Although Wendy agreed to move over and serve as a full-time doctor out of sentiment, Rhode wouldn't treat her unfairly.
Besides providing food and shelter, he calculated her remuneration based on the standard mission rates.
"Wendy's benefits have been decided, as for Carla... it's just a bonus, she has to eat in her cat form during meals."
Rhode spoke in a tone as if asking for trouble.
"You rascal!" Carla, in her cat form, struggled in Wendy's arms trying to scratch him.
"Don't be like that…" Wendy tried hard to mediate.
But holding Carla tightly, Wendy seemed to be taking sides.
After settling Wendy and Carla, Rhode went to the Council to apologize to Lahar, handling some official matters before returning home to sleep.
...
The following morning, Rhode saw Lucy in the training group.
Curiously, Rhode asked, "Didn't go to develop your new magic?"
Lucy enthusiastically replied, "I asked the Crookes old man of the Crux Constellation yesterday. He thinks this approach is feasible!
Aquarius and Loki are willing to lend me their power. Next, I only need to consider specific usage methods!
However, Crookes reminded me especially not to forget the basics no matter what magic I'm learning. So I decided to train with everyone in the mornings and develop new magic in the afternoons!"
"Very sensible advice." Rhode agreed with Crookes' words,
"Then let Instructor Erza take good care~ of you later, make up for the missed training."
Lucy immediately pleaded, "No, please…"
"Too late!" Rhode left Lucy and went to assign tasks.
After the morning training session, he didn't follow along but went to Sabertooth alone.
"Rh… Rhode sir!"
Sabertooth's receptionist felt rather complex upon seeing Rhode.
Firstly, having experienced a beating, Sabertooth now greatly respects the Ten Wizard Saints.
Secondly, when this person showed up wreaking havoc, it scared them considerably.
Finally, in recent events, Fairy Tail can be said to have done Sabertooth a favor...
Nonetheless, she followed the procedure for important clients and escorted Rhode to the parlor.
"No need to be so tense, I'm here today to consult Miss Minerva about something." Rhode asked, "Is she available today?"
"Uh… Please have a seat, I'll find the young miss immediately!"
The receptionist poured Rhode a cup of tea and hurried away.
Rhode sat down and summoned Warm, ordered some Sabertooth delicacies, and also fed it a few Poro Delicacies.
Amidst crunching sounds, he noticed a little green cat in a pink frog outfit eagerly standing at the door, drool at the corner of its mouth.
Rhode thought for a moment and picked up a piece of Poro Delicacy, asking, "You're Fro, right? Want some?"
Fro swallowed, obviously tempted, but shook his head, weakly replying:
"No, it's restaurant hours now, Fro can't casually eat guests' food, thank you."
Warm, sitting with its hind legs sprawled on the table, cradled the Poro Delicacy with its front legs, saying to Fro: "Slurp slurp~"
Understanding Warm, Fro tilted his head in thought: "If it's friends, then it's okay."
He flew up to the table, accepted Warm's gift, thanked softly, then commenced nibbling beside Warm.
Rhode: "..."
Can transcendents communicate with Warm unimpededly? Why am I a guest while Warm is a friend?
Before long, Minerva and Rogue walked in together.
"Rhode sir…" Searching subtly, Minerva's gaze didn't find Mira's presence, causing a bit of disappointment.
"Fro?" Rogue nervously picked up Fro, "Apologies, Fro was impolite!"
"No problem, Warm and Fro are already friends." Rhode smiled, "Sorry for the intrusion."
Instinctively, Minerva and Rogue blurted together: "No… no disturbance!"
The two exchanged a glance, faces slightly flushed, eyes wandering.
"?" What sort of response is this? Rhode suspected some entanglement between these two.
No wonder Fro was wandering around the Guild alone... What matter could keep a Dragon Slayer Mage away from their cat?
Feeling slightly awkward, Minerva quickly asked, "Is Miss Mira alright? I heard her due date is approaching."
"She was checked yesterday, and her condition is great." Rhode smiled, "Didn't expect you to remember her."
"Of course, during the last incident, Miss Mira gave me a lot of encouragement." Minerva said gratefully, "If possible, I'd like to visit her soon."
"You're always welcome. Mira can't do much work lately and often feels bored." Rhode was looking forward to someone accompanying Mira for conversation, "By the way, is your body feeling uncomfortable anywhere?"
Minerva said: "Not at all, Lady Porlyusica's medical skills are superb."
The demon factor injected by Gate of the Underworld not only didn't leave any aftereffects but also strengthened her considerably.
Although not matching her complete Demonization state, through training, Minerva believed she wasn't inferior to then.
The three chatted briefly about matters since their last encounter, then moved to the main topic.
"I'm mainly here to consult about your Demon-Controlling Eighteen Fighting God Magic." Rhode said, "Would you mind sharing where you learned it from?"
Openly, Minerva said, "My late father taught me."
Aside from feeling sad when mentioning her father, answering such questions wasn't difficult for her.
"Then, have you heard of the Demon Race?"
Frowning, Minerva pondered for a while: "My mother seemed to be from the Demon Race."
"Seemed?"
"Yes, I'm not sure." Minerva recalled, "Mother passed away early, I might have overheard my father mention it once when I was very young.
Actually, I only know my magic comes from the Demon Race, but I don't know what the Demon Race is… Although I might be a descendant of the Demon Race."
Testingly, Rogue asked: "Are you investigating Ikusazunaki?"
"You know?" Rhode was a bit puzzled, but quickly said, "It's in the papers already?"
"Yes, I saw it in this morning's newspaper." Rogue said, "Though not explained in detail, it noted the giant is one of the Eighteen Demon-Fighting Gods."
Rhode nodded: "That's the situation."
Rogue hurriedly asked: "Could the young miss's identity and magic put her in danger?"
"Hard to say." Rhode considered the Black Dragon's two visits to the Demon Race, replying,
"But I think, as long as it's not like that Black Magic Sect suddenly summoning a Fighting God, it should be fine."