Ryoma returned to Erza and Lucy's side with a decisive and smooth movement, looking as if he had just greeted an old friend.
Gajeel sat stiffly in that corner, his head lowered, making it impossible to see the exact expression on his face, but his tense shoulders and slightly trembling hands betrayed his inner turmoil.
'Monster...' Only this single word remained in Gajeel's mind.
Of course, he was displeased. As the former ace of Phantom Lord, when had he ever received such a humiliating warning?
But at that instant, he truly smelled the scent of death, a despair he couldn't resist and could only surrender to.
He had been frozen by Ryoma before, and though he was in a sorry state, he felt more defiance than anything else. Now, he could feel that Ryoma was even stronger than at that time, and the unfathomable pressure made it difficult for him to even contemplate resistance.
He finally realized the gap between him and Ryoma, a gap that couldn't be bridged by simply eating a few pieces of iron.
'Never mind, the situation wasn't worse than expected anyway.' Gajeel thought to himself with self-mockery.
He picked up another piece of iron, and crunched it loudly, with a noticeable reduction in his previous arrogance.
"I'm sorry. But... but Gajeel, he..." Juvia hurriedly ran to the front of everyone, bowing repeatedly to Natsu and Gray.
"He's not a bad person. He... he's actually not bad. He just... just isn't good at getting along with people."
Her hands twisted together helplessly.
"After Phantom Lord disbanded, Gajeel has always been alone. Juvia... Juvia couldn't just leave him."
Her voice carried a hint of pleading, leaving Natsu and Gray, who had been fuming, a little at a loss.
"They're an item." Happy whispered, fanning the flames next to Gray.
"You cat!"
Gray was truly annoyed this time and chased Happy all over the hall.
Erza looked at Juvia, her expression softening slightly. She could understand the feeling of not wanting to abandon a comrade, even if that comrade had a checkered past.
"I trust Master." Erza finally said, giving Juvia a way out, "But rules are rules."
Just in this moment of chaos, all the lights in the guild hall suddenly went out.
"What's going on?"
"A power outage?"
In the darkness, a bright spotlight instantly shone on the stage built specifically for performances at the front of the hall.
Everyone's gaze was drawn to it.
Mirajane, at some point, had changed into a beautiful dress, holding an acoustic guitar, and was smiling as she sat on a high stool in the center of the stage.
"Wow! It's Mira!"
"Is she going to sing? Yay!"
"Fantastic! It's been so long since I've heard her!"
The old members of the guild instantly erupted, the tense atmosphere from moments ago completely gone. Everyone became fervent fans, excitedly surging towards the stage.
Ryoma watched this dramatic scene and couldn't help but give Mirajane a thumbs-up in his heart.
'Her timing is perfect, she truly is the guild's hidden boss.'
Just as everyone's attention was drawn to the stage, a hand gently patted Ryoma's shoulder.
Ryoma turned to see Makarov winking at him, then pointing to the door leading to the backyard.
'Looking for me?'
With a hint of doubt, Ryoma quietly exited the noisy crowd, following the old man out of the guild hall, one after the other.
The backyard was much larger than before, even featuring a small pond.
"What's up, old man?" Ryoma said lazily.
"Did you call me out specially to give me some special reward? To commend my outstanding contributions to the guild's peace?"
No sooner had he spoken than Makarov backhanded him on the back of his head.
Thwack!
"Ow!"
Ryoma immediately clutched his head and squatted down, his face full of grievance.
"Old man, what are you doing? That hurts. What if you make me stupid? My intelligent brain is a valuable asset to the guild."
Makarov looked at his exaggerated acting, a vein throbbing in his temple.
Didn't he know how much force he had used?
"Stop your chatter!" Makarov huffed, blowing his mustache in annoyance, interrupting Ryoma's act, "Let's talk seriously."
He paced a few steps by the pond with his hands behind his back, his expression becoming serious.
"I didn't expect you to agree to let that Gajeel boy join the guild."
Ryoma straightened up, rubbing the back of his head, which didn't hurt at all, and looked at Makarov somewhat speechlessly.
"I say, old man, are you getting old and forgetful?"
"He was recruited by you, you're the Guild Master. Does my agreement or disagreement matter?"
Makarov was choked by his words, and his face immediately looked a bit awkward.
Ryoma continued, "Besides, he didn't cause any irreparable substantial damage to the guild. Afterwards, he even made the Council, those stingy old men, bleed a lot, paying a large sum of money that allowed us to expand the guild into its current luxurious state."
He paused, scrutinizing Makarov with a very strange look.
"From the results, he's made outstanding contributions to the guild's development. Why would I oppose a meritorious minister joining?"
"And..."
Ryoma drew out his words, "I'm not like Laxus, who's a rebellious child who never grew up, insisting on holding onto this matter."
"Cough... cough!"
These words accurately hit Makarov's sore spot. He was immediately choked by his own saliva and coughed violently.
His relationship with his grandson, Laxus, had always been tense, a fact well-known throughout the guild.
Laxus had been given high hopes since childhood. This led to him developing a prejudiced, arrogant, and self-important personality, like a child perpetually in rebellion, constantly clashing with him, the Guild Master.
Ryoma's light but impactful remark made Makarov's face flush red, unsure how to respond.
"You... you brat! Stop changing the subject here!" Makarov could only huff and glare, forcibly shifting the topic to cover his embarrassment.
He took a deep breath, seemingly having made a major decision, and his whole demeanor exuded a sense of desolation.
"From now on, cause less trouble in the guild. I'm over eighty years old."
When Ryoma heard this, the teasing expression on his face instantly vanished.
Makarov continued in a heavy tone, "In a few more years, I should retire. By then, this guild should be handed over to you."
The air seemed to solidify.
The expression on Ryoma's face froze, and he even suspected his ears were malfunctioning.
"Huh?"
He froze for two seconds, then, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, he suddenly jumped back several steps, waving his hands repeatedly.
"No, no, no! Old man, please don't joke like that!"
"Me?" He pointed at his nose with a look of resistance.
"I don't want to be the Guild Master. Dealing with all those annoying matters every day, mediating fights among those idiots, and having to go to the Council to deal with those old men? Spare me."
Ryoma shook his head like a rattle-drum.
"If you really want to retire, I think Erza is quite suitable. She's strong enough, responsible, and strict enough. She'd definitely manage the guild perfectly."
(End of Chapter)
New Book
One Piece: Rule Breaker
Transmigrating to the world of One Piece and becoming the orphaned son of a Marine Rear Admiral, Tatsuki awakens the [Scummiest Justice System].
With it, he can become stronger by violating Marines' regulations.
[Ding! Host was called out by Head Instructor Zephyr at the opening ceremony for wearing a crooked tie]
[Violation Points +1000!]
"Kuzan, how can justice be superficial? Come with me to the Pleasure District and experience the hardships of life."
[Ding! Leading a future Marine Admiral astray and sneaking out of the base late at night!]
[Violation Points +1000!]
"Sakazuki, what do you know about absolute justice? It's nipping all evil in the bud."
[Ding! You have subverted the future Marine Admiral's ideology!]
[Violation Points +3000!]
The use of these Violation Points?
Upgrading skills!
[Violation Points –600,000! Conqueror's Haki upgraded to Advanced level!]
Upgrading stats!
[Violation Points –100,000! Physique increased to 70!]
Spinning the wheel!
[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining Senzu Bean ×3!]
[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining a Logia Devil Fruit!]