Lahar saw that Rhode was about to leave after dropping everyone off and hurriedly asked, "Mr. Rhode, you're not coming with us?"
Rhode waved his hand. "I'll sit this one out. If I go, Old Man Uluuf will think I'm looking down on him."
It was just a small branch of the Black Magic Sect they were dealing with; there were probably no more than three people there who could actually fight.
They couldn't even be sure this trip would be enough for Gajeel to really cut loose, so there was no need for Rhode to personally step in.
Besides, even though Uluvheim didn't plan to join the fight, he would still quietly go over to sit in the rear and keep the pressure up.
The main purpose was to see how their training had paid off recently, and at the same time prevent another embarrassing incident like the last one.
"Do your best. If you're too lazy to hurry back afterward, contact me again."
Rhode told Reby to take good care of Wendy, then turned into a streak of blue light and flew back to the Guild.
Everyone watched him leave, then hurried off to assemble.
Reby asked, "Mr. Lahar, which squad are we assigned to?"
Lahar said, "My 4th Squad only has six people right now, we're under strength, so I'd like you to join them and serve as backup."
Gajeel protested, "Why not the vanguard?"
Pushing up his glasses, Lahar calmly explained, "I witnessed Mr. Gajeel's and Miss Wendy's strength at the Great Demon Fighting Martial Arts. You'd certainly be more than qualified to serve as Vanguard.
"But this mission is also an important assessment for us, so I ask for your understanding, Mr. Gajeel. Besides, Miss Wendy's Magic is crucial this time, so she needs reliable people protecting her."
Gajeel realized this guy was pretty smooth-tongued. "Hmph, that's a nice way to put it. But when you're laying out the battle plan, keep in mind that my strength is already way beyond what it was back then."
Lahar smiled. "All the better. If we end up in a tight spot, I must ask you to lend us a hand, Mr. Gajeel."
Li Li nodded with a smile and said to Reby, "It seems this Mr. Lahar is a seasoned and capable Captain."
Hearing such mature words coming from an adorable little black cat made Lahar almost burst out laughing. "Thank you for the compliment."
Gajeel said, "Don't underestimate my partner. Li Li is the strongest cat in our Guild!"
Carla, curled up in Wendy's arms, said helplessly, "I really can't argue with that."
Wendy said, "Li Li really is amazing, but Carla's not bad either."
Gajeel instantly got fired up. "Hm? Shorty, want your cat to go up against my partner?"
Reby said, headache creeping in, "Gajeel… try acting a little more mature."
Li Li strongly agreed with Reby. "Mm, that's what I'm hoping for too, sometimes."
Leading the way, Lahar suddenly felt a twinge of envy in his heart. So that guy Dolanbart had been living in such a fun Guild all this time?
...
"We're almost at Zuli Village. Stay hidden."
Lahar signaled for the squad to halt and conceal themselves.
Then he took out a small Communication Magic Crystal, tapped it lightly a few times, and a radar screen appeared.
The very center was his own position, with a string of bigger and smaller red dots behind him, representing the Magic Power signatures of their own people.
The scattered red dots ahead represented the enemy's Magic Power signatures.
He circled the friendly red dots; all their colors immediately switched to blue.
Then, using the grid on the radar as reference, he quickly estimated the distance:
"Target is approximately two kilometers ahead, around three hundred in number. Judging by their Magic Power, there should be three officers, which matches the intel."
He compared it with the map. "That location is the clock tower. The terrain around it is flat, with only a few houses that can serve as cover.
"There are enemy Magic Power signatures near those houses as well. We must be careful when swinging around to flank them."
"1st Squad, 2nd Squad, loop around from the left and right respectively. Put some distance between yourselves and us. Once you reach their rear flanks, send a short report."
"Yes, sir!"
"3rd Squad, stand by on the front-left."
"Yes."
"5th Squad, follow me and hide on the front-right."
"4th Squad will be led by Miss Reby. Advance slowly once you receive my signal."
Reby nodded. "Got it."
"Dolanbart, you go first again this time. Keep in touch."
"Leave it to me." Mest's figure vanished, appearing in an instant on a tree ahead, then flashed again to appear behind a large rock…
The four squads immediately moved out, while Reby waited in place for a bit before carefully leading her team forward.
Soon, Reby caught sight of a towering clock tower.
"I heard Zuli Village's clock tower is quite famous, an ancient structure that's been standing since a few hundred years ago."
Reby was a bit excited; maybe she'd find some interesting old inscriptions inside the clock tower.
But she was also a little worried that the upcoming battle might damage this famous historical site.
However, when everyone finally got a clear look at the clock tower, they were all a bit puzzled.
Carla was the first to ask, "Does that tower really have a few hundred years of history?"
Wendy added, "It looks really new."
After observing for a moment, Li Li refuted, "No, look closely. Only the upper part is really new; you can still see the marks of time on the lower part."
"Did someone destroy it and they rebuilt it?" Gajeel sniffed the air. "I can smell something annoying, and those scorch marks look really familiar…"
"Ah… I think I remember now." Reby suddenly realized something and said a bit helplessly, "I recall that Natsu once wrecked a famous clock tower, and if I think about it carefully, it was probably this one…"
Carla said, "For some reason, I'm not surprised at all."
Kind-hearted Wendy said, "Um, Carla, Mr. Natsu must've done it by accident."
"That Fire Dragon bastard sure has guts, but he's still too weak." Gajeel flexed his arms. "Watch me smash it again and break it so badly they'll never fix it!"
Carla sighed. "Is there really any need to compare yourselves over something like this?"
"Of course there is, I have to prove I'm stronger than him!" Still talking, Gajeel started walking forward.
"Quit messing around!" Reby grabbed Gajeel's clothes from behind, but ended up being dragged along, her heels carving two shallow lines into the ground.
"That's an important historical monument, and we're on a mission!"
The other temporary members—the Council's people—looked at each other, not quite sure what they were supposed to do.
Miss Reby had always been very reliable during her time with the Council, her work style crisp and decisive.
So how come today she seemed just like a fragile little girl?
Thankfully, at that moment, the Communication Magic Crystal at Reby's waist rang, and Lahar's voice came through:
"Everyone, attention. Begin the operation!"
Reby quickly said, "We're moving! Watch your approach speed!"