(Hargeon Town, Kingdom of Fiore, Ishgar, Earth-Land, Fairy Tail Universe)
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(Guiliano Augiliar POV)
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It was an interesting experience going on a trip to Hargeon Town with Cana and Mira.
''So how is it you can't get motion sickness like Natsu?'' Mirajane asked him.
''You train as much as I do, you learn not to focus on such a small thing as movement. The movement is only half the battle. You can train yourself to ignore everything you sense to focus on something else. It takes a lot of meditation and the maturity to understand oneself to be able to maintain one's own emotional equilibrium to be able to achieve that focus.'' Says Guiliano.
''Do you think Natsu would ever be able to achieve it?'' Asks Cana in between her sips of alcohol.
''Doubtful, Natsu is impatient and hotheaded. He would need to mature a lot to even be remotely ready.'' Guiliano replied, having not once opened his eyes since the carriage started moving.
''So, tell us about these Jobs?'' Mirajane suggests.
''Our mission is to firstly exterminate the monsters' infestations at the Royale Brewery and the Hargeon Chocolate Factory. Secondary objectives include determining whether or not this was an accident or something far more sinister. In the case of the latter, I'll handle the ones responsible personally. It's expected.'' Guiliano says resolutely.
''So why am I here? Or even Mira for that matter? I mean I know I asked to be on the mission but still.'' Says Cana.
''Truthfully? Markarov was hoping to have Mira get a shipment of sweets from the Chocolate factory in order to add to the menu. As for you? I figured you'd be more careful about needless destruction in a Brewery. So really Mira and you are here more as a formality.'' Guiliano explains.
''Well, as long as we're here we should look to see if we can't get the brewery to give us some free booze.'' Cana says with a determined drunken glint in her eyes.
''Either way, we know our jobs in essence, let us first head to the companies regional headquarters and find out exactly what we're dealing with in terms of each job. After that accommodations and a good meal.'' Guiliano says as the carriage begins to slow down, allowing Guiliano to open his eyes.
''We've arrived at Hargeon Town.'' The Carriage driver called out and the trio gathered their gear and paid the man the rest of his jewels for the journey, having paid half of them up front.
''So where to now?'' Cana asks.
''The brewery and chocolate factory operate under the same parent company. Have done so since their inception. That company - Drago Konzern - which has offices all over Ishgar. Now since Hargeon Town is a main point of production and distribution in this particular part of Ishgar, the offices here double as the regional headquarters of the company.'' Says Guiliano.
''Isn't Drago Konzern like way way richer than even the Heartfilia family?'' Asks Cana.
''The Drago family has been around since before Ishgar existed. Their lineage dates back to the time Zeref and his younger brother were alive together.'' Says Guiliano, remembering the fun he and Zeref had together years ago.
It was a bitter memory.
His meta-knowledge wasn't worth shit back then. It was all mixed together and a patchwork of his then current and past memories. It was his time with Atlas Flame during the point in time that was Acnologia's massacre that made his memories synergize.
Guiliano spent close to thirty years after the death of Atlas Flame as the protector of the Giants Village. The Giants called him the Prince or the Little Protector. He left them long ago, entrusting Atlas Flames sacred fire to their protection. Even to this day the Giants revered him. Their loyalty had inspired him to make the company he built from the ground up all those years ago into a family.
Drago Konzern was built on a familial Relationship with all its employees. He might be the one in charge of the company's direction, but a trusted hand led in his stead. The fact she reached out at all meant something big was up.
''Lead the way.'' Cana says.
''Keep close.'' He says.
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Arriving at the Drago Konzern headquarters, Guiliano, Cana, and Mirajane were immediately escorted to the boardroom.
Sat at the head of the table was a beautiful young woman with long flowing black hair.
''I'm Annabelle Drago. Thank you, Lord Augiliar for accepting the contract.'' Guiliano sighs in defeat.
''Lord?'' Mirajane and Cana asked in surprise.
''Lord Guiliano Augiliar. 1st, Fifth, and Twelfth Grandmaster of the Mercia Ignis Wizard Guild. Direct descendant of the slayer of the Dark Wizard Zeref and Lord-Protector of the Village of the Sun.'' Annabelle introduced him. Thankfully skipping over the remainder of his titles.
''You were a Guildmaster?'' Asks Cana.
''Hardly the most important part, Cana. Your a nobleman?'' Mirajane asked.
''Not by choice. King Toma forced it on me. When he learned that I was heir to the Sun Village he saw an opportunity. '' Guiliano answered.
''You could have declined it easily enough.'' Says Cana.
''Not as easily as you might think. Lord Guiliano is the only ruler the Sun Village would accept.'' Annabelle cut in.
''That's enough from you. Just give us the job.'' Guiliano cuts in urgently, though to his horror that only serves to make Cana and Mirajane even more curious.
''Fine, fine.'' Says Anabelle. ''Over the last few months we've been having problems with the Factory and Brewery. At first, Lord Guiliano's sister was able to handle it for us. It was relatively small Infestations. But gradually she was overwhelmed, and could no longer help us because the problem grew beyond her skillset. The Drago Konzern chairman instructed me to seek out Lord Guiliano.'' Says Annabelle.
''Gladio wouldn't have told you to seek me out if Wendy couldn't handle it. He would have sent you to Sting and Rogue. So why didn't you?'' Asks Guiliano.
''My father did reach out. But the new Guildmaster of Sabretooth refused our offered terms.'' Says Anabelle.
''I'm guessing that it was Jimena?'' Asks Guiliano for clarification.
''Correct. He felt the task and the offered compensation was well below Sabretooth's standards. Therefore we came back to you.'' Says Anabelle.
''Figures. Jimena was always arrogant. '' Guiliano mutters.
''At any rate the monster infestations have grown beyond what we can now ignore.'' Says Anabelle.
''What kind of Monsters?'' Cana asks.
''In the chocolate factory? A Goblin infestation. And for the brewery, we've got a Wyvern Infestation.'' Says Anabelle.
''A wyvern infestation?'' Guiliano repeats, seeking clarification.
''Yes.''
''Well…fuck.''
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(Author's Note:)
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Gonna cut that off there. After this small arc of chapters is done, we'll Be moving onto the Eisenwald stuff. Which brings me to the announcement for this story. Come the finale of Tenrou Island, the story will branch off into a multiervsal adventure. I won't reveal everywhere Guiliano is gonna go, but I'll say this much, it won't be willingly. He'll go to different realities gaining different powers and sometimes not even powers as opposed to new skills.
Three places I can reveal that he's gonna go, are Final Fantasy, DxD, and Naruto. Not necessarily in that order, but those three are the most interesting places he'll be headed to within the first five or six universes.
He won't Just be headed to anime verses though. He'll show up to cartoon, TV, and Movie Universes as well.
At any rate, see you guys next chapter.
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Thanks to Mitchell Howard, David Martinez, ROGUE505 Saver, Mathew T Linderman, Luck George, Kyle Diano, Julien, Morgan Sinn, Attila Kovács, Maciek, and Tom A for their support on P-atreon.
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