The Righteous Mage and the Reward
Qi Yan and Elfman arrived next door, where the mayor, Kos, greeted them with an enthusiasm bordering on reverence.
"Mr. Qi Yan, you're awake! Thanks to you and Mr. Elfman last night, otherwise I would have been killed!" The Mayor's gratitude was genuine; he had witnessed the annihilation firsthand. The heavily armored mages of the Ancient Knight Order had been useless, but Qi Yan had been unstoppable.
Qi Yan adopted a solemn, professional air. "No need to be polite, Mayor. You are our client, and protecting clients is the primary duty of us Mages of the Fairy Tail Guild."
"What excellent Mages!" The Mayor beamed, then placed a heavy wooden box on the table.
"Mr. Qi Yan, this is the reward for this mission. Please count it."
Qi Yan's eyes lit up at the sight of the gleaming box. Even Elfman, the Man, swallowed hard. Seven million Jewels! It was a fortune he couldn't earn in a year, even working desperately.
"Mayor, you are too kind. Of course, we trust you," Qi Yan said, smoothly picking up the entire box. His polite address subtly shifted from "Mr. Mayor" to the more familiar "Mayor."
The Mayor laughed heartily. "Hahaha! Gentlemen, if you're not in a hurry, why not stay in this city for a few more days? I'd like to properly host my two saviors."
Qi Yan waved a hand dismissively. "We appreciate your kindness, Mayor, but we need to return to the Guild quickly to submit the mission. If we delay too long, everyone will worry. Next time!"
"Alright! Then I won't keep you two any longer. Have a safe journey."
"Then we'll be leaving. If anything like this happens again, remember to come to the Fairy Tail Guild!"
The mayor smiled, but it was tinged with bitter weariness. "I don't want to encounter such a thing again."
The Generous Split
On the carriage ride back, Qi Yan opened the box, revealing the dazzling, dense stacks of Jewels. The banknotes gleamed. Both mages stared, mesmerized by the sheer quantity of cash.
Qi Yan immediately took out half the money and placed the 3.5 million J directly into Elfman's hands.
"Hmm? Qi Yan, what are you doing?" Elfman held the money like it was a live fish.
"What do you mean, 'what am I doing'? Of course, I'm splitting the money!"
"Spl-spl-splitting the money?!" Elfman stammered, completely stunned.
"That's right! You came out on a mission with me, so of course, we have to split the reward!" Qi Yan stated, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"No, no, no! That's not right! I was mentoring you, not teaming up for a mission," Elfman insisted, quickly pushing the bulk of the money back. "Besides, I didn't do anything on this mission; you completed it all by yourself. I can't take the money!"
Mentoring a new member was an obligation in Fairy Tail, not a paying job.
Qi Yan handed the money back, his expression firm. "You sacrificed your time, and you also protected the client and the mission's integrity. It's only right that you receive a reward."
After several back-and-forths, Elfman, completely overwhelmed by Qi Yan's generosity and insistence, finally agreed to take 1,000,000 J. He knew he was overpaid, but the one million was enough for him to survive for months without worrying.
Qi Yan nodded in satisfaction. Elfman had been dragged into an S-Class fight because of him; a million Jewels was fair compensation for risking his life against the King of Assassins.
Perhaps I should introduce my sister to him, Elfman thought, feeling a sudden surge of loyalty toward the generous, terrifying newcomer. He's a man!
The Guild's Panic
Back in Magnolia, at the Fairy Tail Guild Hall, Mira was going through the daily mail when her eyes fell on a thick file bag marked with a large, ominous "S."
S-Class requests were rare and highly prized, always offering rewards starting at 5 million J. Mira carefully tore open the bag, only to have her face instantly turn pale as she read the contents.
The typically bustling Guild Hall was alive with chatter when Mira burst in, her face etched with panic. "Something terrible has happened! Master!"
"Hmm? What's wrong, Mira?" Makarov asked, lifting a mug to his lips.
"The Phantom Bandit Gang mission... has been changed to S-Class!"
Pfft—! Makarov spat out his drink.
"What?!!" The guild instantly fell into a horrified silence.
S-Class missions were danger zones, tasks only qualified S-Class Mages could accept. And even they avoided them unless absolutely necessary.
Mira quickly handed the request to Makarov. The Master's face changed dramatically as he read it. "Camille, the King of Assassins? This guy is actually the leader of the Phantom Bandit Gang."
"What?!" "Camille, the King of Assassins?!"
The entire guild was now paralyzed with fear. Camille was a legend of terror—a notorious Spatial Mage whose reputation was built on a perfect kill record.
"Master, what should we do now?" Mira was frantic. Her younger brother, Elfman, was on that mission, alongside the newcomer, Qi Yan. The memory of losing her sister, Lisanna, on an S-Class mission was an open wound. She couldn't lose Elfman too.
"I'll go myself!" Makarov declared. No other S-Class Mage was present, and the danger was too great to delay. He swelled slightly, preparing his Titan Magic, and headed for the doors.
Creak—!
The Guild doors opened just as Makarov reached them. Standing in the entrance, unscathed and dusty, were Qi Yan and Elfman.
"Qi Yan!!"