The guild doors swung open, and the clamor mixed with the aroma of food wafted over.
"They're back!!"
"Uncle Macao, you're all better!"
"Yes, thanks to Porlyusica's healing!"
"Christian!"
"Eh, wait, why isn't he moving?" Mirajane's gentle gaze fell upon the blue Slime in Lucy's arms.
"Christian, he..."
"Excessive energy consumption, he's in deep sleep for repairs. It should be like before, requiring time and energy."
Lucy carefully placed Christian on a padded chair next to the bar.
"It's good that he's alright..." Mirajane breathed a sigh of relief, and the other guild members also relaxed.
Over the next few days, the guild returned to its usual boisterous self. Natsu and Gray, predictably, got into another fight over a small matter, breaking several newly replaced tables.
Lucy was busy with rental matters, while Christian remained quietly on the soft cushion, like a deep blue gem.
His volume was recovering at an extremely slow pace, and the luster on his surface became increasingly subdued and profound.
When guild members passed by, they would always look at him curiously, or, like Natsu, mischievously poke him (only to be glared back by Mirajane or Erza). Cana even tried to drip a drop of wine on him, but Levy stopped her in time.
"Miss Mirajane! Master! Urgent letter! From the Council!" A dusty messenger rushed in, interrupting the guild's daily commotion.
Mirajane opened the letter, her expression subtly changing: "It's a follow-up report on the Garna Island incident... and... a bill for the 'additional environmental damage' caused by some Fairy Tail members (specifically Natsu and Gray) on the island."
Mirajane read out an astronomical figure.
The guild instantly fell silent, and everyone's eyes focused on Natsu and Gray, who had just broken the last intact table.
"..." Natsu.
"..." Gray.
Makarov's figure appeared silently on the second-floor railing, his small body exuding a terrifying pressure, like a storm brewing. He expressionlessly glanced at the table fragments on the floor, then looked at the bill in Mirajane's hand, and the veins on his forehead began to throb.
"Natsu—" Makarov's voice was terrifyingly low.
"Gray—"
"You two!!!" The roar was like thunder, shaking the guild's roof! Makarov's body instantly grew to colossal size, reaching the ceiling! "Look! Look at the mess you've made! Fines! The guild's tables and chairs! The port authority's last overdue maintenance bill is still here!!"
Two thick bills were slapped in front of Natsu and Gray by a giant finger, the papers rustling.
"The guild! Will be! Demolished! And! Bankrupt! By you!" Every word carried destructive magical pressure.
Natsu and Gray shrank their necks, not daring to breathe.
"Miss Mirajane! Are there any... high-paying... tasks... preferably with an immediate down payment?" Natsu leaned over the bar, asking loudly while enduring the Master's death glare.
Mirajane suppressed a laugh, her finger elegantly gliding across the quest board: "Hmm... this one might fit the bill?" She took down a beautifully printed quest sheet, even adorned with gilded patterns.
Quest: Escort / Retrieval
Client: Duke Abal
Location: Abal Estate (Magnolia East District)
Content:
1. On the night of the full moon this month (tomorrow night), guard the safety of the estate and prevent intrusions by ruffians.
2. Locate and retrieve the family heirloom "Golden Owl Statue" stolen from the house.
Reward: 3 million J (Advance payment of 1 million J already received by the guild)
Rank: C (Note: The estate is equipped with magic barriers and traps; caution is advised)
Special Requirement: Requires an elegant and well-spoken female Mage (for easy communication with nobility).
"3 million J?!" Natsu and Gray's eyes instantly turned into 'J' symbols! Even the giant Makarov raised an eyebrow.
"Aye! So many fish! Enough for me to eat for a lifetime!" Happy drooled.
"Elegant... female..." Lucy pointed to herself, "Are they talking about me?"
"Of course, Lucy!" Mirajane smiled, "You're the most suitable one in the guild. Besides, a stolen family heirloom... sounds like it has a great story!"
"But... escort and retrieval..." Lucy hesitated, looking at Christian, who was still sleeping on the soft cushion. He was now the size of a football, but his core light remained as steady as if in slumber.
"What are you afraid of! We're here!" Natsu thumped his chest, "Gray will freeze the traps! Happy will fly! Chris will... uh... when he wakes up, he'll swallow all the dangerous things! Right, Lan Pangzi (Blue Fatty)?" He habitually shouted in Chris's direction.
Unexpectedly, the deep blue gelatinous mass seemed to ripple slightly, and the core light flickered ever so faintly, so quickly that one might have thought it was an illusion. An extremely subtle sound, like the initial activation of an electronic synthesized voice, echoed directly in the consciousness of Natsu, Lucy, Gray, and Happy:
"Analyzing... mission... feasible... sensing... available..."
The voice was extremely weak and intermittent, and after speaking, it fell silent, as if it had just been a phantom sound from energy dissipation. But all four (and the cat) heard it!
"Chris?!" Lucy looked at the cushion in surprise.
"Aye! Chris spoke! Even though it was very soft!" Happy flew over.
"This guy... can take quests while in hibernation?" Gray looked incredulous.
"Haha! I knew Lan Pangzi (Blue Fatty) was reliable!" Natsu laughed triumphantly, "Mirajane! We're taking this quest! Lucy! Gray! Happy! And the hibernating Chris! Fairy Tail's strongest team, move out!"
Makarov looked at the excited Natsu and the sleeping Christian, snorted, and shrunk back to his original size: "Hmph, consider yourselves lucky. Lucy, keep an eye on those two! And, protect Christian while he's hibernating!"
"Yes! Master!" Lucy nodded vigorously, looking at the blue Slime, which had returned to its peaceful state on the cushion, her heart filled with anticipation and a touch of warmth. Even in slumber, he was responding to his companions' call.