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"Who are you?"
Everyone present knew she was Irene Belserion, the Alvarez Empire's proud "Scarlet Despair."
However, everyone also understood the hidden meaning in Erza's words.
Irene possessed a maturity and world-weariness that Erza lacked. Whether it was her physique, demeanor, or Magic Power, Irene appeared to be a 'pro' version of Erza.
There are no coincidences in the world without reason. Two people so similar would surely be linked as blood relatives by anyone who wasn't a fool.
Their gossip instincts piqued, some people couldn't help but whisper among themselves.
"They're so alike."
"Could Lady Irene and that girl be sisters?"
"Impossible. Lady Irene joined the Empire eighteen years ago, and that girl looks like she's not even twenty."
"Not sisters? Then could it be mother and daughter?"
"Wow wow wow! Married women are the best! Lady Irene, I love you!"
"Shut up! If you don't want to live, don't drag us all down with you!"
"..."
Annoying flies.
The surrounding whispers, which people thought were quiet, were exceptionally clear to Irene.
In the past, she would have "rewarded" those who discussed her with an unforgettable lesson, but today, Irene couldn't muster the interest.
In a blink of an eye, she had grown into an adult...
The momentary eye contact with the young woman made Irene's eyelashes tremble slightly, before she immediately returned to her expressionless state. In the end, she still ignored Erza, leading her two maids towards the venue for the eating contest.
As Irene left, everyone present breathed a sigh of relief.
Erza watched Irene's retreating back. She didn't mind being ignored. In fact, she felt a little relieved.
Ever since she could remember, Erza knew she was an abandoned orphan, growing up on the charity of the village, and later falling into the suffering of the Tower of Heaven woven by the Dark Magic Cult.
She was afraid that if she truly had a blood relationship with Irene, she wouldn't be able to resist questioning her.
Irene held a high position in the Alvarez Empire.
Erza wasn't afraid of danger, but she didn't want to implicate her companions by offending Irene.
Fortunately, she didn't say anything.
Erza took a deep breath, transforming back into the confident Fairy Queen. Turning around, she saw Makarov, Mira, and Gray looking at her with concern, and even Laxus and Gajeel were doing the same.
Warmth surged through her heart, dispelling that touch of disappointment.
Erza smiled slightly. Her family was right behind her. Why bother with past troubles?
"Everyone, thank you for your concern. I'm fine."
Laxus crossed his arms. "Hmph, good that you're fine. Otherwise, the upcoming eating contest would be too easy for me to win, and that would be boring."
Gajeel, standing nearby, pouted. "You dare to disregard me? Laxus, I admit you're a little stronger than me in terms of power, but when it comes to eating capacity, who here can beat me?"
"I'm not worse than you, Iron Dragon."
Gray, who had spent the last two days in the custody office, was incredibly geared up for the eating contest that was about to begin, vowing to vent the grievances he had suffered over the past two days on the delicious food.
Watching the two highly motivated individuals, Mira mischievously smiled. "Gajeel, Gray, are you two admitting you're gluttons?"
"Who are you calling a glutton?!"
"If you've got the guts, come out and fight!"
Listening to Gray and Gajeel's bickering, Makarov sighed, rubbing his forehead. These kids truly couldn't stay quiet wherever they went...
As a one-meter-high platform rose from the central plaza, Caracole City's annual Big Eater competition began.
Twenty chefs and their assistants, invited from all over the Western Continent, immediately began cooking without pause.
Dozens of steaming hot dishes were placed on the contestants' tables. The rich aromas of the food mingled together, and more than a dozen different delicacies, each prepared uniquely, stirred the cravings in their stomachs.
At the command of the mayor, who was also the part-time host, all the contestants began to feast. The food on the tables was rapidly consumed like flowing water, then replenished with freshly prepared dishes.
The food, made with superb culinary skills, assaulted their taste buds, making each contestant show expressions of enjoyment. Even with their bellies bulging, they were unwilling to stop.
Unfortunately, no matter how delicious the food, the human stomach has limited space.
In less than half an hour, more than half of the fifty contestants were forced to abandon the competition, groaning and clutching their stomachs as they were carried away by staff.
As the competition progressed, more people withdrew, until only Erza, Mira, Laxus, and Gajeel remained.
As for Gray, who had made bold claims before the contest, he had been carried off by Makarov, who was also a contestant, some time ago.
Seeing the last four contestants on stage elegantly or rudely enjoying the food they had prepared, the chefs felt affirmed and eagerly brought out their best and most signature dishes.
Just as the competition entered its heated stage, the arrival of an uninvited group interrupted the contest.
The synchronized footsteps of the army caused the audience to instinctively clear a path.
When they clearly saw the army being led by a bearded man in a suit, a brown-haired, boisterous young man wearing a red earring, and a twin-tailed man with a circular disk suspended behind his back, everyone lowered their heads even further.
Because these three were also members of the Spriggan 12.
Jacob Lessio, the "Assassin."
Ajeel Raml, the "Desert King."
God Serena, the "God of War."
The Emperor's guards, the Spriggan 12, currently only had ten members. For nearly half of such important figures to gather in this border coastal city inevitably made people wonder.
"Lady Irene, I apologize for disturbing your enjoyment."
Jacob walked onto the high platform and respectfully bowed to Irene.
He knew Irene had a strange habit—she liked to watch the expressions of enjoyment on others' faces as they ate delicious food, but she herself never seemed to eat any of it. At least, Jacob had never seen her enjoy food.
Jacob was a reliable gentleman, so much so that he was unwilling to look at a woman's exposed body, even if it meant suffering greatly for it, a trait that became his weakness.
Irene, aware of Jacob's character, didn't mind the interruption of the competition. Instead, she was understanding and didn't question Jacob, who dared not look directly at her.
"Do you three have a mission to carry out?"
Under Irene's gaze, the "Desert King" Ajeel instantly felt an overwhelming pressure. Even with his wild personality, he couldn't help but lower his stance at this moment. "Lady Irene, we are here to capture a spy."
Irene raised an eyebrow. "A spy?"
Ajeel continued. "As you know, Invel once investigated Ishgar's strength. Only a few Mages from certain Magic Guilds were noteworthy. Now, a few little bugs have infiltrated the Empire's territory."
"I see. Do you need my help?"
"Such a small matter hardly requires Lady Irene's intervention. However, I have a question I'd like you to clarify."
Ajeel pointed a finger at Erza in the competition seating. "Is that scarlet-haired woman related to you?"
"No relation."
Irene's tone was neither warm nor cold, yet it made Ajeel feel even greater pressure. "In that case, we will proceed."
Ajeel leaped onto Erza's table, kicking a table full of food down. "You little mouse from Ishgar, you dare to openly enter the Empire? What do you take our intelligence personnel for?"
"Or do you think you can escape from my grasp unscathed?"
"'Fairy Queen' Erza Scarlet."