The next day, near the Worth Woodsea.
Kira showed up after all. As for the reason...
> "Tell you what: if you can help the Council apprehend Jellal and the 'Oración Seis,' the Council is willing to turn a blind eye to Fairy Tail's antics in the future—provided you don't blow up anything too big."
Sigh... I really do too much for this guild. If the old man doesn't hand the Guild Master title to me someday, there is absolutely no justice in this world!
Kira grumbled internally before looking out into the distance.
His senses picked up a massive, mysterious magical signature radiating outward. It was intense enough to alter the mana density in the atmosphere.
Kira turned to the people behind him. "Looks like there's some trouble up ahead. That's a serious commotion—I'm guessing it's coming from the Worth Woodsea."
Behind him stood several dozen mages whose faces were obscured. They stood in perfect formation, spaced evenly, moving in sync with serious expressions. They wore identical white hooded tunics and held matching polearms—every bit the image of well-trained soldiers.
These were the men of the newly formed Fourth Custody Enforcement Unit of the Magic Council.
Their leader was a man named Lahar. He wore thin, rectangular glasses and looked completely average, though he carried himself with an air of self-righteousness. His short hair was pulled back, save for a few bangs that seemed to be showing off the fact that he wasn't balding yet. He wore a pale green uniform with a white cape draped over his shoulders.
The first time Kira saw him, only one thought crossed his mind: How does a guy this weak have the nerve to wear a cape? Doesn't he know that's high-level gear reserved for the strong?
Lahar glanced up, then walked over to Kira, pointing at the forest ahead. "I don't mean to be rude, but the situation seems pretty obvious."
Kira followed Lahar's finger. In the distant forest, a pillar of pitch-black light was shooting straight into the sky.
A bit awkward... No! The word "awkward" did not exist in Kira's dictionary!
"R... Rude!"
Lahar knew Kira was from Fairy Tail. He also knew that the Councilors—especially the new Chairman, Gran Doma—couldn't stand that guild. Yet, for some reason, they had ordered his squad to cooperate with this guy...
(I wonder what kind of backroom deal they cut?)
Kira ignored Lahar, who was deep in thought with a grim expression, and started issuing orders. "You take your guys and clean up the Oración Seis's subordinate guilds. Leave their main combat force to the Allied Forces."
(Since when are we 'your guys'...?) Lahar mentally retorted, but kept his face stoic. He nodded. "Understood."
Kira looked him up and down. "Aren't you going to ask me how I plan to handle things?"
(You think I don't want to?!)
Lahar lowered his head to hide an eye-roll. "Chairman Gran Doma's orders were to assist you in the capture. I don't need to know your methods; I just need to follow orders."
Kira clicked his tongue, shaking his head and sighing. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. No good. That work attitude is all wrong."
Lahar: "??"
Seeing the confusion on Lahar's face, Kira patted him on the shoulder. He looked at the captain with deep meaning, his voice taking on the tone of a life coach.
"As a Captain of the Custody Enforcement Unit, you should treat everyone equally! Sure, I'm a bit more famous, a bit more handsome, and a lot stronger than you—and sure, the Chairman personally asked me to help—but you still need to do your job as an inspector!"
"Look, you're not exactly a powerhouse, and you clearly don't know how to hustle! Do you know how tough the job market is right now? Do you know how many people kill themselves trying to get a government job with the Council? Having a gig like this is rare! The workplace is a battlefield—one slip in attitude and you're finished! Even if you have to fake it, you need to show your leadership that you're loyal and diligent. Otherwise, how are you ever going to get a promotion or a raise?!"
"No, forget the raise—you might not even keep the job! Do you know how many guilds are downsizing right now? Do you know how many people are eyeing your chair? Look at the guys standing behind you—you think they aren't waiting for you to screw up so they can take your spot? The one thing the magic world isn't short on is talent! If you don't do the job right, someone else will!"
Kira's words hit like a thunderbolt, exploding in Lahar's mind. His previously gloomy mood suddenly cleared up. When he looked back at Kira, his eyes were practically sparkling with inspiration.
"Yes... Yes! Mr. Kira, I had no idea your insight was so... so..."
Lahar searched his brain for a long time but couldn't find a word worthy of his newfound respect for Kira.
Kira, satisfied with Lahar's attitude, continued to guide him, waving his hands toward himself encouragingly. "Come on, ask me! Just ask: 'Kira, what is your plan of action?' Just one question!"
"Then... Mr. Kira..."
"Wrong tone!" Kira cut him off. "Make it heavier! Show me the authority of an Enforcement Captain!"
"Yes! Understood!"
Lahar adjusted his glasses nervously, took a deep breath to calm his nerves, cleared his throat, and put his serious face back on. Then, speaking as he would to a subordinate, he asked:
"Kira, what is your plan of action?"
Then, right before Lahar's bewildered eyes, Kira's attitude did a complete 180. The "disappointed mentor" act vanished, replaced instantly by cold arrogance and impatience. The transition was buttery smooth.
Kira sneered, looking down his nose at him. "Do I really need to tell you? Chairman Gran Doma invited me here to help. You watchdogs just need to follow my orders! Know your place!"
Lahar: "?!"
Seeing the dumbfounded look on Lahar's face, Kira felt a wave of pure satisfaction wash over him. He turned his head up and walked away, letting out the maniacal laugh of a prankster who just landed a critical hit.
Lahar stood frozen, his face flushing bright red. After a long silence, he cursed through gritted teeth.
"I knew it! No one in Fairy Tail is normal!"
---
The order for the Allied Forces to assemble had been given yesterday. The moment they moved, the Council received the intel, including the roster of key participants. In that regard, Kira honestly admired their intelligence network.
Four hundred years ago, the spot where the magic "Nirvana" was sealed was right here—this forest, the Worth Woodsea.
The Alliance's meeting point was a villa a few miles south. The owner was none other than Bob, the Master of the Blue Pegasus guild. "Must be nice having a villa... Are all Guild Masters this loaded?"
On the edge of the Worth Woodsea, Kira—dressed in his black-and-gold robe and short blue-purple cape—was speeding along alone on his Magic Vehicle: Mana Cycle, heading toward the distant black pillar of light.
"Judging by the travel time, if the guilds left yesterday, they should all be arriving today. They'll definitely notice this commotion."
Kira jogged his memory regarding the original plot. He only remembered bits and pieces:
The Alliance gets wrecked in the opening -> They split up and enter the forest -> Gray and Lyon team up to beat Racer -> Lucy uses Urano Metria to beat Angel -> Hoteye gets turned into a good guy by Nirvana -> The battlefield moves to the six-legged mechanical crawler -> Natsu yells and beats Cobra -> Jura beats Brain -> Erza beats Midnight -> Zero wakes up -> Everyone teams up to destroy Nirvana -> Natsu uses Dragon Force to beat Zero.
There were also subplots like Jellal getting saved, failing to destroy Nirvana, failing to beat Midnight, and helping Natsu enter Dragon Force.
"But now... Jellal hasn't lost his memory. He's even teamed up with the Oración Seis. He knew where Nirvana was and just went ahead and activated it with them. So much for all that messy drama."
The butterfly effect is a real pain.
Given the situation, it was highly likely that everyone would just start fighting directly on top of Nirvana. It was basically just a change of venue. On the bright side, Erza wouldn't get poisoned, Wendy wouldn't get kidnapped, and Gray and Lucy wouldn't be stuck in those desperate struggles.
Not a big problem!