After settling Laki's matter, Marco didn't linger at the guild.
He headed to Magnolia's train station, preparing to take a train to a neighboring town for a job request.
Trains—and even cars—existed in Earth Land, though they were all magic-related inventions powered by magic power.
The convenience of magic had likely distorted the world's technological development.
'Magic cars' were extremely expensive magical artifacts and couldn't be mass-produced.
As a result, travel mostly relied on trains or horse-drawn carriages, creating a strange sense of dissonance.
Other items like the 'Gale-Force Reading Glasses' and 'Magic headphones' were all magical items, each quite expensive in their own right.
The trains in Earth Land were similar to the old-fashioned trains Marco remembered, just slightly more refined.
There was a table in the middle, with seats facing each other.
"Still fairly comfortable, I suppose."
Marco sat by the window, gazing at the scenery outside.
This was actually his first time riding a train in Earth Land and his first real trip outside Magnolia City.
Previous trips to the outskirts or Forest didn't count—strictly speaking, those were still within the sphere of influence of Fairy Tail.
Since Marco's twelfth birthday wasn't far off and his abilities were already quite solid, Makarov had finally agreed to let him take on this mission.
Before this, Makarov had never allowed him to accept jobs that required traveling too far from the guild.
This rule wasn't just for Marco—all the children were bound by it.
It was for their safety.
Only after turning twelve would they be granted access to more missions.
Of course, it was also to maintain Fairy Tail's reputation.
When people posted job requests with Fairy Tail, it was out of trust in the guild's strength.
Sending a seven or eight year old, even if they were capable, would hardly inspire confidence.
To keep the kids busy and familiarize them with the job request process, the guild members would leave the nearby, simple and easy quest for them to practice on.
****
Marco soon arrived in Onibus.
The only thing he knew about this city was that it had a grand theater, where many renowned troupes performed.
As a result, the train station here was relatively bustling.
After disembarking, Marco followed the address on the request and arrived at a villa—or rather, an estate.
A vast courtyard filled with meticulously trimmed topiaries, a long stone path leading to the extravagant main building.
The structure was cream-colored, adorned with gold trim everywhere, clearly built with high-end materials—luxury was the theme.
Following the attendant who greeted him, Marco was led into the main building and met the client.
"Hello, I'm Marco, a Mage from Fairy Tail. Are you Mr. Deno, the client for this job?"
In the spacious reception hall, Marco greeted the man politely.
The hall gave off a gaudy, golden splendor—tacky, but undeniably rich.
As for Mr. Deno, he had a prosperous look about him—broad, plump, dressed like a noble, exuding wealth.
And indeed, he was wealthy—his residence made that clear and the fee for this job wasn't something just anyone could afford.
"Huh? Why are you so young? You're just a kid, aren't you? What's Fairy Tail thinking? Sending a child—are you mocking me?! Didn't I set a high price?!"
Upon seeing Marco, Deno who was holding a glass of red wine, frowned deeply. His gaze towards Marco was filled with disdain and a hint of irritation, as Marco appeared far too young to be a powerful Mage.
"Mr. Deno, rest assured. Fairy Tail is highly professional and reputable guild. Since I'm here, I will definitely resolve your issue. We would never joke about our guild's reputation."
Faced with Deno's skepticism, Marco remained composed.
Though his youthful face might not inspire confidence, his demeanor exuded an undeniable aura of self-assurance—a quiet confidence in his own strength.
"...Fine, I'll trust you for now."
After hearing Marco's words, Deno muttered under his breath before reluctantly choosing to believe him.
Or rather, he chose to believe in Fairy Tail.
As Marco had said, the reputation of Fairy Tail was undeniable.
Their mission completion rate was exceptionally high, making them the undisputed No. 1 guild in the Kingdom of Fiore.
Sure, they often caused unexpected troubles—but that was after completing their missions.
The extent of the collateral damage? Well, let's just say it was better not to ask.
The important thing was, the job got done.
"According to the mission request, the target is a Horned Lizard, correct?"
Now that Deno had accepted him as the Mage for this mission, Marco proceeded to confirm the details.
This meeting was essentially a final check—the client had the right to reject any Mage they deemed unreliable, while the Mage, upon accepting the task, needed to clarify the specifics to avoid disputes later.
"Correct. I need at least twenty Horned Lizard horns. If you can bring more, I'll pay extra."
Marco's professional attitude eased some of Deno's doubts.
He thought to himself, Fairy Tail wouldn't send a kid to his death, would they?
This wasn't some simple fetch quest—it was a monster-hunting mission!
"Understood. I have no further questions."
Marco nodded, marking the completion of their discussion.
This mission would take him far from home.
After settling the payment details for additional horns, Marco left the villa and headed to the train station.
He boarded a train from Onibus all the way to its final stop, Crocus.
Crocus was a familiar place to Marco—it was where the guild masters held their "regular meetings."
The Horned Lizard could be found in the north of Crocus.
From there, trains were no longer an option, so Marco rented a carriage.
However, the driver only went halfway, refusing to venture deeper into the forest.
After all, the forest north of crocus was a primeval forest teeming with wild beasts and monsters.
Ordinary people wouldn't dare enter lightly—those who did rarely made it out alive.