Jellal only took one glance before immediately lowering his head, not daring to look again. Marco's presence was so overwhelming that it even eclipsed Erza from his view.
"Take him away."
As the sentencing concluded, Gran Doma called the supervision unit in again.
Several supervisors entered with shackles, directly handcuffed Jellal, and escorted him out of the venue.
They weren't overly surprised; even Chairman Crawford Seam had been arrested, so arresting another "Council Member" and "Ten Wizard Saint" didn't seem much different.
For these ordinary employees of the "Magic Council," today's meeting was truly an eye-opener.
It turned out the big shots of the "Magic Council" could be judged too!
Jellal was led away with his head bowed, his expression complicated.
He had actually accepted the outcome of death, but he hadn't expected to survive—to not be sentenced to death.
'Perhaps, they hope I can atone for my sins.' Jellal thought to himself.
After fifteen years, he would only be thirty-five, still with enough time to atone.
"Phew~"
Watching Jellal being escorted away, Erza let out a long sigh of relief. Only then did she realize she was still being held in Marco's arms.
"Ahem, spur of the moment."
Sensing Erza warming up in his embrace, Marco immediately released her and explained with a smile.
"..."
Erza glared at Marco but didn't really mind.
After all, she was wearing armor, so hugging her didn't feel like much anyway.
Hugging other girls might be soft and fragrant, but forget about that with Erza. While she smelled nice, she was definitely hard and poky.
Marco quipped internally. Seeing Erza had completely returned to normal, he naturally wouldn't forcefully hold onto her anymore.
Jellal's matter had come to a definitive conclusion, and Erza had let it go completely.
They had done enough; the rest was for Jellal to bear himself.
Erza turned her head, looking at Marco's profile with gentle eyes. She knew Marco had spoken up to defend Jellal for her sake.
Marco treated her friends as his own.
"Next..."
On the podium, after reluctantly sentencing Jellal, Gran Doma continued to push through today's agenda.
The subsequent procedures were clearly not prepared by Crawford Seam, but written by Gran Doma himself.
They were the steps he wished to advance.
He hadn't brought the original agenda at all, having prepared to pull Crawford Seam down from the start.
"The selection for the Chairman and Council Member positions requires everyone's recommendation and election. My personal suggestion is to recall some former council members. This new leadership team needs people familiar with the workflow; otherwise, it will be difficult to support the Council immediately."
After sending former Chairman Crawford Seam to prison, Gran Doma's mind became active.
His goal was obvious: the Chairman's seat.
To that end, he had already begun using tactics to win people over.
Although the veteran council members had just resigned collectively, Gran Doma believed some were unwilling to leave just like that, unwilling to lose the power in their hands.
Therefore, he immediately began to woo them, intending to restore a few of them to their original positions.
Bringing these veteran council members back into the "Council" posed no threat to Gran Doma because they had stains on their records.
Getting specially recruited back as council members was already difficult enough; becoming Chairman was impossible for them.
Gran Doma had it all figured out.
These veteran council members weren't qualified to run for Chairman, but they had wide connections and rich work experience.
Whether for his current bid for Chairman or controlling the "Council" later, these members could provide him with significant assistance.
"Council Member Org and Council Member Michelo have always been conscientious and dutiful. I believe these two can stay and continue serving as council members."
Gran Doma named two people with a smile.
He looked at the seven council members standing aside, smiling at Org and Michelo.
Marco and Makarov felt a wave of repulsion because these were two council members who had always targeted Fairy Tail.
Was this Gran Doma doing it on purpose?
In fact, it could really be considered intentional because "Fairy Tail" was too outstanding, too active.
Gran Doma selected these two to maintain a force within the Council that could suppress Fairy Tail.
Gran Doma wasn't really targeting Fairy Tail out of malice; he was just considering balance.
He couldn't let Fairy Tail's prestige override the Magic Council, not even within the Kingdom of Fiore.
Gran Doma's proposal immediately caused a buzz among the crowd.
Those in the know looked towards "Fairy Tail."
After all, the choices of Org and Michelo were too targeted; he wasn't even trying to hide it.
"I support Council Member Yajima. He is the mainstay."
Goldmine frowned and recommended their old friend in return.
Yajima naturally didn't just speak for "Fairy Tail" in the "Council"; he was also a support for "Blue Pegasus" and "Quatro Cerberus."
Goldmine naturally hoped he could continue serving as a council member.
"Forget it, Goldmine. I don't intend to participate in politics anymore."
However, Yajima waved his hand directly to refuse.
His face was serious; he was clearly honest.
His age was one factor, but this incident had also dealt him a significant blow.
Yajima felt he truly wasn't suitable to be a council member anymore.
"This..."
Goldmine was stunned, obviously unexpected, but he quickly accepted reality.
They naturally couldn't force Yajima if he wanted to retire.
It was just a pity; now there were no true allies in the council, and it would be difficult to insert people in the short term.
"..."
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