"Whether it's bait or not, things have already escalated this far. I doubt they're trying to hide anymore."
Makarov's brow was so deeply furrowed it looked like it could crush a mosquito.
"The enemy seems to have deliberately saved us for last. They never tried infiltrating Fairy Tail directly, and even though they clearly had intelligence on us, all they did was send Jellal and the others back under their control."
His expression darkened.
"They obviously wanted us to come looking for them."
Natsu understood immediately.
"A challenge?"
"Even if it isn't," Gray said with a cold laugh, "it's definitely meant to provoke us."
The sheer arrogance was almost unbelievable.
An organization capable of silently dismantling Fiore's entire alliance of legal guilds had waited until only Fairy Tail remained before launching its full-scale offensive.
It was practically standing over their heads and daring them to come fight.
Then the room suddenly fell quiet.
Everyone's gaze turned in perfect unison toward a certain woman who had been casually reaching for snacks at the table.
Brandish froze with her hand halfway to the bowl.
Then, with a silent sigh, she slowly straightened her back.
'If I'd known I'd have to explain this twice, I wouldn't have bothered telling Natsu and Lucy earlier…'
With considerable reluctance, Brandish repeated everything she knew about the person likely operating behind the White Magic Cult.
Larcade Dragneel.
Zeref's son.
Exactly as expected, everyone around the table sucked in a sharp breath, collectively making their own contribution to warming Fiore's climate.
"Zeref's son…"
Makarov rested his chin on one hand.
"That title alone is intimidating enough."
Ankh, meanwhile, was wondering about something else entirely.
'How many sons does Zeref have?'
Brandish went through everything she knew about Larcade, but when the others began asking about his actual objective and the details of his operation, she could only spread her hands.
"I genuinely don't know what he's doing. Members of the Spriggan 12 aren't allowed to share details of their assignments with each other."
She leaned back lazily.
"And I was practically an unemployed Spriggan anyway. The fact that I even know Larcade is probably behind the White Magic Cult is already more information than I should have."
"That guy is ridiculously secretive. I haven't seen him once since coming to Ishgar."
Wendy timidly raised one hand.
"Um… I have a question."
Everyone looked toward her.
"If just one Larcade is already enough to cause this much trouble for all the guilds, then why hasn't the Alvarez Empire followed up with anything else?"
The room became quiet again.
Wendy had voiced something many of them had subconsciously avoided thinking about.
One member of the Spriggan 12 had nearly destroyed the new security structure built around Fiore's guild alliance.
If Alvarez launched a full invasion right now, while Ishgar was this vulnerable, even the most optimistic outcome would probably involve losing half the continent.
Brandish shook her head, equally puzzled.
"Normally, the Spriggans stationed inside Ishgar aren't supposed to suddenly activate their operations on this scale."
Gray looked at her.
"What about Mard Geer?"
Brandish curled her lip.
"His original assignment was to turn Stella into a breeding ground for demons. He just got greedy after finding Dragon Cry and decided to improvise far beyond what he was supposed to be doing."
She paused.
"As for Larcade…"
Brandish thought carefully.
"An operation this large really doesn't fit his usual personality."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Maybe he's acting on his own too."
Lucy stared at her.
"He went rogue and caused all of this just to provoke us?"
She couldn't help muttering,
"You people in the Spriggan 12 really do whatever you want…"
Erza studied the map spread across the table.
"Whatever his objective is, we still have to respond. But Northern Snow Village is enemy territory."
"Then we step into the trap and break it from inside."
Ankh's answer was immediate.
"At this point, the only thing we can do is go to Snow Village ourselves and find out what Larcade actually wants."
He turned toward Makarov.
"Master, check everyone in the guild first. We need to make sure none of our own people have been compromised."
Makarov nodded.
"I understand. I'll also contact the Magic Council and give them everything we know."
"Ask them to establish a perimeter around Snow Village first," Ankh added. "We'll organize our own people and head north afterward."
Makarov gave him an okay sign and immediately hurried out of the room to begin negotiating with the Council.
Ankh looked around at everyone still seated.
They had plenty of strong people here, but considering what might be waiting in the north, it still felt a little thin.
He turned to Mirajane.
"When are Laxus and the others getting back?"
Mirajane thought for a moment.
"The situation in Magnolia is mostly under control now. I can have Macao and Jet take over the remaining cleanup, so Laxus and the others should be able to return soon."
Ankh nodded.
"Then everyone get some rest for now. Once the others arrive, we'll decide exactly how we're handling Snow Village."
His expression became more serious.
"Our target may not be limited to Larcade. There's a real possibility we'll have to fight every mage who disappeared across Fiore."
"So be careful."
Everyone except Brandish responded naturally in unison.
The magical world had changed.
The group that had once been called the strongest young generation had grown into the generation expected to carry the entire era on its shoulders.
Now it was their turn to stand at the front.
...
Makarov and Mirajane both worked quickly.
After a brief period of rest, Ankh and the others soon saw Laxus, Gajeel, Juvia, and the others return to the guild.
Once they discussed the situation, Laxus decided Fairy Tail couldn't afford to leave Magnolia completely undefended. He would remain behind with Makarov and hold the rear.
Gajeel and Juvia immediately chose to join the force heading for Snow Village.
Levy and Cana were assigned to assist Makarov with guild operations, freeing Mirajane to join the expedition as well.
With that, the assault team was finalized.
Ankh's strongest Fairy Tail team, reinforced by Gajeel, Juvia, and Mirajane.
Jellal's Crime Sorcière.
And a separate revenge group made up of Kagura, Bacchus, Ichiya, and the others whose guilds had been taken.
The numbers weren't enormous.
But they couldn't afford to pull anyone else away from Fiore's remaining defenses.
Makarov soon finished his discussions with the Magic Council as well.
In truth, there hadn't been much to negotiate.
With nearly every guild in Fiore missing, the Council had no realistic option except to provide military support.
...
Far to the north of Fiore, heavy snow fell across a vast mountain range.
Nestled within the white landscape was a settlement so large that calling it a village was almost misleading.
Over more than a century, religious organizations had continuously funded and expanded Northern Snow Village until it had effectively become a small city.
Patrol teams moved throughout its streets with machine-like discipline.
There were so many of them, and their routes fit together so seamlessly, that it was easy to understand why Jellal and the others had previously struggled to find a gap in the defenses.
Touka stumbled into the village.
The patrols merely glanced at her before allowing her to pass.
She continued through the snowy streets toward the enormous structure at the center of the settlement.
The Northern Cathedral.
"Touka…"
She muttered through clenched teeth as she walked.
"If you hadn't gotten completely lovestruck…"
Touka drew a deep breath, forced down her frustration, and pushed open the cathedral doors.
She stepped inside with her head lowered.
Before she could say anything, a warm and gentle male voice came from deeper within the church.
"You're back?"
Touka looked up.
A blond young man stood there in religious robes, his body wrapped in a soft white glow.
With his calm smile and almost sacred presence, he looked less like an ordinary mage and more like a living saint.