Below A-Class Mages were naturally the B-Class Mages.
This tier mostly consisted of girls like Lucy, Levy, and Lisanna, along with guild members who appeared in the original story like Macao.
However, young fairies like Lucy were improving much faster than veterans like Macao, so the younger generation wouldn't remain in this tier for long.
Finally, there were the C-Class Mages—the easiest tier to understand, comprising mostly ordinary guild members with lower potential and average strength.
During Fairy Tail's large-scale battles, C-Class Mages typically had to rely on numbers to secure victories.
Of course, after all that explanation, no matter the rank, they're all internal classifications within the guild.
Members of every tier, even C-class Mages, would need to be elevated by at least one tier if compared to other guilds outside.
There's no helping it—the guild's overall strength and atmosphere are just too exceptional.
Those with lower abilities would feel too ashamed to remain in the guild and would desperately strive to train and become stronger...
After chatting with the tipsy Cana for a while, Ankh also greeted Gray and his group.
Mirajane hadn't returned yet.
Before Ankh slipped away earlier, he had seen her still talking with that woman.
Who knows what they were discussing...
Bored, Ankh propped his chin on his hand, sitting at the table and tapping the surface, then suddenly stood up and headed outside.
"Cana, if Erza is coming back, come to my place and let me know. I need to go somewhere for a while."
Cana gave a thumbs-up and replied, "Got it."
Ankh nodded, then stepped out onto the street and headed toward his home.
He had moved out of the guild dormitory long ago, mainly because... given Ankh's status as a national idol, living in the dormitory wasn't exactly appropriate.
And besides... aside from his own room being relatively tidy, the quality of the other boys' dormitories wasn't all that great.
To describe the state of those dorms, well, let's just say... Even a dog would shake its head at the sight.
Natsu would shook his head too.
But in the end, Natsu, feeling dissatisfied that the dormitory wasn't good enough, went out and bought a place that... looked even worse to outsiders.
They really don't understand how Natsu's aesthetic sense developed.
Given the poor living conditions, and to make his own life more convenient, Ankh ended up buying a house outside.
However, even Ankh couldn't help but complain that, although they were both dormitories, the girls' dormitory was much better than the boys'.
When he was little, Ankh was curious and sneaked in to sleep with Erza...
Ahem... not that kind of sleep...
It was when Erza couldn't sleep because of nightmares, and Ankh sneaked in to take care of her, that he witnessed the cleanliness and order of the girls' dormitory.
Compared to the boys' dormitory, which reeked of foot odor, sweat, and various unidentifiable substances, each claiming its own territory, the girls' dormitory environment was significantly better.
Passing through the bustling streets, Ankh entered the quiet residential area of the town and found the "small house" he had bought outright.
Approaching the inconspicuous front door, Ankh gently knocked and called out.
"Open up!"
Before long, the large black iron gate gradually swung open, and a woman with straight, long black hair, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, and appearing very meticulous emerged.
"M-Master?"
When she saw Ankh's face, her expression clearly shifted.
But Ankh didn't pay attention to her reaction and asked, "How's everything at home?"
The woman quickly lowered her head, masking the coldness deep in her beautiful eyes and replied obediently.
"The manor is tended to daily by specialized servants. Please rest assured, Ankh... Master."
Ankh grinned and said, "That's good."
Yes, the "small house" Ankh had bought was actually the manor before him.
The original owner was a wealthy man who had secretly purchased this property to meet his mistress.
But later, that wealthy man went bankrupt, not only accumulating a massive debt but also causing his wife and children to leave him.
Even his mistress turned her back on him, and in the end, to repay his debts, he had to sell this manor.
Ankh expressed deep sympathy for his plight, then decisively purchased the deed to this estate at a low price.
These maids and servants were also painstakingly hired by Ankh from outside.
Ankh slightly lifted his chin and said, "Let's go, we'll talk inside."
The woman nodded, reached out to push open the main gate, where maids and servants immediately stood in two rows on either side.
"Welcome home, Master!"
Ankh walked into the small garden of the estate and waved his hand with a smile to dismiss the servants.
'Although I'm not one for luxury, since life can be better, why not change it?'
While Ankh couldn't be considered wealthy, as a Mage with no particular vices or relatives, his wallet essentially only saw deposits without withdrawals.
All this was hard-earned money obtained through life-risking work, yet it had been sitting idle in his bank for years.
If he didn't spend some soon, Ankh felt he would become depressed.
The woman dressed as the head maid led Ankh into the villa at the center of the estate.
She extended her fair, delicate hand and skillfully removed the coat from Ankh's shoulders.
Then, her slender fingers gently pressed against the mask Ankh had put back on, applying slight pressure to remove it.
The moment the mask's Magic effect vanished, the woman could clearly feel her heart pounding fiercely.
Crimson star-like eyes, flawless facial features and contours, and skin as smooth as a baby's—everything hidden beneath the man's mask was instantly perceived by the woman.
Seeing the woman staring dazedly at his face, Ankh couldn't help but reveal a wicked smile.
"Ultear, you seem to quite enjoy this job, don't you?"
Hearing this, Ultear's heart trembled violently as she coldly replied:
"If not for your despicable methods, who would be willing to come to such a place and do such disgusting work?"
Ankh raised an eyebrow and sneered:
"You investigated my identity without permission. I'm merely indulging your curiosity."
It turned out that during Ankh's ten-year mission abroad, the unwillingly controlled Ultear had secretly investigated Anselion's true identity.
Eventually, she did discover Anselion's real identity.
However, she hadn't anticipated that everything she learned was deliberately arranged by Ankh.
So within moments, she was trapped by the estate's snares.
During those two years working with Laxus and the Thunder God Tribe, Ankh had learned the use of Letter Magic (Jutsu Shiki) from Freed and could employ many basic letter spells.
Afterward, under Ankh's direction, Anselion had set up Magic Formulas all around the estate.
"If Ultear steps out of the estate, the poison inside her body will automatically activate."
This Formula kept Ultear confined to the estate, while the Council was maintained by the Thought Projection Ultear had left behind earlier.
Ankh looked at the young woman before him who had removed her transformation disguise, restoring her voluptuous figure.
Yet this young woman's face couldn't conceal the murderous intent she harbored.
"So, how's the plan progressing?"
Ankh swaggered into the study, sitting down in a chair as he asked.