation.
One by one, he questioned the immobilized members of the Dark Guild. The worst offenders the ones whose magic reeked of cruelty, blood, and suffering he executed on the spot. Others with slightly lesser crimes followed shortly after. The remaining few, those with minor involvement, he spared for the Magic Council's judgment.
With that done, Noah turned his attention to the suspicious stones he had identified earlier.
Upon closer inspection, he confirmed they were indeed magical tools, cleverly disguised as ordinary rocks. Their enchantments were unlike anything he'd encountered before but judging from their effects, he guessed they were used for stealth and long-range surveillance.
That clinched it. They had to be Brian's work.
No ordinary Dark Guild had the technical skill to craft something so refined. Only someone like Brian, the former Director of the Magic Development Bureau, could've designed magic tools this advanced.
A shame, Noah thought. That bounty really would've come in handy for his research budget.
Just then, Harris arrived on scene with his squad. His boots crunched against the gravel as he surveyed the mess.
His gaze swept across the immobilized mages many of whom were so terrified they couldn't even speak. A few had lost control of their bladders. Others lay stiff and lifeless in the dirt, eyes wide open.
Harris stared in silence for a moment before muttering:
"...What happened here?"
"They resisted," Noah replied plainly, without turning.
Harris gave him a flat look that clearly said, Do you think I believe that?
Then he pointed toward the group of trembling children huddled nearby.
"These the ones they were trading?"
The mention of them caused the children to flinch. Some clutched at each other; others buried their faces into their arms.
Noah gave a quiet nod.
"That's them. One of them needs to stay with me the girl with the light blue hair. Her sister's been searching for her."
The girl froze.
Then, as if Noah's words had unlocked something in her, she pushed herself to her feet despite her weak frame and tried to run toward him.
Her legs trembled violently. She tripped halfway and nearly fell, but Noah, watching carefully, cast a soft wave of gravity magic to catch her and lift her gently into the air.
She floated to him like a feather on the wind.
He placed her gently on the ground. But before she could even steady herself, she lunged forward, clutching at Noah's cloak with both hands. Her fingers gripped the fabric so tightly they turned white.
"You said… my sister's looking for me?"
"Yes," Noah said calmly. "Her name is Yukino. She's about two or three years old. She also has light blue hair, just like you."
"That's her!" the girl cried, eyes wide with disbelief. "Where is she now?!"
Her voice shook with excitement and exhaustion. Noah reached out and placed a steady hand on her shoulder, gently easing her back.
"Don't rush. I'll take you to her soon."
He turned to Harris.
"I'm taking this one back with me. The rest are all yours."
Harris nodded, letting out a low breath.
"Got it. And… thanks again, Noah. You've taken down more dark guilds in the last few days than we managed in months. I'll make sure this gets filed properly. Let's stay in touch."
Noah gave a faint smile.
"You're welcome. And thank you for the intel. I'll be in contact."
After speaking with Harris, Noah turned to the girl beside him.
"I'll take you to see your sister now."
She nodded quickly, eyes already brimming with tears.
Noah placed a steady hand on her shoulder and, without another word, used instant teleportation magic. In a flash of light, they appeared at the doors of the Fairy Tail guild.
As soon as the doors creaked open, Yukino who had been sitting inside, eyes fixed on the entrance saw the girl standing next to Noah.
She gasped.
"Big sister!"
With a cry, Yukino leapt from her seat and ran to her. The older girl barely had time to react before Yukino threw her arms around her waist.
"Yukino!"
Her sister wrapped her arms around her in return, and the two collapsed to their knees right at the threshold of the guild.
They clung to each other tightly, sobbing uncontrollably. Years of fear, confusion, longing all of it poured out at once in their tearful cries. Their voices echoed through the guild, high and raw and full of everything they'd held inside.
Noah stood silently beside them.
Ultear, Erza, and a few others came to the entrance, drawn by the sound. But no one spoke. No one interrupted.
Let them cry, Noah thought. Let them release it all.
Everything else could wait.
....
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