Hope and Gildarts' expressions changed simultaneously.
You thick-eyebrowed, big-eyed Makarov! To ditch the position of Guild Master, a brawny man like you actually resorted to schemes.
He waited until he finished telling them all the secrets before informing them that these were exclusive to the Guild Master. This move of acting first and reporting later truly caught Hope and Gildarts off guard.
The guild was full of problematic individuals; it was essentially a giant hot potato. Making them the Guild Master was like pushing them into a bonfire... Just look at how much Makarov worried every day; his hair had even fallen out into a Mediterranean-style bald spot.
However, the old man had dedicated most of his life to Fairy Tail and was now nearly ninety years old. It was perfectly reasonable for him to want to retire.
Hope recovered from his surprise and suddenly clapped his hands. "In that case, I shall accept it then. You two, rest assured and leave the position of the Fourth Generation Guild Master to me."
Gildarts' eyes lit up. Instantly, he stopped agonizing over what excuse to use to run away this time and immediately gave Hope a thumbs up.
"Good kid! You really are responsible. I didn't misjudge you!"
"Since that's the case, I shall pass the position to you today," Makarov said.
Makarov also nodded with satisfaction. Although Hope had been in the guild for less than half a year, his contribution to the guild was immense, and he possessed the strength and wisdom to ensure the guild's proper development.
It was just that Hope had agreed so readily... This made Makarov a bit uneasy. This kid wouldn't pull some kind of trick on him, would he?
However, as expected, an unexpected thing was about to happen.
Hope didn't respond to Makarov. Instead, he looked at Gildarts with a serious face. "Gildarts, do you recognize me as the Fourth Generation Guild Master?"
"Huh?"
Gildarts was a bit dazed. He had absolutely no interest in the position of Guild Master; otherwise, he would have taken over from Makarov long ago.
Although he didn't understand why Hope suddenly asked this, he still spoke truthfully: "What are you saying, kid? Of course I recognize you as the new Master. You can leave any difficult tasks to me with confidence."
Hope nodded, patted Gildarts on the shoulder, and said with satisfaction: "As expected of a reliable senior. Then, in my capacity as the Fourth Generation Guild Master, I order you to take over my position."
"Gildarts, congratulations! From now on, you are the Fifth Generation Guild Master of Fairy Tail!"
Gildarts was instantly petrified.
Makarov was also stunned. There was actually such a maneuver?
He was wondering why this little brat Hope had agreed to become the Master so decisively; it turned out he had a huge stunt waiting right here.
While Makarov was dazed, Gildarts had already snapped out of his shock. At the thought of the mountain of troublesome chores a Guild Master had to deal with, his alcohol-dulled brain began to spin frantically.
Looking at the grinning Hope in front of him, Gildarts instantly had an idea.
If he can cross the river, so can I!
Gildarts turned around. "Makarov, in my name as the Fifth Generation Guild Master, I declare that from now on, you are the Sixth Generation Guild Master of the guild!"
"You two bastards are playing Russian nesting dolls with me, aren't you?!"
Makarov's teeth itched with rage. After going in such a circle, he, the Third Generation Guild Master, had suffered a massive demotion in seniority, becoming the Sixth Generation without doing a thing.
Wasn't this just ridiculous!
He simply wouldn't give away the Master's position then!
"My words about letting you two take over as Master were all a joke. You two, do—not—take—it—to—heart—"
The old man said the last half of the sentence almost word by word; it was clear he was quite angered by Hope and Gildarts' antics.
Hope smiled. "Master, your health is still so good, why retire? If you really want to find someone to take over, why not consider Erza?"
"Yeah, yeah, sometimes Erza's words are... well, even more effective than yours, Master," Gildarts chimed in from the side.
Makarov sighed. Erza was indeed the most suitable person in the guild to be the Master, but she was too young and still in a period of rapid growth. Making her the Master would be a disservice to the child.
He chose Gildarts because his stats were off the charts.
He chose Hope because his stats were even more off the charts.
But since these two bastards, one old and one young, were unwilling to be the Master, what could Makarov do? He could only suffer a bit more himself; his body was still sturdy anyway.
Besides, the guild had money now. Many things that used to be headaches were no longer issues.
Thinking this way, Makarov immediately felt much less pressure.
He looked at Hope and Gildarts with disdain. "If you won't be Master, then so be it. But 'Lumen Histoire' is top secret; you two must never let it slip."
Hope and Gildarts both claimed their lips were sealed.
In a glow of magic, the three left the underground space.
However, they didn't return to the third-floor office but appeared in a large empty lot.
Hope looked at the surrounding buildings and found that the empty lot beneath his feet was actually the land where the guild was located, but for some reason, all the guild buildings were gone.
Makarov's face turned very ugly. In just ten minutes, his home was gone upon his return.
The isolation magic of the underground space could block external detection, but it also prevented them from sensing the outside world.
Just as the three were baffled, Natsu, Lucy, and Happy rushed back in a hurry.
"Master! Gildarts! And Hope!"
"The guild was sucked in by a magic that fell from the Sky, and then it disappeared!"
Before Natsu could even catch his breath, he blurted out the scene they had seen from afar while doing a mission on the mountain outside the city.
Lucy added from the side.
About fifteen minutes ago, the previously clear Sky over Magnolia was suddenly covered with dark clouds, and a huge magical vortex appeared in the Sky, enveloping the guild from above.
Immediately afterward, the guild building twisted like a reflection in the water, and in the blink of an eye, the guild disappeared along with the magical vortex.
After listening to Lucy's supplementary explanation, Hope said calmly: "I see. That should be 'Anima,' the super sub-space magic from Mystogan's hometown."
"No need to panic, the person to solve the problem is about to arrive."
Hope turned his head to look at the street. Not far away, Mystogan was quickly approaching with Wendy and Carla.
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