"When did they get here?"
"What's going on!"
"Is this the same as what Freed used? No, maybe the magic power is even higher... we're trapped," Gray muttered.
"Who's the bastard behind this!" Natsu shouted.
A crowd began to close in. The man leading them stepped forward a few paces and spoke. "Please stay where you are and do not move."
"Who are you?"
"I am Laharl, Captain of the New Magic Council's 4th Custody Enforcement Unit," Laharl replied.
"What...!"
"The New Magic Council!"
"It's been restructured already?"
"We have been reborn to uphold law and justice. We will never allow the existence of any evil."
"What is this about?" Carla asked.
Happy added quickly, "We haven't done anything wrong!"
"Yeah! That's right!" Natsu said, his body trembling slightly. In truth, he feared the Council more than anyonethough it was less fear and more pure annoyance.
"We are aware of that," Laharl said sternly. "Our objective is to arrest the Oración Seis."
"But we aren't the Oración Seis! Oh, so you aren't here for me? Then go arrest them! Hurry up and undo this Jutsu Shiki and let us through," Natsu said, sighing in relief.
"We will not arrest any of you," Laharl said, his voice dropping an octave. "But we are here to arrest one truly heinous individual."
"Heinous? Who?" Everyone was bewildered. There was no one here but their own.
"It is you, 'God's Hand' Chen Fan. You are charged with bribing members of the Magic Council and attempting to manipulate the Council for your own unspeakable purposes."
"Chen Fan!" All eyes turned toward Chen Fan, who was currently being smacked on the head by Erza. The others might have been confused, but the internal members of Fairy Tail knew better. Whether the charges were true or not, the Magic Council had always been too terrified to ever pick a fight with Chen Fan.
Chen Fan looked equally confused, pointing a finger at his own chest. "Me?"
Laharl nodded firmly.
"Me? Really? Me?" Chen Fan's expression turned into that of a quintessential spoiled playboy, looking as if he were about to ask if they knew who his father was. "Do you even know who I am?"
"We know exactly who you are. That is why we are here to take you into custody," Laharl said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Kid, you're doing this on your own authority, aren't you?" Chen Fan said, his voice suddenly calm. These people were supposed to be here for the Oración Seis and Jellal. Since Jellal hadn't shown up, they were trying to pin it on him? They were really looking for trouble today.
"Certainly not. Chairman Gran Doma himself specifically issued the warrant for your arrest. If you dare to resist, we have the right to execute justice on the spot," Laharl said with severe gravity.
"Ha! Hahaha..." Chen Fan suddenly burst into laughter.
Clang! Everyone leveled their weapons at him. "What's so funny!" Laharl roared. This man was too arrogant. He had to be suppressed. The Magic Council could not tolerate such a wildcard.
"Isn't it obvious? The New Magic Council just wants to establish its dominance. The old 'new official starts three fires' routine, right? To think you'd target me... didn't the members of the old Council give you a warning?" Chen Fan asked with a playful smirk.
"Those people couldn't tell right from wrong. They allowed members of Dark Guilds to infiltrate the Council, the most sacred sanctuary of magic. Naturally, they have all been dismissed. The New Magic Council has no need for such incompetent people."
"Your name is Laharl, right?" Chen Fan asked, changing the subject.
"It is! What of it!" Laharl puffed out his chest.
"Do you remember the looks on the faces of those old Council members when they realized you were going to try and make an example out of me?"
Laharl thought back. When he had received the mission from Gran Doma, he had run into some of the old Council members and staff. Indeed, the look in their eyes had said one thing: 'You're overestimating yourselves!'
"They thought you were in way over your heads, didn't they?"
"What are you implying!" Laharl snapped, raising his right hand. Behind him, the soldiers lowered their weapons further, ready to strike at a moment's notice.
"Exactly this!"
Chen Fan reached out and lightly touched the Jutsu Shiki. "..."
Crash! The barrier shattered instantly.
"Prepare for battle! 'God's Hand' Chen Fan is resisting! Execute the second order: summary judgment!" Laharl screamed. But the words died in his throat as Chen Fan's hand clamped around his neck. His body was lifted off the ground inch by inch. The wizard guards froze, not daring to move.
"Chen Fan, stop!" Erza shouted.
"What are you afraid of? Just kill them all! They dared to bring trouble to Fairy Tail, so wipe them out!" Natsu shouted, his competitive spirit catching fire now that he saw Chen Fan actually fighting the Magic Council.
"Natsu, stay out of this!" Chen Fan said.
Natsu blinked. "Why? Aren't we taking them all down?"
"Not necessarily. I just really don't like his attitude," Chen Fan said softly.
The others broke into a cold sweat. 'Your attitude isn't exactly great either!' they thought, but none dared say it. Chen Fan was known for being petty; who knew when he might decide to hold a grudge?
"Chen Fan, let him go. He is a member of the Magic Council, after all," Erza pleaded.
Chen Fan released his grip. Laharl crumpled to the ground, gasping for air. He looked up at Chen Fan with pure terror. While that hand had been around his throat, he hadn't been able to move a muscle. It felt as if Chen Fan hadn't exerted even a fraction of his strength.
"I know he's from the Council, which is why I'm only giving them a small lesson. You're Laharl, right? Go back and tell Gran Doma that when I'm finished here, I'll pay him a personal visit.
You'd better have your traps ready... and you'd better not have all of Era linked together. Because if you do, I'll destroy the Magic Council again, and this time, I won't leave a single trace behind." Chen Fan's voice was ice cold.
"Fine! We shall await your arrival," Laharl stammered before leading his men away.
"What are we going to do, Chen Fan? The Council is targeting you," the group gathered around him.
"My business is" Chen Fan started, but was cut off.
"What do you mean 'your business'?" Seeing the genuine concern in their eyes, Chen Fan felt a wave of emotion. Truly moved, he smiled.
"Sorry, wrong choice of words. I'll handle it. You know what I'm capable of. A mere Magic Council is actually quite fragile."
The group suddenly remembered how Chen Fan had destroyed Nirvana with a single kick.
"Oh..." Everyone had a moment of sudden realization. They had finally remembered what they had forgotten to ask.
The crowd crowded around him. "If you could destroy Nirvana directly, why didn't you do it at the very beginning!"
"Yeah! Exactly!"
"Look at how badly we were hurt! My butt still hurts!" Lucy cried, rubbing her backside. Chen Fan's gaze drifted slightly in that direction.
Erza's cold glare landed on Chen Fan's back, making him freeze.
"Uh, well, there's a reason for that." Cold sweat broke out on Chen Fan's forehead.
"What reason! Tell us!" The group stepped forward, further shrinking Chen Fan's space.
Suddenly, a voice rang out. "Allow this old man to explain the reason!"
Wendy saw the newcomer and ran toward him. "Grandpa Master!" It was Master Roubaul of Cait Shelter.
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