"Going to the Advisory Council? Arrest?"
"Natsu I can understand, but why even Erza and Rhode..."
"What do you mean, 'Natsu I can understand'... although I kind of think so too."
The crowd was buzzing with conversation, but no one made a move.
Members of Fairy Tail naturally feel guilty when facing the Advisory Council's team.
There are just too many blemishes on their record.
Natsu was the first to explode: "What are you talking about? We defeated..."
"Natsu!" Erza stopped him from continuing, as discussing matters about demons wasn't something to shout about in public.
Rhode pondered over this Frog Messenger's wording, feeling that although the messenger's tone was firm, the choice of words didn't seem too severe.
Mira looked at Rhode, then at Makarov: "President..."
The Frog Messenger saw Makarov jump down from the counter and asked: "Mr. Makarov, do you have any objections?"
"No, but..." Makarov smiled, "All their actions were at my instruction, so I should go with them."
"President?" Erza, Natsu, and Rhode were all a bit moved.
Especially Rhode, who felt a bit guilty; the old man really does step up when there's trouble...
"Well..." The Frog Messenger was a bit troubled, "We don't have authorization to arrest a member of the Ten Wizard Saints."
"Then let's just say I personally want to visit the Advisory Council." Makarov led the way out the door, "Let's go."
Mira worriedly said: "President..."
"Don't worry, I'll bring them back safely," Makarov reassured her, "The guild's entrusted to you; don't let them cause trouble."
Rhode felt there was a heavy weight to the president's words about bringing them back.
"Since the president said so, it'll be fine." Rhode waved to Mira and followed Makarov.
Hapi also followed along without question.
The Frog Messenger hesitated for a moment, facing unfriendly gazes as he motioned for the enforcement team to leave together.
The guild fell into a brief silence before starting to buzz with conversations.
Reby looked worried, while Jet expressed wanting to follow them to see, but Troy told him not to act recklessly.
Kana and Gray directly went to Mira to ask why, but she gently shook her head, indicating she couldn't casually say.
"Sis!" Elfman was more concerned about Mira's emotions, "I'll go take a look!"
"You're not going anywhere."
"But Rhode, and even the president..."
Mira looked into Elfman's eyes: "I said, you're not going anywhere."
"..." Elfman suddenly felt weak in the legs, "Yes..."
...
The treatment at the Advisory Council was pretty ordinary; Rhode thought he'd see some new means of transportation, but it was just a regular carriage.
Quite disappointing.
Natsu mounted the carriage with great spirits, but didn't last three seconds before he collapsed: "Rhode... I want to ride a crab..."
"Stop fooling around, we're suspects right now. It's good enough we're not wearing Demon Sealing Stones. Using magic recklessly will cause misunderstandings."
"So uncomfortable... then Hapi, fly me there..."
Hapi also refused him: "Aye! Wing Magic is still magic, you know. They'll think we're escaping."
Erza asked, "Need help?"
Natsu shook his head with his hand over his mouth.
Makarov sighed, "Hang in there, we'll be there soon."
The Fiore division of the Advisory Council was established in the wilderness far from the city, whether to reduce land occupation or to stay away from the crowd as a sign of authority.
Everyone paused for a moment under the bizarre architecture of the council division, and then followed the Frog Messenger inside.
With Rhode's eyesight, he couldn't figure out how this building was constructed. Probably some kind of floating magic was used.
He was curious about the council's funding, supported by various royal families?
The group walked through the hall, down corridors, and entered what was either an elevator or a 'magic lift,' quickly ascending to a high level.
"Ugh..." Natsu covered his mouth.
Rhode said helplessly, "You even get motion sickness from this?"
The Frog looked nervous: "Please refrain from losing composure! Vomiting in a place like this is disrespectful to the council!"
Rhode held up Natsu to prevent him from falling, all the while thinking that this Frog person seemed odd.
"Ahead's the Judgement Court, please maintain decorum!" The Frog advised uneasily.
But as they approached, they saw a young man with blue hair leaning by the entrance.
"Lord Zikrein!" The Frog promptly kneeled down, head lowered, showing utmost respect.
Rhode frowned; is the council so strictly hierarchical? That young man who looked about his age, was he a significant figure?
"Zikrein." Erza's expression changed, and she even took on a defensive stance.
"Who's that?" Natsu didn't understand, but seeing Erza on alert, he instinctively stood by her side.
Makarov reminded, "Don't act recklessly, that's one of the Evaluators."
"Didn't expect Mr. Makarov to come along too." Zikrein seemed quite polite, "The other Evaluators' Thought Bodies are already inside, please go ahead."
He gestured a 'shh' at Erza, his body vanishing like a phantom.
It seemed to be a Thought Body too.
Erza looked grim.
Only then did the Frog cautiously stand, "The Evaluators' main bodies are at ERA headquarters. But even if these are Thought Bodies, please maintain respect."
He then pushed open the big doors, "Please enter."
The four and one cat entered the Judgement Court, stepping onto the testimony platform.
On the three-tiered platform in front sat twelve people; one on the top tier, nine in the middle, and two Frogs on the lower tier holding paper and pen, seemingly for record-keeping.
Rhode tilted his head, carefully examining the high and mighty Evaluators. These ten individuals, in their diversity, spanned all imaginable types.
There was even someone with three eyes.
Someone he had met before, Mr. Yajima, was naturally among them.
The Frog who had opened the door looked at Rhode's expression, wanting to scold him to mind his attitude.
This guy's gaze towards the Evaluators was... almost like looking at exotic animals.
Makarov was calm, Erza could maintain composure as long as she didn't look at that blue-haired youth, while Natsu and Hapi were completely uncomfortable.
The strange silence in the Judgement Court lasted for several minutes.
Makarov yawned, asking: "Still not starting?"
Yajima spoke up: "Please be patient, there's still one suspect yet to arrive."
A few minutes later, another Frog brought a blue-haired little girl to the courtroom door, accompanied by a small white cat.
"Wendy?"
"Carla?"
Several of them exclaimed in surprise that even they were brought over.
"Mr. Rhode! Mr. Natsu! Miss Erza! Hapi, and President Makarov!"
Wendy's anxious and timid expression vanished, replaced with delight.
Even Carla's mild unease melted away.
Rhode had a bad premonition, moving towards Wendy.
As Wendy recognized familiar faces, she took a few hurried steps: "Ah—"
Rhode hastily grabbed Wendy by the collar, holding her up to prevent her fall, as one might carry a kitten.