Ten minutes later, back at the guild, the little fairies were all slumped over tables, looking completely dispirited.
Makarov, sitting on the counter, sighed helplessly and comforted them.
"I've told you, Ankh was just summoned by the Council, not arrested. They simply want to discuss the details about Lullaby. What are you all worried about?"
Erza speak anxiously: "If that's the case, why wouldn't they let us accompany him? Could the Council have some scheme?"
Gray's expression showed clear displeasure as he said. "Exactly! They arrogantly chased us all away. Who do they think they are?"
Mirajane, while wiping a glass cup, furrowed her beautiful brows, clearly also concerned.
As for Natsu, because he had been shouting about settling their duel first when Ankh was taken away... He had been knocked unconscious by Ankh's lightning-fast punch and thrown back to the guild.
Makarov looked at this circle of depressed mages, feeling indescribably helpless.
He naturally understood their concern for Ankh, but that kid was truly fine!
What could possibly happen to a renowned S-Class Mage and his hidden identity as a council member? Anselion had already informed Makarov that the Council simply wanted to understand the details about Lullaby.
Mainly because at the battlefield site, Lullaby's demonic body had turned to dust, and they hadn't found the so-called Magic Flute.
Thus they wanted to question Ankh to ensure the artifact hadn't fallen into someone else's hands.
Although there were some underlying circumstances, they absolutely posed no threat to Ankh's safety.
...
While the guild remained enveloped in low spirits, the man in question was receiving treatment fit for royalty.
Inside the grand hall of the Magic Council headquarters, Ankh walked with a confident swagger.
He was being escorted by the frog-like messenger, who bowed and scraped with every step.
To the public, Ankh was a powerful mage and a member of the Ten Wizard Saints.
Furthermore, he was secretly protected by the influence of two other council members: the thought projection of him, Anselion and Ultear Milkovich.
Ankh's sense of security and familiarity within these hallowed halls was second only to the guild itself.
The lower-level Council officials and rune knights, usually arrogant and high-handed with independent mages, scurried out of his way like frightened mice.
They angry at his lack of decorum but dared not speak out.
Upon encountering the domineering presence of Ankh, they would immediately detour around him, hugging the walls to avoid eye contact.
However, Ankh's peaceful stroll was soon interrupted.
Before he could take many more steps toward the inquiry room, a familiar figure materialized from the shadows of a corridor.
Ankh halted immediately.
His expression, previously bored, turned icy cold.
"Siegrain," Ankh said, his voice dropping to a deep, resonant bass.
A blue-haired young man with a distinctive red tattoo beneath his right eye stood by the roadside, leaning casually against a pillar.
He watched Ankh with a mocking, closed-lip smile.
Siegrain—better known to the few who knew his true identity as Jellal Fernandes.
Jellal tilted his head, feigning an innocent confusion that didn't reach his sharp eyes.
"Huh? Have we met before, I wonder?"
Ankh sneered, making no attempt to hide his disdain. "You have already investigated my background thoroughly. Why bother with such pointless questions? It's beneath you."
Ankh was well aware of the situation.
According to the information relayed by his thought projection, Anselion, the inquiry about Lullaby was only half the reason for this summons.
The primary reason was the man standing before him.
Using his position as a Council Member, Jellal had orchestrated this meeting to gauge the man he had never formally encountered.
Clearly, Jellal had begun to suspect Anselion's true allegiances.
Anselion had consistently spoken in favor of Fairy Tail during council meetings, leading Jellal to deduce a connection between the mysterious councilman and the guild.
However, Jellal likely did not know that Anselion and Ankh were one and the same.
Jellal slowly pushed off the pillar and approached Ankh, his eyes scanning the man who stood considerably taller than him.
There was a sense of caution in Jellal's movement.
As fellow members of the Ten Wizard Saints, and arguably the two youngest prodigies among them, Jellal monitored Ankh's movements in the magical world with obsessive detail.
Judging by Ankh's past achievements and the raw magical pressure he exuded, this man was far from a weakling mage.
He was undoubtedly a formidable opponent.
Worse yet, Jellal had recently uncovered a troublesome piece of intelligence: Ankh was Erza Scarlet's biological brother.
This complication was a headache for Jellal.
Erza was the core component of the Tower of Heaven plan; she had to be captured as the sacrifice to resurrect Zeref.
However, ever since Ankh had returned to the guild, he and Erza had been practically inseparable.
To capture Erza, Jellal would have to go through Ankh.
Dealing with two powerful mages simultaneously—one a Wizard Saint and the other with the potential to become one—was a strategic nightmare.
Therefore, before he could move against Erza, Jellal needed to find a way to eliminate this bastard first.
While Jellal was busy scheming, Ankh was equally preoccupied with calculating the best way to handle Jellal.
Jellal's current personality was twisted, a man willing to go to any lengths to complete the R-System.
Ankh knew he could never leave Erza's safety to chance with such a dangerous individual lurking in the shadows.
As the Tower of Heaven plan neared its completion, Ankh had to be hyper-vigilant.
He considered his options.
The most direct path was to strike first—to invade the Tower of Heaven and eliminate Jellal before the plan could start.
A glint of terrifying, unmasked killing intent flashed in Jellal's eyes, hidden briefly beneath his blue bangs.
The Council headquarters was technically Jellal's territory.
If he launched a surprise attack here, blamed it on Ankh going rogue...
Ankh's gaze remained cold, completely ignoring the hand Jellal was slowly moving behind his back, gathering magical energy.
It seemed the blue-haired mage still hadn't figured out whose territory this really was.
"Ankh-sama. Council Member Siegrain."
The tension shattered instantly at the sound of a mature, silky voice.
The graceful Ultear Milkovich emerged from a hallway behind Jellal, a polite smile plastered on her face.
"The old men are all eagerly waiting to see you, Ankh," she said, her tone light but her eyes signaling a warning.
'Ultear? Why is she here?' Jellal thought, his brow furrowing slightly.
He lowered his hand, dissipating the magic he had been preparing.
He had believed she was en route to Galuna Island.
He decided to let it go.
Initiating a battle between two Wizard Saints inside the headquarters would be difficult to cover up. It was unwise to act rashly.
Sensing Jellal's killing intent fade, Ankh glanced at Ultear with a faint, knowing smirk.
Standing before them was, of course, not the real Ultear, but merely a Thought Projection.
Jellal believed Ultear was his subordinate, unaware that she had never been loyal to him.
Even more ironically, he didn't know that Ultear's current actions were being masterminded by Ankh himself.
The manipulator, the manipulated, and the one who thought he was the manipulator but was actually the puppet—these three parties stood in a triangle of deception, eyeing one another with eerie tension.
Ultear lowered her gaze, subtly showing deference to Ankh, while Jellal observed Ankh with a confident smile, believing he still held all the cards.
Ankh fought the urge to roll his eyes at the absurdity of the atmosphere.
He gestured for Ultear to lead the way.
Jellal followed behind them, his gaze fixed on Ankh's exposed back, unaware that the chill he felt was Ankh's amusement, not fear.
Moments later, Ankh was ushered into the main council chamber.
The room was vast and dimly lit, designed to make anyone standing in the center feel small and insignificant.
In the center of the hall, arranged in a high semi-circle, sat the Council elders.
As Ankh entered, the heavy doors boomed shut behind him.
The elders remained silent.
They sat like statues, fixing their dull, aged eyes on him, their expressions stern and judgmental.
There was no chair offered for him.
Not a single word of greeting was spoken.
Ankh crossed his arms and waited.
Ten seconds passed. Then twenty. Still, no reaction.
'What is this about?' Ankh couldn't help but find the situation ridiculous. 'Is this some kind of intimidation tactic? Silence to break the prisoner's will?'
'What! Did they think they could stare me to death?'
It was a laughable and useless display of arrogance.
Ankh had faced demons for breakfast, a group of wrinkled bureaucrats meant nothing to him.
Deciding he couldn't be bothered to show these people a shred of courtesy, Ankh looked around, spotted a spare chair in the corner, and dragged it loudly across the stone floor to the center of the room.
The screech of the chair legs against the stone echoed violently, breaking the carefully curated silence.
He plopped down, crossed his legs, and barked at the most senior council member.
"What are you staring at with those dead fish eyes? Cat got your tongue? Speak!"
At these words, the faces of everyone in the Council instantly turned a sickly shade of green.
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Guys if you like Naruto please read my new fic, 'Akatsuki Odd strategist' it was a comedy fic!