Three days passed in a flash.
Fairy Tail's Guild building began its reconstruction, and at the construction site, everyone from Fairy Tail was working with great enthusiasm.
If the Guild wasn't rebuilt, they couldn't start working. Without work, they could only help out at the construction site. Although there wasn't much pay, food and drink were plentiful, and they could still chat with their Guildmates.
"So heavy!"
Natsu, carrying over a dozen logs, gritted his teeth and slowly moved his feet.
Gray, with a log on his shoulder, complained, "Who told you to take so many at once? Are you an idiot?"
"What do you know? I'm training. Just watch. When I finish my training, I'll be able to defeat Erza and that monster Takeshi."
"Huh? You're dreaming. Erza being a monster is one thing, but Takeshi is already a super monster. How could someone like him be defeated?"
If they had thought it was possible to defeat Takeshi before, it was because Takeshi's weakness was obvious: he lacked stamina.
But now, Takeshi's magic power had greatly increased, from one minute to ten minutes of being a fierce man. Although the time was still very short, no one could withstand Takeshi for those ten minutes.
Natsu mocked, "You're truly a man without dreams, that's why you're so weak."
"Huh?! Who are you calling weak? If I get serious, I can carry twice as much as you."
As Gray spoke, he really went to carry twice the amount of logs, moving his body with all his might.
"Ow! How… how was that? Did you see?"
Gray said through gritted teeth, but after only a few meters, the rope snapped.
"Whoa!"
The logs scattered and pinned Gray underneath.
"Hahahaha! How embarrassing. Did you see that, Happy?" Natsu mercilessly mocked Gray upon seeing this scene.
"Aye!"
"You two, stop playing around, get back to work! As long as the Guild isn't finished building, there's no work!" Takeshi, carrying several logs, shouted at Natsu and Gray.
He still wanted to do S-Class Quests, but if the Guild wasn't finished, he couldn't start working.
A life without work meant no gacha, and a life without gacha had no fun.
"Hey! Everyone, look quickly, there's big news in the newspaper!"
Just then, someone ran over, holding a newspaper.
"What news?"
Everyone in the Guild looked over curiously. Since it was big news, it certainly wasn't a small matter.
"Phantom Lord has disbanded!"
"What?!!"
Everyone in the Guild was astonished.
Phantom Lord and Fairy Tail were actually evenly matched. Perhaps Phantom Lord's strength was slightly weaker than Fairy Tail's, but it had many members. If they really fought, it was hard to say who would win or lose.
"What exactly happened? Why would Phantom Lord suddenly disband?!" Erza walked over and asked, puzzled.
Even if they lost to Fairy Tail, Phantom Lord was still the second strongest Guild in Fiore.
"The newspaper says that shortly after the last match ended, Jose went back and disbanded Phantom Lord."
"..."
Everyone in Fairy Tail was a bit silent.
To be honest, they certainly didn't like Phantom Lord, but they never thought of making the other Guild disband. After all, they were both legitimate Guilds. Friction was friction, but they didn't want to leave the other party homeless or jobless.
Takeshi said, "Alright, no need to think so much. It's their business if they want to disband the Guild. We can't interfere, and there's no need to interfere. We just need to do our own thing."
Everyone in the Guild nodded at Takeshi's words.
Indeed, if they had been the ones who lost the previous match, Phantom Lord would have been even more arrogant.
If they lost and couldn't handle it, and disbanded their Guild, it had nothing to do with them.
After everyone went back to work, Takeshi's eyes narrowed slightly.
In his impression, Jose was not the kind of man who would willingly accept such a great loss.
Who knows what kind of revenge he might exact on Fairy Tail in the future?
But he didn't need to worry too much. Jose couldn't defeat him now, and he certainly wouldn't be able to in the future.
—
Magic Council.
Fiore Branch.
"Hoo... Hoo... Hoo..."
During the judgment meeting, Makarov stood in his seat and fell asleep, snoring.
This made many Council Members tremble with anger. In this sacred courtroom, in front of so many Magic Council Members, he was actually sleeping.
"Makarov-san?"
"Yes."
"The trial is currently in progress. Were you just asleep?"
Makarov scratched his head awkwardly, his eyes darting around. "There's no such thing."
"Now for the verdict..."
After the trial, Makarov sat with his friend Yajima.
"I never thought that in this incident, Fairy Tail would be judged innocent. To be honest, I was prepared to be confined."
Makarov was in a good mood after hearing the verdict. After all, the incident this time was not small. Although the method Takeshi proposed circumvented the Magic Council's regulations, there was indeed an underlying motive of retaliation.
Coupled with the damage caused to Onibus City this time, the Magic Council finally ruled to withhold the prize money Fairy Tail won in the competition, without imposing any other penalties. This was the best possible outcome for Fairy Tail.
Yajima said, "Thank me. I tried my best to defend you guys."
Makarov said, "No need for grand words of thanks, Yajima. When the Guild is built, I'll invite you to visit and treat you to Fairy Ramen."
The two had known each other since childhood, and now, after nearly eighty years, their bond was naturally very deep.
"Fairy Ramen, with 12 pieces of char siu."
"12 pieces, isn't that too many?"
"Is that so? Then next time, I won't speak up for you."
"Understood. 20 pieces, 30 pieces, they're all yours."
As Guild Master, he knew Fairy Tail's knack for trouble best. The next time trouble would occur was anyone's guess.
Over the years, Yajima had been protecting them in the Council. Otherwise, Fairy Tail might have been forcibly disbanded by the Council long ago.
Yajima said, "12 pieces of char siu are enough, but the Council has been constantly paying attention to the incidents caused by Fairy Tail recently. Michello and Org even proposed disbanding Fairy Tail."
"If this continues, one day you will face severe punishment. You should retire quickly, your body won't be able to take it."
Yajima knew that Makarov's heart had long had problems, sustained by potions concocted by Porlyusica. Intense emotional fluctuations could easily lead to trouble, and a major problem might arise any day.
"..."
Makarov didn't speak.
How could he not know these things?
But he couldn't bear to leave the Guild, nor could he bear to abandon the children in the Guild. In order for those children to grow up happily, he had to shield them from the wind and rain. But this matter indeed needed to be put on the agenda.
"I will consider it carefully."