The fact that Zeref and Natsu are brothers was something known only to those involved in the "Dragon Slayer Plan," even three hundred years ago.
Igneel was the dragon among the participants who had the closest relationship with Natsu, and the Heartfilia family was the only human party in the know. These two were the best shields, so Weston used them directly.
In any case, the current Zeref has no way to verify the truth with them.
Hearing the names of Igneel and Heartfilia, Zeref's doubts about Weston vanished instantly.
"So you found out from the clues they left behind..."
"That's not surprising then!"
Zeref didn't care what kind of information Igneel and the Heartfilia family had actually left, nor did he care how Weston had obtained it through these two channels.
As long as Weston's logic was self-consistent, he accepted it as truth.
"But speaking of which, why are you so concerned with my affairs?"
"Investigating all of this isn't something that can be done in just a dozen days. So, you must have investigated my background before I ever came into contact with Darwin."
"Why is that?"
"Could it be that you are also one of my followers?"
Perhaps because of the mention of familiar names like "Natsu," "Igneel," and "Heartfilia," Zeref's mood became more relaxed, and he even cracked a joke.
"What are you thinking? Of course not!"
"As a wizard, as the Master of a magic guild, as the Chief Imperial Court Wizard of the Kingdom of Fiore, and as one of the Wizard Saints selected by the Council..."
"Is it not normal for me to pay attention to the legendary Black Wizard Zeref?"
"By the way, speaking of which, some of your followers have been restless in the magic world lately!"
"To summon you, they have been slaughtering towns and villages everywhere, burning, killing, and looting ordinary people, even using them for sacrifices and curses, committing numerous crimes."
"The Council is having a massive headache over this."
Weston's gaze gradually became unfriendly.
However, Zeref only smiled, not only ignoring Weston's hostile look but speaking with words filled with indifference toward the lives of innocent victims.
"Why tell me this?"
"Those foolish and wicked people blindly pursue darkness and imagine various cruel ways to summon me, then self-righteously act on it. Can I be blamed for that?"
"It's not like I told them to do it!"
Weston raised an eyebrow: "Do you know what you sound like right now?"
"What?"
"Like a scumbag who pulls up his pants and refuses to take responsibility after sleeping with a woman!"
"I'm truly sorry, I have never slept with a woman, so I cannot emphasize with the feeling you describe."
"Right, right. Still, the fact that you're an old virgin who has lived for over three hundred years—you don't need to broadcast that everywhere, do you?"
"I don't understand your tone or purpose in saying that. Is there something worth mocking about it?"
"...Indeed, there isn't!"
"Hmm..."
The air was silent for several seconds.
Weston suddenly pulled out his Magic Phone, brandished it in the air, and asked, "Want to add me as a friend?"
"Eh?!"
Zeref widened his eyes, not expecting Weston to make this decision, but he soon figured out the reason: "What's wrong, worried your son will be led astray by me?"
Weston glanced at Zeref: "You're overthinking it. I have plenty of confidence in my child's judgment of good and evil!"
"Then why?"
"Add me as a friend. If anything big happens in the future, we can share it with each other. Maybe we can even help each other out!"
Helping each other?
What an absurd idea!
But just adding a friend... there didn't seem to be any harm in it?
Thinking of this, Zeref no longer hesitated and nimbly opened the "Face-to-Face Add" function of the communication app.
After having the Magic Phone for these many days, he was already proficient in using it. He sampled games, music, manga, and novels every day, but the "Chat" function was the only one he hadn't used once—because no one had added him!
He originally thought his first friend would be Darwin, but he hadn't expected to be beaten to it by the "Fairy Commander."
Still, having his first friend made him feel a little excited deep down.
Soon, the two successfully added each other.
Looking at the sentence "You are now friends, start chatting!" on the interface, Zeref was secretly satisfied.
"Update the games more often in the future."
"Especially simulation management games; I quite like those."
Weston was slightly surprised: "Eh? I thought you would prefer military 'Conquest Strategy' games. Turns out that's not it?"
Zeref said: "One game of that type is enough!"
Weston understood what he meant, and his mouth couldn't help but twitch.
"...True. What military game could possibly compare to what you've done on the Western Continent?"
"But updating games is a hassle; I might not have the time!"
Zeref pondered for a few moments: "Then... if I clean up those rampant fanatics lately, you should have time, right?"
"Oh?!!"
"If that's the case, I definitely have time!"
"Then it's a deal!"
Friends added, deal struck; the two had nothing left to talk about.
Weston stood up and brushed off his pants, preparing to leave, while Zeref lay back down on the ground, ready to continue sleeping.
Just then, a sudden change occurred!
In the clearing not far away, a massive amount of magical power suddenly appeared out of thin air!
The magic instantly dyed the night sky scarlet, and there were faint, strange spatial fluctuations mixed in!
"!!!" ×2
Weston stopped in his tracks immediately, turned toward the direction of the magic, and went on guard.
Zeref also sat up instantly, looking at the center of the spatial fluctuations with a solemn face.
A few seconds later, the spatial ripples settled, and the scarlet magic dissipated.
A familiar yet disheveled scarlet-haired figure appeared on the grass.
Despite the distance, Weston recognized the newcomer by her magical aura, clothes, and the sleeping red-haired little girl in her arms.
"Irene?!"
"Weston?! Why are you here?"
Irene hadn't expected to run into Weston the moment she teleported back. Just as she was about to say something, her gaze was drawn to Zeref on the other side.
In an instant, Irene's mind raced with wild thoughts. A series of questions surged into her heart, making her chest feel tight with shock.
What's the situation??
Who is this guy?
In the middle of the night, Weston leaves his two gorgeous wives at home and runs out to meet a pretty boy in secret?
This... this...
There is definitely some major gossip here!