Just back at the guild, Rhode was stared at mournfully by Lucy, from the door all the way to the counter.
Mira knew the reason, smiling as she watched how Rhode would handle it.
Rhode, acting as though he knew nothing, greeted plainly: "Yo, you guys are back too, how was the mission? Did you find out anything?"
Lucy exclaimed in shock: "Obviously it was deception, and yet you can still ask so casually!"
"Why can't I? I helped you solve your rent crisis and added excitement to your dull mission. I'm your great benefactor." Rhode said with a smile.
"See, before you found out the hotel owner's identity, didn't you think the mission was interesting? After finding out, didn't Natsu and Gray stop causing trouble, letting you earn your rent smoothly?"
"..." Lucy was very upset, but if she had to admit it, it was true.
After finding out the hotel was opened by a former Evaluator, Natsu and Gray were scared silly, and Lucy almost had a cardiac arrest.
A member of a scandalous guild investigating an Evaluator, she almost thought the sky was falling.
"But you tricked me! The president said there was no investigation mission when we returned, only a temporary task to serve as a waiter! I thought it was all for nothing!"
"Hmm... that was the president's mistake." Rhode said, "The president made an agreement with Mr. Yajima, that when his restaurant opened, he would send the Strongest Squad to help."
Lucy didn't believe him: "Lies! How could there be such a thing?"
Erza came out to testify: "Yes, it happened around last year's Harvest Festival."
"Eh~~~~" Was this decided by the president a year ago? No, this was sophistry, right? But since Erza said so... Lucy was confused.
Mira raised her hand smiling: "I was there too."
Having heard the gossip between the president and Granny Porlyusica at the time, Mira simply told it to Lucy.
Lucy's attention was immediately diverted.
After chatting about the president's gossip for a while, Mira noticed the president wasn't there: "By the way, where is the president?"
"He left at noon to attend the regular meeting." Erza said, "He wanted to wait for you guys to come back, but couldn't."
Mira said with a smile: "Ah, then the president has to work hard."
Erza said: "Since you're back, the work here..."
"Erza, we're about to head out again." Mira clasped her hands, pleading, "Can you continue to handle this here?"
"Is there anything else unfinished?"
"Yeah, we just happened to get a clue..." Mira stayed behind to tell Erza about the events in this mission.
Rhode went to the back to borrow the Communication Magic Crystal.
Rhode wasn't very adept at using it, but after some study, he managed to 'dial'.
The call was answered by President Robin Lu, and after politely saying hello, Rhode expressed his wish to speak to Wendy.
Robin Lu said he would send someone to find Wendy immediately; Rhode thought he'd have to wait a few minutes, but Wendy and Carla arrived unexpectedly fast.
He suspected that Carla might have flown Wendy over.
Wendy's smiling face appeared in the crystal ball: "Brother Rhode, how are you?"
"Shouldn't I ask you that?" Rhode smiled, "But seeing you look so vibrant, how is Carla?"
"She's good too!" Wendy stepped back so the white cat behind, with hands folded, could be in view.
Carla greeted awkwardly, then asked Mira and after that, asked about Erza, Natsu, Gray, and Warm.
She pointedly ignored Hapi.
Since Hapi was often overlooked when counting, Rhode didn't mind it: "Sorry for leaving so abruptly last time."
"It's okay, Carla and I later heard that Fairy Tail was attacked, is everyone alright?" Though she already knew the outcome from the news, Wendy still wanted to confirm personally.
"No worries, although there were a few minor injuries, we've fully recovered. Let me tell you, that time..."
Rhode suddenly wanted to share, recounting the event of everyone fighting Ghost Demon Dominator to Wendy, especially teamwork in defeating the Ten Wizard Saints.
Wendy listened, captivated, her expression shifting with Rhode's narrative - sometimes worried, sometimes delighted, sometimes admiring.
Talking to reporters or Advisory Council investigators, he tended to be evasive, but with Wendy, he couldn't help but explain thoroughly.
"Amazing!"
Seeing Wendy's admiring eyes and hearing her unreserved praise upon finishing, Rhode was thrilled.
Carla suspected he intended to lure Wendy away, stopping his bragging: "Did you specifically contact us just to say this?"
"Oh, there's official business." Rhode said, "Mira and I got intel that a dangerous person might head to your location, so we're reminding you to pay attention recently.
He happens to be our target to capture, so we're planning to visit you again."
"Really? When!" Wendy immediately pushed her face closer, taking over from Carla on camera.
The dangerous figure was immediately cast aside.
"I'll handle some guild matters first, then set off; if all goes well, we should arrive at the Cat Transformation Inn tomorrow afternoon."
Wendy's face lit up with joy: "Great, I'll start preparing right away!"
"No need for special preparation...my focus on that sentence is its first half, be cautious of the dangerous person appearing nearby."
"Okay, I understand!"
Wendy is an obedient child, and Rhode is quite assured on this point.