Tartaros Headquarters.
Inside a massive vat, Tempester appeared, his body tattered and broken, slowly undergoing restoration.
"I'll have to trouble you, Kyoka."
Tempester spoke to Kyoka, who managed the regeneration system for the members of Tartaros.
"Don't worry, Tempester."
"Tempester... is that my name?"
"Ah!"
"If obtaining a new body means I'll forget this name, then names are meaningless to me anyway. How long will the regeneration take?"
"Normally, it would only take a day, but other units are currently in use, so it will take a bit longer."
"Other units? Is someone else injured besides me?"
"No, it's my child, a newborn demon."
Kyoka turned her gaze to the side, where Minerva was currently undergoing transformation inside a vat.
"Minerva has great talent for Tartaros."
Franmalth walked over with a strange cackle. "Hehehehe. I just hope she doesn't end up a failure like Doriate."
Kyoka turned to him. "Franmalth."
Franmalth walked over and teased Tempester, "Do you know how much that cost? Regeneration isn't free. Don't go abusing Magic Barrier Particles like that next time."
Tempester said, "Fairy Tail... if it weren't for their interference, this wouldn't have happened."
"Fairy Tail? That's the guild that defeated Oración Seis and Grimoire Heart. Interesting. Do they want to challenge us? Let them try."
Kyoka possessed some intelligence regarding Fairy Tail. Being able to defeat Oración Seis and Grimoire Heart meant they weren't exactly nobodies. However, those two guilds were still a bit too green compared to Tartaros. In Oración Seis, only their master was somewhat formidable, the rest were nothing special.
As for Grimoire Heart, their master Hades was indeed powerful, and the vice-master Bluenote was not weak either, but the Seven Kin of Purgatory were relatively average.
Overall, Tartaros was still the stronger force.
...
Takeshi used Flying Thunder God several times consecutively, teleporting to the coordinates closest to his target. These were coordinates he had left behind while performing missions, mainly for convenience. Once he planned a route for a mission, he could teleport quickly, saving a massive amount of travel time.
Soon, he arrived at the home of former Magic Council Member Michello and explained the situation to him.
"That's the situation. Your current position is very dangerous. It won't be long before the people from Tartaros find their way here."
Michello said, "I appreciate the sentiment, but to be honest, this behavior is quite troubling. Besides, how do you know where I live?"
"You don't need to worry about that."
"I know all about your affairs, a guild that does nothing but cause trouble. From where I stand, it looks like you want to use me as bait for this incident, don't you?"
"Exactly, I am using you as bait. My companion is injured and in critical condition. I need to capture a member of Tartaros alive to create a serum. You've already been targeted by Tartaros. If I ignore you, there is only one end for you: death."
At this point, Takeshi didn't plan on being polite. Whether the other party agreed or not wouldn't change his actions. If the man cooperated peacefully, he wouldn't use force. If not, he would make him cooperate.
Michello shouted at Takeshi in a huff, "Are you joking? What kind of fool would stay in place after knowing they've been targeted? I'm leaving, and don't you dare follow me!"
Takeshi said, "Are you sure? The enemy might be lying in wait outside right now, just waiting for you to step out so they can finish you off. I won't help you then."
"Ugh..."
Makarov was startled by Takeshi's words. If the enemy really was waiting outside, things would be disastrous.
"Grandfather, they've come out of kindness. Don't be so rude."
A young girl walked out. She was Michello's granddaughter and one of Loke's girlfriends. Seven years ago, because Loke had hooked up with Michello's granddaughter, Makarov had taken quite a few scoldings from these Council Members.
"Michelia!"
"Besides, Takeshi-san is incredibly amazing. He's the winner of the Grand Magic Games and the current first seat of the Ten Wizard Saints. You're so lucky to have him here to protect you."
"Takeshi-san, I'm a fan of yours. Could I please have your autograph?"
Michelia pulled out an autograph board and a pen.
"Sure."
Takeshi took the pen and signed his name on the board.
"The first seat of the Ten Wizard Saints?!!"
Michello knew about the Grand Magic Games. It was an event held by the Kingdom of Fiore shortly after he stepped down as a Council Member, but he hadn't been interested and hadn't paid much attention.
But the first seat of the Ten Wizard Saints was different. When he was in office, the one in that position was God Serena. He was a monster with unbelievable talent.
Later, God Serena betrayed Ishgar to join the Alvarez Empire, which left the first seat of the Ten Wizard Saints vacant.
In recent years, he hadn't heard of the current Magic Council awarding the title to anyone. He never expected they would grant the first seat to such a young man.
"You're the first seat of the Ten Wizard Saints? Where is your badge?" Michello was somewhat skeptical.
Although he had heard that Takeshi had defeated Jose, one of the Ten Wizard Saints, he still wanted to verify it. The badge of the Ten Wizard Saints could not be faked.
"I left that thing in a drawer at home. Who walks around wearing that all the time? Besides, I don't like wearing random junk." Takeshi said casually.
He wasn't lying, he really had tossed the badge into a drawer at home. He wasn't particularly interested in those things.
Hearing this, Michello immediately suspected that Takeshi wasn't the first seat at all. Being one of the Ten Wizard Saints was a supreme honor on the continent of Ishgar, how could anyone just leave it at home?
Just as he was about to voice his doubts, Takeshi's expression shifted slightly.
BOOM!
An explosion erupted, and the entire house was blown apart.
"Wha... what's happening? An explosion?!!"
Michello panicked, clearly never having faced such a situation, his hands and feet flailing wildly.
"Takeshi-san!"
Michelia realized that both she and her grandfather were being carried by Takeshi. Clearly, he had protected them during the explosion.
Then, a voice rang out.
"Oh? You dodged it? I thought I'd blown everyone to bits, just like those current Council Members."
Takeshi's expression changed slightly upon hearing this. "You're the one who bombed those Council Members?"
"That's right, it was me. And who are you, brat?"
"As long as it's you, that's fine."