"We're in your debt again this time."
Watching Wendy finish treating the last of the wounded, Hyberion sighed with feeling.
Rhodes smiled and waved his hand. "Don't mention it. I'll submit an application for Wendy's allowance later; just make sure you approve it quickly."
Hyberion fell silent. This guy was relentlessly pragmatic.
"Brother Rhodes, I just..." Wendy started, looking a little embarrassed.
Rhodes pressed his hand onto Wendy's head and cut her off. "You just helped the Council treat dozens of wounded that no one else could save, reduced the Council's losses, and strengthened these soldiers' trust in the organization.
It's not some earth-shattering achievement, but the Council will reward you fairly for it. So be good."
As he spoke, he raised an eyebrow at Hyberion.
Bryliens nodded in deep agreement. Like Warrod Sequen, he had originally been called in to discuss the communication magic crystals, only to walk into this situation. He felt that Rhodes spoke with logic and reason and was a fair and just person.
The corner of Hyberion's mouth twitched. I never said I wouldn't give it; was such a blatant hint really necessary? But he couldn't say much, so he went along with it. "Thank you for your hard work, Miss Wendy. Mr. Rhodes is right; the Council won't let your efforts go unrewarded."
Carla seemed quite satisfied and whispered in Wendy's ear, "Just listen to Rhodes. Though I'm a little worried, will he end up stripping the Council bare?"
Rhodes flicked the cat on the head, earning himself a sharp glare from Carla.
"Since the problem is resolved, we should go discuss our business," Hyberion said.
Rhodes pointed outside and smiled. "I think Mr. Ulfheim might still need a little more time."
Ulfheim was currently busy scolding people.
Lahar, Mest, and everyone involved in the mission stood in a neat line, heads hung low as they endured his reprimand. He was calling them reckless, rash, and poor at adapting.
After all the training he had put them through and all the missions he had led them on, they had made such a massive blunder the two times he had not been with them. Not only had they let the criminals escape, but they had nearly suffered major casualties.
Ulfheim was fuming, and his scolding showed no sign of stopping. The relentless torrent reminded Rhodes of his old homeroom teacher.
These were probably the worst Enforcement Unit members Ulfheim had ever led.
Hyberion decided enough was enough and went over to mediate.
"The enemy's abilities were unexpected; this isn't entirely their fault. Let's discuss our next move instead."
Ulfheim took a deep breath and finally stopped. "Lahar and Doranbalt, come to the meeting. The rest of you, go back and reflect on your mistakes!"
"Yes, sir!" Everyone looked as though they had been granted a royal pardon and quickly dispersed.
Hyberion turned toward the tree nearby. "Mr. Warrod, don't stand outside the whole time."
"Hmm, don't mind me," Warrod said slowly. "You all go ahead. My rings are a bit sore; I need to photosynthesize a while longer."
Wendy believed him instantly. "Eh? Is the old grandpa a tree?"
Warrod suddenly brightened. "Wahahaha! Just kidding, just kidding!"
Wendy: "..."
Carla gave him a dead-eyed look. "Now I believe he used to be in our guild."
Rhodes turned to Wendy. "You two go sit with Lucy and Levy for a bit. I'll take you back later."
"Yes!" Wendy said with some anticipation. "I want to see how Miss Lucy and Miss Levy work."
Ordinarily, mages would not be allowed to wander around the Council, but no one present raised any objections. One soldier who had already started walking away even turned back specifically to lead Wendy inside.
Rhodes, Hyberion, and the others arrived at the meeting room, and Lahar began to explain the details.
"This mission originated from a brutal murder case in the Kingdom of Bellum. A total of 87 people in a small mountain village, regardless of age or gender, were all killed, and the state of the bodies was horrific.
The Kingdom of Bellum conducted an investigation and concluded that Magicians were responsible. During the investigation, three law enforcement officers were also killed. The matter was therefore reported to the Council."
"By 'horrific state of death,' you mean..." Rhodes began.
Lahar placed several photos on the table. "Some were split in half vertically, some looked as if they had suffered a severe illness with strange spots on their skin, some appeared to have been brutally tortured, and others had their heads twisted all the way around with no signs of anyone having grabbed them."
Hyberion and Ulfheim had already been briefed on the case. Only Rhodes, Briarence, and Warrod looked at the photos; the scenes were indeed too gruesome to bear.
"So the victim with spots on their skin was caused by the target you were trying to capture this time?" Briarence asked.
"Yes," Mest said. "A woman with short purple hair wearing a black cat-ear hairpin. I heard someone call her Marly. My speculation is that anyone she touches or who enters a certain range becomes infected with various diseases.
Besides her, there was a man carrying a long black sword. His swordsmanship was very refined, and his name appeared to be Jerome."
Lahar added, "I am likely no match for him. If they had chosen to pursue us instead of retreating, we would have suffered heavy casualties."
"They sound like quite powerful individuals," Rhodes said. "That level of strength is not what you would expect from an obscure organization."
Lahar's own strength was nothing to dismiss; if even he could not handle them, their level was certainly not low. Put in a guild, they could at least trade blows with Lily in his transformed state.
"Do you know their objective?"
"I caught a few words," Mest said. "I didn't hear clearly, but Zeref was mentioned."
Ulfheim slammed the table. "Zeref again!"
Hyberion pondered. "In that case, it's something along the lines of a Black Magic Cult. Either to resurrect Zeref or to obtain some relic of his."
Black Magic Cult was a fairly broad term; essentially anyone who worshipped Zeref fell under that name, though certain Dark Guilds were exceptions.
The goals of these cults were all similar, and in pursuing them they invariably caused the deaths of many innocent civilians. Compared to Dark Guilds that engaged in kidnapping and assassination for money, the harm caused by Black Magic Cults was often greater and their actions far more detestable.
Rhodes frowned. Hearing of a Black Magic Cult this time gave him more pause than it would have before. At this critical juncture, any movement connected to Zeref could trigger a war between the two continents.
That made the cult's actions particularly worth watching closely.