At night, Rhode sat at his desk, spread open a notebook, writing and sketching with a pen, occasionally tapping his temple with the pen.
The door suddenly swung open, and Lisana, wrapped in a towel, led Mira, dressed the same, into the room.
"Brother-in-law, I've escorted my sister over."
"Thanks for the hard work. If you could also massage Mira's waist, that would be even better."
Lisana flatly refused, "No way, that's a husband's job."
Mira occasionally bathed with her sister, and every time Lisana didn't trust her to go upstairs alone, so she personally escorted her up.
Mira thought Lisana was making a big fuss over nothing.
Even though her belly was bigger now, she could still do backflips if she wanted to, let alone climb the stairs.
But Lisana thought it's better to be cautious.
She helped Mira sit by the bed, then leaned over Rhode's back to see what he was writing: "What's this?"
Without lifting his head, Rhode answered, "Training plan."
Lisana watched for a while and asked puzzledly, "Why does a training plan have lines? And they're highlighted."
"You don't understand, it adds atmosphere and boosts everyone's enthusiasm for training."
"But I think if you shout out these lines, they'll immediately want to challenge you one-on-one."
"Is it that serious?"
Lisana nodded seriously, "Yeah!"
Rhode handed the notebook to Mira, "What do you think?"
Mira looked at it and said tactfully, "These words do seem a bit harsh."
"Hmm... then let's delete them, leaving just one line." Rhode painfully crossed out most of the impressive lines.
...
The next morning, Rhode and Mira arrived a bit late.
As soon as the couple walked in, they saw a crowd around the counter, shouting noisily:
"President! I want to sign up for the training camp!"
"I came first!"
"I was obviously first! Old man, write my name down quickly!"
Makarov seemed to say something, but it was drowned out by the noise.
Lucy and Reby sat at a table a little further away, looking a bit helpless.
Rhode decided not to squeeze over there with Mira, so they sat opposite Lucy and Reby.
Mira curiously asked, "What's happening?"
The two showed embarrassed expressions, clasped their hands together, and lowered their heads, "Sorry!"
Rhode laughed, "Why apologize? Tell me carefully?"
Lucy guiltily said, "While chatting yesterday, we accidentally leaked a bit of what Miss Mira told us."
She gestured with her fingers, trying hard to emphasize it was just a little bit.
Reby continued, "But it seems they misunderstood, thinking the guild is holding a training camp to become an S-Class Mage just by participating.
"And they also thought spaces were limited, and if they're late to sign up, they'd miss the chance.
"So it turned out like this, with someone running to the guild before dawn..."
Lucy sighed, "Why did they misunderstand to such an extent... Clearly, only by passing the training camp's test can one become an S-Class Mage, right?"
Mira smiled sweetly and said, "I never said anything like that, you know."
Lucy and Reby widened their eyes, "You didn't?!"
Mira said, "I just mentioned that the President was canceling this year's S-Class test, and that Rhode was organizing a training camp. I didn't say the two were related~"
Reby blankly said, "Doesn't that mean..."
Lucy continued, "...we misunderstood Miss Mira's message...and misled the whole guild?"
"Lucy, Reby," Rhode sighed deeply with a look of disappointment, "How naughty you two are."
Lucy was filled with guilt and was about to apologize again.
Unfortunately, Reby was more familiar with Rhode.
She looked at Rhode and the sneering Mira with suspicious eyes, "You guys didn't do it on purpose, did you?"
Mira happily said, "Ah, caught us."
Rhode gently patted Mira, "We could deny it."
"Right." Mira immediately changed her stance, "We didn't!"
Reby rolled her eyes, "Hey..."
Lucy belatedly realized, "Huh~~~ did you trick us?"
Mira put on an innocent face, "But you promised me yesterday not to tell anyone."
"..." Lucy and Reby couldn't refute this point.
They asked, "What should we do now? Should we help the President resolve this?"
Rhode said, "No need, trust in the President's wisdom."
No sooner had he said that than two large hands loomed over everyone's heads, smacking those crowded around the counter into the floor.
Lucy looked at Rhode, "The President's wisdom?"
"Emmmm... perhaps his wisdom told him this was the most efficient way."
Mira shouted toward that side, "President, don't randomly destroy the guild."
"Sorry, I got it!" Makarov smiled over, then immediately put on a stern face and slapped a pile of paper onto the counter,
"For those signing up for the training camp, fill out the registration form yourself, no limit on spots! But no backing out after signing!"
The crowd scrambled to get up and submit their completed forms one by one, placing them on the counter.
Everyone was stunned for a moment when the last person submitted their form.
Natsu asked, "Erza? Aren't you S-Class? Why are you signing up too?"
Erza looked puzzled, "What does being S-Class have to do with it?"
Hapi said, "Isn't this the training camp that makes you S-Class after finishing?"
Erza pointed to the heading of the registration form and said,
"'Fairy Tail's First All-Mage Full Capability Enhancement Training Camp' has nothing to do with S-Class... Did none of you read what you signed?"
"What?!!!"
The crowd widened their eyes and reread it.
Makarov then produced another sheet, which outlined the rough plan for the training camp.
Rhode timely brought over another sheet, which detailed the provisional training schedule.
After reading, Wolian turned pale, "I... I want to withdraw..."
Swish!
A flash of blade light shone onto Wolian's face, and Fried said with a cold expression, "The President said once you've signed, no backing out, rules are absolute."
Rhode patted Wolian's shoulder, "Let me introduce you to Fried, the specially invited supervisor for the training camp. If you want to break the rules, try breaking his technique."
Wolian swallowed hard.
Fried's adherence to the rules was well-known.
It's said that even higher-ups would check themselves for rule violations when they encountered him in the Council.
He seems not to be trifled with.
Wolian, Marcus, and Bigda all let out anguished cries.
Erza consoled, "Don't worry, Rhode personally went through all these exercises back then, and I will be with you guys this time too.
Saying this, Erza seemed to get inspired, raised a fist, and encouraged, "Let's supervise each other and completely fulfill all the tasks!"
Wolian's desperate thoughts accidentally broadcasted into everyone's minds:
'We're doomed, Erza is serious.'