"Normal Dialogue"
'Inner thoughts'
[Year X787]
~ With Shisui ~
The question hit harder than Shisui had expected. He considered his response carefully, aware that Warrod was more perceptive than his eccentric demeanor suggested.
"I'm not ready," Shisui said finally. "At least not yet."
Warrod nodded, accepting the answer without pushing further. The two sat in comfortable silence for a few moments, sipping their tea.
"In that case," Warrod said eventually, breaking the silence, "would you perhaps be interested in taking on more S-class missions?"
Shisui raised an eyebrow, surprised by the question. "More missions like the demon investigation?"
"Similar in rank, though varying in nature," Warrod clarified, setting his cup down. "I must confess that I have quite a few S-class missions that have been... accumulating."
"Accumulating?" Shisui repeated, his curiosity piqued.
Warrod nodded, a distant look crossing his wooden features. "You see, I was once a member of Fairy Tail—one of its founders, in fact, though that was many, many years ago."
Shisui's eyes widened slightly at this revelation. He had obviously done his research on Fairy Tail during his time in this world—a guild known for both its powerful mages and its tendency to cause property damage wherever they went. But he had never came across any information that suggested that Warrod was one of the co-founder.
'Wait, exactly how old is he?!' Shisui thought amazedly. Back in the elemental nations, it would have been a major achievement for someone to live for as long as Warrod probably had, with most likely only Mito Uzumaki being the only one to have lived for that long.
"Although I retired from active guild life long ago," Warrod continued, "I've maintained my connections. As a Wizard Saint, I often create S-class missions and have historically reserved them primarily for Fairy Tail's S-class mages." His expression grew more somber. "But with their... disappearance, these missions have gone untaken."
"Disappearance?" Shisui prompted. He knew about the disappearance, but he could never get the details. Ultear knew something, but he never felt that it was in his place to pry as it seemed that whatever happened had left a great imprint on her.
"A tragic incident a few years ago," Warrod explained with a sigh. "Most of Fairy Tail's strongest members vanished during an attack on their sacred island. While I believe they are still live, they are beyond reach for the time being." He gestured vaguely with one hand.
Although Shisui was disappointed that Warrod did not go into detail, much like Ultear, he still did not pry any further regarding the disappearance.
"For the more pressing S-class matters, I post missions openly for qualified mages from other guilds to accept. But some, the ones that can wait, I've held back, hoping that someday Fairy Tail's missing members might return to complete them."
Shisui considered this information thoughtfully. He had initially intended to return immediately to the mountain zone for further investigation, but Warrod's account of the number 1 ranked Wizard Saint's caution gave him pause. If someone presumably more powerful than either himself or Warrod had deemed the deeper regions too dangerous to explore, perhaps a direct approach wasn't wise without more preparation.
"What sort of missions are they?" Shisui asked after a moment.
"Various types," Warrod replied. "Monster subjugation, artifact retrieval, protection of important figures, investigation of magical anomalies. The standard fare for S-class missions, but with stakes or difficulty levels that require exceptional abilities."
Shisui nodded slowly, seeing the logic in postponing his mountain zone investigation until he had more information or had grown stronger. These S-class missions might be able to provide both the experience that would increase his combat abilities and knowledge that might prove relevant to understanding more about Earthland.
"I'll take them," he said decisively, then narrowed his eyes slightly. "Though I have to ask—what's the catch? You've been holding these missions specifically for Fairy Tail mages, but now you're willing to offer them to me instead?"
Warrod's mouth twitched, and a gleam of amusement shone in his ancient eyes at being caught out. "Perceptive as always, young Shisui," he acknowledged with a slight chuckle. "Yes, there is something of a... condition I had in mind."
"I would ask that you consider parting with forty percent of the rewards from these missions," Warrod said, his tone shifting to something more formal despite the presumptuous nature of his request. "The funds would go directly to Fairy Tail." He held up a wooden hand before Shisui could respond. "Before you answer, allow me to explain why I'm asking this of you."
Shisui leaned back in his chair, his expression neutral. "I'm listening."
Warrod rose and moved to the window again. "Fairy Tail has recently lost more than seventy percent of its original members," he began, his voice heavy with concern. "And more continue to leave as the days pass by."
He turned back to face Shisui, his eyes reflecting a sadness that seemed to overtake his usual eccentric demeanor. "Initially, the guild had sufficient funds saved to manage their day-to-day expenses, pay off debts, and cover the rather substantial damages they tended to cause during missions." A fleeting smile touched his wooden features at this last point.
"But everything changed when their mid-tier mages—the B and A-rank members—began leaving in search of better opportunities elsewhere." Warrod revealed.
"They abandoned their guild?" Shisui asked, his tone carefully neutral though the concept struck him as disloyal.
"Some would see it that way," Warrod acknowledged with a slight nod. "Others might say they simply made practical choices in the face of an uncertain future. Without the S-class mages who disappeared, Fairy Tail's reputation began to suffer. Fewer high-paying jobs came their way, and the guild struggled to maintain its previous standing."
He moved back to the table and sat down heavily, the wood of his chair creaking slightly under his weight. "Only a few A-rank mages remained loyal, but they cannot complete enough missions by themselves to keep the guild financially stable. The majority of A and B-rank missions go unclaimed due to insufficient manpower, which only worsens their reputation further." His fingers tapped a restless rhythm on the tabletop. "It's a vicious cycle. Their deteriorating reputation leads fewer new mages to join, which reduces their capacity to take missions, which damages their reputation even more."
Shisui considered this information, seeing the logical progression of decline. A guild without its strongest members would naturally struggle to maintain its previous standing, just as a village stripped of its elite shinobi would become vulnerable.
"The current Guild Master, Macao Conbolt, is doing his best with limited resources," Warrod continued, "but he's facing challenges that would test even the most experienced leader—which, frankly, he is not. He was thrust into the position unexpectedly and has been scrambling to hold everything together ever since."
"And the forty percent of mission rewards would help ease this financial burden," Shisui deduced.
"Precisely," Warrod confirmed. "S-class missions pay substantially more than regular ones. Even a portion of those rewards could make a significant difference to Fairy Tail's current situation." His expression darkened slightly. "Especially given recent developments in Magnolia."
"What developments?"
"A new guild called Twilight Ogre has established itself in the town," Warrod explained, a note of distaste entering his voice. "They've been quick to exploit Fairy Tail's weakened position. From what I've gathered, they've offered Macao a loan to help with expenses."
"You don't trust their intentions," Shisui observed.
Warrod shook his head firmly. "The loan is almost certainly a trap—a way to gain leverage over Fairy Tail and eventually force them into submission or dissolution. Fortunately, they haven't yet become desperate enough to accept such an offer, but that day approaches rapidly unless something changes."
He leaned forward, his gaze intensifying. "Which brings me to my proposal. You're a lone traveler with minimal expenses compared to a guild's operational costs. Forty percent is substantial, yes, but you'd still retain the majority of the rewards while helping preserve one of Fiore's oldest and most noble guilds."
Shisui was silent for a moment, weighing the request. He had no particular connection to Fairy Tail, and forty percent of an S-class mission's rewards was indeed a significant amount. Yet there was something compelling about Warrod's loyalty to his former guild—a connection that had endured despite years of separation.
"In return," Warrod added, perhaps sensing Shisui's hesitation, "I promise that I will assist you should you ever require help that my position as a Wizard Saint might facilitate." He raised a finger in qualification. "Provided, of course, the assistance you seek isn't harmful to Ishgar or others, and doesn't involve strictly confidential information."
Shisui studied the ancient mage, noting the sincerity in his expression. Despite his eccentric nature and tendency toward jokes, Warrod clearly cared deeply about the fate of his former guild. The Wizard Saint could have simply let Fairy Tail fade away. After all, guilds rose and fell naturally in this world, just as clans and villages had in Shisui's original world. Instead, he was actively working to preserve it, using what resources and connections he had to support those who remained.
It reminded Shisui, unexpectedly, of his own efforts to protect Konoha during its time of crisis. The lengths he had been willing to go to safeguard what he valued, even when others might have deemed it a lost cause. The parallel wasn't perfect, but it struck a chord nevertheless.
His respect for Warrod deepened at the realization. Here was someone who understood loyalty beyond mere duty or obligation. Someone who remembered his roots and honored them despite having grown far beyond them.
"I'll do it," Shisui said simply, making his decision. "Forty percent to Fairy Tail."
Warrod's face transformed with surprise and then genuine delight, his wooden features creasing into a broad smile that seemed to light up the entire room. "Truly?" he asked, as if he couldn't quite believe Shisui had agreed so readily. "Excellent! Wonderful! You won't regret this, my boy."
"I would certainly hope not," Shisui replied with a subtle smile of his own. "Just make sure those missions are worth my time."
Warrod's laughter filled the room, warm and full of relief. "Oh, they will be, I assure you. They will be."
He reached across the table and clasped Shisui's hand firmly, the gesture conveying gratitude more effectively than words could have.
Their meeting concluded as plans were being made for Shisui to receive details of his first mission.
~ End of Chapter 25 ~