"Hapi!" *2
Rhode and Elfman found the location of that River Crab, and anyone could hear the joy in their voices.
"Hey! Rhode, Elfman! Are you okay?"
Rhode said self-mockingly, "We were just being chased all over the mountains."
Elfman flexed his muscles: "But we're completely fine now, we're men!"
Looking at their tattered clothes, Hapi didn't believe they were completely okay.
But at least they were out of danger now, Hapi said excitedly, "Hey, hey, we just defeated two enemies, two enemies!"
Rhode laughed, "I saw it, that fish move was especially cool."
Elfman got more excited: "Hapi is a man!"
Hapi imitated Elfman's posture, "Hey! Man!"
The child is really easily influenced.
Rhode asked about the main topic, "Where did Hapi come from?"
Hapi said, "Of course from the Guild."
"How did you get here so fast?" Rhode wondered, "Who did you come with?"
"I..."
Before Hapi could finish, three pursuers emerged from the forest, shouting to their companions:
"Over here!"
"Hurry, don't let them get away!"
Elfman and Rhode laughed; with just these few cats, who even knows if they will run.
They were about to make a move when the sound of an engine suddenly echoed through the forest.
Then a strangely shaped vehicle flew over from a small slope nearby, heading straight for the henchmen.
"Car?"
"How is there a car in a place like this?"
"Get out of the way!"
They panicked, but the car jumped high thanks to the embankment, crashing into the unlucky trio with a bang.
"Is that... a Magic Four-Wheeled Vehicle?"
With the speed of a Magic Four-Wheeled Vehicle, it's quite normal to arrive from the Guild in such a short time.
The main point is, the person sitting in the driver's seat, Rhode was shocked, "Mira?"
Elfman was just as surprised, "Sister?! Why is Sister driving?"
"Hey! That's how I got a ride."
The car mercilessly rolled over the three on the ground, then screeched to a stop.
Accident driver Mira removed the SE plug, jumped down from the driver's seat, and ran straight to Rhode and Elfman without even glancing at the hit trio.
Seeing the disheveled looks of Rhode and Elfman, Mira's heart tightened, "How are you...?"
"Don't worry, Sister, we're perfectly fine."
"We've already made it." Rhode tried to soothe her, "You..."
Mira didn't even listen; she checked them thoroughly and confirmed they were still lively, then collapsed.
"Mira!"
"Sister!"
Rhode hurriedly caught her, while Elfman hugged both of them.
At this moment, Erza stepped off the vehicle: "It's from Magic Power exhaustion, a little rest will do, she drove too fast on the way."
Kana followed, complaining: "Seriously, we agreed to switch drivers, but once she got on, she wouldn't let go."
The Magic Four-Wheeled Vehicle is a high Magic Power-consuming tool; with Mira's current state, it was almost miraculous she managed to speed from the Guild to here.
"You all came!" Rhode was moved, a rescue hundred miles away with just one call, joining Fairy Tail was really worth it.
He summoned the Golem, granting Mira the Crown of Insight. Just in case, he also summoned the Tree Monster and gave it the Crown of Embers.
"Even you two look so disheveled..." Kana kicked one of the unfortunate souls hit by the car, "Are these your enemies?"
"These henchmen may be numerous, but they're manageable. The troublesome ones are the other two."
Rhode briefly described Rastillos and Zankuro, "They call themselves the Seven Purgatory Dependents, meaning there are at least five more as strong as them in Demon's Heart."
"The good news is they shouldn't be moving out in full force, but we don't know Mar and Vina's importance to them, so we can't rule out subsequent reinforcements."
"I see, I understand." Erza nodded seriously, "No need to worry, at worst we can escape on the Magic Four-Wheeled Vehicle, or wait for the President to come personally."
As they spoke, Erza suddenly changed into the Celestial Wheel Armor, sending dozens of swords flying backward, knocking down approaching figures.
She didn't even change her tone, "Also, the Advisory Council said they will take action, it seems they want to restore some prestige in the Fiore Kingdom."
Rhode thought Erza's move was too cool, it felt like her words turned schemes to ashes with ease.
"With the few of us here, it's enough for now." Rhode thought for a moment, "Wait, where's Natsu?"
Kana giggled and pointed to the Magic Four-Wheeled Vehicle, "In the car, probably still alive."
"Natsu~" Hapi dragged out the half-conscious Natsu.
Natsu struggled, "Stop the car..."
"Hey! It's already stopped!"
Rhode was both touched and amused, this car sickness problem must be fixed, if ambushed halfway, it'd be over immediately, wouldn't it?
Moreover, did Mira just take down Natsu alone?
Roughly speaking, it seems his power is almost restored.
After their comrades arrived, more waves of attacks came, but there was no need for Rhode and Elfman to worry.
Erza, Kana, and Natsu easily handled them; all they had to do was watch Mira and shout "666" with Hapi.
...
"Lord Zankuro, we've found them, but it seems they have reinforcements!"
"What reinforcements, I'm going to burn them all to ash! Take me there immediately!"
Zankuro hadn't bothered to heal, just wrapped some bandages and continued searching.
The bastard dared deceive him, he'd incinerate him along with his bones.
"Lord Zankuro! The camp received communication; the President ordered us to retreat!"
Zankuro grabbed the man's collar, "What did you say?"
The man struggled to speak, "There… there's reliable intelligence suggesting the Advisory Council is planning large-scale action.
The President said the timing isn't mature enough, we can't expose our movements to the Advisory Council, nor recklessly confront Fiore's top Guild…
So, the President ordered an immediate retreat. Also, Lord Rastillos has returned to camp gravely injured."
"Damn!" Zankuro reluctantly released him, "Retreat!"
Considering the intelligence about the Advisory Council's actions, it must be accurate.
He dared not defy the President's orders nor provoke the information broker, so he unwillingly issued the order.
"By the way, what happened to Rastillos?"
"Um… it's unclear, Lord Rastillos fainted upon reaching camp and hasn't woken yet. All we know is he lost an arm and got poisoned."