During routine meetings, there are generally two sources for randomly assigned tasks:
One is from the Advisory Council, where due to their lack of manpower or capabilities, they have to request assistance from some guilds.
Rhode has gone through this kind of task before; it's generally quite troublesome and the pay isn't great, but the benefit is getting in the council's good books.
For Fairy Tail, it's somewhat useful, at least it gives Mr. Yajima more confidence to speak up for Fairy Tail in the Council.
The other source is from some of the smaller guilds.
Occasionally, small guilds also receive requests beyond their own capabilities.
Some they will directly refuse, suggesting or helping the client to contact a larger guild. Others they attempt first and then decide to hand off to a larger guild when they realize they can't do it.
Routine meetings are a great occasion for transferring these kinds of requests.
Naturally, only the presidents who are recognized and capable of handling these matters go up to draw lots.
Blue Pegasus and Four-headed Hound are among such large guilds, and being one of the strongest guilds in Fiore, Fairy Tail naturally has to take on such responsibilities.
Makarov jumped off the chair, walked a few steps, then turned back abruptly: "Rhode, you go for me."
"Is that okay?"
"Go ahead, my luck is just too bad."
Makarov was helpless, even though the tasks were roughly the same difficulty, he always drew the ones with the lowest pay.
Then when he returns to the guild, he gets complained at by the kids for never drawing a good lot.
Today, Makarov wanted to prove whether it was him who was unlucky, or if those guys were just targeting Fairy Tail.
Logically, that shouldn't be the case, but one can never tell if Goldman might suddenly get an idea to mess with him.
Rhode had no choice but to go up and draw a lot, a simple lot tube and bamboo sticks, looking like handmade products, with no trace of magic.
He didn't intend to cheat, and when it was his turn, he casually pulled one.
"Excellent."
"Rhode! You're really... too reliable!" Makarov was overly excited; he finally saw what an excellent lot looked like!
Rhode was puzzled: "No way, I thought when people said you drew the 'worst lot' it was a metaphor. Turns out the lots actually have words like best and worst written on them?"
"Because when this process was decided, Makarov said it would be more fun this way, so they went ahead and marked tasks of equal difficulty with different pay like this." Goldman mocked mercilessly, "As a result, he draws the 'worst' every time, hahaha!"
"Didn't I just draw an excellent lot?" Makarov was in a good mood and didn't want to argue with him.
But then he immediately felt wronged again, why did Rhode draw a good lot right off the bat? Was his luck really this bad?
As the lot drawing process concluded, the meeting ended successfully.
As usual, a banquet was held in the evening. Makarov went off to have drinks and chat with old friends, telling Rhode to go find someone he liked and make a few friends or something.
Rhode always felt the President wanted to send him away so no one would monitor how much he drank.
But since the President said so, Rhode just strolled around the banquet hall.
After mixing in the meeting hall for three days, there were a few familiar faces after all, getting acquainted wasn't a bad thing.
One guild president brought a beautiful mage who said she admired Mira and wanted Rhode to get an autograph for her.
Rhode thought for a moment, it seemed like he had seen her in an issue of Wizard Weekly, but his impression wasn't strong.
As for autographs, Rhode didn't recall Mira being in the habit of giving them, so he just said he would ask about it.
Anyway, Rhode didn't really want to come back for the next meeting.
He felt like a lot of troublesome matters had been passed to him by the President.
Next time the meeting was coming up, he planned to take a task and wander outside.
That night, Rhode again couldn't avoid taking care of the drunk old man, and only by the next morning did the guild presidents each leave.
Naturally, Rhode still took the train home with Makarov.
Just as they were out of other presidents' sight, Makarov showed Rhode a little Requip Magic.
The formal Ten Wizard Saints Robe instantly transformed into comfortable, ordinary winter clothes.
Enviable speed and precision in changing outfits, Rhode said, "President, I'd like to learn this."
Though Makarov might not be as good as Erza in Requip Magic, his explanations were more suitable for Rhode.
It could be said that just because one is good at something doesn't mean they can teach it well.
...
"Welcome back, President, Rhode, you've worked hard on your journey."
Mira greeted them with a beaming smile.
If one were to ignore the battered tavern and the group of people sprawled on the floor, the scene might appear a little more heartwarming.
Makarov sighed: "You too, it must have been tough holding the fort, isn't Erza around?"
Rhode saw that the President had something to say and didn't rush to interrupt, standing behind Makarov and winking at Mira.
Mira gave him a smiling glance but didn't respond and instead answered Makarov's question:
"Erza went to the Heart-shaped Cross again, she said there were a few sets of armor she wanted to tweak the design of, she'll probably be back later."
"These past few... forget it, bring Erza and Rhode to see me when she gets back." Makarov originally wanted to ask if anyone had gotten into trouble these past few days, but having apologized enough yesterday, he didn't feel like asking today.
Although it's a matter of time, it's preferable to delay as long as possible.
"Wait, President, why am I involved? I just got back!"
"Because you drew the lot." Makarov said matter-of-factly, "Besides, if you go with Erza, we'll definitely beat Goldman!"
"Wasn't that just drunken bickering for fun? Why are you taking it seriously?"
"..." Makarov didn't want Rhode mentioning his drunkenness in front of Mira, "I only drank a little bit, how could I be drunk?"
I made that decision completely sober and I must show him how outstanding our guild's mages are! Our Fairy Tail is the best guild!"
Mira's smile widened: "President? Didn't you agree to cut back on drinking? What's this about being drunk? And what competition?"
Makarov broke into a sweat and dashed up the stairs, "Ask Rhode, we'll discuss it more when Erza comes back!"
Rhode was left helpless, another troublesome matter has been dumped on him... looking at Mira, oh, maybe it's not that much trouble.
Mira queried, "What exactly happened?"
"Two stubborn old kids refusing to admit defeat, insisting on comparing whose kids are better..." Rhode explained to Mira the cause of the matter and recounted the events of the past few days, complaining about the President's unreliability.
Mira chuckled with amusement when she heard about the President talking in his sleep at the meeting and Rhode having to fill in.
"Oh, right." Rhode said as he looked at her, "I'm back."
"Welcome back..." Mira replied subconsciously, then asked, "Didn't you say that already?"
Rhode smiled without a word, and silently dug out a snack from his bag that he had specially brought back for her.
Mira thought for a moment, then gently tapped his arm.