The headquarters of Demon's Heart is a massive airship.
In the airship's council room, an old man with one eye covered and a long beard sat at the main seat.
"How's the mission?"
Kaburico, who looked like a goat, said, "All the surviving ones have been brought back, President Hades. Thanks to Azuma's magic, it was so easy."
"I don't like doing this kind of thing, not a single worthy opponent to fight." Azuma folded his arms, showing little interest.
His magic allows him to root himself in the ground like a large tree and control all the magic power of that piece of land.
Of course, the range is limited, depending on how strong he is, and it requires sufficient time to prepare.
But for Demon's Heart, which has the advantage of intelligence, finding suitable terrain for Azuma to ambush on the way back to the Advisory Council is all too easy.
With Azuma's move, he can instantly cripple the Advisory Council's team.
Combined with Kaburico's 'Gate of Humanity', rescuing the captured subordinates is quite easy.
Because they didn't want to raise the hate value too much, they only rescued their own people and didn't touch the Advisory Council's people.
"It's to reduce the risk of information leaks." The man called Hades seemed quite affable,
"If people knew that the leader of the Seven Purgatory Dependents is actually called Ultear, many things would become inconvenient."
I've long told her to use a different name or a code name when infiltrating or in the guild, but she just wouldn't listen.
Kaburico bowed his head, saying, "It's my mistake, shouldn't have allowed them to do extra things."
Hades didn't mind this: "You also wanted to increase our power, no one expected Fairy Tail to suddenly interfere."
"Can't I go to Fairy Tail?" Azuma asked, "I'm interested in those who defeated Rastillos and Zankuro."
Zankuro, wrapped in layers of bandages, jumped in anger: "I wasn't defeated! They fled, they ran away!"
Azuma ignored him and continued:
"Besides those two, there's the Fairy Queen, Demon, Fire Dragon... even the Ten Wizard Saints' Makarov, so many worthy opponents!"
He spoke more and more excitedly, eager to go and have a grand battle: "What an interesting guild."
Hades gave a meaningful smile, "That guild is fascinating, but now is not the time.
When the day our wish is fulfilled comes, you'll find as many powerful opponents as you want."
Kaburico and Zankuro had a look of fanaticism on their faces.
The Great Magic Realm! Such an inspiring goal!
Only Azuma looked indifferent, still longing for battles with strong opponents.
Though he would follow the president's orders, if he could have a satisfying battle now, the Great Magic Realm wouldn't matter.
Fairy Tail...
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Rhode and Elfman have recently risen to fame.
The Advisory Council not only has no intention of keeping this recent event confidential, but also seems to be fanning the flames.
It's just that they seem to want public praise for Rhode and Elfman while condemning the Dark Guild, but hardly mention the prisoners being seized.
Thus, Demon's Heart's latest misdeed and Rhode and Elfman's excellent performance have been remembered together.
Elfman earned the nickname Beast King.
However, he personally would rather be called 'Manly', 'Beast King Manly', or 'Manly Beast King', sort of.
Elfman seemed to have talked things over with Mira, now neither resisting nor avoiding the Beast King's soul, hoping to master it better.
Recently he's also been practicing full-body reception in other forms, striving for greater power to protect his family.
As for Rhode, the biggest influence on his reputation wasn't his victory against Rastillos, but rather the intelligence that spread to various guilds.
Now, many in the older generation call him the 'New Era's Fairy Tail Strategist'.
Younger people who aren't familiar with Mebius' deeds simply refer to Rhode as 'Fairy Tail Strategist'.
Hearing these rumors, Makarov was thrilled.
The first generation president is one of his most respected people, even his name was chosen by the first-generation president.
Having Rhode compared to the first generation doesn't make him feel the first generation president is offended but rather sees it as a legacy.
The successors inheriting the predecessors' title and will are what deeply gratifies him.
But Rhode wasn't that happy, fame comes with trouble, and such a prominent name might attract unwanted attention.
Imagine being ambushed as soon as he steps out and then someone claiming 'I've killed the old master' or something like that.
"Still got to keep working hard at training."
A simple way to avoid being thoroughly understood by enemies is to turn others' information about you into outdated info.
The president and Lahar say this is difficult, but with enough sweat, one can dream a bit.
Rhode is also considering building a persona based on his nickname, like being good at plotting but not good at fighting or something.
There's a similarity to a Beast Tamer persona.
But ultimately, you have to be strong yourself.
"Mira, I'm off to train."
"Okay."
Rhode reluctantly left.
He had a feeling Mira was acting strange these past two days, a bit cold towards him.
No, it's not cold, just something feels off.
Though after work, when training together, he received no less concern.
Cooperation during work was just as good as usual.
But when having casual conversations, something seemed odd, saying cold seems inaccurate, saying distant doesn't seem right either.
It's a hard-to-describe feeling...
Can't be a relative coming, right?
Rhode couldn't figure it out, he practiced in the backyard for a while, then summoned Warm during the break to call Elfman while it was out getting free food at the tavern.
Having been rewarded with a gourmet meal for delivering a letter last time, Warm is now very interested in tasks like delivering letters.
After a short while, Elfman came looking.
"What's up? Want to spar?" Elfman rubbed his wrist, "Speaking of which, you haven't fought Beast King's Soul yet, have you?"
"Are your injuries fully recovered? Just thinking about fighting."
"Manly! I plan to go back to work tomorrow." Elfman felt he was in great shape, "How about you?"
"I'd rather rest a few more days."
A rare experience of a life-or-death struggle and a barely balanced battle, reviewing and summarizing ups and downs is quite good.
I also need to reinforce the new technique of summoning beasts without using my hands.
And set the next training goal — to summon beasts directly without skin contact with the amulet.
Such things only come to mind normally and can be used well in battle.
To achieve breakthroughs at critical moments, one must accumulate enough normally, and also know the direction to breakthrough, right?
Elfman didn't mean to team up but nodded in agreement: "I also think it's better for you not to go back to work recently."
"Hmm? You also afraid I'll get ambushed outside?"
"Ah?"
Clearly, their thoughts weren't on the same track.
Rhode asked, "Then why do you say that?"
"No, nothing, just think you got hurt quite badly, should rest more."
Something's off, Rhode looked into Elfman's eyes, but Elfman wouldn't meet his gaze.
"Manly men don't lie, what's the real reason?"