The bustling town of Magnolia was as lively as ever today, with various enthusiastic stall owners vying to attract customers, and the wide avenues echoing with their shouts, creating a vibrant atmosphere.
Yet, amidst the bustling and fervent market, a person with their head and face covered was furtively leading a few others forward.
Mirajane, who had already put away her demon form, was dressed in a fiery, tight-fitting outfit with her hair tied in a high ponytail, looked somewhat speechless, her beautiful eyes fixed on Ankh, who was acting strangely, and asked:
"What's going on? Do people from your guild have to cover their faces when they go out?"
Ankh nervously scanned the surroundings of the street and whispered, "You don't understand the rules of this area. If I appear in a crowd, something is bound to happen!"
Mirajane's eyes widened in curiosity, and she said, "Do you have the plague?!"
"Pah!"
Ankh spat, too lazy to say more to this straightforward woman with a unique thought process and a sharp tongue.
Lisanna, following behind Mirajane, jumped up and patted her sister's backside, holding up a magazine and saying, "Mira, just take a look and you'll know."
"What's this? Sorcerer Weekly?" Mirajane opened the magazine, and the first page that caught her eye was a ranking list within the magazine's most popular Mage section.
On the male Mage ranking list, Ankh's name and photo prominently appeared at the very top.
"The Mage Most Desired as a Boyfriend Ranking? There's such a thing?"
Mirajane, a "country bumpkin" from the countryside, expressed that she had never heard of it, saying, "You city people really have some fancy ways..." Lisanna, with her hands behind her back, shook her head like a little adult and analyzed, "Brother Ankh must be very popular, so he covers his face to avoid trouble, right?"
Ankh gave Lisanna a look of approval, not forgetting to mock, "Lisanna is so smart; it seems she hasn't been influenced by her sister."
Lisanna spread her hands, cutely indicating it was a piece of cake.
Upon hearing this, Mirajane immediately couldn't hold back. She rolled up her sleeves, ready to confront him, but Ankh was even more direct, waving his hand to summon a magic circle.
Elfman moved between the two, his face full of worry, saying, "Don't fight, Sister and Brother Ankh..."
As the lively group bickered and played in front, the two White Devil Cult captives, tied up and led by Ankh, were drenched in sweat... Fighting in the street, and being led by the person fighting, felt so embarrassing!
Due to Ankh's popularity, they eventually had to take a long detour around the town before returning to the guild's entrance.
Ankh led the somewhat nervous Mirajane and her siblings, opening the door and walking in first. As soon as they entered, the greetings from the guild members rang out.
"Ankh's back! Demons really can't stop him!"
"So fast? It hasn't even been two days since you left, has it?"
"Of course! Ankh is our guild's genius Mage!"
Ankh quietly nodded in acknowledgment to everyone. Mirajane, somewhat surprised, ran to Ankh's side and whispered, "I didn't expect you to be so popular."
To be honest, Ankh also didn't know why, with his personality, people still wanted to approach him... Even though his temper wasn't much better than Laxus's, Natsu and Cana still liked to gather around Ankh.
Even when they chatted casually, Ankh usually wouldn't even say a word... "Is that Ankh's little girlfriend next to him? She's so cute!"
"That little sister in the back, how cute!"
The discussions were not very quiet, and Ankh and his companions clearly heard their words.
Only Ankh remained calm, but Mirajane, who usually seemed impervious to everything, suddenly blushed deeply.
Sharp-eyed Ankh saw the Master drinking at the bar, walked up to him, and said, "Master, I'm back."
Makarov looked at Ankh with some surprise, put down his glass, and said, "You're back so soon?"
Ankh nodded and explained, "Things were a bit more complicated than we initially thought."
And so, Ankh recounted the details of the mission from beginning to end to Makarov, including the sudden appearance of the White Devil Cult.
After listening to Ankh's report, Makarov mused, "There have indeed been some vagrants entering the Fiore Kingdom, and the White Devil Cult is one of them."
"I heard they are a terrorist organization that worships demons, their base is unknown, but they often circulate in various countries to carry out attacks disguised as demons."
Ankh waved his hand, throwing the two tied captives over, and said, "I've questioned them; they're all low-level grunts who know very little. That captain should be the same."
Makarov jumped off the counter, looking up at the two trembling individuals, and said sternly, "This matter needs to be planned quickly to prevent any accidents."
The Master being so tense wasn't actually because the White Devil Cult was powerful, but simply because such deliberate attacks hadn't occurred domestically in a long time.
No matter how strong the White Devil Cult was, could it be stronger than the Fiore Kingdom, which was full of powerful individuals and countless guilds?
The century-neutral Mage nation of Fiore, which could stand on the continent and maintain its prestige, feared by no one, was not something a small cult could shake.
Then Ankh raised his hand, signaling Mirajane to come over, and introduced, "Master, these three siblings have Mage talent, and I'd like to introduce them to join the guild."
"Oh." Makarov looked at Mirajane and her siblings with curiosity.
A high-Appearance older sister who looked formidable, a timid younger brother, and a mischievous younger sister—were they really a family?
However, since Ankh introduced them... Makarov secretly glanced at Ankh, who understood and nodded at him, before agreeing, "Since Ankh introduced you, then you can join."
Mirajane, who had been waiting nearby, was stunned and somewhat puzzled, asking, "It's that simple to join the guild?"
Makarov laughed heartily twice and said, "Ankh is cautious in his actions; the children he recommends will certainly have good character!"
Fairy Tail's joining method was very special; the main way was not like typical guilds where you sign up, but rather required internal guild members to introduce each other.
Of course, in the end, Master Makarov still had to personally vet them.
Moreover, as long as the Master confirmed they weren't evil people, their magical talent wasn't too important.
This sounded somewhat reckless, but surprisingly, Makarov had served as Master for decades using this joining method, and there had never truly been any rebellion within the guild; instead, it grew stronger and stronger.
Except for one time a few years ago, when the Master was betrayed by someone closest to him... After the Master finished talking with Ankh, he hurried out, seemingly to discuss countermeasures.
The task of settling Mirajane and her siblings also fell to Ankh.
Ankh taught them how to get the guild's emblem tattooed on their bodies.
Mirajane gazed at the emblem tattooed on her left thigh with satisfaction, exclaiming, "It looks pretty good."
Ankh subtly glanced at her fair thigh and quipped, "She's really a delinquent."
Mirajane glared at him, displeased, and said, "What do you know?! This is fashion!"