Chapter 1
In Plain Sight
Messengers were sent to most of the major guilds in Fiore with a particularly important and well-paying job. All guild masters were asked to send as many wizards to a certain aristocrat's mansion in order to protect him from some great evil as possible. Given that they can protect him, each participating guild should receive a massive amount of jewels. It was not an extraordinary thing to do, asking wizards to protect wealthy people travelling through dangerous cities or forests, babysitting their kids while they had meetings and other things to attend. But this didn't seem like the usual 'help me protect my money cause I'm rich' type of mission. Still, maybe because of the possible danger, not many guilds responded and even less showed up at the mansion: Ichiya and the Trimens from Blue Pegasus, Kagura and Milliana from Mermaid Heel, Jura from Lamia Scale, the Dragon Slayer duo of Sabertooth with their exceeds, and obviously Team Natsu from Fairy Tail.
The mansion was built in a huge parcel with a pond, a small forest, statues and a freaking hedge labyrinth Natsu, Gray and Sting seemed to fancy. The mansion was not too far from the outskirts of Magnolia, but every attendant decided to use the train to get there as soon as possible. Thankfully, the short walk from the train station to their destination helped the dragon slayers clear their heads and concentrate on the mission. All of them were greeted by the butler. He was a rather tall guy with a small moustache and short brown hair. He looked to be in his mid-thirties. He had the typical penguin outfit on, as it was pointed out by Natsu. He briefly explained the situation to everyone on the way to the lounge where they were to meet their current employer, who he referred to as Mr. A.
"Long story short" explained the butler, "Mr. A is a very important businessman and because of the success of his latest project, many of his business partners became envious and rather hostile toward him. He wishes to ask for your help for a couple of days until he can leave the country under the protection of the Magic Council."
"Your master's message sounded rather serious. In contrast, you make it sound like a simple body guarding mission" commented Kagura.
"Please, have a seat" smiled the butler slyly opening the door to the lounge. "I'll inform Mr. A about your arrival." With that, he walked out of the room closing the doors behind.
"I already hate him" stated Gray as he walked around examining the weird paintings and statues.
Jura was the only one who decided to settle in one of the bigger couches, everyone else was standing or walking around the room. Milliana started talking to the Sabertooth exceeds while Sting murmured something to Rogue. Kagura, Erza and Lucy tried their best to stay as far from Ichiya and his gang as possible. Wendy and Carla watched curiously what Natsu and Happy were up to this time.
"Hey, Happy! Look at this picture! I bet you can draw better with your tail" mocked Natsu one of the paintings.
"You should appreciate the value of these paintings more, Natsu. These are delicate artworks, just like a nice perfume" said Ichiya between sniffs, getting dangerously close to Erza.
"That butler's very suspicious" said Kagura.
"Do you think they're up to something?" asked Erza from Kagura while trying hard not to break some expensive decoration on Ichiya's head.
"Not sure" Kagura mumbled. She looked at Jura expecting some kind of response, but he didn't seem to be interested in sharing his thoughts.
"Let's wait and see what Mr. A has to say" said Rogue resting his back to a nearby column, watching the exceeds and Milliana messing with one of the carpets with strange patterns on.
"I don't care what grunts or monsters are coming, I'm gonna beat their asses to the ground!" shouted Natsu jumping on a small coffee table that almost instantly broke under his weight.
Everyone stared at him in horror and the second Erza started to go towards him, possibly to give him a good beating, Mr. A and the butler entered the room laughing at the scene. That obviously calmed everyone's nerves a bit. Mr. A looked like he was the most average and most typical middle-aged aristocrat ever. Middle height, puffy cheeks, big belly, wearing fancy jewellery and clearly expensive clothes and shoes, weird hairstyle with an astonishing amount of gel in it.
"I like your attitude, boy" he said. "That's the kind of men I'm looking for. Strong, fierce, without fear."
"That's Natsu for you!" cheered Happy.
"And what is it you don't want us to fear, Mr. A?" asked Jura, earning everyone's attention in the room.
Mr. A turned his head in Jura's direction as his smile slowly disappeared. He signalled the butler to leave the room as he took a seat in a large armchair.
"I've been working in the building industry for many years, my friends" Mr. A started. "Made numerous friends and enemies along the way. You know, this industry has its own dangers just like every other. People like me have their lives threatened several times every week, thieves are often hired to steal new plans and products. Such things are part of this business and I knew this when I started accepting construction and building jobs. But never have I faced such evil as I do now."
Seeing the pain and fear in Mr A's eyes, everyone knew that this is a job that requires all their strength and seriousness, even the little exceeds looked troubled and tried to concentrate on what the man has to say. Sting looked at Rogue who seemed to be somewhat immersed in his thoughts while keeping his eyes on their employer.
"Do you know, who the enemy is?" asked Jura.
"Well, that question's hard to answer. You see, all I know is that during one of my recent jobs, details of which I'm afraid I am not authorised to share with you, I angered some very powerful people in southern Ishgar. And these people hired a mighty, fearsome warrior. A mercenary. I've been travelling continuously for the past few weeks, trying to get away, but despite all my efforts, he always seems to find me. Thankfully, I'm always one step ahead. But only one. After I leave a certain location, this… this monster shows up and all that's left after his arrival, is destruction. Death is slowly following me, creeping up on me."
The shock and anger in the mages' faces were apparent as the man continued his story.
"I'm tired of being afraid. I'm tired of running" he said as he stood up and sternly looked around the room. "That's why I ask you to use me as a bait. If I'm here, he'll surely come here. And when he does, eliminate him."
"You want us to kill this guy?" said Lucy.
"Isn't the Magic Council supposed to provide you protection, given the seriousness of this issue?" asked Kagura.
"They offered to send forces in four days. And I'm afraid, I would be dead by that time here on my own" he said slightly smiling. "That was all the information I can tell you for now. Obviously, you may still decide not to take the job. Coming here has no further… obligations. You may stay here for the night, no matter what your answer is. My butler will show you your rooms as soon as they're ready. I'll see you in the morning. Good night, my friends."
Silence fell on the room as Mr. A left. Everyone seemed to be thinking through what they just heard, sometimes looking at each other. No one really know how to react. Though, Natsu looked like he was ready to burst the whole mansion into flames, even he did not say a word. Sting noticed that Rogue was still wearing the same expression from the start of Mr. A's story, still looking at the door the man exited. When he noticed his partner focusing on his surroundings again, he closed his eyes, collected his thoughts and turning his head back to Rogue he finally spoke up.
"What did you find?"
The other mages turned to face the two dragon slayers, curious what Rogue had to say.
"Not sure" Rogue started. "I didn't have enough time to finish, this place is huge. But it seems nobody else is here. And there's something strange happening in the cellar. Don't really know what. And that butler…" he stopped for a bit and after a long blink he looked at Sting. "He's been standing in front of the door the whole time."
"Well, that's what he's supposed to do, isn't it?" asked Hibiki.
"What are you talking about?" asked Natsu, looking around the room to see if he's the only one not knowing what Sting and Rogue are talking about.
"Wait a minute, how do you know that?" asked Erza.
"I asked him to scan the mansion with his shadows while we listened to this Mr. A" explained Sting looking at Erza, then turning his gaze to Rogue. "What's up with the butler?"
"He's been standing in front of the door staring at nothing. He didn't even move an inch. Not sure he's been breathing at all."
"That's not possible" said Kagura.
"It is" said Jura calmly. "At least we've heard it is."
"We?" asked Gray.
"The Magic Council's been getting more and more reports about cases where after defeating or eliminating a certain enemy, no bodies can be found, only a huge amount of slowly fading magic power. It is believed to be a new technique an underground organisation uses to create warriors that are then sold to whoever bids the highest."
"So this Mr. A's got one" said Natsu making his way toward the door.
"And where exactly are you going, Flame-brain?" asked Gray mockingly.
"I'm gonna check him out!" laughed Natsu.
"No, you're not" said Erza as she quickly grabbed the end of his scarf stopping him.
"Being so secretive, going from terrified to self-sacrificing in mere seconds and now this… We should be extra careful" said Jura.
"So we're accepting the mission?" asked Eve.
"Doesn't sound like the wisest decision" started Sting. "But now I'm way too intrigued to back out."
"Yeah! Sabertooth never backs out!" shouted Lector.
"Well then, Fairy Tail's not gonna lose to any other guild" said Natsu grinning at Sting.
"Fierce as always" said Ichiya. "Mr. A can count on Blue Pegasus."
"What about the butler?" asked Milliana. "He's creeping me out."
"As for now, we should consider him our ally" Jura started. "But you can never know what might…"
Just as if he'd sensed them talking about him, the door opened and the butler came through smiling, telling them that their rooms may be occupied as soon as they are ready. They politely refused, saying that they still need to discuss several things related to the mission. As the butler started offering to take them to the dining area so they can have something for dinner, the doorbell rang.
"Is anyone else supposed to come beside us?" asked Jura.
"I was not informed about having further guests" started the butler with a vicious grin. "So it must be our delinquent. I suggest you brace yourselves for the upcoming fight, ladies and gentlemen" he said turning his back to the mages.
"Wait! What?" shouted Lucy. "Where are you going?"
The butler stopped, slowly turned around with that creepy grin on his face.
"To the door, Ma'am. My duty is to answer the door whenever the doorbell rings."
