Lahar moved quickly to catch Rhodes before he left. "Mr. Rhodes, aren't you coming with us?"
Rhodes waved him off. "I'll sit this one out. Wolfheim would think I was implying he needed help."
It was a minor branch of the dark cult. There probably weren't more than three people on their side worth fighting. Gajeel might not even get a satisfying bout out of this trip. Rhodes going in person made no sense.
Besides, Wolfheim had no intention of joining the operation directly, but he would quietly position himself nearby to watch how things unfolded. His real purpose was to evaluate the training results and make sure nothing embarrassing happened the way it had last time.
"Good luck. If you can't be bothered traveling back afterward, just contact me."
He reminded Levy to look after Wendy, then dissolved into a streak of blue light and headed back to the guild.
The group watched him go, then turned and got moving.
"Mr. Lahar, which squad are we assigned to?"
"The Fourth Squad under my command is currently short-staffed at six members. I'd like you to serve as support alongside them."
Gajeel frowned. "Why support? Why not vanguard?"
Lahar adjusted his glasses and answered without any sign of irritation. "I saw what both you and Miss Wendy were capable of at the Grand Magic Games. Vanguard would suit your strength without question. However, this operation also serves as a formal assessment for our unit, so I hope you can understand. Beyond that, Miss Wendy's magic is essential to this mission's success, which means she needs the most dependable protection we can arrange."
Gajeel decided this man was annoyingly good with words. "Hmph. That's a reasonable answer. Just make sure when you're planning this out that you account for how much stronger I am compared to back then."
Lahar smiled. "Noted. If we find ourselves in serious trouble, I'll be counting on you."
Panther Lily gave Levy a quiet nod. "This Mr. Lahar seems like a capable and experienced captain."
Hearing such a measured assessment delivered in a small black cat's voice made it difficult for Lahar to keep a straight face. "Thank you for the kind words."
Gajeel straightened immediately. "Don't let the size fool you. Lily is the strongest Exceed in our guild."
Carla, settled in Wendy's arms, let out a small sigh. "I really can't argue with that."
Wendy said loyally, "Lily is very strong, but Carla is excellent too."
Gajeel's eyes lit up. "Oh? You want your cat going up against my partner, little one?"
Levy pinched the bridge of her nose. "Gajeel. Please grow up."
Panther Lily nodded in full agreement. "Yes. I find myself wishing for that on a fairly regular basis."
Up ahead, Lahar quietly thought to himself: has Mest really been living in a guild like this all this time? He felt something that was almost envy.
"July Village is just ahead. Go quiet and take cover."
He raised a fist and the column stopped. He drew out a compact communication Lacrima, tapped through a sequence, and a radar map rendered itself on the screen. His own position sat at the center. Behind him, a cluster of red dots in various sizes tracked the magical signatures of his squad. Ahead, a spread of red dots marked the enemy positions.
He circled his own side's markers. They flipped to blue.
He read the grid. "Targets are approximately two kilometers ahead. Count is around three hundred. Magic output readings suggest three executives among them, consistent with our intelligence." He traced the terrain layout. "Their position is a clock tower. The surrounding area is open, with a handful of structures that could serve as cover. Enemy signatures are also present near those structures. Any flanking approach needs to account for that."
He looked up.
"Squads One and Two, split and loop around from the left and right respectively. Maintain distance throughout. Signal when you've reached their rear flanks on each side."
"Yes sir!"
"Squad Three, hold position forward on the left."
"Yes sir."
"Squad Five, with me, cover position on the right."
"Squad Four will be led by Miss Levy. Advance slowly on my signal."
Levy nodded. "Understood."
"Mest, same as last time. You go first. Stay in contact."
"Leave it to me." Mest's figure disappeared and reappeared on a branch ahead, then vanished again and materialized behind a boulder further on.
The four squads began moving. Levy held her position for a measured stretch before carefully leading her team forward.
Before long, the clock tower came into view. It was tall, and it dominated the skyline above the village rooftops.
"I heard the clock tower in July Village is quite famous," Levy said, more to herself than anyone. "An ancient structure, supposedly standing for several hundred years." She was already looking forward to whatever inscriptions or old text she might find inside.
She was also quietly hoping the upcoming operation wouldn't do too much damage to it.
When the full view of the tower came into focus, though, the group went quiet with a shared puzzlement.
Carla spoke first. "That thing is supposedly several hundred years old?"
"It looks almost new," Wendy said.
Panther Lily studied it for a moment. "Look more carefully. The upper section is new. The base still shows its age."
Gajeel's nose twitched. "Something was destroyed and rebuilt. That smoke damage and those burn marks look familiar." He tilted his head. "Very familiar."
Levy stared at the tower. The pieces assembled themselves slowly, and her expression fell. "I think I know what happened. Natsu once destroyed a famous clock tower. I'm fairly certain this is the one."
Carla said, "Strangely, I find I'm not surprised at all."
Wendy, ever charitable, offered, "I'm sure it was an accident, Carla."
Gajeel rolled his shoulders with a broad grin. "That Salamander has nerve, I'll give him that. Still too weak though." He cracked his knuckles. "I should break it again. Badly enough that they can't patch it up this time."
Carla closed her eyes briefly. "Is there any real need to compete over something like this?"
"Of course there is. It proves I'm stronger than him." Gajeel was already walking.
"Stop!" Levy grabbed the back of his clothes. Her heels dragged two shallow lines into the dirt as he kept moving without slowing down. "That is a protected historic site and we have a mission!"
The Council members assigned to her squad exchanged uncertain looks.
Miss Levy had been calm and precise every day at the Council. Efficient, collected, easy to follow. Why did she currently look like someone trying to anchor a moving cart with her bare hands?
At that moment, the Lacrima at Levy's waist crackled to life. Lahar's voice came through clearly. "All units, begin the operation."
Levy snapped back immediately. "Moving now. Watch your approach speed!"