Oak City, the location of the Specter Overlord's headquarters.
"Hahaha, have you heard?"
"Fairy Tail has been smashed beyond recognition."
"No wonder it's Gajiru, hasn't he returned yet?"
"He must not have had his fill yet; doesn't he love hearing the screams of the weak?"
The Specter Overlord's mages were in high spirits.
Under the influence of alcohol and dice, they went from the destruction of Fairy Tail to gossiping about the Magic Council's idiot members, and finally bragged about who had extracted the highest multiple of payment from threatened clients.
Gambling, slandering councilors, extorting clients... no matter how you look at it, the atmosphere among the Specter Overlord's mages is far from that of a legitimate guild and more akin to a dark guild's conduct.
Yet for years the Magic Council has turned a blind eye to them, naturally because of the presence of the Specter Overlord's leader, Joseph.
Joseph ranks among the "Holy Ten Mages"; his influence is immense, and the "Holy Ten" title was granted by the Council itself. To move against him would be the Council biting its own finger.
It is precisely the Council's inaction that allows the Specter Overlord to become ever more lawless.
Now, outside the headquarters' gate, Hop watches the scene inside and can't help comparing it in his mind to Fairy Tail; indeed, his own guild is still better.
A sneaky Specter mage spots Hop, steps forward, and eyes him and the blond girl with her hands bound behind him with a hostile glance.
"Hey, who are you?"
"You trying to sell this little girl's skin to me?"
"You have a beautiful imagination, but maybe you should look in the mirror."
Hop mutters a retort in his mind, but outwardly puts on a flattering smile, "I'm a subordinate of Lord Sol; this blond woman is the target of an important guild commission, and I happened to have her in my grasp, so I brought her over right away."
Upon hearing that Hop is from Sol, the mage instantly averts his gaze from Lucy; he dares not offend the vengeful "Specter Four Element – Earth".
"Since you're Lord Sol's subordinate, we're brothers now. Follow me."
The mage doesn't doubt Hop's identity at all, leads him into the guild, to a side cell of the main hall, and locks Lucy inside.
"Bro, let's go drink."
"Ha ha, I'm not going. If anything happens to that woman, not even Lord Sol—President Joseph would probably come himself to strip my skin."
Hearing Hop's grave warning, the mage stops questioning and turns back to the card table.
When no one is watching, the previously silent Lucy whispers through the cell to Hop outside, "This place is a mess, feels like a bandit den."
"No, bandit dens don't earn as much as these guys."
Hop clearly recalls that a Specter mage just passed by bragging about extorting a client for triple the fee.
That's far more profitable than looting.
Fairy Tail pays out, while the Specter Overlord keeps raking in the darkness.
Fairy Tail doesn't open branches; the Specter Overlord has set up branches in every Fiore kingdom town except Magnolia.
They truly do the opposite everywhere.
"Lucy, I've enchanted the rope binding your hands with 'fragility'; if danger comes, don't hesitate—just act."
Lucy nods at Hop's instructions, then instinctively glances at her empty belt, which actually holds a string of "invisible" star‑spirit keys.
As Hop and Lucy converse quietly, a voice rings out.
"Ah, isn't this my best subordinate, Hop?"
It's Sol, the Specter Four Element – Earth, wearing a monocle and a pair of sideburns, arriving.
The gentlemanly man looks at Hop admiringly, "So you captured Miss Lucy Hartfilia; no wonder Lord Julia and I couldn't locate her."
"Hop, you're my great hero!"
"Lord Sol, if you had gone yourself to capture Miss Lucy, how could I have taken your credit..."
Hop flattered him, which Sol enjoyed; he patted Hop's shoulder generously, "I should thank you. If you hadn't taken Miss Lucy, Lord Julia and I wouldn't have found another big fish."
"Big fish? Who did they catch?"
Just as Hop is puzzled, a woman with long blue curls, blue eyes, dressed in blue and holding an umbrella steps into the corridor outside the cell.
She is the "Lord Julia" mentioned by Sol, the Specter Four Element – Water.
Julia's power surpasses Sol's, so although both are officials of the same mage guild, in the strength‑based Specter Overlord, Sol must address her as "Lord".
Hop notices a massive water sphere trailing behind Julia.
"Come on, Hop, you must know this big fish."
Sol drags Hop to Julia, points at the unconscious white‑haired girl in the water sphere, and laughs, "Fairy Tail's S‑mage, demon Mirajane, this fish—big enough?"
"That Mirajane—no idea what's up, her power's no different from a normal person; before I could act, she passed out in the water sphere Julia just conjured."
Hop's pupils contract, a flash of anger flickers then fades; he asks modestly, "Gentlemen, how do you intend to deal with her?"
"What to do? Of course hand her over to Lord Joseph."
Sol continues, "Even though she's weakened, she's a beauty and a Fairy Tail member. After Lord Joseph enjoys her, I bet everyone will line up to take turns."
Sol is lost in lewd fantasies, oblivious to Hop and Julia's changing gazes.
As a woman, Julia despises Sol's attitude; if Mirajane truly faces that fate, she'd help her leave with dignity, but... Julia suddenly turns to Hop, "What's that look on your face?"
At this moment, Hop's flattery has vanished, leaving an inscrutable, unreadable aura.
Sol notices Hop's shift, feels the cold stare, and retorts, "Hey, you trash... think just because I gave you a bit of face you can step over me?"
"Actually I didn't want to tear this up so quickly, but who could've guessed you'd insist on self‑destruction?"
Hop exhales slowly, his icy gaze unsettling Sol, "You trash, you think you can defy Lord Sol? Do you still want to survive in this guild?"
"I never joined the Specter Overlord."
Hop sneers, a burst of flame flares in his hand, "Let's set off some fireworks."
"Holy Radiance·Fire Dragon's Flame Bomb!"
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