"The world is run by cheaters, cynics, and hypocrites, best get used to it."
- Elizabeth Crenshaw, Vice President of the Bolton Company

A/N: If you're enjoying the story so far, please consider writing a review!

Do you regret what you have done?

NO.

Why have you taken such extreme measures for such a minor offense?

THE LAW MUST BE UPHELD. EXAMPLES MUST BE MADE.

If you encounter the same situation again, what would you do differently?

I WOULD BE HARSHER.

What did your parents and sisters have to say?

Arlon stopped writing when his deadly emerald eyes set on that final, mocking question. Clenching his quill in a furious grip, his glare was torn away from the offending parchment and thrown at the stern, aging woman sitting nearby.

"Does this amuse you, teacher?"

Lady Nightswood shrugged. "Not particularly. Finish."

The teenage Rainfall didn't enjoy being toyed with, let alone by some old crone without a single drop of noble blood in her veins, and he certainly didn't appreciate being disciplined like an insolent schoolchild. Such a prospect only served to darken the young man's mood even further, if such a feat was even possible.

"My family's opinions are irrelevant. The deed has already been done. That creature didn't understand the consequences of thievery in the South, I simply wanted to educate him, in a manner he'd be sure to notice."

Disheartened by what she was hearing, the tutor's usually serious demeanor began to break down, not due to rage, but to pure, unrestrained sadness.

"Where did we go wrong?"

"Pardon?"

"What lesson did you refuse to learn, Arlon? Where did all this disdain and intolerance originate? It didn't come from your courageous father or kind mother, I know that much. Tell me, lad. We're starting to worry."

He scoffed.

"I hate to be the herald of bad news, but recording my feelings like a pathetic little girl won't change anything. This is no concern of yours, woman. I thought we were studying Fioren history today, not drama."

"Do you understand what you've done, boy? The farmer you maimed yesterday in Lancaster, his life will never be the same. "

"Yes, I thought that was the point."

"The man was just hungry, Master Rainfall, all he took was a few apples. Unsheathing your sword to use against a starving peasant can hardly be seen as justice."

"Today, it was apples. Tomorrow, who knows what he would have taken? Cattle? Gemstones? Infants from their nurseries? A true leader should be able to prevent a disaster before it occurs. Besides, that thing wasn't a man," Arlon grit his teeth, "it was an elf."

"And what difference does that make?"

"They spread disease, disorder, and desertion, leeching off the wealth and livelihoods of honest Fiorens. The elves have already ruined their own land, now they seek to do the same thing here. What have they done for House Rainfall recently? I chopped off one hand, that's all, he had another in reserve."

"Those techniques have fallen out of practice. Lord Ryhard has taken a… gentler approach. Sometimes, misdeeds must be addressed with mercy. You'll be a lord someday, urchin, when that happens, will the South be subjected to a new reign of terror, or prosperity?"

"Why settle for one when you can have both? What happened to us? We were the most prominent naval force in Ishgar until my father took control."

Nightswood furrowed her brows.

"Perhaps I should be more clear. You can't butcher everyone who bothers you. That solves nothing."

"And how do you propose we deal with such nuisances, teacher? Maybe you can bore all the pirates and rapists to death with a few lectures."

"The world will always be filled with lawbreakers, both big and small, accept it."

"Yes, I'm bloody well aware. Know why?"

The tutor breathed out a heavy sigh and leaned back in her elaborate pyrewood chair.

"Why?"

Arlon snapped the quill in half between his thumb and forefinger as if it was the neck of a baby bird.

"Because people like you let them get away with it."

Captain Fairweather liked to think he was good at reading people, especially those at sea. There were countless little subtleties that could hint at a man's true character, you just needed to know what to look for.

The way someone grimaces, how they wield a pistol, or even how one mops the floor, there are always signs to determine whether a soul holds good or poor intentions. After inspecting hundreds and hundreds of troops throughout his maritime career, the officer believed he was an expert on this subject.

Then, he met the Lord Admiral, the Raging Sea of Sailor's Hill.

A completely blank slate.

The crewmen of the HRS Fearless watched back in awe as their war mages worked tirelessly to provoke the ocean's incomprehensible rage. Under Lord Rainfall's strict and watchful eye, the spell seemed to be working. Akane would soon be cut off from all directions, leaving the Bolton maniac and his 7th Legion to carry out their nonsense undisturbed.

Arlon was just standing there silently at the helm, overseeing the Tidesages and ensuring not a single blunder would be made. They were a considerable distance away from the shoreline, but with this many wizards, that shouldn't be an issue.

Fairweather took his place at his leader's side as a terrible rumbling noise echoed across the waves.

"The winds are most definitely in our favour, my lord. If the Royal Navy approached from the north, we should have no issue outrunning them."

The noble's Wizard Saint pendant glimmered in the moonlight as he offered a soft grunt of acknowledgment. After a few sinister moments of silence, Rainfall spoke.

"Do you have a family, Captain?"

Confused, the sailor replied without much delay.

"No, sir. Life on deck is all I've ever had the honour of knowing."

"I see. Ethical question for you, soldier," Arlon turned towards him with a stoic yet horrible gaze, "if you had to rip a babe from its mother's arms and kill it to save a hundred more, would you do it?"

"I'm… ah… I'm not entirely sure, my lord."

Rainfall hummed in a way that could only be described as sarcastic.

"Really? Would you do it to save a thousand lives? What about ten thousand? Know what, why don't we throw in the whole goddamn continent? The greater evil would be letting that babe live."

Unsure how to respond, Fairweather just kept his mouth shut.

"Now, isn't that our purpose? Choosing who lives and dies? Every man's definition of wrong varies, yet the term has been pinned so many times on House Rainfall's name that we've started losing track. Honestly, I'm not certain whether I should be offended by their impudence or disheartened by their naivety. What about you, Captain? Am I a foul man?"

"No, my lord."

Arlon would have rolled his eyes at how swiftly his question was answered but didn't bother.

"There is no good and there is no evil, only different shades of gray with clashing perspectives. Ryhard never bothered teaching me that lesson, I had to figure it out on my own. Everyone views themselves as the protagonist of their own story simply because they're too arrogant to believe otherwise."

He glanced briefly in the resort's direction.

"But surely, without a shred of doubt, my actions today could only be interpreted as evil, correct? We've doomed an entire city to the constricting grasp of Johannes Bolton. I've been observing you since the ship weighed anchor, the unmistakable signs of deniability and hesitation, it's written all over you."

"Ah… sir, I-"

Lord Rainfall turned calmly to face him, silencing the officer with a wave of his hand.

"Every action I take, no matter how violent, no matter how cruel, is for the greater good of our people. Remember that. I am by no means an evil man, regardless of how you define the term."

Arlon shifted his attention back to the dozens of war mages working ominously on the main deck.

"Leave me, Captain."

It was obvious to the noble that Fairweather was choking back a retort, a protest even, but thought better of it. Wordlessly, the sailor left to carry out his duties, although he couldn't help but throw in one last baleful frown in his leader's direction.

Was this really for the best? Soldiers like him were trained to harm bandits and rebels, not civilians. They should be out scouring the South for Rayne Clover right now, not laying siege to a steaming dung pile like Akane.

Filled with dread, the officer looked tirelessly above him and pondered his role in this scheme, of all the innocents that would be harmed in the process, staring at the flowing, elaborate sails that adorned the barbaric vessel's mast.

The green, elvish sails.

Perhaps this shouldn't come as much of a shock to the barmaid.

Of all the impossible challenges she'd been through with her guild, of all the hardships they suffered, this should be nothing in comparison. Fairy Tail had faced deranged megalomaniacs, vicious flesh-eating monsters, and seven literal dragons at one point, all of which had been vanquished by their will and will alone.

But in spite of all that, even the most seasoned of warriors would cower at this monstrous sight before them.

"Johannes! W-What's happening to the ocean?!"

"Easy, Strauss, easy, panicking won't do any good," the oligarch put on a mask of false concern, "that's no tidal wave. Someone's screwing with us."

An imposing, colossal barrier of water rose from the eerie depths of the Cobalt Sea, cutting off the city, along with everyone in it, from the outside world. Mirajane had never seen anything quite like it, despite spending the majority of her life adventuring across the kingdom. It was as impressive as it was intimidating, even the Stormwall couldn't compare, or the mighty walls of Mercurius.

"We need to warn the others!" Mira cried as she attempted to stop herself from toppling over, courtesy of the violent earthquake running rampant across the surface.

Bolton didn't immediately respond.

"Jack?!"

He was too busy staring in contemplation to bother saying anything. Admittedly, this was a tad bit unexpected. When that racist bastard promised he could isolate Akane without stepping ashore, the oligarch was more than a little skeptical, but now, it was quite clear why everyone feared him to such a ludicrous degree.

The Lord Admiral wasn't a bear you wanted to poke a stick at, when all this bullshit was over, Johannes would have no other choice but to continue working with him. The psychopath was significantly tougher than he originally thought. Doubtlessly, Rainfall could wash all of New Everton away without even breaking a sweat, an unpleasant prospect. Maybe having Arlon in his corner wouldn't be so bad after all.

Bolton simply wasn't in the position to turn on the Admiralty, at least not yet.

For now, there were more pressing issues at hand.

Coral and other bits of marine life fell from the sky as countless, formidable pillars of dark water blocked the moonlight, covering the entire settlement in varying shades of black and blue.

"Aye, what a fucking mess this is. Whoever's out there ain't playing around. My money's on Tartaros, hell, it could be the Council for all we know."

It was hundreds of feet tall, possibly more, and seemed to border all of Akane, so in other words, they were stuck. If Happy, Carla, and Lily were here, this would be a whole lot easier. Of course, the one time their Exceeds didn't tag along some crap like this happens.

Obviously, this was a personal slight against the guild, but the identity of the person or persons responsible was unclear. However, the one million jewel question is why this unknown enemy wanted Fairy Tail trapped like animals in a cage.

To weaken them? Capture them? Murder them?

Just then, a sharp singe of realization paralyzed every nerve in the young woman's body. Looking to her left stood, what Mira believed, was the answer to all those grim, unsettling questions.

"Satan Soul."

The phrase was uttered in a whisper so bone-chillingly quiet, only a Dragon Slayer such as Johannes would have even the slightest chance of hearing it. There was a blinding flash of purple glimmering in the corner of his eye, followed by a loud humming noise, and by the time he turned to face her, Mirajane was no longer the kind, selfless girl he'd come to know.

"Was this your plan all along, Jack-Jack? Round us up in a pen and pick us off like flies?"

Along with the tattered wings and unusually long tail, that deep, horrifying voice perfected the look of a soul-eating demon. A seething, furious demon.

The oligarch assumed his role in this disaster would be brought into question, but not this quickly. No matter. A little fib can get you out of any situation, no matter how dire the circumstances, all you need to do is find the right set of words. Blue eyes glancing at her sharp, twitching claws, Bolton put his hand up in a way that was meant to appear reassuring, but if anything, it only served to fan the flames of her unadulterated rage.

"Woah, take it easy, sweet cheeks…"

"Don't call me that. Everything makes sense now. You've been planning this since we met in Oak Town, I guess a crew of slimy ironmongers wouldn't pass on such a golden opportunity. All those free drinks, all those fake smiles, it was just a plot to lure us here. When the Bolton Company knocks us off the board, who's next? Sabertooth? Lamia Scale? I'll beat you into the dirt before letting any of that happen."

Wow. She was clever, smoking hot, and had a wretched temper, he was in love.

"Seriously? You're ranting and raving like a certified lunatic, Strauss, don't go jumping to conclusions until we know all the fucking facts. Why would I lock myself in a cell with ten other wizards? Why would I even be here in the first place, think I got a death wish?"

The transformed Mirajane balled her giant fists.

"The 7th Legion could be hiding behind a corner somewhere, waiting for an opportunity to fill us full of holes. Maybe we should have listened to Natsu when we had the chance."

"Trust me, barmaid, If I wanted you dead, this would be a real dumbass way to go about it."

Face contorted with anger, presumably by the thought of being deceived, the demon took a powerful stomp forward.

Purely out of instinct, Johannes requipped his favourite revolver and pointed it right at the woman's chest, turning the safety off.

"Not so fast. One more step," he growled, "and I'll kill you. I don't want to, but I will."

"That's assuming you could even hit me."

"Willing to find out? Let's cut the bullshit and find the real culprit, or I can pull this here trigger and then search for him myself, makes no difference to me. I'm just as vulnerable as you are right now, Mira, this was either a trap set by me or a tragic fucking coincidence, it couldn't be both. My company doesn't gain anything from butchering Fiore's legal wizards, we need them. We need you. Damnit, use your head!"

The ear-piercing rumbling from the ocean tore through the night air as the two continued their overly dramatic standoff. This reminded Jack of all those cowboy plays he'd seen back in Antegria, although in their particular case, only one party had a gun. But that mattered little, his opponent was plenty dangerous without one.

Grinding her teeth, the barmaid reluctantly transformed back to her normal, pretty self.

"Atta girl."

"Save it, Jack. I'll be watching your every move, and you can expect the two of us to have a nice, long chat when this is all over."

The brunet simply smirked and lowered his weapon.

"So we got a date then. Looking forward to it, Strauss. Whatever will I wear?"

Mirajane didn't even offer a retort, she didn't feel the need, instead, she shot Johannes another dirty glare before fixating on the massive aqua wall looming over their unsuspecting heads. This was bound to be a vacation they wouldn't soon forget.

Bolton couldn't help but bask in the Fairy's priceless reaction, the party was just getting started.

"Ummm… maybe next time we should take the train…"

The landscape was utterly demolished, with boulders, trees, and railway tracks scattered across the clearing like forgotten ragdolls. Ethernano, that's the only property the surrounding air contained, it was asphyxiating, and would doubtlessly cause a non-magic user to vomit at this proximity. Despite how thick the watery fortifications must be, and how painfully loud this earthquake is, a chorus of panicked screaming could still be heard on the other side, clear as a bell, adding to the horrific atmosphere.

Curiously enough, the rampart sprouted not just from the ocean, but from the ground as well, effectively encircling the entire town and preventing brave adventurers such as themselves from marching inside.

"I don't get it! No one can conjure all that out of thin air!"

"The Cobalt Sea is just around the corner, Millianna, there's plenty of natural water flowing in the tunnels underground, a fact that's evidently been taken advantage of. Whoever's behind all of this nonsense chose the perfect location for such a plot."

Kagura, the renowned Ace of Mermaid Heel, had participated in a handful of sieges before, serving as both a defender and aggressor. Even when she was a mere child, watching helplessly as those insufferable villains dragged her brother off to the Tower of Heaven, her keen knowledge of warfare had been acquired at a shockingly young age.

Fiore had been in a time of relative peace since then, but the odd skirmish did break out here and there. There's a certain mindset to those involved in a siege, one that's followed to the T in almost every instance. Cruel and despicable times, they are, but cruel and despicable men are more than happy to carry them out.

A dark guild or militia group grows cocky, assaults a village, kills any resistance, pillages everything, rapes the women, and then runs off, usually leaving the victims' homes in flames. Kagura had seen it before, far more often than she would have liked.

This, however, was quite different.

She took hold of Archenemy with a suffocatingly tight grip, glowering at the titanic obstacle blocking their path.

"Come. We need to find a way through."

The cat-lover paused, alarmed at her partner's declaration.

"B-But Kagy, shouldn't we go get help? There's no way of knowing what's in there."

"Yes, that's precisely why it's vital to strike now. Erza's stuck with whatever vile monster that's sneaking around in there, she's in danger, and she needs our help. By the time we return with reinforcements, it's possible that everyone trapped in this hornet's nest would already be dead, or worse. Titania fought for Mermaid Heel, and so, Mermaid Heel will fight for Titania."

Millianna's sense of worry increased tenfold. As far as they could tell, there weren't any armies calling their banners on Akane's perimeter, meaning the threat must be hiding somewhere on the inside.

All she wanted was to visit her Erzy-Werzy…

Choking back any remnants of hesitation, the girl bared her sharp, canine teeth and put on a protective mask of bravery. She wouldn't allow anyone to hurt her big sister, not here, not ever.

"Right! I'm with you!"

After offering a short, approving nod, the swordswoman broke off into a sprint toward the shore, leaving the other Mermaid to follow closely behind, eager to cut down anyone and anything foolish enough to challenge her new, courageous friends.

Kagura knew she was short on time and patience, but do you know who possessed plenty of both?

Arlon Rainfall.

"My darling Gray, even in the darkness, our love shines brighter than the night sky itself! Hold me!"

"Will you please contain your insanity for like, five minutes?!"

"Jeez, put a sock in it, lovebirds. Can't you see we've got a crisis on our hands? And where the hell is Salamander? Don't tell me the fire-breathing idiot got himself lost!"

"He must be somewhere in town, outside the resort." Laxus narrowed his eyes. "A wall made of pure water, huh? Please. It's no lightning, that's for sure. A spell that big needs at least ten guys to pull off. There has to be a way to disable it."

The nine mages, plus one dishonest businessman, gathered worriedly by the pool outside, most of whom didn't even get the opportunity to change out of their pajamas as they rushed into the moonlight. With the chaotic, rushing water thundering in the background, Jack did his best to appear just as distraught as the others, observing his new cellmates from the sidelines.

They claim Fairy Tail was unconquerable, unbeatable, this was the perfect opportunity to prove it.

"You seem unusually quiet, Johannes," quipped Erza suspiciously, "do you have anything to share?"

All eyes shifted on the oligarch as he shrugged in what was perhaps the most apathetic way possible.

"Don't know why you're asking me, Scarlet, you're the badasses here. A bloke like me would just get in your way, so I think I'm going to sit back and let the experts work."

Gray scoffed at his tone. "You got us into this mess, Bolton, it's only fair you help dig us out."

"Right. I know I'm the easiest wanker to blame right now, but you've got it all wrong, Fullbuster. If anything, this terrorist attack is your fucking fault. It's obvious you're the ones these people are after, but, I'll see what I can do."

Taking another short look toward the barricade, Jack shifted his unimpressed glare in Juvia's direction.

"Hey, Blue Girl, you should understand this type of magic better than any of us. How do we bring it down?"

Before the girl got a chance to respond, an irritated, gruff voice beat her to it.

"Woah, Woah, Woah, why are we listening to you?"

"Gajeel, chill out."

"Screw that! He's probably the one behind all this! Got any rope? I say we tie him up!"

Lucy, who was watching silently as the drama played out, considered speaking out against the aristocrat right then and there, she desperately wanted to confront him about the sudden collapse of her family. It was tempting, but reluctantly, the blonde bit her tongue. This wasn't the time to bring up even more questions in an already volatile situation.

"Sorry, Black Steel, that ain't my fetish. If you were a hot chick, then maybe."

"This Dragon Slayer isn't afraid to bite back, Yankee. Let's dance."

The battle-hardened Fairy transformed one of his arms into his signature Iron Club.

"Hey, this is discrimination! Discrimination against handsome, hardworking Antegriens with propensities for violence!"

A red blur blocked their line of vision.

"Enough!"

Titania got in between them before either had the chance to do anything.

"I understand your concerns, Gajeel, but it's very unlikely Johannes had anything to do with this, his presence here alone should be more than enough of an indicator. Like it or not, we're stuck with him, and he's stuck with us, so I'm going to ask you one time courteously to play nice."

Growling at the shit-eating grin on Bolton's face, the man relented, although the urge to dish out a good thrashing never died down completely.

"So, um, Juvia… is there anything you can tell us?" piped Wendy, who nervously tried to divert everyone's attention back to the task at hand.

"There's only so much artificial liquid a mage can generate on their own," the rain woman began, "however, if there's enough natural water confined in a single area, you can shape it into practically anything you want, such as this wall for instance. Laxus is right. With a structure that size, there must be at least ten wizards working on this spell simultaneously, possibly more."

"Alright," snarled Cana, "let's find 'em, and pulverize 'em."

"Oh, they're not going to be in the city. Sorcery like this can be cast from miles away if you know what you're doing. Unless anyone wants to be crushed to death by the water pressure, we can't swim through it."

"Damnit! Where's Happy when you need him?!"

"Lucy, remember our misadventure back in Oshibana Station when Erigor trapped us in a wind barrier? That maid of yours dug us out then, surely she can dig us out now."

"Wait, Erza," Juvia interrupted, "that was different. The barrier, in our case, continues underground, it'll rip Virgo to shreds if she goes near it."

The redhead sighed.

"I suppose we'll have to think outside the box then. Allow me to get us a better view. Requip!"

Before anyone even had the chance to blink, Titania was adorned in her cunning, agile flight armor. "Yes, that tower there should be plenty high enough. Give me a moment, I'll find us an escape route."

After gaining a considerable amount of momentum, the knight sprinted towards a nearby building and began propelling herself off the pillars, getting higher and higher with each passing second. All she really had to work with was the odd statue or window ledge, but plainly, this mattered little. The fact that Erza managed to climb like an orangutan with barely a scrap of light to speak of was beyond impressive. Johannes blinked at the display, mildly impressed himself. Apparently, enforcing stupid rules wasn't the only thing Scarlet was good at.

"Well, I guess we'll just wait here then."

"Wow… she's amazing!"

"You should have seen our Erza when Phantom attacked, Wendy, this is nothing compared to how she fought that day."

Bolton stood by inconspicuously as the Fairies chattered amongst themselves. Although each of them had differing levels of apprehension toward the whole affair, they somehow managed to remain relatively calm. It should be expected, as a life-threatening situation should just be Tuesday to these people.

But that didn't stop less desirable emotions from breaching the surface.

Long streaks of golden hair caught Jack's attention as he felt the gaze of two, chocolate brown irises beaming down on him. Turning to his right, the man chuckled.

"What, you checking me out, Goldilocks?"

Lucy's stare wasn't exactly joyous, but it wasn't hostile either, it was just… a stare. A lifeless, empty stare. Upon not receiving an immediate response, the oligarch squared up to meet her.

"Listen, babe, I know I'm smoking hot, but you-"

"Know who I am, Jack?"

The other mages were so busy observing Titania that no one noticed Lucy initiate a rather tense conversation. Johannes paused briefly before making a reply.

"I do."

"And what would that be?"

"A Barbie Doll with a pair of great tits."

He heard the girl grit her teeth, but that didn't stop her from continuing this silly excuse for a standoff.

"Can we talk like adults, or not?"

"Fine. Yes, I know who you are, Heartfilia, I signed your train ticket here." It didn't take a detective to figure out where this little chat was heading.

"You got your pappy's eyes."

The young lady tensed up slightly.

"So you knew him?"

"Yup. I bet folks keep telling you sorry for your loss and he was a good man but I'm assuming that's not what you wanna hear."

Jack took the blonde's silence as confirmation.

"I wasn't big on Jude, in fact, you could go as far as to say I fucking hated him. There was something about your dad that just rubbed me the wrong way. Anyone who holds propriety, appearances, and reputation above all else is just asking to fail."

"Wow, tell me what you really think, Johannes."

"Every time he opened his goddamn mouth, I wanted to crack his skull, but, despite all of his superficial horseshit, I respected him until the very end. Crazy, I know."

The woman folded her arms.

"Yeah, I guess Fiore was lucky to have you around when he died. Very lucky."

"The old bastard came from nothing, like me. Nothing, and at his peak, he oversaw an empire that stretched across all of Fiore. How could I not respect him? This just made the news of his collapse all the more painful."

Silence. Angered, unbearable silence.

"Think I don't know what this is? Business is war. Business is gambling. Jude gambled, and he lost, nothing more. He should have diversified his assets, he should have spent more on property insurance, he should have told more believable lies to his shareholders, those were his mistakes, or is all that my fault too?"

A particularly loud rumble cut through the air.

"This ain't the best time for a heart-to-heart. Tell you what, darling, when this is all over, the of two us can go grab a beer, and I'll explain how the world really works. I didn't ruin your father. I'm not the bad guy here."

"I guess we'll see, Johannes. I guess we'll see."

"Oh, and here's a friendly piece of advice…"

His tone took a sudden, frightening edge.

"Don't believe everything you fucking hear."

Erza panted as she finally reached the top, gripping the green, ceramic tiles with a death grip to avoid suffering through a nasty fall. A harsh gust of wind followed by a few stray water droplets threatened to topple the knight over, but of course, even the natural elements didn't have the slightest hope of stopping her.

Her gentle irises narrowed. This was a bit of a pickle.

The view would be positively smashing from up here in any other circumstance, but all Erza saw in her peripheral vision was the merciless, unrelenting fury of the sea. The sheer amount of power and study it would take to engulf an entire settlement like this was difficult to comprehend, she would almost rather not meet such a foe in the heat of battle. Nevertheless, peace, unfortunately, is often obtained through feats of violence.

Titania crouched down and observed Akane's surroundings. Luckily, the Lacrima lights scattered abundantly across the city streets were still in commission, but unluckily, said streets were ripe with panic. Civilians and partygoers alike were running around like chickens with their heads cut off, with policemen doing everything in their power to quell the chaos.

"Curses! Where is Natsu? I hope he's not out causing a ruckus, but knowing him, that's not entirely improbable."

They were locked inside a bloody fortress, one devoid of gates or openings. It wasn't made of wood or stone, so obviously, they couldn't smash through it. Her eyes scanned carefully along the rampart. Every pillar was identical, unbreakable, and unmoving, how does one go about defeating the ocean?

Tapping her finger impatiently on the rooftop, Erza then lit up in sudden realization. Yes, they couldn't smash through it, true… that's because it's currently a liquid not a solid.

Water froze under the right circumstances, correct?

"K-Kagura! Can we please slow down?!"

"No, we cannot."

Millianna wheezed as she struggled to keep up with her stalwart friend, panting as they sprinted frantically through the lush vegetation in almost complete darkness. She wished Risley was here right now, running was more of her thing.

"Sorry, but I gotta ask, do you even know where to start looking?"

The swordswoman's stoic gaze remained locked on the dirt forest path ahead of her, making it perfectly clear she had no desire to stop for a little chat.

"To where land and sea meet, we're headed for the shoreline. There might be an inconsistency in the barrier there, something we can exploit. My knowledge of water magic is quite limited, so you'll have to bear with me. This is simply an educated guess."

A clamorous thundering noise echoed in the distance as Millianna lit up in realization. "Ummm… not sure if this is a stupid question or not, but is there any doubt the Rainfalls are behind this?"

Kagura grit her teeth at the mention of that name.

"I have my suspicions, but that's about it. The Tidesages are definitely capable of such wizardry, but what would they gain from destroying a tourist attraction? It makes little sense."

The Raging Sea of Sailor's Hill. Aside from Jellal, there was no man living she would enjoy executing more than the cruel Lord Arlon. For all the villages he burned, for all the ships he sank, for all the elvish women he violated, she promised that monster was going to pay, the same price as all those poor, helpless innocents he condemned.

Unfortunately, the Mermaid didn't know how precisely she was going to keep that promise. A legal guild could only do so much from a political perspective. A small part of Kagura wished the Admiralty was responsible for this whole calamity, it would give the world the rallying cry they so desperately needed. More importantly, it would give her an excuse to unsheath her blade.

Noblemen call these actions "justice". Justice against a band of foreign marauders demanding the spill of human blood. Senseless murder could never equate to justice, Erza Scarlet made that painstakingly explicit.

Deserved murder, however, well… not everyone deserves forgiveness.

"Please don't slice Arlon's face off when he comes to Seabreeze next week, I don't think the Council will be too impressed."

The swordswoman scoffed as she gracefully avoided another tree.

"You didn't hear? The tyrant's not coming. Apparently, an all-female guild isn't worth his time or consideration. Governor Rogers, Commodore Singleton, and Baylon Rainfall will be there in his place. I trust you'll behave yourself."

Millianna squealed happily as if she encountered a stray kitten on the street.

"Baylon?! He's soooooooo cute! That boy better be ready when he grows up because I'll be coming for him!"

Kagura suppressed an amused smirk.

"You only met him once."

"So? Remember the way he called me 'milady'? Adorable!"

"Yes, adorable indeed, but keep in mind anyone bearing the name Rainfall will be an adversary in the upcoming summit. Seabreeze is ours, forever and always. I just hope Gran Doma isn't as negligent of Arlon's war crimes as King Toma."

After dashing a considerable distance along the perimeter of the barrier, the two came to an abrupt halt as their boots touched the sandy floor of a beachhead.

The more experienced Mermaid turned to her right and scowled, Archenemy glimmering dangerously in its sheath. It was just as they feared, hundreds of feet of pure ethernano stood arrogantly between them and thousands of defenseless civilians. Kagura was prepared to swim if she had to, but now, it was apparent there would be no point. Even the port was closed off.

"Kagy! Look!"

Enthusiastically, the cat lover pointed a gloved finger toward the Cobalt Sea, her voice filled with a combination of both hope and concern. Narrowing her amber eyes, the other woman hummed in acknowledgment.

There was something out there.

It was quite difficult to see through the fog and darkness, but a giant, unmistakable silhouette could be detected across the waves. A ship, it had to be. What else that size would be out in the ocean like that? Not a lot could be discerned from such a great distance, a fact Kagura was determined to change.

"I believe we've found our culprit."

"What? How do you know? They could be traders or pirates or something."

"Think. It makes far more sense to commence this operation on deck than on land. Rune Knight forces would have a significantly harder time catching you, and with that level of fog, it would be almost impossible to identify who that vessel belongs to. Assuming the crewmen know what they're doing, they could be in and out before the Royal Navy even has the chance to blink."

Millianna blinked cutely as she took a moment to process all that information.

"Okay… so… what do we…"

"We'll row out there and kindly convince them to bring the wall down. Then, we can catch up with Erza and share a hearty laugh about this whole affair over a nice, nutritious breakfast."

"What if their Captain doesn't like that idea?"

"Well, it's a good thing we've been training then, isn't it?"

The girl could already feel her stomach turn. She wasn't overly fond of swimming or boats, so she could already tell this wasn't going to be a pleasant experience.

"Is there a reason why I'm doing this crap all by myself?"

A rough, male voice caught the Mermaids' attention.

"Oh, stop whining, Thompson, you got your ass kicked at the Stormwall, so you'll do the grunt work. C'mon, chop-chop."

"Maybe I'll shoot your balls off just to get some peace and quiet. Don't know why they sent a freeloader like you to tag along. All you're good for is mowing down peasants and shagging tavern girls."

"Eh. In this business, that's all you need to know. Take it up with Fairweather if you think you're so hard done by."

Hm. The plot thickens.

"Kagy," whispered Millianna, "who are those guys? Royal Navy?"

The warrior ushered her companion behind a large, conveniently-placed boulder before replying.

"Shhh. Observe now, talk later."

Those brash voices continued as the pair listened in.

"Why're we even here in the first place? The Antegriens said they didn't want any boots on the ground, this might compromise the whole operation."

Antegriens? How surprising.

"You should know never to trust a goddamn yank, they're not a whole lot better than those disgusting elves. Fucking foreigners. A Rune Knight platoon should arrive approximately two hours from now, more than enough time for the lads to wrap things up here. Our job is to ensure no one interferes from the outside, although I don't who that would be. Captain's orders."

Six men, clad in heavy iron armour, stood by a beached, wooden rowboat as they sharpened their massive broadswords and inspected their daunting flintlock pistols. Southerners, that was obvious, but what flag did they march under? The plate they donned bore no symbols, just unmarked steel, clearly an attempt to avoid recognition.

The way those sailors geared up, the way they moved, how they talked, they weren't common thugs. These guys had professional training, and the Mermaids assumed they weren't out for a midnight stroll.

"Bastards," whispered Millianna, "so what's the plan? How about I sneak around those trees there, and you can… Kagura?"

Looking to her side, the girl realized her swordswoman friend was nowhere to be found.

"CONTACT! THOMPSON, WATCH YOUR SIX!"

The unmistakable sound of Archenemy unsheathing sliced through the air as Kagura charged fearlessly across the shoreline, her amber eyes gleaming with a cold, vengeful fury.

"Um… I… I don't know what you mean, sir…"

Black Jack snorted derisively as he crouched down to Wendy's level. What was Makarov teaching these little buggers? Ways to die?

"Protection," he said casually, "do you have it?"

The young lady's face exploded in a crimson blush at what lecherous activities she believed the oligarch was referring to.

"I-I-I'm too young to be thinking about that kind of stuff! W-W-Why would-"

"No, not that."

Wendy fell silent upon seeing what Johannes pulled out of his back pocket, something small, sharp, and intimidating.

"Protection."

Gripping his pocket knife in both hands, the oligarch held it in a way he wished the girl to emulate, its silvery edges glimmering dangerously in the moonlight.

"Support mages only know a handful of tricks to defend themselves, I'd give you a rifle, but this seems a bit more your size. Take it."

Three inches of pure truesteel, you definitely didn't want to be cut with that. The weapon was beautifully crafted, with an Antegrien Eagle emblazoned on the jet-black handle. It looked like something a scumbag bandit would carry.

"Oh… um… thank you, but I know plenty of offensive spells. I'm… no good with knives."

"See, that's a mistake, I know tons of guys who were killed in the field because they were too reliant on their magic. Always carry protection. We don't know what's locked up in this dump with us, what happens when some shithead grabs you from behind? Close-quarters combat, pipsqueak, you gotta know it if you're looking to survive."

He pushed the handle more insistently in Wendy's direction.

"Take it. If I see a little kid die here tonight I'll get nightmares."

Seeing the minor's sudden, hesitant state, Johannes rolled his eyes.

"Look, it's easy. If someone gets ahold of you, I want you to stick this right in his thigh, if you hit the right vein, they should bleed out in about four minutes."

"W-W-What?"

"If they scream, you'll know you did it correctly, and listen, this part is important, twist the blade once it pierces the flesh so it can't close. Hurts more." He a did a horrific twisting motion in the air to emphasize his point. "Truesteel can cut through clothes like fucking butter, perfect for a surprise attack."

Carla would almost certainly recommend ignoring this man's strangely violent instructions, but unfortunately, she wasn't around. The Sky Dragon Slayer didn't want to upset Johannes, so, reluctantly, she took the pocket knife in her tiny trembling hands, nodding silently before running off to join the others.

"Remember: twist!"

A feminine snort disrupted Bolton's train of thought.

"Remind me never to let you babysit, Jack-Jack," quipped Mirajane, who approached while scowling at him like a disappointed mother, "giving weapons to a child doesn't seem like a great idea."

"Why? Does it make too much sense?"

"All I'm asking is that-"

BOOM!

Debris, chairs, and an assortment of other items were launched in each and every direction as the empty pool exploded into a trillion pieces, a blinding cloud of dust raining down from above as the mages were thrown backward and onto the ground.

"About time, Noda. I was starting to grow bored."

Mira's ears were ringing, her vision blurred, and a layer of dirt covered her dress and creamy white skin as she began coughing violently. The barmaid's mind was still trying to register what happened.

"DAMNIT!" a voice called out, which she immediately recognized as Cana's. "IS EVERYONE OKAY?"

A few strained replies could be heard as the Fairies got back to their feet, most of whom transitioned into an alert fighting stance as they readied their magic.

"SOMEONE BOMBED US!"

The storm of dust began to settle down, revealing the utter mess that was now Akane's VIP area.

A huge, ugly crater sat in the middle of the courtyard, giving everyone a good look into the sewage systems down below.

"What's wrong, barmaid? Now ain't the time to catch some Zs. We've got ass to kick."

Gaze burning with doubt and opposition, Mirajane took Jack's extended hand and allowed him to pull her up to her feet.

Bolton had to suppress an arrogant smirk at how well his whole plan was proceeding. He missed the Grand Magic Games, true, but this was ten times fuckin' better. It was finally time to see Fiore's greatest guild in action. How exciting!

"Hey, Gajeel, smell that?" questioned Laxus, whose body was already emitting sparks of lightning.

"Yeah, I smell it loud and clear, my nose is practically bleeding here. Hmph. Damn bugs."

Springtails.