The next day.
The Magic Council's toad messenger found Makalov on the beach of the Arcani Resort, a perfect spot for admiring beautiful women.
"Huh? You want me to go to the Council to explain the situation?"
Makalov, with a look of disgust, pushed away the toad messenger who was blocking his view of the swimsuit girl, and said, "I haven't even settled the matter of the Arcane Spirit Power with the Council yet, and you guys are already kicking the can down the road. No, I'm not going, not going."
The toad messenger looked embarrassed.
In fact, the council members had intended to visit Makalov in person to thank him and Fairy Tail for the Tower of Paradise incident.
However, because they ignored the lives of nations and citizens and unleashed the 'Arcane Spirit Power' without any notice, the Council faced protests from almost every country in Isughal, its reputation plummeted to rock bottom, and it is now planning to restructure the Magic Council.
The unluckiest was Chairman Crawford, who was on vacation away from the Council headquarters yesterday, yet the severe Tower of Paradise incident happened.
Obviously the launch of the 'Arcane Spirit Power' had nothing to do with Crawford; it was decided unilaterally by the councilors, but after all, he's the Chairman.
With such a huge mess, as Chairman he couldn't wash his hands of it.
Moreover, the young councilors 'Zikrein' and 'Ulutia' were personally promoted by Crawford, and now they have become the perfect trump card to impeach him.
The toad messenger told Makalov that Chairman Crawford had been forced to step down, and the nine council seats would be re‑elected.
The newly appointed Council Chairman Gurlandoma, swamped with countless matters, couldn't find the time, so he could only send a messenger to ask Makalov to visit the Council headquarters and, as a'Saint Top Ten Mage', bear witness to the newly reformed Council.
Hearing that the Council was in such chaos, especially that Chairman Crawford and those despised councilors had lost their jobs, Makalov felt a slight sense of satisfaction.
All these years Fairy Tail has been publicly criticized by the Council countless times; even when some mistakes shouldn't be blamed on guild members, they still end up with a line of criticism.
Just kidding, if it weren't for the stability of the magical world, Makalov would have already snatched Crawford's seat, become Chairman himself, and kept the music and dancing going.
At that moment, Hop, dressed in beachwear and holding a cup of iced drink, walked over, "Yo~ isn't that the frog messenger? Why are you here on vacation too?"
The toad messenger's forehead drooped a few black lines as he helplessly looked at Hop, "Mr. Hop, I'm an intelligent magical creature, not a frog."
"Huh? So you're not a frog, then what's that'Shell‑hiding treasure'?"
The toad messenger's mouth twitched wildly; he was still talking about that'Shell‑hiding treasure'. He's already a toad messenger, so the most similar animal would naturally be a toad.
How come everyone from Fairy Tail is so good at being weird.
Could the rumor that this guild turns people into idiots be true... Makalov watched the toad messenger's expression about to snap from Hop's teasing, waved his hand, "Alright, I've received your notice. Go back for now; when my vacation ends, I'll head to the Council headquarters."
The toad messenger, feeling pardoned, hurriedly took his leave.
Watching the toad messenger speed away, Hop smiled, conjured a lounge chair and sat down, "Chairman, Simon and the other three politely declined Elusha's invitation, saying they want to travel the world, see what's out there, and make up for childhood regrets."
"But I think they might also not want to cause trouble for Elusha, which is why they refuse to join our guild."
Makalov nodded; if they don't want to, they can't be forced to stay.
Besides, Simon wants to find his sister who was forced apart, Worry wants to find his brother bought from the Tower of Paradise, and Hugh and Miliana chose to accompany their comrades in searching for family, which is understandable.
"Regarding the Three‑Feathered Crow, how did you handle it, kid?" Makalov asked curiously.
Hop bit the straw and took a sip of icy juice, "Those? I let them go."
"Let... let them go?!"
Makalov stared at Hop in shock; the Three‑Feathered Crow were assassins of the Dark Guild's Skull Society, and this kid just released those three troublemakers.
Seeing Makalov's expression, Hop smiled, "I used 'Thought Speech' and 'Memory' to view their recollections; the three aren't indiscriminate murderers. They joined the Dark Guild to hunt for a foe."
It turned out that Banjiu, Udarludas, and Owl were from the nation of Rubencaludo, members of a combat unit called the 'Blue Dragon Squad.'
But five years ago, a powerful mage attacked Rubencaludo, annihilated the Blue Dragon Squad, and captured its commander, Sanja Ousin.
At that time, the three escaped death because they were on a mission, but to rescue their respected commander and avenge their comrades, they became dark mages, joined the well‑informed Skull Society, hoping to trace the mysterious mage.
Five years passed with no results.
Until yesterday, Banjiu saw a glimmer of hope for revenge, because the mysterious mage who attacked Rubencaludo five years ago turned out to be Brunot, who uses gravity magic.
Hop was also interested in the forces behind Brunot, so he sent the Three‑Feathered Crow to investigate.
Since they couldn't defeat them anyway, they'd eventually turn to Hop for help, and Hop could then make a big demand.
Take Banjiu's little girl, she's... wow~
Smack!
A slap suddenly landed on Hop's lecherous face; Elusha withdrew her hand, looking puzzled, "Oops, I clearly saw a mosquito just now."
Hop rubbed his face; there was no mosquito. He suspected Elusha wanted to hit him, but he had no proof.
Seeing Hop humbled and not daring to resist, Elusha felt a bit pleased, "By the way, Hop, Naz earlier asked you to go to the resort's amusement park..."
Hop waved nonchalantly, "I only have a few blank cards, nothing valuable. If he wants to play, let him play."
"But the card Naz took wasn't blank!"
Elusha's words made Hop instantly recall something.
Before siphoning the power of the Magic Crystal Tower, Hop, thinking the item would soon become a collector's rarity, dismantled several crystals that contained Arcane Spirit Power and tucked them into blank cards for his collection.
If mishandled, that thing can explode violently.
Sss... such a dangerous thing in Naz's hands should be fine, right?
Hop suddenly slapped himself.
No way it's fine!
That's Naz, who can create problems out of nothing!
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