Laxus, carrying a travel bag, kicked open the guild's closed doors.
Appearing for the first time in several months, he seemed to have matured somewhat. The detestable arrogance he once carried was gone.
Macao and the others noticed the change, but at that moment, they couldn't be bothered with such "trivial" matters. They merely glanced at him before dejectedly looking away.
"Still as irritating as ever... you guys and your expressions," Laxus said, looking at the guild, which was filled with an air of despair. "The old man's guild, as I remember it, wasn't supposed to look this lifeless, was it?"
Macao instantly flew into a rage. He slammed the table and stood up. "What are you doing here now, you bastard who was kicked out of the guild ages ago?!"
He couldn't tolerate Laxus saying such seemingly indifferent, almost condescending remarks while the master and Chase and the others were still missing without a trace.
"Even if I'm not a guild member, I'm still the old man's grandson," Laxus said, slowly putting down his bag and walking into the guild.
It was only then that Macao and the others noticed the blue-haired man in a trench coat following behind him.
Jellal?
"No... that's not right. Are you... Mystogan?" Macao's eyes widened. "Didn't you go back to Edolas to be king?!"
"With something this big happening to the guild, how could I just sit back and do nothing in my own country?"
Without any intention of catching up, Mystogan sighed softly and directly got to the point, delivering news that lifted the spirits of everyone present.
"These past few days, Laxus, Ultear, and I have been searching the area around Tenrou Island, collecting residual energy fluctuations."
"Combined with the final screen described by the officers who witnessed the entire incident, we've concluded that Chase and the others didn't disappear."
"Instead—"
"Like the people here who were sucked into Edolas by the Anima, they were transported to some unknown world!"
The hall fell into a brief silence.
"W-wait, Mystogan. What you're saying is..." Wakaba's hands trembled as he lit his pipe for the first time since the Tenrou group's disappearance. A glimmer of hope appeared on his weary face.
"Though we can't be completely sure yet, Chase and the others are probably all still alive," Mystogan said, nodding.
"With that guy's card abilities, he'll probably be back soon," Laxus said, taking over the conversation. He was confident in his old rival Chase. Putting on a casual air, he continued, "Since I've got nothing better to do anyway, until then, I'll reluctantly help Mystogan out and protect this pathetic guild for you."
Laxus and Mystogan were going to stay at the guild?
This news inspired everyone who had just learned the Tenrou group was safe.
"That's the situation. So, are you all willing to trust me and let me serve as your temporary acting master?" Mystogan asked.
"Of course! No problem at all!" xN
Everyone cheered loudly, as if trying to release all the pent-up emotions from the past few days.
Watching his comrades regain their vitality and noise, a faint smile appeared at the corner of Laxus's mouth.
This is more like it. This annoying, damn guild.
However, Mystogan's next two words immediately wiped the smile off his face.
"Then, as acting master, I hereby officially reinstate Laxus Dreyar's full rights as a guild member. And I appoint him as the new acting master."
"What?!!" Laxus was shocked.
"Because in the North Continent of Edolas, the large-scale Nirvana being built to detect God Realm mages is still under construction. I can't be away for too long," Mystogan said. The smile didn't disappear—it just transferred to his handsome, cool face. "So, I'm leaving the guild in your hands, Laxus."
Without giving Laxus any chance to object, he dissolved into a mist of water and vanished on the spot.
Everyone was dumbfounded. You can do that?
"Leaving it in my hands?! Do you have any idea how difficult a decision it was for me to agree to help you?!" Laxus shouted at the empty air, sparks of lightning dancing around him in anger.
"This is great, Laxus. It's not like you haven't had your eye on the master position for a while," Macao said, walking over with a smile.
Though he still had a short temper, it was clear that the Laxus of now was much gentler and more reliable than the Laxus of before.
"Exactly. You even started a civil war for it," Wakaba said, ruthlessly bringing up his dark past.
Remembering his younger, arrogant self, Laxus's face immediately flushed red. He quickly defended himself. "No, that's not it. I-I don't feel that way anymore!"
"Stay, Laxus. The guild needs your help."
"If we don't even have one S-Class, I feel like other guilds will push us around. We might even get kicked out of Magnolia and have to sleep on the streets... boohoo..."
"If you dare refuse, when Chase gets back, I'll have him beat you up!"
The others also gathered around. Some sincerely pleaded, some pessimistic
ally wiped their tears, and some directly threatened him with Chase. But there wasn't a single gaze of disgust or rejection.
Feeling their unconditional trust, even the tough-as-nails Laxus felt his eyes grow moist.
After everything he had done wrong...
"You asked for this. If anything goes wrong from now on, don't blame me," he said, turning his head away with a tsundere attitude, essentially agreeing.
"And if you're going to threaten me, at least bring up Gildarts. That bastard Chase doesn't scare me!"
"Haha, but Gildarts wasn't the one who beat you into a pulp during the civil war~"
"That's enough, Wakaba! I've been putting up with you for way too long!!"
"So touching. The violent dam has finally regained its sense of emotional distance."
"You've always said weird things like that, Laki."
"Even if you're acting master now, we still have scores to settle! You hurt Levy-chan!"
"Jet and Droy, I'm sorry for what I did to you before. But I'll take you on anytime."
"Huh? You clearly remember everyone's names~"
"No, I guessed."
"What an honest guy!"
"By the way, Laxus, here are some documents the master didn't have time to finish. We'll leave them to you~"
Watching Kinana bring over a stack of documents taller than she was, Laxus's scalp went numb.
Especially after learning that most of them were related to apologies, compensation clauses, and other such things, he nearly passed out on the spot.
Mystogan, get your ass back here right now!
Wait. Mystogan?
Laxus suddenly remembered he could transfer the acting master position too. His eyes lit up—then immediately dimmed.
Macao and the other veterans had already seen through his scheme and scattered like the wind.
The once-lively guild fell empty and silent, leaving only the mountain of documents, sitting there steadfastly.
"Those bastards!!!"
Laxus felt like the sky was falling.
***
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