Meanwhile, inside the hallowed halls of the Magic Council, the atmosphere was suffocating.
They had just received intelligence from their surveillance network that left the ruling body of the magical world utterly terrified.
All the council members gathered in the grand assembly hall.
They stood on a glowing blue circular magic circle, their robes illuminated by the magical light, each wearing a serious expression.
"According to the intelligence... that thing still remains? How is that possible?!"
A tall, thin old man who resembled a bamboo pole widened his eyes and shouted in disbelief.
This was Council Member Reiji, known for his skepticism.
The elderly woman with long, yellowish hair, Belno, crossed her arms.
Her face was dark with concern.
"About ten years ago, the evil magic cult that worshipped Zeref attempted to construct the R-System, intending to resurrect the Black Wizard Zeref," Belno recounted. "We launched a crusade. Didn't we personally oversee the destruction of those seven towers?"
The current Chairman, Crawford, looked extremely grim.
He waved his hand, summoning a holographic image in the center of the circle formed by the ten members.
The image flickered into existence. It displayed a massive, crystalline structure rising ominously from the ocean.
It was unmistakably the Tower of Heaven!
"An eighth tower has appeared—just offshore from the coast of Caellum," Crawford announced gravely.
The hot-tempered Council Member Org couldn't help gritting his teeth, slamming his fist into his palm.
"Judging by the magical signature... has it already been completed?!"
"Damn it!" Org shouted. "How could something like this be built right under our noses! Our intelligence network is a joke!"
Ultear smiled faintly without speaking.
Siegrain looking calm and composed in his blue coat, feigning deep concern.
Anselion cloaked in heavy Council robes and a hood that obscured his face, gazed absently elsewhere.
He tapped his finger on his armrest looking bored.
None of the three conspirators paid much attention to the panic, collectively watching these old men make fools of themselves.
Belno said anxiously, "The investigation team members we sent... they all disappeared after transmitting this footage. We must assume they have been eliminated."
Ultear decided it was time to speak.
She stepped forward, her voice soft but carrying across the hall.
"So it seems that thing has indeed been completed," Ultear said coldly. "The resurrection of Zeref is their goal."
Siegrain finally interjected at this point while nodding solemnly. "The R-System... or perhaps 'Tower of Heaven'—that would be a more appropriate name for it, given its ambition to reach the gods."
Org tightly gripped his large white beard and exclaimed urgently, "What it's called doesn't matter! Just letting people know of its existence is enough to cause chaos in the magical world! If the public learns Zeref might return..."
Belno placed her hands on her hips and suggested matter-of-factly, "We must dispatch troops to suppress it as soon as possible. Send the Rune Knights!"
Anselion still didn't join the conversation.
He merely listened quietly to these 'elders' opinions, analyzing their fears.
The Black Magic Cult was a cult-type criminal organization comparable to the White Devil Cult of the past.
However, their peak periods weren't in the same era, so Ankh never had the chance to confront the Black Magic Cult.
Before long, Council Member Leiji reminded them, "The ones occupying the R-System this time aren't the previous Black Magic Cult. Intelligence at Akane Beach says the leader called himself Jellal."
"Jellal?"
The council members turned their gaze to Siegrain, exclaiming in surprise.
"That's your twin brother, isn't it, Siegrain?!"
Siegrain sighed dramatically, closing his eyes. "Yes. My brother... it seems he has finally surfaced."
Anselion sneered inwardly.
'What twin brother? Isn't it just a Thought Projection?'
'Why do these Council members trust Siegrain's story so much?' Anselion wondered, feeling a headache coming on.
They should at least investigate his background before letting someone join the supreme governing body.
To get Anselion into the Council, Ankh and Makarov had to forge documents, bribe officials, and create a fake history spanning twenty years.
It took immense effort.
But why haven't they noticed two identical people being so active in the magical world? It's absurd.
[Anselion's resentment +1]
After discussing for quite a while, the Council remained as weak and indecisive as usual.
They adopted a dovish approach, arguing about jurisdiction and protocol without making proper preparations to deploy forces.
At this moment, Ultear decided to add fuel to the fire.
She exchanged a glance with Siegrain and interjected smoothly.
"According to intelligence, besides Jellal's at the Tower of Heaven... another group is also there."
Crawford shifted his bulky body and asked in confusion, "Who's there? Reinforcements?"
Ultear smiled faintly and said softly, dropping the bomb.
"Everyone's greatest concern—members of Fairy Tail..."
"And leading them is the person everyone here wishes to eliminate—the youngest Wizard Saints, Ankh Seram."
As Ultear spoke these words, everyone present fell silent.
The atmosphere became eerily quiet and the temperature in the room dropped.
After a long pause, Michelo awkwardly coughed twice and refuted her with a stern expression.
"Council member Ultear, please watch your words. It's not that we despise Fairy Tail and Ankh, but rather... they don't follow the rules! They are chaotic elements!"
Upon hearing this, Anselion and Ultear inwardly scoffed in unison.
'Fairy Tail didn't follow rules?'
True, they didn't.
Fairy Tail's public image had always been one of constant minor offenses—destruction of property, brawls—but no major transgressions against humanity.
However, these minor faults were often intentionally magnified.
"Annoying in daily life, but the most reliable rascals when it matters" – that was the reputation Fairy Tail held among the common folk.
Public acceptance of the guild was actually quite high; people loved them.
But social opinion often didn't reflect the political reality.
Under manipulation by the Council's upper echelons, the guild's flaws were magnified indefinitely while its strengths were minimized.
Why? Because... in their eyes, Fairy Tail was a tumor threatening their absolute authority.
An independent military power they couldn't control.
Just like the generals in ancient times whose merits overshadowed their rulers—no matter how capable you were, you couldn't outshine the emperor.
If you did, you were a threat.
This was precisely the situation between the Council and Fairy Tail.
The Council's sole confidence in commanding the magic world lay in their possession of various Nation-Destroying, even World-Destroying Forbidden Magic.
They ruled through fear of superior firepower.
From what Anselion knew, there was one weapon called Face – a weapon capable of obliterating all magic on the continent.
And then there was Etherion.
Unfortunately, even Anselion, who had built considerable influence, couldn't reach far enough to control these trump cards alone.
That required a vote.
Hearing that Fairy Tail members were also at the Tower of Heaven, the attitudes of the present councilors shifted subtly.
A dangerous glint appeared in Org's eyes.
Yajima's face remained impassive, but inwardly he was growing frantic with worry.
He and Makarov had been best friends since youth and he had watched Ankh grow up.
Sensing the councilors' bloodlust, Yajima quickly interjected, raising his hand.
"Though the Tower of Heaven matter is urgent, since Ankh is there, I believe he can handle it! He is a Wizard Saint! We should trust him to neutralize Jellal."
"We cannot entrust the safety of the magic world to an outsider," Belno said coldly, staring at Yajima.
"Ankh is volatile element."
Yajima's clouded eyes widened sharply as he retorted heatedly, "He's no outsider! He was chosen by this Council as one of the Ten Wizard Saints! Are you questioning our own judgment?"
"But he's also a Mage from a guild!" Belno argued. "Not someone the Council can control! His loyalty is to Makarov, not us!"
Crawford, silent until now, suddenly spoke up, his voice heavy with authority.
"The Ten Wizard Saints were originally meant to recruit powerful Mages for the Council to maintain order in the magic world. Yet over the years, the title has become a springboard for guild members to gain fame!"
He looked around the room.
"Ankh Seram, Makarov Dreyar, Jura Neekis, Jose Porla... and that one in the east..."
"In short, the guild members among the Ten Wizard Saints are long untrustworthy. They act independently. We must promote people like Siegrain from now on. A true loyalists."
Siegrain, who had been inexplicably praised, smiled calmly.
He exchanged a subtle glance with Ultear.
He stepped forward, speaking according to their plan.
"Since everyone distrusts Ankh," Siegrain said smoothly, "we'll have to rely on ourselves to solve this crisis."
He raised his hand, pointing at the hologram of the Tower.
"Given the terrifying capabilities of the R-System to resurrect Zeref, we cannot take risks with a ground assault. I propose we must directly use that method to end this once and for all!"
"We must deploy the Etherion!!"
Siegrain declared, his voice ringing with conviction.
"We will obliterate the Tower of Heaven, Jellal, and anyone else inside in one strike!"