Wakaba survived.
He wiped the cold sweat off his forehead and slipped out of the guild. This place was not suitable for a long stay.
Then, Mila's gaze naturally fell on Elfman: "Elfman, are you going out too?"
Elfman nodded: "Yeah, I just found a job suitable for a man."
"Is that so..." Mira thought for a moment, tossed the job list to Rhode, and pulled Elfman away, "Come here for a bit, I want to talk to you."
Rhode looked at the task Elfman had chosen and silently began to prepare.
Once he got everything ready, Elfman followed Mira back and left with the items Rhode gave him.
Rhode casually asked, "What needed to be said outside specially?"
"I told him about our plan, asked him not to work so hard to save money anymore."
"Then why is he still..."
"Because 'a man has reasons to strive hard!'" Mira mimicked Elfman's tone.
After saying this, both of them laughed.
I guess this counts as getting family support, aside from that...
Mira sat in front of the counter, resting her chin on her hand, looking up at Rhode from inside, "In a few days, when Elfman returns, accompany us to the cemetery."
Rhode looked back at her, "Alright."
This important matter should be told to Lisana.
"I'm back!"
The guild's door was kicked open. From the sound, Rhode knew who it was:
"Natsu, can't you open the door properly just once? You always have to kick it."
Hapi joyfully flew in to correct, "Aye, this time Natsu kicked it twice."
"Huh?"
Lucy looked exasperated, "Even the iron gate outside was kicked open."
"..." Rhode glanced at Natsu's flip-flops, he really didn't mind the pain.
"Welcome back." Mira got up to greet them, "Erza, was the mission smooth?"
"Very smooth, aside from catching two who were out longer, everyone else was taken down in one go."
Erza put the luggage cart at the door, walked in, and placed some papers on the counter.
Lucy seemed very tired, sat on a stool, reached forward with both hands, and lay down on the counter, flattening a round object.
She sighed, "Luckily, the Dark Guild likes hiding in remote woods and their house getting damaged isn't an issue, otherwise we might have to pay compensation again."
Natsu cluelessly asked, "Huh? Why?"
Lucy weakly retorted, "Why is the most destructive guy totally unaware?"
Hapi replied quickly, "Aye! Because if he were aware, he wouldn't be Natsu!"
Rhode chuckled and put away the job list, and proof from the local prison accepting the Dark Guild members, and noted the completion time and other details.
"Mira, it's time to settle the reward."
"Alright." Mira pulled out a stack of cash and placed it in front of Erza, "This is your reward."
The task they accepted was assigned by the Local Guild Alliance to Fairy Tail, with the payment coming from funds collected by guilds within the alliance that couldn't provide combat power.
So there's no need to meet the client; the guild distributes it directly.
Guilds like Blue Pegasus and Four-headed Hound, which have stronger combat power, typically handle it this way too.
"It's a full reward!" Lucy immediately perked up; to her, a full reward was rare.
Yet, before she could touch the crisp bills, Erza pushed them back, "Return these, will they cover the last hotel's damages?"
Mira thought for a moment, "Almost, what's left is for Gray."
Gray has been teaming with Jubia recently, so this money isn't his share.
Erza showed a relaxed smile, "That's good, then all the rest goes to you."
It's an unspoken rule in the guild: when going out together, regardless of contribution, the earnings are split equally, and any loss is evenly shared.
Like Natsu and Hapi, they get two shares when making money, and Hapi also contributes a share when compensating for losses.
Thus, only those who are exceptionally close form fixed teams.
Erza decided to return the money to Mira and Rhode first, and everyone agreed.
Only Lucy was heartbroken; the rare full reward was to cover the damage costs entirely.
Ah, because last time we didn't destroy things during a mission.
"My rent..." Lucy lamented.
"Don't worry, just keep working hard." Erza was always full of energy.
Lucy pessimistically wondered if next time would go so smoothly.
Natsu carefreely laughed, "Don't worry about those things, let's get a Flame Platter; it's been a while since I've had it!"
"I want Mr. Cook's steamed fish!"
Though they hadn't even touched the payment, because they smoothly completed the mission, they decided to celebrate a bit.
Mira directly handed the cash to Rhode, "Let's save it together when convenient."
"Alright." Rhode put the money away.
What Wakaba said was just to scare; Mira didn't intend to take control of finances entirely.
"Mira, I want a strawberry cake." Erza patted Lucy's shoulder, "Don't be down, have something to eat and then look for a new job."
"Got no choice." Lucy sighed, "Miss Mira, I'd like a pan-seared steak."
"Alright~ Please wait a moment." Mira noted what they ordered and asked, "Want something to drink?"
"Iced coffee."
"I'll have tea."
Erza and Lucy ordered their preferred drinks.
Soon, Laki brought the drinks but didn't rush off, instead she engaged Lucy, "Lucy, do you have a hairstylist Star Spirit?"