Waking up early in the morning, the first thing was to turn your head and take a look to the right.
Next to the pillow was, of course, a matching pillow, only Mira had modified the filling herself before, so it was slightly lower than Rhode's.
Mira was lying quietly on her back, her long white hair loosely tied into two braids, resting outside the blanket, her left hand placed near her ear, and her right hand hidden inside the blanket.
Ever since her belly started swelling, Mira's sleeping posture had improved, drastically different from the eighteen lock skills she used to have.
Rhode wasn't sure if this was a maternal instinct or if it was because she often couldn't sleep before and could only lie with closed eyes until dawn, forcing a change.
He watched for a moment, then gently sat up intending to get out of bed, and Mira's lips pouted.
Rhode bent down and gave her a peck, asking, "When did you wake?"
"On the nineteenth second you were staring at me." Mira didn't get up but raised her hand high for Rhode to pull her up.
Rhode, amused, pulled her up. "So precise?"
Mira blinked and laughed, "I made it up."
Rhode said, "You should have said you pay attention to my every move, even in dreams, you can feel the gaze full of love."
Mira dismissed it, "That's so cheesy."
But after thinking for a moment, she playfully said, "But if hubby wants to hear it, I can say, 'Actually, I've always been watching your...' "
Rhode raised his hands in surrender, "Alright, alright, I give up."
"Then you're punished to carry me down the stairs."
"Carrying is too dangerous, let's just hold."
The couple finished washing up and went downstairs for breakfast.
Meanwhile, Elfman and Lisana, eating without expression, had already finished, greeted them, and walked out together.
Recently, the couple often goes to work late and leaves early, rarely on time, but Lisana still has regular work, so she doesn't really wait for the couple.
Besides, this home sometimes felt like one couldn't stay in it.
They quite wanted to go to the guild and ask some experienced people: is it normal for a couple married for almost a year and about to have a baby to be so clingy all the time?
...
The guild had long passed its busiest time, so Rhode and Mira being late didn't affect normal operations.
After such a long time, everyone got used to it.
However, today seemed to be an exception.
Makarov blocked them directly at the guild's entrance and said to Rhode, "Come with me."
Rhode asked, "Where to?"
Makarov said, "To the Council."
Rhode instinctively asked, "Are…they in trouble again?"
Makarov looked a bit awkward, "Well…it's a bit related, but mainly to meet someone."
"Alright." Rhode 'escorted' Mira into the guild and then rode the River Crab with the president out the door.
Once out of town, Rhode summoned the Hex-Tech Sub-Dragon again.
This time they were going to the Council Headquarters, a long-distance international trip, and riding a dragon was faster.
On the way, Makarov taught him a small magic.
More accurately, it was like a 'key', a magic for dispelling magic for others.
"Mest…you haven't forgotten this person, have you?"
"Of course not."
"Well, this is the 'key' he left behind when erasing his own memory, as long as this magic is activated, Mest's memory will be restored."
"…" So it was to meet the undercover, Rhode asked, "Have you thought about when to bring him back?"
Makarov sighed, "I told him to come back a long time ago."
Makarov told him seven years ago, and once again half a year ago.
But Mest didn't listen, 7 years ago he said he wanted to make a big contribution before returning to the guild.
Half a year ago when he restored his memory, Mest cried after thinking of the Celestial Wolf Group's experience.
However, after crying, Mest still wanted to continue his undercover mission, because he believed the guild needed his intelligence to rise again.
Makarov couldn't deal with this stubborn child and let him be.
And last month, because information on the Gate of the Underworld was needed, Makarov contacted again at Rhode's request.
As a result, Mest's resolve to be undercover was even stronger; he believed at least until they took down the Gate of the Underworld.
Makarov felt Mest had done enough but couldn't persuade him, so he simply brought Rhode.
On the one hand, to hand over the 'contact person', on the other hand, to simply give the matter to Rhode.
And Rhode…wanted the Hex-Tech Sub-Dragon to throw the president off.
Promised more vacations, yet wanted to give him more burdens.
But since they were already here, might as well meet.
To avoid trouble, a few kilometers from the Council Headquarters, Rhode had the Hex-Tech Sub-Dragon land.
The two switched back to the River Crab in the valley.
The Council Headquarters was established in a bay in the southern Pegrandi Kingdom, with mountains to the north and west, sea to the south, and only an open path to the east.
In the southern port, ships, steamships, and flying ships were docked of various sizes.
Air and sea transportation were the main ways for the Strong Detention Team to travel, with less land movement.
Rhode and Makarov came from the west, rounding the mountain base, they could see the impressive Council building.
The Council still had some reconnaissance ability, the Hex-Tech Sub-Dragon was spotted descending from high above, and Lahar had already brought people out to investigate.
Rhode clicked his tongue at the luxurious buildings in the distance, "This is newly built? It's almost more grandeur than Fiore's Royal Palace, they're quite wealthy."
Makarov said, "It can't really be called new; this was rebuilt after the Council Headquarters was destroyed by Ultear, funded by the Pegrandi Kingdom, if you think about it…"
Boom!!!
In the shocked gazes of Rhode and Makarov, the Council…was blown up.
The entire monumental palace top, as if covered with explosives, suddenly exploded with a loud boom.
Whether it was the central ten-story high hall or the even taller towers on either side, both sparkled with flames at that moment, followed by thick smoke.
The entire building, like a gigantic firework tube, scattered shattered rock pieces far and wide.
And then, the 'firework tube' itself didn't hold, cracking and collapsing irregularly from top to bottom.
All the glass windows were shattered into pieces, metal window gratings twisted outward, precariously hanging on surviving walls.
Various sizes of stone blocks either directly shot towards the surrounding open spaces or scattered by drawing parabolas.
The solemn sculptures in front of the door were battered and bruised, and the well-trimmed bushes and lawns were reduced to ruins.
The explosion shockwave reached the nearby bay, where various ships undulated on the sea, anchored to keep them from drifting away.
Not far out of the gate, Lahar ordered to duck down the moment he heard the explosion.
When they stood up again, both he and his subordinates were standing dumbfounded on the spot:
The Council…was bombed?