January 5th, X785
Meliodas sat down at the bar. It was the first time he had actually sat down to relax and get a drink. He looked up at the back door, expecting Mira to show up. A new barmaid instead showed up behind the bar.
"What would you like to drink?" The barmaid asked.
"Magnolia Berry Ale." Meliodas said. As the barmaid poured Meliodas' drink, he thought about his meeting with Ultear and Meredy. 'Ultear seemed quite knowledgeable...I should have asked her if she knew anything about spatial magic…or possibly Selene.'
"Our financial situation is looking bad." Macao said as he and Wakaba walked by. Meliodas turned his head as he listened into their conversation.
"We need to somehow get more people to participate in the higher paying missions so our guild can receive more money from having them posted here. The problem is, people have been leaving the guild. Those who are still around don't do nearly enough missions to make enough money for the guild." Wakaba said.
"At this rate, we might have to foreclose this building by the end of the year…we're going to have to start digging into the guild savings pretty soon." Macao sighed.
Meliodas placed his now empty mug of ale down on the table and walked over to the mission board. There were a few A rank missions posted on the board. To his surprise, two of them happened to be in nearby areas. One of them was a monster subdual mission at a forest near Hosenka Town while the other was to stop a group of Zeref cultists just north of Hosenka Town. Meliodas noticed a third mission to deal with bandits to the west of Magnolia Town, which was on the way to Hosenka Town. Meliodas grabbed all three of them off the board and walked back downstairs over to Macao and Wakaba, who were sitting at their usual table.
"I'll be taking these three missions." Meliodas said as he placed the flyers on the table. Macao and Wakaba looked at Meliodas with a surprised look on their faces.
"Three A Rank missions?!" They both exclaimed.
"Normally, a mage only takes one mission at a time…" Wakaba commented.
"Well, the guild seems to be in a financially rough spot from what I hear. If I complete these three, it should help the guild out quite a bit." Meliodas said. "They're all in the same general area and I don't feel like making a round trip."
"Well...I guess we don't have a choice. Just be careful out there Meliodas." Macao said. Meliodas returned a grin to Macao before grabbing the flyers and taking off.
Within the same hour, Meliodas returned to the guild, much to the surprise of Macao and Wakaba.
"You're already back?!" Macao exclaimed.
"I knew you were fast but...that's insane…" Wakaba commented.
"I'll go get more missions." Meliodas said as he turned back towards the board.
---
January 9th X785
Meliodas sat by himself at a table with a mug of ale in hand. He stared blankly at the job bulletin board and thought about the past few days doing over a dozen different job requests and having to fly full speed across Fiore and back.
'These jobs help with getting me money but that's about it. I'm still not anywhere closer to finding any clues that will get me back to Britannia…'
Meliodas' thoughts were interrupted as a strange young man he had never seen before approached the table he was sitting at. Meliodas looked curiously at the man who was holding a large box.
"Meliodas, right?" The man asked. Meliodas nodded.
"I've been looking for you. I'm from a small and upcoming guild known as Heart Spire in Clover Town. Got something I'm supposed to deliver. Your hands only." The man said as he handed Meliodas the box.
Meliodas looked at the box, wondering who it could have been from. It was made of fine wood and had a music symbol carved at the top. As soon as he saw the music symbol, Meliodas knew who it was from.
"Thanks!" Meliodas said. The young man nodded before turning around and making his way out of the guild. Meliodas popped the wooden lid off the box and his eyes widened with surprise.
Sitting in the box was a brand new sword, one that was similar in appearance to his old Mel Force sword. Tied to the handle was a note. Meliodas opened the note and read it.
'Something came up and I won't be home for a while so I've decided to commission a nearby guild to mail this to you. I've fittingly named this sword "Neo Mel Force." Try not to break it but with how much work I put into it, I highly doubt you could even if you tried.'
Meliodas let out a small laugh upon reading the note. He picked up the sword from the box which was still in its scabbard. He unsheathed and immediately he felt a massive difference between this sword and the original Mel Force.
"Nice sword you got." Wakaba said as he approached Meliodas and took a seat in front of him at the table. "Also...thanks for doing all those jobs. You really got us out of that financial rut this month."
"Well I'm just being a good guild member." Meliodas said with a grin. "By the way, why is the board so empty today? Wouldn't there be new jobs by now?"
"Well over the past few days, the rest of the guild saw how hard you were working and decided to work extra hard. You've been a real role model, Meliodas." Wakaba said with a smile.
"Also, Macao wanted me to give this to you. I know the S rank board's been empty since the Tenrou incident, but Macao managed to get this one job. It's a dark guild job. Maybe that guild might have information on some crazy magic that can help you with your problem." Wakaba handed Meliodas the flyer and Meliodas read over it.
[Subdue the Pirates! A dark guild of pirates known as Blue Guardians has been terrorizing the many fishing boats in Hargeon, making it impossible to go out and fish. 8,000,000 Jewel Reward.]
"I don't quite remember seeing these guys on the Balam Alliance chart." Meliodas commented.
"Well that chart is essentially out of date now, considering how you've taken down two thirds of them already." Wakaba said.
"Well, I better get on it." Meliodas said as he stood up from the table and grabbed the flyer.
---
Early that afternoon, Meliodas arrived at the main harbor of Hargeon Port. The harbor was filled with ships, not a single one ready to set sail. Dozens of sailors and fishermen stood idly by, some sitting on crates and talking to each other while others stared at the vast ocean. A large burly old man with a thick grey mustache in a white captain's uniform approached Meliodas.
"You the one Fairy Tail sent?" The man asked. "You're a bit different than I had imagined you."
"Yup that's me. I'm Meliodas." Meliodas answered.
"They call me Captain Seadog around these parts." The man responded. "I'm the proud owner of the S.S. Seadog, the greatest fishing boat in the last twenty years...at least I was until those damn bastards destroyed my vessel. Not only that, but they're affecting all the other businesses at this port. Trade's been stopped with Ca Elum and Minstrel cause of em."
"That's problematic. One of my favorite brands of ale is from Minstrel." Meliodas commented.
"Really? What brand was that?" Seadog asked.
"Troubadour." Meliodas responded.
"Well you got a good taste in ale my friend. Once you settle this problem, why don't we go grab a drink together. And let me know if you need my help with anything. I'm no fighter, but I know my way around these parts."
"I might have to take you up on that offer. If I want to lure out pirates, I'll need a boat right?" Meliodas asked.
"I got an extra boat from my old navigation days. It's nothing spectacular but I've been maintaining it. Those pirate bastards must be hurting since we haven't sent a ship out in days. I'm sure they'll jump on any boat they see at this point." Seadog said. "Just give me an hour or so to get the ship prepped for ya. I'll meet you back here."
"Sure thing." Meliodas said as he waved goodbye to the old captain. Meliodas looked around the docks and began walking around, looking at the ships. He eventually arrived at the spot where he and the participants of the S rank Trials stepped on board their boat to Tenrou. Meliodas paused for a moment and looked out to sea. Musica's words echoed in his head.
"Hey you're the guy from Fairy Tail right?" A young man said as he approached Meliodas. Meliodas turned around and looked at the young man. He was a fair skinned young man who appeared to be in his early twenties and wore a tunic with rolled up sleeves and baggy pants tucked into black rubber boots. He wore a blue and white striped bandana over his head.
"Yeah that's me." Meliodas replied.
"I saw you talking to Captain Seadog already. I'm Duke, one of the fishermen of the Seadog Fishing Company. I was on his boat when those pirates attacked us. I know this isn't part of your mission description but can you do me a favor? I'll pay you extra if you want."
"What is it?" Meliodas asked.
"I had a necklace on me that they stole. It was a sapphire necklace that my wife gave to me. If you find it, can you bring it back to me?" Duke asked. Meliodas looked into his eyes and could see the desperation in them.
"I'll see what I can do. Free of charge." Meliodas said with a grin. 'I wouldn't like it if someone took something from me that Elizabeth gave to me.'
"Thank you so much!" Duke said as he bowed his head. Meliodas nodded and turned back around to face the ocean as Duke left. Across from Meliodas at the dock next to him, Meliodas noticed a familiar young man. He had black spiky hair and wore a white, sleeveless t-shirt and grey sweats. Wrapped around his head were bandages. The young man glanced in Meliodas' direction and his eyes lit up immediately.
"Meliodas?!"