Ultear and the others hurried as fast as they could, even renting a magic four-wheeled vehicle, racing all the way from the train station to the entrance of Magnolia town.
But in the end, Simon and Wally hadn't arrived yet.
Lucy and Natsu also happened to return from completing a mission that afternoon.
Inside the guild hall —
Raizel introduced Ultear and Yukino to each other.
"So you're Sorano's younger sister. You really do look exactly alike," Lucy leaned forward, resting her hands on her knees to meet Yukino at eye level, studying her face carefully.
Yukino wasn't sure what Lucy was getting at but obediently nodded and greeted politely.
"Yes. It's nice to meet you. Please take care of me." Lucy then realized it wasn't appropriate to aggressively scrutinize someone like that during their first meeting and waved her hand apologetically.
"Ah! Sorry! It's just that I've fought your sister before. No hard feelings, don't mind me!"
"Stop being such a creep, Natsu!" Lucy grabbed Natsu by his scaly scarf and violently pulled him back.
It was then that Lucy noticed Natsu's behavior was even more inappropriate... Natsu kept actively sniffing around Yukino like a hound dog.
"She really is her sister! Their scents are very similar!" Natsu announced loudly.
"Was it necessary to smell her so intently?!" Lucy couldn't hold back and punched Natsu in the jaw.
"Just confirming..." Natsu sucked in a sharp breath while rubbing the large, steaming bump on his head.
Raizel's estimation of the travel time was correct.
Within a week, two days after Erza and the other girls returned, Simon, Wally, and their group also arrived in Magnolia.
It was early in the morning, around 9 o'clock.
Raizel checked the time, glanced at Ur who was also present, and saw Yukino and Wally looking at him expectantly.
"In that case, let's set off now."
"Let's go!"
With that, Ur put on her official Ten Wizard Saints magic robe.
...
Capital Crocus — Magic Council Branch
A red magic circle appeared at the polished main entrance of the Council headquarters, and four figures emerged from the light.
"Who goes there?!" the guards yelled, crossing their spears.
"Lady Ur!"
The guards at the entrance immediately saluted and stepped aside upon seeing Ur step out of the teleportation circle in her robes.
Thanks to Ur's esteemed status as one of the Ten Wizard Saints, they passed through unimpeded all the way to the chairman's office, with her face serving as their VIP access.
In the main seat of the dark room, a faint afterimage flickered, and the Thought Projection of the current Council Chairman, Gran Doma, sat upright holding his magic staff.
Shortly after, several familiar faces appeared as holograms one after another—Org, Michello, Belno, Lahar, and others.
"Honorable Ten Wizard Saint, Ur," Chairman Gran Doma nodded respectfully toward Ur.
Org also gave a slight nod to Raizel.
"Chairman Gran Doma, and all esteemed Council members," Ur returned the courtesy with a bow.
Gran Doma, aware of their political purpose, got straight to the point: "We've already heard about the matter from Sir Warrod. Originally, there was no need for us to appear for a simple prison visit, but we heard that Raizel seems to have some broader suggestions."
"Yes, Chairman," Raizel stepped forward. "The previous Council members often tasked me with various black-ops missions, such as eliminating stray demons or dealing with troublesome dark mages. However, I am ultimately just one person, often finding myself overstretched and unable to be in multiple places at once."
"You mean... the Oración Seis?" Org narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Yes. The remaining five members of the Oración Seis are highly capable mages, and I'm confident I can guide them toward redemption. Why not let them handle some Council tasks off the books to atone for their crimes?" Raizel proposed smoothly.
"Nonsense! Crimes are crimes, and merits are merits—they cannot cancel each other out in the eyes of the law!" A strict council member immediately voiced loud opposition.
"I agree with your point, but as you all know, they were originally forced into slave labor at the Tower of Heaven as children. After being supposedly 'rescued,' they were abducted by the former Magic Development Bureau director, Brain, and ultimately brainwashed into becoming the Oración Seis," Raizel countered, his voice hardening.
"Doesn't some responsibility lie with the Council's inadequate oversight? What if the Council had detected Brain's issues earlier?"
"What if the Council had paid more attention to the illegal construction of the Tower of Heaven?"
"What if the Council had taken the disappearances of those children from the orphanages more seriously?"
Raizel's sharp words pierced the Council's collective conscience like needles.
"What are you implying, boy?!" Michello couldn't listen any longer.
Raizel shifted his tone, smoothing over the insult. "Of course, these were ultimately the tragic failures of the previous Magic Council, unrelated to the righteous leadership of all of you."
Org, Belno and Michello flushed with embarrassment—three of them had served in the previous Council, and their conscience stood above the average among the current members.
"If the current council members could guide the remaining five members of the Oración Seis toward redemption..." Raizel pitched.
"Wouldn't that become a celebrated political story across Ishgar, showcasing the new Council's mercy and magnanimity?"
Org, Belno, and Michello all fell silent, while Gran Doma stroked his chin in contemplation.
They wouldn't agree simply because of Raizel's few words, but they were wavering—weighing the political pros and cons of employing the Oración Seis as a black-ops squad, considering whether the benefits of their power might far outweigh the risks.
The council members whispered among themselves in their seats, until finally Chairman Gran Doma spoke.
"But the Oración Seis were ultimately former Dark Guild members. No one can guarantee they'll truly reform."
Raizel nodded understandingly—they were afraid of bearing the political responsibility.
If the Oración Seis were employed and later betrayed them, committing further crimes, their prestigious positions as council members and chairman would become untenable.
"Appeal to their emotions, enlighten them with reason. I've fought the Oración Seis before and know each member has their own buried aspirations."
"Aspirations?" Org raised an eyebrow, while Belno showed some interest.
"For instance, Hoteye and Sorano want to find their younger siblings who were separated from them in childhood—the two standing beside Ur right now," Raizel gestured.
Upon hearing this, Gran Doma, Org, Belno, and other council members turned their gaze toward Wally Buchanan and Yukino.
Wally and Yukino grew incredibly nervous under the heavy scrutiny of these powerful political figures.
"They're now members of our guild. As long as we give the prisoners hope—the hope of redemption and reunion—and make that hope tangible, they'll be willing to reform and serve you," Raizel promised.
Gran Doma followed up. "But that's only two people. At most, we could only trust those two to behave."
Raizel nodded.
This was already a massive loosening of their stance—an agreement to let Hoteye and Sorano undertake some tasks.
"I haven't finished speaking yet. There are other options available. I can try to persuade the rest of them, but as for whether to believe me or not, I trust all the council members are wise enough to make a decision after hearing me out."
Gran Doma nodded slowly. "That's acceptable, but we have one major condition—we need someone powerful to act as their legal guarantor. Someone to take the fall if they go rogue."
Raizel shook his head helplessly.
'They want to have their cake and eat it too...'
"I'll do it!" Ur stepped forward bravely.
"No, compared to Lady Ur, I am much more suitable!"
A deep male voice echoed from outside the heavy oak doors.
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