---
The four of them stood motionless in the mist.
Yaman, Eyal, and James stared at the two strangers standing before them.
The masked man with the enormous cleaver stood calmly, his weapon hanging from one hand.
Beside him was the young boy who had attacked Yaman with those strange magical needles.
Neither of them appeared particularly concerned.
Yaman's eyes narrowed.
He stepped forward.
"Who are you?"
His voice was cold and threatening.
"And what do you want?"
The masked man didn't answer.
Instead, he turned toward the boy beside him.
"Lior."
The boy looked at him.
"Don't bother me now."
The masked man's voice remained calm.
"Let's get what we came for."
His gaze shifted toward the carriage.
Then toward Sam.
The moment Sam realized that the man's attention was on him, his face went pale.
The masked man slowly approached.
The massive cleaver dragged against the ground.
Then he spoke.
"Samuel Isaac."
Sam froze.
"I didn't expect to see you again."
A cold smile appeared beneath the bandages covering his face.
"You really are a talented actor."
Sam remained silent.
"First, you were a traveler."
The man's eyes narrowed.
"And now you're a merchant."
He chuckled.
"A role that suits your reputation."
His voice suddenly became colder.
"Smuggler."
Silence.
Eyal's eyes widened.
James stared at Sam.
But Yaman immediately turned toward him.
"...Smuggler?"
Sam didn't answer.
His body was trembling.
Yaman stared at him for several seconds.
Something was seriously wrong.
The false information about the mission.
The strange destination.
The carriage.
And now this man knew Sam by another name.
Yaman's suspicion had finally become certainty.
The masked man raised his cleaver.
"But this time..."
BOOM!
He slammed the weapon into the ground.
The earth cracked beneath the enormous blade.
"...we're taking what we came for."
He pointed toward the carriage.
"If you want to keep your lives..."
His voice became threatening.
"Give us the carriage."
Eyal looked at the carriage in confusion.
"The carriage?"
He glanced at the crates.
"Why?"
He looked back at the masked man.
"It's just fruit and vegetables."
Then he added with a sarcastic grin:
"Are you hungry?"
James sighed.
"Eyal..."
The masked man's eye twitched.
Yaman ignored the exchange.
His attention remained on Sam.
He stepped toward him.
"Enough."
Sam looked at him nervously.
Yaman's expression was cold.
"You've been lying to us since the beginning."
Sam swallowed.
Yaman grabbed him by the collar.
"Who are you?"
Sam remained silent.
Yaman tightened his grip.
"And what is inside that carriage?"
Nothing.
Yaman's eyes narrowed.
"Answer me."
Sam still didn't speak.
Yaman's voice became darker.
"If you don't start talking..."
He leaned closer.
"...I'll make you talk."
Sam's face paled.
Eyal and James exchanged a glance.
They wanted answers too.
Eyal stepped forward.
"Sam."
James followed.
"We deserve to know what's going on."
Sam looked between the three wizards.
For several seconds, he remained silent.
Then the masked man laughed.
"Samuel."
He looked toward Sam.
"Did you lie to them?"
His tone became mocking.
"You brought these talented young wizards with you to help with your illegal business?"
Eyal's expression changed.
James's eyes narrowed.
They both looked at Sam.
"Illegal business?"
Eyal demanded.
"Is that true?"
Sam lowered his head.
Yaman still had him by the collar.
"Talk."
His voice was quiet.
But far more threatening than shouting.
"Who are you?"
Sam finally raised his head.
He looked toward the masked man.
Then he spoke.
"You were sent by Lord Jaro..."
The masked man's smile disappeared slightly.
Sam continued.
"Weren't you?"
His eyes hardened.
"Gabriel Karoshi."
Eyal and James froze.
They knew that name.
James's eyes widened.
"Gabriel Karoshi..."
Eyal stared at the masked man.
"The Butcher."
The masked man slowly raised his head.
Then—
he smiled.
"Ah."
"So you've heard of me."
Eyal remained tense.
"Who hasn't?"
Gabriel laughed softly.
"Good."
He seemed genuinely pleased.
"At least my reputation still reaches the younger generation."
He looked toward Eyal and James.
Then he turned toward the boy beside him.
"Lior."
The boy looked at him.
Gabriel casually rested his enormous cleaver against his shoulder.
"See?"
"My reputation alone is something you'll need a hundred years to reach."
He laughed.
"You still have a lot to learn."
Lior sighed.
"Fine."
He looked toward Yaman, Eyal, and James.
"Let's end this."
His expression became cold.
"We kill them..."
His gaze shifted toward the carriage.
"...and take it."
The three wizards immediately prepared themselves.
Eyal drew Kaminari.
James raised his flaming sword.
Yaman released Sam's collar and stepped forward.
His eyes were locked onto Gabriel.
The mist grew thicker around them.
Sam stood behind the three young wizards, visibly terrified.
The simple delivery mission was over.
The truth had finally been revealed.
And whatever was hidden inside that carriage—
Gabriel Karoshi and Lior were willing to kill for it.
The clash was instantaneous.
Yaman, Eyal, and James stood facing Gabriel and Lior.
For one brief moment, neither side moved.
Then—
BOOM!
All five launched themselves forward at the same time.
Steel collided with steel.
Magic exploded through the mist.
The battle had begun.
---
Meanwhile, back in Magnolia...
The Fairy Tail guild was as lively as ever.
Laughter echoed throughout the hall, mugs were slammed onto tables, and arguments broke out over the most ridiculous things.
At one table—
"You're cheating!"
Macau pointed accusingly at Wakaba.
Wakaba calmly took another sip of his drink.
"I'm not cheating."
"You absolutely are!"
"Then prove it."
Macau slammed his cards onto the table.
"I don't need to prove anything! I know when I'm being cheated!"
Nearby, another table was much quieter.
Four young members were gathered around it.
Gray Fullbuster.
Cana Alberona.
Erza Scarlet.
And the newest member of the guild—
Levy McGarden.
They were playing a simple card game while drinking fruit juice.
Erza stared intensely at the cards in her hand.
She had been thinking for several seconds.
"..."
Gray glanced at her.
"You're taking this way too seriously."
"Silence."
Erza continued studying the cards.
Finally, she placed one down.
"The seven."
Cana immediately placed another card on top of it.
"Beat that."
Erza stared at the card.
Then sighed.
"...I lost."
Cana grinned.
"Looks like it."
Erza smiled faintly.
It was strange.
She had changed.
Ever since she speaking with Gray by the river and eventually becoming part of Fairy Tail, her life had slowly begun to change.
She had spent so much of her childhood alone.
Now...
She had people around her.
Friends.
People she could rely on.
A family.
She no longer wanted to isolate herself from everyone.
Her gaze wandered around the guild hall.
For once, she felt comfortable simply sitting there.
Gray noticed her smile.
"Why are you smiling?"
Erza looked at him.
"Nothing."
She picked up her glass.
Then sighed.
"It's just boring today."
"There aren't any jobs."
Gray leaned back.
"Yeah."
Levy, meanwhile, had barely been paying attention to the game.
She was reading a book.
Cana stretched lazily.
Then Erza suddenly remembered something.
A certain boy.
The new member.
The stubborn one.
The rude one.
The boy who seemed irritated by almost everything.
Her expression changed.
"What was his name again?"
She frowned.
Then remembered.
"Yaman?"
No.
She wasn't sure.
She turned toward Gray.
"Gray."
He looked at her.
"Do you know where that new boy is?"
Gray blinked.
"Who?"
"The new member."
"The rude one."
Gray frowned.
He thought for a moment.
Then—
"Oh."
His eyes widened slightly.
"Yaman."
Erza nodded.
"Yes. Yaman."
Gray suddenly looked concerned.
"I haven't seen him for two days."
Erza's expression changed.
"Two days?"
"Yeah."
He looked around.
"We sleep in the same room."
"I haven't seen him since the second day."
Erza became silent.
Cana looked up.
Levy lowered her book.
"Who is Yaman?" Levy asked.
Erza stood.
"I'll find out."
She walked toward the older members of the guild.
Macau and Wakaba were still arguing over their game.
Erza approached them.
"Macau."
Both men looked up.
"Yes, Erza?"
"Have either of you seen Yaman recently?"
They looked at each other.
At first, neither seemed to recognize the name.
Then Wakaba snapped his fingers.
"Ah!"
"That new kid."
Macau nodded.
"Yeah."
Erza waited.
"Have you seen him?"
Both men shook their heads.
"Not for the past few days."
Erza's expression became serious.
That's not normal.
She turned back toward Gray.
"Are you certain he didn't leave this morning?"
Gray shook his head.
"I'm certain."
"He wouldn't leave without saying anything."
"And we share a room."
"I haven't seen him since the day he left for that mission."
Erza's eyes narrowed.
The mission.
Suddenly, she remembered.
Yaman had argued with Master Makarov about the difficulty of his assigned missions.
He had wanted something more dangerous.
Something that would actually challenge him.
Then he had taken a mission.
Erza immediately turned around.
"I'm going to speak with Master Makarov."
---
Master Makarov's Office
Inside the office, Makarov sat behind his desk.
Papers covered almost every inch of it.
He finished signing one document.
Then looked up...
Only to see another mountain of paperwork waiting for him.
His eye twitched.
"How many more of these are there?"
He leaned back.
"When will someone finally replace me?"
Knock. Knock.
Makarov sighed.
"Come in."
The door opened.
Erza stepped inside.
Makarov smiled.
"Erza."
"Is something wrong?"
She approached his desk.
"Actually, Master, yes."
"I wanted to ask about the mission Yaman took two days ago."
Makarov raised an eyebrow.
"His mission?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because Yaman hasn't been seen for two days."
Makarov's expression changed slightly.
"Two days?"
He thought for a moment.
He had been buried in paperwork and hadn't paid much attention to the guild's daily activities.
Then he remembered.
Yaman had indeed taken a mission.
Makarov sighed.
"I see."
Erza continued.
"I understand that missions are private matters for each wizard."
"But his disappearance concerns me."
"If something happened to him..."
Makarov nodded.
"You're right."
He stood.
"I'll check the mission records."
---
A few minutes later, they reached the mission records.
Makarov searched through the active requests.
Then he stopped.
"There."
He pulled out a request.
Erza stepped closer.
The mission was still listed as in progress.
Makarov read it carefully.
Rank: C
Client: Samuel
Task: Escort a merchant and deliver his goods to another merchant in Magnolia.
Destination: Fresh Fruit & Green Grocery.
Makarov frowned.
"That's strange."
Erza looked at the request.
"This is a C-Rank mission."
"Yes."
"It's extremely simple."
Makarov nodded.
"Yaman should have completed this within the same day."
Erza's expression hardened.
"Exactly."
She looked at him.
"Not only has he been gone for two days..."
"Gray, who shares a room with him, hasn't seen him since he left."
Makarov rubbed his chin.
"Perhaps he simply took his time."
Erza shook her head.
"That doesn't feel right."
Makarov sighed.
"All right."
He handed her the address.
"Go to the store and check."
"Find out whether the merchant actually received the goods."
Erza nodded.
"I will."
---
When Erza returned to the guild hall, Gray, Cana, and Levy immediately looked toward her.
Gray stood.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm going to check the store listed on Yaman's mission."
"Do you want us to come?"
Erza shook her head.
"No."
"I'll be back shortly."
She left the guild.
---
A few minutes later, Erza arrived at Fresh Fruit & Green Grocery.
She opened the door and stepped inside.
An elderly man standing behind the counter looked up.
"Welcome."
He smiled.
"Can I help you, young lady?"
Erza nodded politely.
"Yes, sir."
She approached the counter.
"May I ask you something?"
"Of course."
Erza showed him the mission request.
"Did you receive a delivery two days ago?"
The old man looked at the paper.
Then shook his head.
"No."
Erza's eyes narrowed.
"Are you certain?"
"Quite certain."
He pointed toward the store.
"If someone had delivered a shipment here, I would know."
Erza slowly lowered the paper.
A cold feeling settled in her stomach.
Yaman had accepted a simple C-Rank mission.
The mission was still active.
He had never returned.
And now—
the supposed recipient had never received the goods at all.
---
The old shopkeeper stared at Erza for a moment.
She was still standing before the counter, the mission request in her hand.
"Sir..."
"Hm?"
"I'm sorry for asking again, but..."
She hesitated.
"Could you check your records one more time?"
The old man raised an eyebrow.
"My records?"
"Yes. Your order book, perhaps. Anything that could confirm whether you were expecting a shipment two days ago."
The old man scratched his chin.
"Well... I suppose I can check."
He turned around and disappeared into the back of the shop.
Erza waited.
A few moments later, the sound of pages turning could be heard.
"Let's see..."
The old man muttered to himself.
"Monday... Tuesday..."
More pages turned.
"Nothing."
Erza's eyes narrowed.
"Nothing?"
The old man returned with a thick ledger in his hands.
He placed it on the counter and opened it.
"I've checked the entire week."
He pointed toward the pages.
"No order from this Samuel ."
"And no shipment matching the description."
Erza stared at the ledger.
"You're certain?"
The old man gave her a puzzled look.
"Of course."
"If I had ordered a shipment that large, I'd remember it."
Erza slowly nodded.
"I understand."
She closed the ledger and handed it back.
"Thank you for your help."
"You're welcome, young lady."
Erza turned and left.
The moment she stepped outside, her expression changed.
Her usual calmness was gone.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
She immediately hurried back toward the guild.
---
Fairy Tail
The doors of Fairy Tail swung open.
Erza stepped inside.
The guild was still noisy as usual.
Macau and Wakaba were arguing over their card game.
Cana was laughing.
Gray was sitting at the table with Levy.
Nothing had changed.
Yet Erza barely noticed any of it.
Her eyes immediately searched for Makarov.
She found him behind his desk.
He was surrounded by mountains of paperwork.
Makarov finished signing one sheet...
Then looked at the stack beside it.
His face twitched.
"Why does this keep multiplying?"
He grabbed another paper.
"Every time I finish one, three more appear!"
Erza approached him.
"Master."
Makarov looked up.
"Oh, Erza."
He smiled.
"Back already?"
She stopped before his desk.
"I checked the store."
Makarov put down his pen.
"And?"
Erza's expression was serious.
"They never received the shipment."
Makarov blinked.
"What?"
"The shopkeeper checked his records."
"He hasn't received anything from Samuel ."
She paused.
"And he hasn't even ordered the goods mentioned in the mission."
Makarov's smile disappeared.
"...I see."
He leaned back in his chair.
For a few seconds, he said nothing.
Then he glanced toward the mission records.
"That doesn't make sense."
"No."
Erza shook her head.
"It doesn't."
Makarov rubbed his chin.
Yaman had disappeared for two days.
The mission was supposed to be nothing more than a simple escort.
And yet the supposed recipient had never even requested the delivery.
Makarov suddenly stood.
"I'm going to the Council."
Erza looked surprised.
"Now?"
"Yes."
He grabbed his coat from the back of his chair.
"I'm not sending a report and waiting three days for someone to send me an answer."
He looked at Erza.
"This concerns one of my guild members."
Erza immediately nodded.
"Then I'm coming with you."
Makarov smiled faintly.
"I thought you might say that."
---
On the Train
The train rattled along the tracks toward Clover.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Erza sat beside the window.
Makarov sat opposite her, his arms crossed.
Eventually, Erza glanced at him.
"Master."
"Hm?"
"You've been quiet."
Makarov looked out of the window.
"I'm thinking."
"About Yaman?"
"Of course."
He sighed.
"I can't shake the feeling that something is wrong."
Erza nodded.
"I feel the same."
Makarov looked at her.
"There's another possibility."
"What is it?"
He lowered his voice.
"Perhaps the client lied about the mission."
Erza frowned.
"You mean it could have been a trap?"
"Maybe."
Makarov shrugged.
"Or maybe the man simply wasn't honest about the details."
"Either way, the Council should have information about him."
Erza looked back through the window.
"I hope you're right."
Makarov smiled faintly.
"Don't worry."
"We'll find out."
But despite his reassuring words...
his expression remained serious.
---
Magic Council Headquarters
Three hours later, they arrived in Clover.
They quickly made their way toward the nearby Council headquarters.
The guards at the entrance immediately recognized Makarov.
"Master Makarov!"
One of them hurried forward.
"Please wait here. I'll inform Commander Oliver."
A few minutes later, the doors opened.
"Master Makarov."
Oliver stood behind his desk.
"Welcome."
Makarov walked inside.
Erza followed.
Oliver gestured toward the chairs.
"Please, sit."
Makarov sat down.
But he didn't waste time with formalities.
He took the mission request from his coat and placed it on the desk.
"I need information about this mission."
Oliver glanced at the paper.
"I want the client's complete information."
"And I want to contact him."
Oliver picked up the document.
The moment his eyes reached the name—
he stopped.
His expression changed.
A small bead of sweat appeared on his forehead.
Makarov noticed.
His eyes narrowed.
"Oliver."
Oliver slowly looked up.
"Yes?"
"You know this name."
It wasn't a question.
Oliver remained silent.
Makarov leaned forward.
"I hope you're not about to tell me that this is classified."
Oliver sighed.
"Makarov..."
"I have a young wizard from my guild who took this mission."
"He has been gone for two days."
"The destination has no record of receiving the shipment."
"And now you're looking at this paper like you've just seen a ghost."
Makarov's voice hardened.
"Tell me what you know."
Erza watched him silently.
She had seen Makarov angry before.
But this was different.
There was something almost frightening about the seriousness in his voice.
Makarov placed both hands on the desk.
"I want the truth."
"Now."
Oliver slowly lowered the document.
"...All right."
He took a breath.
"I'll tell you everything."
"Three days ago," Oliver began, "one of our Council facilities on the outskirts of Oshibana was attacked."
Erza's expression changed.
"Attacked?"
Oliver nodded.
"The facility was robbed."
"Several pieces of equipment were taken."
"But the thieves were after something specific."
Makarov's eyes narrowed.
"What?"
Oliver's voice became quieter.
"Lacrima."
Makarov frowned.
"What kind?"
Oliver looked directly at him.
"Time Lacrima."
Silence.
Makarov's eyes widened.
"...Time Lacrima?"
Erza also stared at Oliver.
Makarov leaned forward.
"Are you certain?"
"Yes."
"Those are incredibly rare."
"Exactly."
Oliver nodded.
"Some of them are worth a fortune."
"But their value isn't the only problem."
Makarov's expression darkened.
"I understand."
Oliver continued.
"We launched an investigation immediately."
"Our people searched for the thieves."
"We checked every smuggling route."
"We questioned everyone connected to the stolen equipment."
"But eventually..."
He sighed.
"...the investigation slowed down."
Makarov's eyes moved toward the mission request.
"And Samuel ?"
Oliver nodded.
"Our intelligence division began investigating him."
"We discovered that he's a smuggler."
Makarov's expression hardened.
"A smuggler?"
"Yes."
"He has transported illegal goods before."
"But this operation was different."
Oliver tapped the paper.
"This was the first time he'd attempted something this large."
Makarov suddenly slammed his palm against the desk.
"Then how did he get a legal mission through the Council system?"
Oliver remained calm.
"We didn't know he was connected to the theft when the mission was accepted."
Makarov's eyes narrowed.
"And you only discovered it afterward?"
"Yes."
Makarov's voice became colder.
"That's supposed to make me feel better?"
Oliver sighed.
"Makarov—"
"No."
Makarov stood.
"One of my guild members is missing."
"Don't expect me to sit quietly while you explain how your system failed."
Erza looked at Makarov.
He rarely spoke like this.
Oliver raised a hand.
"You're not the only one who has lost someone."
Makarov stopped.
Oliver looked down at the mission.
"There are two Council trainees."
Makarov frowned.
"Two trainees?"
"Yes."
"They're about the same age as your boy."
Erza stepped forward.
"What happened to them?"
Oliver looked at her.
"They accepted this mission too."
Erza's eyes widened.
"This mission?"
Oliver nodded.
"The exact same mission."
Makarov stared at him.
"Explain."
"They weren't sent to find Samuel."
"They accepted the request independently."
"After your guild member."
"And before we discovered Samuel's identity."
Erza's expression became increasingly concerned.
"So..."
Oliver nodded.
"Three young wizards entered the same situation."
"Yaman."
"And the two Council trainees."
Makarov's face darkened.
"Where are the trainees now?"
Oliver didn't answer immediately.
Then—
"We lost contact with them."
Erza's eyes widened.
"When?"
"After they followed Samuel's route."
Makarov's expression became grim.
"Where did he take them?"
Oliver looked at him.
"The Valley of Illusion."
The room went completely silent.
Erza slowly looked at Makarov.
"The Valley of Illusion..."
Oliver nodded.
"That's where Samuel was heading."
"And your guild member followed him."
"The two trainees followed after him."
Makarov clenched his fist.
"So there are three young wizards in that valley..."
Oliver finished his sentence.
"...with a suspected smuggler."
Another silence.
Then—
Knock. Knock.
The door opened.
A young Council officer stepped inside.
"Commander Oliver."
Oliver turned.
"The recovery unit is ready."
"How long?"
"We can depart immediately."
Oliver nodded.
"Good."
The officer turned to leave.
Makarov stopped him.
"Wait."
The young man looked back.
Makarov's expression was cold.
"Bring them back."
The officer nodded.
"Yes, sir."
He left.
Oliver picked up the mission request again.
His voice became grave.
"There's one more thing."
Makarov looked at him.
Oliver slowly placed the request on the desk.
"This mission was originally classified as C-Rank."
Erza looked at the paper.
"But considering the theft..."
"The smuggler..."
"The missing trainees..."
"And the Valley of Illusion..."
Oliver looked directly at them.
"It can no longer be treated as a simple escort."
He turned the document over.
A new classification was stamped across it.
S-RANK.
Erza's eyes widened.
Makarov stared at the paper.
His expression was completely serious now.
That morning, Yaman had been nothing more than a young wizard sent on an ordinary C-Rank job.
Now...
Three young wizards were missing.
A dangerous smuggler was involved.
Stolen Time Lacrima were somewhere in the background.
And all of them had entered one of the most mysterious places in Fiore.
Makarov slowly stood.
"Let's bring my boy home."
The Fairy Tail master turned toward the door.
And this time—
there was no trace of his usual carefree smile.