Hearing Gaal's words, Makarov was taken aback and exchanged a glance with Gaal. Each of them couldn't help but smile.
That kind smile carried a hint of insidiousness, and Erza, who was following behind them, felt an inexplicable chill run down her spine. She quickly became alert, scanning her surroundings.
The next day, a scathing "Thank You Letter" spread throughout the Ishgar Continent, published by the Council.
The contents specifically expressed Fairy Tail's gratitude to Grimoire Heart for their contributions against the R System, detailing how Ur went to find her daughter, the ambush by Grimoire Heart, and the ensuing battle.
After the battle concluded, using some magic, they traced it all the way to an island off the coast of Carmu.
There, they intercepted and eliminated Stinger, the vice president of Grimoire Heart, who sought to seize the R System, along with Ultear, who had been misled and abducted.
Afterwards, under Ur's influence, Ultear regained her senses and turned over a new leaf. Not only did she expose Hades' plot to control the cult's R System, but she also personally guided Fairy Tail's Master Makarov, leading to the swift destruction of the under-construction R System.
This report, amidst the aftermath of two earlier events, seemed less significant. However, it unraveled many people's puzzles—this was how the R System's hiding place was discovered.
Moreover, it could be seen from this "Thank You Letter" that Fairy Tail held no reservations in their mockery of Grimoire Heart, leaving people to exclaim that this was indeed serious.
——
In the Ishgar Continent's central region.
The secret headquarters of the Dark Magic Guild.
Within a solemn and religious atmosphere, the building was lined with cold-faced guards, exuding an eerie vibe devoid of any warmth from living beings.
Inside the church.
Before Zeref's statue.
A high-ranking clergyman stood with hands behind his back, putting down a newspaper and turning around.
Two cult leaders responsible for the construction of Paradise Tower knelt tremblingly below, afraid to lift their heads. Beside them lay a blue-haired boy in a coma; it was Gerard.
After listening to the two cult leaders' recount of events, the high-ranking clergyman spoke in a steady voice, "So… in a situation with so many magical soldiers and followers, you let a bunch of kids incite a rebellion."
The slightly thin cult leader below shuddered and hastily responded, "N-No, that's not it. We originally planned to deal with this kid before suppressing the rebellion. But unexpectedly, Fairy Tail's Master Makarov arrived suddenly; we didn't have time to react before that old man destroyed the R System. You know, that old man is a Ten Wizard Saint... we really had no way out. For the sacred mission of the guild, we had to burn all the crucial data and escape through the underground secret passage with this mastermind. This kid has potential; he must be the best offering for our god!"
The fat cult leader next to him nodded repeatedly, "That's right, Your Excellency. This kid will become the best sacrificial offering."
Step, step, step…
The sound of light boots approached from above, prompting the two cult leaders to press their heads to the ground until the footsteps stopped beside them, a surge of magical energy emanating.
A moment later, the man whom they referred to as the high-ranking clergyman spoke, "Not bad. This child's talent is strong, much more so than you two, and he can also counteract you."
The thin cult leader hastily flattered, "Indeed, indeed. I believe our god will surely like this offering."
The high-ranking clergyman merely shook his head and said, "No. What I mean is… since this child's talent is so good, and his abilities surpass yours, why should I keep you around?"
With his words, a dark magic circle rose beneath them, and black flames suddenly erupted, engulfing them in an instant.
"Ahhh!!! No… ahhh!!"
Before they could scream, they turned to ashes and disappeared. The high-ranking clergyman stood before Gerard and said, "You've woken up; no need to pretend."
'Unconscious' Gerard twitched slightly at the words but continued to feign death. The high-ranking clergyman continued, "Do you want to experience hellfire?"
Left with no choice, Gerard opened his eyes, adjusting his body to sit up, looking warily at the high-ranking clergyman.
The high-ranking clergyman spoke indifferently, "Are you interested in joining the Dark Magic Guild? You will receive the best training."
Gerard's expression darkened as he pondered, "What if I refuse to join?"
The high-ranking clergyman's tone remained unchanged, "You will die."
He then added, "Now."
Gerard's face turned ashen as he glared at the clergyman, unable to resist saying, "But your strength isn't that great, is it? You were easily destroyed by the R System."
The high-ranking clergyman shook his head, unconcerned, "So what? Whenever we want, we can build another one. We have been searching for talented children. Do you think we depend only on you? There may be few children with magic talent like yours, but if they can't grow, what value do they have? Conversely, as long as you join the Dark Magic Guild, we can turn a wandering beggar into a noble's heir, allowing him to inherit a kingdom or even have the opportunity to be part of the magic council. Join us, and you will receive the best resources for your training. Otherwise, there will be no need for your existence. What's your decision?"
Gerard felt a heavy heart as he looked at the high-ranking clergyman, cynically asking, "Do I even have a choice?"
He then slowly closed his eyes.
The high-ranking clergyman nodded in satisfaction, resting his hand on Gerard's head, "A wise choice."
Magic flowed from his palm into Gerard's mind, a sudden jolt of pain erupting in his brain, nearly causing him to faint.
A dark magic guild symbol slowly formed on Gerard's forehead.
Moments later, the high-ranking clergyman released his hand, "The financial minister of Helen Kingdom needs a child; from now on, he will be your father, while your mother will be a Level 2 council member. From now on, you will be called Zikrein. This is your new identity. Sleep well, child. When you wake up, it will be a brand new life."
Gerard, gritting his teeth, let out a sigh of relief and fainted, the symbol on his forehead slowly fading, leaving no trace behind.
Two guild guards walked in; the high-ranking clergyman waved his hand, and the guards dragged Gerard away.
Only then did the high-ranking clergyman turn to the podium before the statue, picking up the newspaper again with a somber expression, reading the "Thank You Letter" from Fairy Tail: "Grimoire Heart.."
This time, the construction had learned from past experiences, keeping the news tightly under wraps. For years, the council had received no information, only to fall into the hands of Grimoire Heart.
Despite speaking so easily with Gerard, the actual situation was far more complicated.
Although the guild brainwashed many nobles, they had almost drained them dry over these years. With this failure, a troublesome explanation awaited much like before.
Thinking about it being a simple stroke of bad luck, the high-ranking clergyman gritted his teeth in frustration.
Grimoire Heart seemed idle, abducting children for no good reason. Why snatch a child from such a powerful mage? Wouldn't they come looking?
Large guilds like Grimoire Heart approached child abductions carefully, typically selecting orphans or targeting small, remote villages.
But Grimoire Heart? They simply took the child away.
And even a child of an S-Class Mage at that. Although such a child has great talent, it's also bound to cause trouble. Damn Grimoire Heart, damn Fairy Tail….
In terms of raw strength, the Dark Magic Guild indeed had no choice but to concede, but the frustration of not venting was unbearable; the high-ranking clergyman felt like he was about to grind his teeth to dust.
After suppressing his anger for a long time, he still couldn't swallow it down.
In terms of strength, they couldn't compete with those two guilds, but when it came to connections, how many nobles did those guys actually know?
Just wait for me!!!