"Man, this job was exhausting..." Lucy stretched lazily, her graceful figure outlined perfectly by the motion.
"So... this counts as completing an S-Class job, right? We won't get punished anymore... right?" Natsu glanced at Arlen cautiously.
"You're dreaming pretty hard there," Arlen chuckled, his tone full of amusement. "Now you know fear? Weren't you all pretty bold when you secretly took the S-Class request?"
"From my perspective, you all did an excellent job on this mission," Erza said calmly as she dragged along her signature oversized luggage. "But the final decision still rests with the Master. I won't be pleading your case. Neither will Arlen or Ultear."
"Ahhh... we're dead..." Natsu, Gray, and Happy exchanged looks as despair settled over them.
Ultear frowned slightly.
"Wait a second. Haven't you noticed something strange? Ever since we entered Magnolia, the townspeople have been glancing at us strangely."
"Isn't that normal?" Gray asked.
"I noticed it too," Erza said thoughtfully, examining the people around them. "They seem... afraid. What exactly happened?"
"Arlen, Erza, Ultear—you're back from your job."
The owner of the dessert shop greeted them with his usual smile.
"Old man, did something happen in Magnolia? Everyone's acting weird," Natsu asked with crossed arms and a confused expression.
The shopkeeper sighed heavily and patted Arlen's shoulder.
"You kids should hurry back to your guild and take a look."
Erza, Ultear, and the others exchanged glances, unease instantly rising in their hearts. Without another word, they rushed toward Fairy Tail.
"Thank you, Mr. Ingram."
Even though Arlen was anxious himself, as Fairy Tail's public face, he naturally wouldn't lose composure.
After giving a proper noble's bow, he turned and left. The moment he stepped out of the shop, teleportation magic activated instantly, his body dissolving into starlike particles.
The shopkeeper watched Arlen disappear and shook his head regretfully.
"What wonderful kids... what a shame."
The moment Natsu and the others saw the guild building, their bodies froze.
Their pupils contracted sharply.
Then came overwhelming fury.
"How... how did this happen...?" Natsu's voice was low and trembling with rage. "Why is our guild like this?!"
"This is horrible... who did this?" Lucy covered her mouth, her voice shaking.
Fairy Tail's guildhall had been utterly wrecked.
Massive black iron rods pierced through the building from every direction, leaving it battered and ruined.
Arlen stared silently at the guild.
His expression was unnervingly calm.
No anger.
No grief.
But his eyes grew colder and colder.
For the first time ever, murderous intent filled his golden pupils.
"You're back? Good work on the job."
Mira's gentle voice sounded behind them.
"Mira! Perfect timing! What happened here?!"
"Why was the guild destroyed?! Who did this?!"
Everyone turned toward her at once, bombarding her with questions.
"Quiet down," Arlen said coldly. "Let Mira speak."
"It was Phantom Lord," Mira said in a low voice, unable to hide her bitterness. "As much as I hate admitting it... they're the ones who destroyed the guild."
"Any casualties?" Arlen asked calmly.
"No. They deliberately attacked late at night when nobody was inside."
Mira clenched her fists tightly. She was furious too—but they couldn't retaliate recklessly.
"As long as nobody died, that's enough," Arlen said.
The others finally let out relieved breaths.
"Come on. I'll take you to the guild's temporary base."
Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Mira led everyone toward Fairy Tail's underground storage area—the temporary guildhall.
Arlen paused for a few extra seconds, his gaze lingering on the ruined guild and the massive iron stakes piercing through it.
Then he turned away.
A gust of wind swept past, lifting his silver-white hair and cloak.
His face remained expressionless.
But his eyes were as cold as frozen steel.
His right hand casually rested on the hilt of Alaya Consciousness.
In the underground hall, Mavis sat swinging her legs while Makarov sat atop the makeshift bar counter, already slightly drunk.
When he saw everyone enter, he smiled and waved.
"You're back. Good work this time, Arlen, Erza, Ultear, Lucy... and also Natsu, Gray, and Happy. You three dared to secretly take an S-Class request. Considering the circumstances, your punishment will be postponed until after the guild is rebuilt."
"We're back. Everyone's safe, and the mission was completed successfully."
Arlen handed Makarov the written completion report from Moka Village.
"Good work!" Mavis said brightly, her eyes sparkling as she raised a hand.
"Old man, why are you just sitting here drinking like nothing happened?!" Natsu roared furiously. "Our guild was destroyed!"
Erza was equally furious.
"Master, First Master—do you even realize the situation right now?!"
"Alright, alright, calm down," Makarov said casually as he drank. "What's there to make such a fuss over? Those bastards only dare pull cowardly stunts like this."
"The Third is right," Mavis added gently. "You all need to calm down first. Anger alone solves nothing."
"I don't care!" Natsu kicked a stool apart in rage. "If I don't beat those guys into the ground, I'll never swallow this anger!"
"Natsu, stop damaging guild property."
Ultear used Arc of Time to instantly repair the broken stool.
"What's with all of you acting so relaxed?!" Natsu shouted in disbelief.
"Natsu, enough."
Arlen stopped him before he could continue yelling.
"Master, I'll be heading back now."
After giving Makarov a respectful bow, Arlen turned and left the guildhall.
Erza, Ultear, Mavis sitting atop the counter, Mira, and Lisanna all followed after him one by one.
Lucy blinked blankly for a moment before hurriedly dragging her suitcase after them as well.
Makarov lowered his eyelids and watched everyone leave.
He neither stopped them nor said anything.
He merely drank another cup of alcohol silently.
But the hand gripping the glass tightened unconsciously.