Laxus was unusually calm today, and his speech was normal, completely lacking the annoying feeling from their first meeting.
Ezreal put down his clean skewers, looked at the burly man across from him, who wore a black trench coat both indoors and outdoors, and smiled. "I thought we'd chat for a while before getting to the main topic."
Laxus replied expressionlessly, "I don't like small talk."
"How do I view the guild? Isn't it a bit inappropriate to ask a newcomer who only joined a little over two months ago?" Ezreal said with a smile, taking two tissues to wipe the black pepper sauce from his mouth.
"I don't want to communicate with the weak," Laxus said calmly, his expression perfectly natural, proving these were his true feelings. He crossed his arms over his chest, a hint of disdain in his eyes.
"You're truly a proud man, Laxus," Ezreal was amused by Laxus's serious expression. "Then your guest today should be the Master, Gildarts, or Erza and Mystogan, not me."
Laxus was silent for a moment, not refuting Ezreal's words, but continued, "Protecting family, safeguarding guild companions, treating each other as closest family—I'm tired of hearing such empty platitudes. What I need is a truly objective assessment." His eyes sharpened, staring intently at Ezreal.
"Empty talk cannot sustain a guild," Laxus's tone became heavier. His fists clenched slightly, as if emphasizing his point.
"Is that how you see it?" Ezreal frowned, feeling that this meal was starting to taste a bit unpleasant, even nauseating.
"That's a bit much, Laxus," Ezreal said, looking at Laxus seriously, his tone also becoming stern. "I don't think Master and the others are just talking. Master handles bad news for everyone in the guild at the Council, and in the guild, he genuinely treats everyone like his own children." His gaze was firm, his voice clear.
"Gildarts regularly undertakes high-risk S-rank missions, sometimes not returning for years."
"Erza's S-rank mission frequency is also very high."
"I haven't seen Mystogan since I joined the guild, but I've heard Master mention that he also consistently takes on S-rank missions."
"As for those you call weak, they are also taking on missions." A hint of displeasure flickered in Ezreal's eyes as he defended those labeled as weak.
"Within the guild, the commission for mission rewards is one-tenth. Every time a mission is completed, the guild receives a portion of the income. These are all real, tangible contributions, and should not be called empty talk." Ezreal listed their contributions, staring unblinkingly at Laxus, but he saw a mocking smile on Laxus's face.
Laxus's lips curled slightly into a sneer: "Gildarts rarely appears in the guild, only seen once every few years, and has limited interaction with guild members, so let's not mention him for now."
"Mystogan's situation is a bit special; you don't understand it, and it's not convenient for me to explain."
"Erza does many missions, but she often causes major destruction and gets complaints filed with the Council."
"You speak for the other members of the guild, but have you seen their mission reports?"
"Every time they do a mission, they cause no small amount of trouble, with the client or affected people complaining to the Council, and at least two-thirds of the mission reward goes to compensation," Laxus said. His voice grew somewhat agitated, and anger flashed in his eyes.
"Do you think all those apology letters the old man writes come from nowhere? Is that something to be proud of?" Laxus slammed his fist on the table, golden lightning flickering in his eyes. His face became ferocious, like an enraged lion.
"A Mage who can't even control his own magic power, what kind of Mage is he!" Laxus's voice was filled with fury. His body trembled slightly, golden lightning raging around him.
"Fairy Tail is called the strongest guild in the Fiore Kingdom, but it's also called the most troublesome guild! Haven't you heard these things?" The disappointment in Laxus's eyes was unconcealed.
"Since becoming a Mage, I have completed 6 D-rank missions, 31 C-rank, 55 B-rank, 95 A-rank, and 24 S-rank missions. I remember every single one clearly, with no failed records!"
"Do you think I have the right to speak?" Laxus stared at Ezreal, awaiting his answer.
"And these people you defend? Besides causing trouble, shouting about family and companions, do their actions show any consideration for family?" Laxus's voice grew sharp, like a piercing sword aimed at Ezreal.
"If these people you defend truly cared about this guild, then why does my grandfather, Makarov, this eighty-year-old elder, the patriarch you all acknowledge! Why does he have to bow his head and admit fault in front of those arrogant pieces of trash from the Council!" Laxus's face was contorted in fury, golden lightning raged in his eyes, and with each violent heave of his chest, the crackling sound of lightning filled the air. He leaned slightly forward, as if ready to pounce on Ezreal at any moment.
"Come, tell me!" The last sentence was practically roared by Laxus. Outside Hans Restaurant, the previously clear sky suddenly became overcast, golden lightning streaked through the dark clouds, and thunder rumbled across the heavens.
Ezreal was awed by Laxus's aura; the enraged Laxus could influence natural phenomena with his emotions, a power that deeply astonished him.
But what astonished him even more was Laxus's deep affection for the guild, and his concern for Makarov.
Ezreal finally understood why, in the anime, Laxus initiated a civil war, claiming he wanted to purge and reorganize the guild.
As Makarov's grandson, he watched as guild members constantly caused trouble, requiring his grandfather to apologize to others and negotiate with a group of Council members who had no real power but only official authority, and write apology letters.
An old man in his seventies or eighties, holding the title of the continent's strongest Ten Wizard Saints! And also the Master of the number one guild in the Fiore Kingdom!
Such an illustrious figure still had to bow his head and admit fault!
Crucially, most of these people had grown up in the guild, some even personally taken in by Makarov.
Yet, this very group, who should have treated the guild as their home, constantly caused trouble, making Makarov, as the patriarch, worry and work tirelessly.
Although Makarov never felt there was anything wrong with doing such things for his family, Laxus, as his grandson, saw everything.
What grandson wouldn't be angry seeing his grandfather humiliated?