Three minutes later, after receiving a decisive fist to the head from Markov, Kira finally nodded and assured him, "I understand, President. We'll definitely bring Natsu and Lucy back safely. Don't worry about a thing!"
Markov glared at him, sipping his wine with a look of exasperation. "Hmph! Be serious, Kira. That place is no ordinary location! Until ten years ago, no one in the entire Kingdom of Fiore had ever dared to live in the depths of Zonia. The nature of that mission is strange. I originally intended for Gildarts to take care of it when he returned. Failing that, I would've sent Laxus, Erza, and you together. But now—look at the mess we're in!"
Kira grinned, cheekily rubbing the bump on his head. "What's that supposed to mean? Are you saying Gildarts alone is better than the three of us combined?"
"I told you to be serious!" Markov barked, smacking Kira again for good measure.
"Alright, alright! With all of us going this time, there's nothing to worry about! Although Laxus refused to join us, Natsu and Lucy already left. They can make up the numbers! Kind of," Kira added with a sheepish laugh.
"You're a handful," Markov muttered.
Erza chimed in with a firm nod. "President, though I'm angry at Natsu's recklessness, there's no need to question his strength. He's proven himself to be very capable."
While she had confidence in Natsu's abilities, Erza couldn't shake her unease. S-Rank missions were rarely straightforward. Clients often withheld critical information, and unforeseen dangers were always part of the equation.
Lucy, while intelligent and resourceful, lacked the raw power needed to deal with a truly dangerous situation.
Markov sighed, relenting. "Fine. Erza, Kira, Gray, Cana, Rocky, and Elfman—you'll go together. Your primary goal is to bring Natsu and Lucy back. If they've already initiated the task, complete it for them to avoid damaging the guild's reputation. And while you're at it, gather any intel about Zonia that you can."
Erza saluted, her voice firm. "Understood, President!"
With a quick nod from everyone, the six of them assembled into a temporary team. Despite their serious mission, Kira's mind was already wandering.
"Wow, this sounds exciting," he muttered to himself. "I can't wait to solve the mystery of the angelic legend!"
As they prepared to leave, Erza expressed her concern. "Can we make it in time?"
"Don't worry!" Kira replied confidently. "We have an airship!"
Hope Airship was a technological marvel in a world where most advancements revolved around magic rather than machines. It was rare to see such a mode of transportation outside of large-scale guilds like Blue Pegasus, which had their famous Christina.
Kira's personal airship, however, had its own unique flair.
At 30 meters long and 10 meters wide, its golden exterior shimmered brilliantly in the sunlight. The ship's bow was adorned with the emblem of Fairy Tail, while its fairy-shaped design gave it a distinct charm. The wings on either side were lightweight but sturdy, perfect for maintaining balance in flight. Beneath the wings were rows of magic cannons, capable of leveling half a town with a single volley.
The engine at the rear served as both a propulsion system and a magic absorber, converting the world's ambient magical energy into a sustainable power source.
As the airship lifted off, Erza and Gray, who had experienced magical flying carpets before, remained calm. The rest, however, stared in awe.
"This thing is incredible!" Cana exclaimed, sitting cross-legged on the floor with her ever-present barrel of wine. "Why didn't you show this off sooner?"
Kira smirked. "Because every product of mine deserves its moment in the spotlight. Otherwise, how will they shine?"
Rocky chuckled. "You're nothing if not consistent, Kira. I bet you even planned for this moment, just so you could impress us."
Gray laughed, shaking his head. "No kidding. Your personality is way too predictable."
"Predictable or not, I'm just a man of principle," Kira replied nonchalantly. "After all, I'm not just a wizard—I'm also a respected businessman. Honesty and trustworthiness are the cornerstones of my trade!"
Elfman, fists clenched, exclaimed loudly, "This airship is so manly! Kira, you're a real man for building this!"
The group laughed, the tension lifting slightly as they ascended higher into the sky.
Erza, however, was quick to rein them in. "Everyone, stay focused! Our goal is to bring back Natsu, Lucy, and Happy. If the mission has already started, we'll take over to ensure it's completed properly."
Kira leaned back in his seat, smirking. "What are you talking about, Erza? We're obviously going to investigate the angelic legend first!"
Gray chuckled. "Yeah, let's not worry about Natsu. He's probably fine. Lucy, though? We should definitely save her!"
Cana laughed, taking a swig from her barrel. "Lucy's smarter than Natsu. She'll probably be the one saving him."
Elfman, ever loyal to his guildmates, interjected. "Don't underestimate Natsu! He's plenty strong enough to handle an S-Rank mission!"
Erza sighed heavily. "Strength is only part of the equation. Natsu's reckless behavior is the real problem. If we don't intervene, he'll keep breaking guild rules without any regard for the consequences!"
Back at the guild, Markov sat at the bar, nursing his wine and watching Mira bustle about with her usual smile.
"These kids…" he muttered. "They're growing more disobedient by the day."
Mira, overhearing, chuckled softly. "Oh, Master, don't worry so much. Kira and Erza are reliable. They'll keep everything under control."
"Reliable?" Wakaba scoffed, blowing out a puff of smoke. "They're just as reckless as the rest of them. Kira's probably more interested in the legend than the mission itself!"
Mira shot him a playful glare. "That's not true! Kira and Erza may be worried about Natsu, but they're doing this to protect him—and Lucy too. They're good-hearted at the core."
Markov sighed, leaning back in his chair. "I hope you're right. If anyone can keep things under control, it's Erza."
Onboard the airship, Kira was busy distributing snacks and tea.
"Alright, everyone!" he announced cheerfully. "Forget Natsu and Lucy for now. Let's focus on solving the mystery of the angels! Once we've done that, we'll handle the mission."
"Yeah!" Gray said, raising his cup.
"Absolutely!" Cana cheered.
Elfman roared, "Now this is what it means to be a real man!"
Erza shook her head, exasperated. "Focus! Don't forget why we're here!"
As the airship soared toward Zonia, the group's camaraderie grew stronger. Though their mission was fraught with danger, their spirits remained high.
Back at the guild, Markov sipped his wine and sighed. "I just hope they don't blow up the entire mountain…"
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