"Everyone! Work resumes today!"
"Even though it's a temporary counter, everyone needs to work actively!"
Mirajane announced with a warm, encouraging smile from behind the temporary counter.
With the Magic Council's ruling, Fairy Tail was finally allowed to resume normal operations.
"Yeah!"
"We have work!"
Upon hearing that they could work again, everyone in the guild rushed like mad to the request board, eager to pick their quests.
"What's going on? Usually, they're just lounging around, drinking." Lucy couldn't help but complain at their behavior.
She had been in the guild for some time now, and normally, the request board would be full of quests, but no one would take them. Every day, they just came to the guild to drink.
Mirajane chuckled. "Hahahaha. They haven't worked for a long time, so they're all out of money."
She knew everyone in the guild well. They were the type to enjoy themselves thoroughly when they had a bit of money, only working when they were almost broke. Without work for so long, their savings were long gone, and no one enjoyed being penniless.
"Mira, are there any S-Class Quests?" Takeshi hurried over to Mirajane, asking.
He had just checked the request board and saw that all the quests were below S-Class, which he wasn't interested in.
Mirajane shook her head. "S-Class Quests might take a few more days. Because of what happened before, the guild distributed all its quests to other guilds. Now that we've just regained the qualification to accept quests, even if there were S-Class Quests, it would still take some time."
"If you want to do a quest, there are actually several high-paying subjugation quests here."
High-level subjugation quests paid almost as much as S-Class Quests. Completing three or four of them would roughly equal the reward of one S-Class Quest.
"No, then forget it. I'll wait a bit longer."
Takeshi was interested in money, but even more interested in S-Class Quests. No matter how high the reward for a subjugation quest, the system would only count it as an A-Class Quest, and the reward would only be one spin.
So, if he could wait, he would. He didn't want an S-Class Quest to appear while he was doing an A-Class Quest, only for it to be taken by Laxus or Mystogan. He would regret it immensely.
Takeshi waved his hand, then found a place to sit and drink.
"Why is Takeshi so fixated on S-Class Quests? Is it just because of the high rewards?" Lucy was curious.
"Nobody knows. Maybe he just really likes doing S-Class Quests."
Mirajane didn't know either, but she could tell that Takeshi's attitude towards S-Class Quests was completely different from his attitude towards other quests.
As Takeshi was drinking, a very unexpected figure sat down opposite him.
"Let's talk."
The newcomer wore a golden leopard-print outfit, had yellow hair, headphones on his ears, and an expression that screamed 'I'm the best in the world.' It was none other than Laxus, one of Fairy Tail's S-Class Mages.
"Hmm?"
Takeshi hadn't expected Laxus to speak to him. He had been in Fairy Tail for almost a year and had seen Laxus a few times, but they had never spoken.
On one hand, Laxus had his own clique and barely interacted with other guild members. On the other hand, Takeshi was somewhat put off by Laxus's condescending attitude, so he naturally wouldn't initiate a conversation.
Takeshi asked, "What is it?"
"Takeshi, what do you think of the current Fairy Tail?"
"Well... it's great. Master takes good care of me, and everyone in the guild is very united..."
Laxus interrupted Takeshi, saying, "No. That's not what I'm talking about. What I'm saying is this guild is too weak."
Takeshi asked, "Too weak? Aren't we currently the strongest Guild in Fiore?"
Laxus said, "Yes, but it's just a false strongest supported by a few individuals. Takeshi, look at this guild. Besides a few S-Class Mages, what else is there but a bunch of worthless trash?"
"Look at them. They have no real ability, yet they enjoy the name of Fairy Tail, the strongest guild. How can such individuals be fit to stay in Fairy Tail?"
"The strongest I envision is not these nobodies. The strongest I want is for every single person in the guild to be a strong among the strong. Only then can it be called the strongest guild."
"Takeshi, work with me. Let's join forces and change this guild together. As long as we unite, we can create the strongest guild in Fiore—no, the entire Ishgar continent, or even the entire world. The strongest guild in history, surpassing all others."
"As for those weaklings, kick them all out of the guild."
Suddenly—
Bang!
Crack!
A nearby table was smashed, and an angry voice rang out. "Try saying that again!"
The voice immediately drew everyone's attention.
All eyes focused on Erza, who was now staring at Laxus with clenched fists and a furious expression.
Laxus said, "Erza, you're here too. Since you're here, it's even better. Let's make it clear now: our guild doesn't need weaklings."
"Erza?!"
Lucy had never seen Erza so angry before. Although Erza could be intimidating when serious, after spending time with her, Lucy knew she was actually very gentle and kind.
Happy exclaimed, "Laxus is back?"
Gray looked at Laxus with clear displeasure. "That scoundrel... He starts acting arrogant the moment he returns."
Laxus said, "Do you know why Phantom Lord looked down on us? The root cause is that there's too much trash in Fairy Tail."
"The old man is soft-hearted. He never refuses anyone who wants to join the guild, no matter how insignificant, which has led to more and more weaklings in the guild."
"They contribute nothing, yet they enjoy the best resources, and even a simple quest becomes a burden, tarnishing the guild's reputation."
"Tell me, what right do people like that have to join Fairy Tail?"
"Laxus, you bastard!"
Natsu couldn't hold back and charged forward, throwing a punch at Laxus's face.
Zzzzt!
Laxus's body transformed into a golden lightning bolt, instantly teleporting behind Natsu.
"Laxus, I'm going to fight you! You heartless bastard!"
"Hahahahaha, you can't even catch me, so what right do you have to fight me?"
After speaking, Laxus ignored Natsu and turned his gaze to Takeshi.
"Takeshi, will you join me in creating the strongest guild in history, or will you continue playing house with these weaklings? Tell me your answer."
***
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