"By the way, it's quiet downstairs now, isn't it? Where are Natsu and Gray? Why aren't they fighting?"
"Apparently, a dragon appeared in a certain place, so Natsu excitedly ran off. The Third was worried, so he sent Gray to look after him."
"Igneel… Grandeeney…"
For the past six months, Phoenix had been searching for Wendy's whereabouts while also inquiring about dragons. To Phoenix's disappointment, neither the dragons nor Wendy could be found, as if they had vanished into thin air.
"Forget it, let him search. I'm not qualified to persuade him anyway. What about Erza? Where did she go?"
Temporarily setting aside Natsu's issue, Phoenix inquired about Erza.
"She took an A-rank mission to subjugate mountain bandits early this morning. She should be back by the afternoon."
"Hmm, that's good. Although mountain bandits are a bit childish for her, it's excellent for practicing her swordsmanship."
Nodding lightly, Phoenix finally asked Laxus, who was beside him.
"I heard you took on a ten-year mission a while ago. How did it turn out?"
"By luck, I suppose! Anyway, the Old Man absolutely refuses to let me do ten-year missions lately. He told me to wait another two years. For now, I'll just practice with S-rank missions."
At the mention of this, Laxus's pupils slightly contracted, suggesting that many dangerous and thrilling things must have happened during that time.
"Hahaha, don't be so impatient. You're only 17; you have a long life ahead of you."
"Hmph! Why don't you mention that you reached this level at only 1 year old? You're the least qualified person to comfort someone with age."
"Oh, is that so?"
"Hey! You're too oblivious!"
After a bit of banter with Laxus, Phoenix didn't stay long. After greeting the members downstairs, he and Mavis set off on an S-rank mission.
Three days later, Phoenix and Mavis arrived at the village where the mission was located.
"Something's strange!"
"What is it?"
Seeing Phoenix suddenly stop at the village entrance, a hint of confusion in his eyes, Mavis asked curiously.
"I haven't detected any demonic aura here. Everything is very peaceful."
"Perhaps the demon is hiding too well."
Although Mavis offered an explanation, it was clear that even she didn't believe it.
Unless it was a demon born with the ability to conceal its aura, it was impossible for a demon, which loved to show off its presence, to suddenly hide its aura. Especially with Phoenix's Kenbunshoku Haki, Mavis was very clear about how terrifying its detection capabilities were.
"I don't know, but let's go in and investigate!"
Stepping into the village, Phoenix noticed that the faces of the surrounding villagers were all peaceful, as if they were unaware of any demon's presence. Everything was so calm.
"No choice, I'd better ask."
Phoenix murmured, then walked towards an old woman selling vegetables by the roadside.
"Hello, auntie, I heard there's a demon at the church here, right?"
Thud—!!
Mavis, walking behind Phoenix, suddenly stumbled and fell to the ground.
Hold on, hold on! This can't be right! Even if you're asking about a demon, you shouldn't just grab anyone and ask. At least wait until we get to the church.
"A demon?"
The vegetable seller's face changed, and a hint of disgust appeared in her eyes. Seeing her expression, Mavis was even more speechless. Could the demon be so arrogant that even a roadside auntie knew about it? But you're too calm!
"That demon hasn't been at the church for three days. Now she's living in a corner in the north of the village, with her two demon siblings."
"She?"
Phoenix keenly sensed something amiss.
"Auntie, since she lives in the north of the village, aren't you worried she'll come to harm you?"
"She wouldn't dare!" The vegetable seller suddenly spoke in a furious tone, "Although we're no match for her, her two siblings have no self-preservation abilities. It's generous enough that we haven't caused them trouble; she wouldn't come out."
"…"
Phoenix raised an eyebrow, feeling that something wasn't quite right.
"Um…"
"Ah!!"
Suddenly, a scream came from not far away. The voice seemed to belong to a girl of about ten years old. Phoenix looked in the direction of the sound and saw a white-haired girl in a pink dress, about ten years old, being roughly pushed to the ground by a burly man in front of a rice shop. Pedestrians who noticed gathered around, but not a single person offered a helping hand to the girl.
"That's her!! She's that demon's sister!"
The disgust on the vegetable seller's face grew stronger. Seeing the girl fall to the ground seemed to give her great satisfaction, and she even dropped her work to go and watch, leaving Phoenix and Mavis standing there.
Phoenix and Mavis exchanged glances, and finally, the two followed. No matter what, their purpose in coming here was to subjugate a demon, and even if it wasn't for that, they couldn't ignore a girl being bullied.
"Get out!! Don't come any closer!"
The strong man glared fiercely at the girl, his eyes showing a menacing glint, as if he wanted to devour someone.
"Mmm mmm ~ That… that we don't have any food left at home. Here's the money, please just sell me some rice!"
The girl was very delicate and cute, and her eyes showed a weak, pleading look. After getting up from the ground, she didn't care about the dirt on her clothes. Taking the money from her pocket, the girl held up both hands to give the money to the man, but the man disdained it, slapping it away. The coins clinked as they scattered across the ground, but the man still seemed unsatisfied. He pointed at the girl's nose and cursed angrily.
"Hmph! Do demons starve to death? Everyone, listen, has anyone ever heard of demons needing to eat? Has anyone ever heard of demons getting hungry? Don't say no, even if that demon in your house really gets hungry, starving to death is what she deserves! Starving to death is a cause for celebration!"
"Exactly, exactly, it's better if she starves to death."
"She should have died long ago; living is destined to be a disaster!"
"I've always disliked that demon. I originally thought she was just a delinquent girl, but I didn't expect her true form to be a demon. It seems this girl is the same, both are demons!"
"Yes! She's a demon! She's also a demon!"
"I heard demons eat people. What if that demon gets extremely hungry?"
"Oh dear! This could be bad. What if she suddenly attacks us at night…"
Everyone cursed relentlessly, but the girl kept her lips tightly sealed, remaining silent. However, as people's words became increasingly outrageous, the girl finally couldn't take it anymore. She mustered her courage and loudly retorted, "My sister is not a demon, and my sister doesn't eat people!"
"Huh? How ridiculous. Of course, a demon wouldn't admit to eating people."
"Hmph! A mere demon's sister dares to interrupt? Let me teach you a good lesson!"
It was still the man who refused to sell rice to the girl. He rolled up his sleeves, took a step forward, and threw a punch towards the girl's head. The girl seemed not to expect the man to suddenly attack; her pupils abruptly constricted, and a trace of fear appeared on her delicate face.
Snap!
Just as the man's fist was one centimeter from the girl's head, a strong hand suddenly grabbed the man's arm, preventing his fist from moving an inch further.
"Wh-What?"
Seemingly not expecting someone to stop him, the man showed a hint of surprise. Just as he was about to see who dared to stop him, a crisp sound of bones breaking suddenly rang out.
Crack!
"Ah—!!"
A shrill scream escaped the man's mouth. Looking at his suddenly limp arm, a searing pain went straight to his heart. Realizing what had happened, the man clutched his forcibly crushed arm and lay on the ground, wailing uncontrollably.
Swish, swish, swish—!!
The onlookers instantly retreated several steps, all looking in horror at the golden-haired young man standing in the center, who seemed to have done something insignificant. Because of the crowd's retreat, only the wailing man lying on the ground, the girl looking at Phoenix with surprise and joy, and Phoenix who had suddenly acted, along with Mavis who was observing from the sidelines, remained in the center.
"You… who exactly are you? Are you with the demons?"
The wailing man suppressed his pain, raised his head, and questioned.
"Hmm, I don't think so!"
Phoenix seemed to have genuinely considered it carefully and gave a serious answer.
"Not? Don't joke around, you must be with the demons! You're all accomplices!!"
The man shrieked, as if he thought no one would hear him if he didn't shout. Phoenix narrowed his eyes, a cold smile playing on his lips. Extending his right index finger, Phoenix pointed at the man, then at the gold coins scattered on the ground.
"Pick them up!"
"What!! How dare you…"
Boom!
Phoenix raised his right foot and gently stomped, a kick infused with the Tremor-Tremor Fruit and Armament Haki directly sinking the ground within ten feet by twenty centimeters. The entire village trembled a few times, and a distant hillside seemed to collapse because of it, a rumbling sound echoing from afar.
"Pick them up!"