Memory magic, like many other spells affecting the mind, can be easily broken once the person becomes aware or someone points it out to them.
Just like Mira and Erza, once they realized they might be under the influence of memory magic, their previously hazy memories became clear.
Makarov naturally understood this, but for now, he couldn't let them speak about it here.
He took the three to a quiet room, ready to explain:
"What I'm about to discuss is a guild secret. If it gets leaked, it would cause considerable trouble, and Mest's safety couldn't be guaranteed."
Mira and Erza exchanged glances: "If it's information that could harm the guild, we'll keep it confidential."
Rhode nodded along, though he wanted to ask, 'Is our guild really a legitimate guild?'
But after thinking about it, even if he was told now it's a dark guild, he'd only blame the Advisory Council.
Makarov started explaining about Mest: "This was a matter from several years ago…"
Mest was a rather exceptional mage, skilled in memory magic and space magic that allowed instant teleportation.
At that time, Makarov knew someone was coveting Fairy Tail's secrets and there were those intending to dissolve Fairy Tail, so he hoped Mest could infiltrate the Advisory Council to help gather some important information.
Mest was super eager to make a name for himself and he agreed immediately, even making more 'meticulous' plans.
Although Makarov didn't approve, he altered his and the guild members' memories about 'Mest', and under the alias of Dolanbart, he infiltrated the Advisory Council.
Then, driven by his eagerness to prove himself, he flipped his efforts to collect dirt on Fairy Tail, hoping to aid the Council in dealing with this guild that constantly caused trouble.
Every time Makarov met with him, he had to find a reason to take him someplace secluded to quietly restore his memory.
During the process, he couldn't avoid the occasional jibe from Mest about 'the evil Fairy Tail president, I'll catch you eventually' and the like.
Thanks to his 'meticulous' approach and hard work, he remained undiscovered and rose in rank rather quickly, acquiring a lot of useful information.
This S-Class test, 'Dolanbart' wanted to participate under the identity of 'Mest' to explore Fairy Tail's secrets.
And Makarov felt he was qualified, if he could make it to the end, he'd truly let him advance to S-Class, putting the undercover mission aside.
But Makarov never expected that a perfectly good undercover agent, unnoticed by other members, unnoticed by the Council, and even unaware of himself being an undercover agent, would be accidentally exposed by Rhode.
It was done to help Kana prepare for the exam… Is there really such a way to prepare?!
"Haha, haha…" Rhode awkwardly laughed, "Uh, President, I didn't mean to… But with his memory altered, how could he still gather information?"
Mira covered her mouth and laughed beside him, thinking this matter was too amusing.
Makarov said: "There's no need to intentionally gather information; as long as he's in the Council, he'll always encounter things. If you have questions, ask now."
Rhode asked: "President, will you erase this part of our memory later?"
Makarov lightly shook his head: "Having gone this far, I won't do that. I just hope you won't tell others."
Erza asked seriously: "What about the 'secret' being coveted and who our enemies are?"
"That secret is something only the president can know, and as for enemy matters, it's not something for you to worry about now."
In reality, if that secret were leaked, the whole world could become Fairy Tail's enemy.
Perpetual magic, infinite magic power, are a huge temptation for anyone with ambition, enough to make Fairy Tail the enemy of the world.
But these are still things that cannot be told to the children.
Though in Rhode's ears, the president's words meant the enemies were too strong, and the old man was bearing the pressure for them. They only needed to focus on growing well.
The joy from recent progress was suddenly washed away, even Erza wasn't qualified to know about the enemy…
The pressure suddenly skyrocketed.
Mira patted Rhode's back with a laugh: "Although I don't know what you're thinking, I believe the president's meaning isn't what you think."
Makarov noticed Rhode's conflicted expression too: "Don't think too much, just keep the secret, the problem isn't as severe as it seems."
But how can a secret be kept forever… Rhode shook his head; right now, he's definitely not up to handling matters at this level, lacking experience and understanding many things.
"So, back to Mest, aren't you worried our guild might someday be destroyed by one of our own?"
Rhode still felt the talents in the guild were really too capable of stirring things up.
Who knows, maybe one day, Mest would end up as the Council president under Dolanbart's identity and personally order Fairy Tail's disbandment.
"If that day truly comes, I would certainly stop him." Makarov found this child always worried about odd things, just like this exam preparation.
Who would prepare for the S-Class test by flipping through guild albums and member rosters to check for undercover agents among the candidates?
Speaking of exams, Makarov asked: "Rhode, don't you want to participate in this test? I see your recent mission count is barely enough."
Rhode replied with a wry smile: "Let's not, I've already figured Kana out, if I suddenly leave her to take the test now… she would cry."
"It's only been a day…" Makarov sighed, looks like when Rhode takes the test, he shouldn't make the challenges between candidates too intense.
Then again, that'd be too unfair to Rhode.
Oh well, let's decide when the time comes.
Does this child really not cause trouble, or does he avoid only small troubles?
...
The three returned to the tavern together.
Rhode sighed: "Sigh, feels like I've boarded a pirate ship."
Mira laughed, squinting: "Are you saying we're all 'pirates'?"
Rhode nodded: "It's not impossible… The scariest thing is, I really enjoy being on this pirate ship and don't want to leave."
Erza laughed: "This is the guild."
This phrase is so universal.
Seeing Erza was about to leave, Rhode quickly called: "Wait a minute Erza, there's something I want to ask you."
"What?"
"About your armor." Rhode said, "I want to know, how many sets of armor do you have in total, which sets do you prefer during battles, which sets do you lean towards using against me and Kana, and what are their attributes?"
Since we're here, might as well gather some intelligence.
Given Erza's personality, asking directly would be fine, even openly stating why he's asking is no issue.
"Oh? Is it for preparing for the S-Class test?" Erza smiled.
"There's no problem telling you, regarding my armor, I have over a hundred sets, during battles I favor using Celestial Wheel Armor, Purgatory Armor, Flying Armor, Flame Emperor's Armor…"
She rattled off the names of twenty to thirty sets of armor as if reciting a menu, and even generously introduced her tactics:
"Kana is a tricky opponent, able to use various attribute magic specifically targeting different armors.
My armor combinations aren't fixed though, I can use the Flame Emperor's Armor alongside Thunder Emperor's Spear or Sea King's Sword…"
Rhode's head was spinning, finding the weak points of an S-Class Mage didn't seem that easy.