Riyao sat leisurely with his legs crossed, showing no signs of nervousness.
Since he had already received Mirajane's chocolate early on, there was no need to worry.
Mainly, it was because Mirajane was worried that Riyao's luck was so bad he would choose the wrong one, so she gave him the chocolate in advance.
After all, Riyao's luck was notoriously bad; last time he drew the very last lot, and the time before that he rolled a one seven times in a row. Mirajane simply couldn't trust him to choose for himself.
Riyao touched the chocolate box Mirajane had made by hand in his pocket, a smile unconsciously spreading across his face.
An ominous purple smoke wafted from the direction of the kitchen, seemingly drifting to the door and then seeping out through the cracks.
Some of the more timid members trembled, shrinking into corners, not daring to approach the kitchen.
They were all worried they might end up choosing Erza's chocolate later.
Macao leaned over and plopped down next to Riyao, putting an arm around his shoulder.
"Riyao, our lives are in your hands later. You're a Healing Mage; if we get poisoned, you have to save us immediately."
Riyao chuckled and shook his white lab coat.
"Don't worry, I guarantee I'll bring you back to life."
While they were fooling around, the kitchen door finally opened.
Mirajane walked at the front, leading Erza and the others out.
The girls all had proud smiles on their faces; some were still stained with flour and chocolate, but they were all in high spirits.
They also pushed out a large cart filled with Golden Egg-shaped containers, arranged neatly and gleaming under the lights.
To prevent Natsu from cheating with his dog-like nose, Riyao had spent a fortune to purchase a batch of egg-shaped protective shells to hide the chocolates inside for everyone to choose from.
Every Golden Egg was identical, with no visible differences.
Riyao stood up from the sofa, walked over to Mirajane's side, and naturally took her hand, their fingers interlacing.
Holding hands, the two walked over to a nearby bench and sat down, facing the crowd in the hall like they were watching a play.
Mirajane leaned on Riyao's shoulder, the corners of her mouth curling up slightly.
"Who do you think will pick Erza's?"
Riyao thought for a moment.
"It depends on luck, but I think Natsu has the highest probability; his luck is as bad as mine."
Erza stood by the cart, hands on her hips; she had changed her armor for casual clothes, but her imposing aura remained undiminished.
She looked around at the male members present, cleared her throat, and announced in a loud voice.
"All the chocolates are here! They've all been shuffled, so even we don't know which is which! Once you open it, you must finish it!"
The last sentence made the male members present shudder, and several faces instantly turned pale.
Σ( ° △ °|||)︴
"Must finish it?"
"Must finish it."
Erza repeated firmly, her eyes burning like torches.
"That's the rule. No matter who made the chocolate inside or what it tastes like, once it's open, you must finish it. No wasting."
The hall fell silent for a moment, then erupted into a chorus of wails.
"This isn't gambling; this is risking our lives!"
"What if I get Erza's?"
"I don't want to die..."
Riyao sat nearby, laughing so hard he nearly spat out the grapes in his mouth.
Natsu wasn't afraid; he squeezed to the front of the cart and sniffed the Golden Eggs vigorously, his nose pressed against the shells as he sniffed left and right, trying to find a difference.
His nostrils flared like a search and rescue dog working hard, sniffing every single Golden Egg.
"This one smells a bit sweet... this one... also smells sweet..."
Natsu became more and more confused as he sniffed.
"How is every single one the same?!"
Wakaba stood nearby, manipulating his Smoke Magic, trying to let the smoke seep into the Golden Eggs to check the chocolate inside.
He closed his eyes to concentrate, beads of sweat forming on his forehead as the smoke coiled around the surface of the Golden Eggs like snakes, trying to find a crack to crawl into.
Others also showed off their skills: some used magic perception, some weighed them by hand, some tapped on the Golden Eggs to listen to the sound, and some tried to use X-ray Magic to see through the shells.
Unfortunately, Riyao had already considered this and blocked all possibilities.
Riyao stood up happily, hands on his hips, and announced triumphantly.
"Stop trying! I added a Runes inside the Golden Eggs to shield any Detection Magic. If you want to peek inside, keep dreaming! Wahahaha!"
He laughed like a villainous demon king; Mirajane helplessly covered her face beside him, but the corners of her mouth still couldn't help but turn up.
Natsu hung his head in discouragement.
"Riyao, you're too cunning!"
Riyao made a face at him.
"Fair and square, it's all down to luck."
Erza took a clearly different Golden Egg from the cart; this one was a size larger than the others and had a red ribbon tied around it.
She handed it to Makarov, her tone unusually gentle.
"Master, this is for you. It contains chocolates from everyone; each of us made one to put inside. It's a gift from all of us."
Makarov took the Golden Egg, his aged hands trembling slightly as he held the egg, which was as large as a person, with tears streaming down his face and snot running.
(*꒦ິ⌓꒦ີ)
He sobbed, "You bratty kids..."
Erza assumed he was just moved and patted Makarov on the back to comfort him. "Master, of course we remembered you."
Riyao leaned in, patted Makarov's shoulder, and whispered, "Old man, don't cry. If Erza's chocolate is in that big Golden Egg, I'll treat you in my Mature Lady Form after you finish it."
Makarov cried even harder, not because he was moved, but because of fear.
(´இdishஇ｀)
"I don't want to eat Erza's chocolate!"
The selection officially began.
From the beginning, Juvia had been staring intently at her Golden Egg, which she had secretly marked with a sign only she knew.
Although Riyao said marking was not allowed, she had still placed an almost invisible little water droplet on the bottom.
Her gaze searched the crowd; if it wasn't Gray who took it, she would glare the person to death.
An unsuspecting male member had just reached out to touch the Golden Egg Juvia had marked when he felt a chill down his spine.
Turning around, he saw Juvia staring at him with a ghostly gaze, steam rising from her head and a strange smile on her face.
The male member was so startled he pulled back his hand and quickly went to grab another Golden Egg.
Juvia nodded in satisfaction and continued to stare at the next person who approached.
Gray walked up to the cart, patted the Golden Eggs like he was picking out watermelons, listened to the sound, and then casually picked one up.
Juvia bit her handkerchief, her eyes welling with tears. That wasn't her Golden Egg! How could her beloved Gray-sama eat chocolate made by another woman!
Seeing Juvia's pitiful state biting her handkerchief and crying, Gray hesitated and placed his hand on another Golden Egg. Juvia continued to cry because that wasn't hers either.
Gray switched to another one, and Juvia still cried.
He switched again, and she still cried.
Gray sighed helplessly; after switching through four or five Golden Eggs, Juvia finally showed an expectant look, her hands clasped in front of her chest, her face flushed red, and steam erupting from her head.
Gray took that Golden Egg resignedly, wondering how he had been manipulated by a woman's tears.
Juvia twirled around happily in the back, the steam nearly burning through the ceiling.
Natsu didn't think that much; he strode over, grabbed a Golden Egg directly, shook it in his arms, and grinned.
"Whatever! It's mystery box time!"
Happy also flew over, his small paws clutching a Golden Egg, his wings fluttering.
"Aye! Happy wants one too!"
Freed walked over with elegant steps, his green hair swaying, and grabbed three Golden Eggs at once with a confident smile.
"Beautiful ladies, I accept all of your sentiments."
Jet and Droy rushed toward the cart at the same time, standing side by side, their eyes scanning the Golden Eggs, trying to find Levy's.
"Which one do you think is Levy's?"
"I don't know, but I feel like the weight of this one isn't right."
"Stop squeezing them; you won't be able to tell. Riyao added a Runes."
"I know, but I just want to try."
The two finally each took a Golden Egg, exchanging a glance that contained both competition and mutual understanding.
Alzack walked up to the cart with a red face, his hand hovering over the Golden Eggs for a long time, not daring to let it fall.
Bisca watched him secretly from the girls' table, her hands cupping her face, her fingers trembling with nervousness.
Alzack took a deep breath, picked up a Golden Egg, and looked back at Bisca. Bisca quickly lowered her head, her ears turning so red they looked like they might bleed.
Gajeel walked over chewing on a piece of iron, grabbed one dismissively without even looking, and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing the shell and chocolate together.
"Hey! You have to open the shell before eating it!" Riyao shouted.
Gajeel replied indistinctly, "Too much trouble."
One by one, the members present obtained their Golden Eggs; some were excited, some were apprehensive, and some looked like they were facing their doom.
There were fewer and fewer Golden Eggs on the cart, with only a few left.
Riyao took out his Crystal Ball and aimed it at the various members in the hall, a mischievous smile appearing on his face.
"Alright, next is the most exciting part."
He held up the Crystal Ball and began recording, muttering to himself.
"Egg-opening moment, recording the good life."
Mirajane leaned on his shoulder, watching the men in the hall who were both expectant and fearful, and couldn't help but laugh.
"You really love to mess with people."
Riyao leaned down and kissed Mirajane's forehead.
"This is called living."
In the hall, the men held their Golden Eggs while the women watched expectantly, the air filled with a tense yet sweet atmosphere.
Fairy Tail never lacks for fun.