"Lies are more easily believed if they're told with a smile."
- Johannes Bolton, President of the Bolton Company
A/N: If you're enjoying the story so far, please consider writing a review!
Vacations were supposed to be enjoyable.
Right?
Those rare, calm weeks spent lounging around in the sun are meant to be precious, sacred even. This is time you spend with friends and family, to forget the worries you've left behind at home. Of course, those same stresses would be waiting for you when you returned, but that's beside the point. It's a release, a godsend, salvation to those who nearly work themselves to death just to make a living.
Vacation, the word alone could make anyone feel at ease, I mean, ask Makarov Dreyar, or any other guildmaster in Fiore.
Needless to say, you would never embark on such an adventure without company, what would be the point if there was no one to lounge around with?
That's what Lucy Heartfilia loved about Fairy Tail, they were a team, a unit, a single mind, and there was nothing they wouldn't do together. When a handsome Antregrien man swung by with a charismatic smile and a handful of shiny, golden tickets a few days prior, the blonde was ecstatic. How could she not be? Akane was paradise, no? It was a gift to be shared with those closest to her, a most joyous occasion.
However, in a matter of hours, that joy turned to ash in her mouth.
"Johannes Bolton bankrupted your father."
Princess Hisui's venomous words replayed over and over again in Lucy's mind, like a broken record that no one bothered to fix. What, was this a joke? Every time she thought the guild flowed into a state of peace and prosperity, something like this happened, and it stung.
The last time they were here, Jellal and his band of miscreants kidnapped Erza, despite their trip beginning so happily, and now, it was happening again, albeit on a much different scale.
What a cliché.
"B-Bankrupted? W-What do you mean?"
"Strings of natural disasters ruined a catastrophic amount of railway tracks in X784, shortly before you all went missing on Tenrou Island. Interestingly enough, Jude was the only one affected, despite there being multiple other transportation companies operating in the area. He never told you about this?"
"Natural disasters? Like earthquakes and stuff? What does that prove?"
"Captain Lahar of the Rune Knights is a close ally of mine. When he and his men investigated the rubble from several different locations, they came across something odd. Ethernano. Faint, but present nonetheless. An earth spell, maybe? The Magic Council and a few other politicians suspected foul play, perhaps from a disgruntled rival, but no one bothered to investigate further due to a lack of evidence. Unfortunately, not too many were sad to see Jude go."
"And you think Jack's responsible? It could have been a dark guild or an insurance scheme or something."
"Admittedly, I'm uncertain myself, but I do hold my suspicions. How convenient it was for the promising, young businessman to be in the right place at the right time, offering to rebuild what was destroyed at significantly lower rates. Heartfilia's stock price collapsed while Johannes gleefully filled his pockets. When the dust settled, Black Jack, and those closest to him, were practically swimming in gold. Forgive me, but that sounds too convenient, in my humble opinion. This has to be one of the most elaborate schemes in the history of Ishgar."
"Yeah? And how are we going to prove all that?"
"We go to the heart of corruption itself, Mr. Dragneel. New Everton. Please debrief your guildmaster when you return to Magnolia, and only inform those you trust about this plot. The 7th Legion will be watching you closely, no doubt. If you choose to ignore my words, I will not hold anything against you. The good men and women of Fairy Tail can carry on with their lives unhindered."
Her green eyes shone passionately in the rays of sunlight that escaped through the curtains.
"However, if you go that route, I'm afraid the truth will never be uncovered, and our kingdom will be permanently scarred by the rule of Johannes Bolton and his despicable followers."
"Princess, your request… it would lead to civil war. If our guild gets involved with-"
"Guild? You misunderstand. I don't need an army. Why send two hundred mages when four would do?"
Lucy had no idea what that meant, but if half of what she's heard about Fiore's wealthiest citizen was accurate, it would be in everyone's best interest if things stayed that way. The Celestial Wizard really didn't want to get mixed up in… whatever this was supposed to be.
If things go south, what are the consequences? The Magic Council would have them disbanded. King Toma would label them as traitors. Black Jack might even line them up against the wall if he had his way.
But… would Lucy be able to move on if she stood by and did nothing?
This is an insult to her mother, her father, and most importantly, herself. The blonde's parents worked day and night to build their fortune, and while seeing it crumble is one thing, seeing it stolen would be unforgivable. She clenched her gate keys tightly in a punishing grip.
This… man. Johannes.
If he's found accountable, her scalding hot temper would reduce all of New Everton to bloody cinders.
"Is something wrong, Lucy?"
An authoritative but concerned voice pulled the girl from her thoughts. Looking up, she was met with a pair of chocolate brown eyes.
"Mirajane tells me you were so cheerful before heading off into town. What happened?" Erza's stare hardened in realization. "Did Natsu do something to upset you?" Well, he blew up a game booth, but the knight didn't have to know about that. "No, no, Natsu didn't do anything wrong, he was sweet. I'm just going through something… personal."
She didn't seem satisfied with that answer but was respectful enough not to pry.
"Very well. I'll always be here to listen if you change your mind."
Erza would be let in on Hisui's plans soon enough, preferably in an environment where he was absent.
"Hey, that glowing crap your man gave me and Salamander at the train station. What was in it?"
"Sorry, Black Steel, that's a Bolton family recipe."
"C'mon, pal, I wanna know. It's been eating at me. Motion sickness just doesn't disappear on command."
"Well, all it took was a pinch of salt, a touch of love, and a dose of none of your fucking business."
Gajeel snorted in displeasure and took another swig from his mug. "Fine. Keep your secrets, Jack. I'm just starting to wonder what else your guys are hiding if they have that kind of alchemy."
The Iron Dragon Slayer had met dozens of slimy individuals during his time in Phantom Lord, and despite going through countless unforgettable experiences, he wasn't sure if Johannes was one of them.
Even in his younger years, the gruff man could tell something was off about Jose Porla. There was a sense of spite and wickedness in those bitter old eyes, and the ill-tempered guildmaster held no issue showing it. The attempted kidnapping of Lucy was simply a testament to that fact. Gajeel knew his ex-employer was a lunatic but followed him nonetheless, all the way to Phantom's disbandment. Why? He wasn't quite sure, to be perfectly honest, but that didn't matter now. Magnolia was the Dragon Slayer's home, forever and always.
Jose was more of a… stereotypical villain, flashy and to the point, his intentions were clear at any given time. This Bolton, however, was a bit of an enigma to the hardened Fairy. A few weeks ago, he was threatening to murder them and beat on Natsu like a war drum, now he's playing dress-up and fixing up margaritas? It didn't make sense. There were only three plausible options here, either he's A: crazy, B: regretful and wants to make amends, or C: an evil genius with a hidden motive. Which one, which one…
"I'm a completely open book, Redfox! You're looking at a public servant, for Christ's sake. The potion you took is an experimental drug designed to combat nausea, nothing more. Cross my heart and hope to fly."
Gajeel's glare intensified as Jack began cleaning glasses on his side of the bar.
"Whatever you say, Antegrien."
Hmmm… strange. This metal-headed thug didn't seem terribly alarmed or concerned by the oligarch's unique scent, despite his incredibly enhanced sense of smell. Funny, Dragneel picked it up right away. The second Jack walked by, he knew something was wrong. Salamander could tell, so why not Gajeel? Why not the Marvell girl?
Natsu, Son of Igneel… the dim bastard simply had something the other Slayers didn't, and the fact that he couldn't figure it out was infuriating in every prospect. Johannes needed their blood, only then, could such secrets be revealed.
"So, what's Metalicana like?"
The iron wizard froze, staring at the smirking man in disbelief. A few seagulls could be heard cawing ominously in the distance before he replied.
"What?"
"Your dragon, I don't know, the one who raised you. What's he like?"
This guy wasn't serious, right? Unlike a certain fire mage, Gajeel never bothered bringing up his harsh childhood to anyone. What was the point? No one besides those in the guild would ever believe he was raised by a ferocious, steel-eating dragon.
"You mocking me, Black Jack?"
"Nope. I'm not. Not this time."
"Sounds like a random thing to just bring up."
"That overgrown lizard doesn't deserve the Father of the Year award, but he trained your gloomy ass, didn't he?"
The man frowned. "And where'd you get such a stupid idea?"
"Redfox, you'd be surprised how chatty the voices in my head can be."
Gajeel grimaced before downing the rest of his beverage and motioning Jack for a refill, which was happily carried out.
"If you believe in dragons, which I'm guessing you don't, hear this, Metalicana filled my heart with dreams and ambitions before leaving me alone to rot. That's all you need to know about that scaly old bastard."
"Hm. Sorry. Fathers can be real assholes, can't they? Believe me, you're not the only one."
Erza must have followed Lucy's line of vision from the other end of the pool and gave the blonde a questioning look. The Celestial Wizard's expression was unusually scornful at the moment.
"May I ask why you're staring at him?"
After a quick jump of surprise, the girl tore her serious gaze away and took a quiet sip from her milkshake, hoping not to draw the observant knight's attention.
"I-It's nothing," she answered meekly.
"I don't believe Johannes is as dangerous as the others make him out to be. He's a tad bit harsh in some areas, but my gut is telling me there's nothing to worry about. If you're uncomfortable being near the aristocrat, we can always go somewhere else."
And run away? No. Never.
"Actually, Erza," Lucy shot Bolton another quick glance. "I'm happy right where we are."
The evening continued in relative peace as the Fairies downed beverage after beverage by the pool, singing songs and exchanging tales of ferocious, hard-fought battles. Jack simply watched in fascination, finding it interesting how a band of glorified mercenaries can be so… content all the time. The 7th Legion certainly didn't function in the same manner, they have no sense of humour, that lot, but these people, it was like they were a whole different species. If you knocked them down, they'd get right back up, over and over again.
If he were to join a guild, there's no doubt Fairy Tail would be right at the top of his list.
"Hey, Johannes," came a smooth, carefree voice, "can you top me off?"
The raven-haired man eyed the brunet warily before approaching the counter and gesturing with his cup.
"Of course, Fullbuster! If you ask me, you haven't been drinking enough. Here, I'll get something stronger."
Gray was shocked when Natsu was dumb enough to physically assault this guy back in Crocus, but what surprised him even more about the oligarch was, well, basically everything. Their little pyro got himself into quite a few brawls over the years, both in and outside the guild, and as much as the ice wizard hated to admit it, he usually won. Against Bolton, however, it seemed distressingly even, although no magic was used. Skilled in both combat and economics? Was Black Jack some kind of Ceaser? The mage wondered how tough the businessman truly was, and the potential damage he could inflict.
"Here we are!" After rummaging around in a couple of wooden cabinets, Johannes pulled out a particularly large bottle and tore the cap off. "Satan's Breath, one of my personal favourites, just for you."
The teen smiled in thanks, but his brief moment of joy was squandered by the sound of familiar, metallic footsteps, coming up behind him.
"Gray, what's that, your eighth one? I think you should reconsider."
Even in this beautiful, soothing resort, Erza Scarlet still insisted on wearing her Heart Kreuz armour, as if an assailant would strike from the palm trees above or ambush her by the beach. Most would call it silly, but very few would dare to say that out loud. Her folded arms and strict appearance demanded an immediate answer.
"C'mon, Erza, I feel fine. Cana's probably wasted right now, but that's okay?"
"We both know Cana's beyond saving, your liver, on the other hand, has a chance of surviving. May I suggest water?"
Fullbuster quickly looked at Jack in mild embarrassment, who was watching the scene play out skeptically from behind the counter.
"Look, I-"
"Gray. It wasn't a request. We can't have you vomiting all over your suite."
The frost wizard seemed calm, but Jack could tell he was absolutely livid by Titania's commands. He could even hear the boy grit his teeth slightly in agitation. What, was this chick a court-appointed guardian for these people? This was a grown-ass man she was talking to, not a toddler.
"Alright. Sorry, Erza. No more drinking for me tonight, promise."
Scarlet gave him an approving nod in response before leaving to rejoin her table.
"Wow, unbelievable," Bolton said once she was out of earshot, "you really let her talk to you like that, Fullbuster?"
"Back off, man. You don't know Erza well enough to judge her."
Oh, what's this, family drama? In Fairy Tail? Who would have guessed? Maybe it's time for a little manipulation, because why not?
"In this flawed and broken world, you either sink or swim. You, my friend, just sank like the fucking Titanic. You're both the same age, but how long has Red over there treated you like that? More importantly, why haven't you done anything about it?"
Black Jack wouldn't be able to sympathize. Anyone who had the gall to order him around like a goddamn tavern wench would end up broke and bleeding.
The indignant mage opened his mouth, but no words came out.
"How long has Red over there treated you like that?"
Another twinge of anger shot through Gray's ice-cold veins, however, it wasn't directed at the ironmonger, but at someone else entirely. Erza, who's regarded as one of their brightest and most respected members, was a tad bit on the strict side. No, scratch that, sometimes, it was borderline abuse. Even when they were children, the young knight always found an excuse to push him and Natsu around, preaching about rules and responsibility at every given moment. This has been nagging at his mind lately, and it was getting harder and harder to put off.
The iceman was willing to bet, that at this point, he was just as strong as her.
Johannes watched as Gray glared at Titania in a mixture of contemplation and contempt, forcing back a snicker. His blood pressure just went up, significantly, what a beautiful sensation.
"Listen, I like you, Frosty. You're a good lad, but this, this ain't okay."
"She's an S-Class mage. We look up to her, Bolton, we-"
"Don't let a fucking woman tell you how to be a man."
The teen then faded into enraged silence.
Biting back a retort, Fullbuster slammed his glass aggressively against the countertop before marching away.
"Thanks for the drink."
The oligarch then casually went back to cleaning mugs, as if he didn't have a care in the world.
Good, let the Fairy be angry. Angry people can't think clearly, and those who can't think clearly, can't fight back.
Exactly as Jack had hoped.
"8:30 PM - ND is still prancing around the market. LH returned to the resort over seven hours ago. Subject Dragneel might know he's being followed. Dragon Slayer senses are difficult to avoid. Noda and Yoren are still underground. As far as I know, the operation is proceeding just as JB planned."
Sergeant Renbrook peered cautiously around the corner to ensure she didn't lose that head of ridiculous pink hair, and then immediately went back to scribbling in her log.
"Colonel Arcadios of Crocus met up with them in an alleyway, the Fairies didn't seem to expect him. They then met with someone else shortly after, but I couldn't get close enough to determine who. Most likely a noble of some kind, potentially someone who stands against JB's coronation. Inform VP Crenshaw in New Everton."
The Salamander stopped at another booth, one that served fried chicken and a variety of other junk. Grinning like a buffoon, Dragneel paid for some cheap food and scarfed it down like a wild animal, waving at the surprised merchant as he began walking away.
This was the infamous Natsu? The one who bested Sabertooth's Twin Dragons? How disappointing. What was that twit even doing here for such a long period of time? More importantly, how much cash could he possibly have left on him? Renbrook swore the Dragon Slayer stopped at least twenty different refreshment stalls.
Of course, she briefly considered the possibility that the man knew he was being spied on, that he thought himself clever by wasting her valuable time, but the Sergeant quickly dismissed such a ridiculous theory. Come on, just look at the guy, he's an oblivious idiot.
The boss wanted a full vial of this firebreather's blood, and while Renbrook wasn't usually one to question orders, especially if they came personally from General Washington, this case did come off as a bit sketchy. She didn't know much about the Necromantic Arts, however, she did hear stories about all the vile shit such spells could inflict.
It almost sounded like witchcraft.
The things that madman, Richmond, could do with those vials, the woman would rather not think about it.
Regardless, a job is still a job, and the 7th Legion would be damned if they didn't deliver.
"Ya pink-haired bastard, where are you scampering off to now?"
Her target kept wandering aimlessly through Akane's main square and got lost in a sea of tourists, much to the soldier's displeasure. Stalking around in the shadows could only get Renbrook so far, it's time to get up close and personal.
Concentrating her energy, the Sergeant stood up and cast her signature spell. Her form twisted and blended, camouflaging with the surrounding city as she became almost completely invisible. Stealth Magic. It came pretty handy in times like this, allowing cunning wizards such as herself to achieve their ends without leaving so much as a trace behind.
Renbrook even swapped her usual iron armor with sharp black leather, meaning no one could hear the clinking and clanking of steel as she moved about. It was foolproof. Even with enhanced senses, the dim Dragon Slayer wouldn't even know the sneaky warrior was there if she was standing three feet in front of him.
Leaving the safety of her hiding spot, Sergeant Renbrook ventured off into the crowd and towards her victim, collection needle in hand.
The now transparent woman navigated herself across the road, avoiding half-witted civilians as she tailed Natsu down the street. He shouldn't be able to smell her, not with this many people around, this was an opportunity the woman just couldn't pass on.
"Hm? Jesus, what now?"
Interestingly enough, Dragneel then made a sudden turn into yet another alleyway, disappearing into the blackness and out of sight. Perhaps Arcadios told him to rendezvous for another meeting? It did serve her purposes. Despite her invisibility, having no witnesses was a rare treat on missions such as these. After narrowly escaping a pair of grubby kids who came running in her direction, Renbrook pursued the fire mage into the rapidly growing darkness.
Yet, she found nothing.
"Oi, he was just here! The fucker couldn't have gone that far!"
There were a few trash cans scattered here and there, but no Fairy. As she walked further and further, the only sound that could be heard was the faint squealing of rats.
"HYAAA! DEATH FROM ABOVE!"
The young warrior jerked her head up, but could only register a dash of pink as she was tackled unceremoniously to the ground. Glaring like a barbarian, Natsu stood over his prey and pinned her, the stealth spell fading away in an instant.
"I could hear footsteps coming from a mile away! Why are you following me?! Did Jack send you?!"
"That's no way to get a date, ya know!"
Renbrook delivered a ferocious headbutt upwards, surprising him as she got back to her feet and drew two wicked-looking daggers.
"C'mon, give your auntie a kiss!"
The Legionnaire thrust forward violently with a crazed glint in her eye.
Noda's orders were painfully clear: be quick, be quiet, don't kill anyone, but sod it, everything would be easier if she just clipped this punk and hid the body. The Lieutenant would understand.
The wizard barely avoided getting his throat cut open as he lept backward, only to have the assassin up in his business again. She hacked and slashed like a professional butcher, her movements difficult to evade, much like someone else he knew. If Natsu could fend off Erza's unrelenting broadsword, a couple of knives shouldn't be too much of a hassle.
Pressing his foot firmly against a nearby dumpster, the Salamander reeled his fist back and propelled himself toward her, fist engulfed in flames. Renbrook quickly brought her arms up in defense, blocking the fiery punch with a cross guard, grunting as she stumbled backward.
"Wow, you're fast, lady, but not fast enough!"
Natsu then noticed the symbols etched onto his assailant's collar.
"You're one of those special forces guys, aren't you? I knew something was fishy here! Bolton's going down for this!"
"Ya yellow-bellied snow-licker, are you daft?!"
"FIRE DRAGON IRON FIST!"
The Dragon Slayer was strong, but clumsy, missing his target entirely as he obliterated a pile of empty crates behind her.
Strangely enough, there was an abrupt pain searing across his right cheek, a deep, wicked-looking gash that began bleeding down his face.
"What's wrong, Nancy? Too fast for ya?"
When did she cut him?
"Now you see me," smirking, she warped back into apparent nothingness, "now you don't!"
"Aw, again? That ain't fair!"
Natsu whipped his head around frantically in an effort to pinpoint the soldier's location. Out of nowhere, he was kneed harshly in the gut by a transparent source, then he was punched, over and over, unable to see his opponent's blazing fists.
Finally, at just the right moment, he caught Renbrook by the wrist, immobilizing her before unleashing a devastating sidekick right to the stomach. The Sergeant yelped and was launched into the brick wall on the opposite side of the alley, groaning as she slid down to her rear on the ground, daggers landing uselessly on the pavement in front of her.
"F-Fuck you, motherfucker! Ye broke one of my fuckin' ribs!"
"Yeah, I feel for you, girlie. Tell me the real reason why Black Jack brought us here and maybe I'll take you to the hospital. Clock's ticking."
Ignoring the sharp sting growing on his cheek, the Dragon Slayer folded his arms and impatiently waited for a response.
Huffing and coughing, the Sergeant motioned for him to come closer.
"A-Alright, fine! But my voice is fading… you… you're too far away…"
Rolling his eyes, Natsu took the short walk and stood directly above the woman's defeated form, growled aggressively, and leaned down.
"Talk. If you think you can get away with screwing my friends over, you jerks have another thing coming. Bolton can't hide behind his gold forever."
The spy mumbled something incoherent, so softly that even he couldn't hear.
"What?"
"I said," she snarled, "remember nothing."
Before Dragneel even had a chance to react, a handful of golden powder was thrown right into his face.
He yelled out and collapsed to the grimy stone floor below, writhing around as his vision started to blur. He felt… sleepy?
"Get… get over here! I'm going to… to… ugh…"
After a few more seconds of light murmuring, the ferocious Salamander was out cold, en route to the Gates of Dreamland.
"Can't believe you fell for that, Pinky."
Another handy trick she learned over the years. When this bloke woke up, he shouldn't be able to recall anything about their little encounter, not her face, not what he was doing here, nothing.
Now that the adrenaline rush of combat subsided, Renbrook concluded that killing Dragneel, as tempting as it may seem, probably wouldn't be the wisest course of action, given the current circumstances. Too many questions would arise if the mage didn't return. With that gash, it looked like nothing more than a common mugging, she should probably take his wallet too, you know, to make it look more authentic.
The Faires are going to wonder how a few street thugs took down an experienced guild wizard, but that was a risk the Sergeant was willing to take.
Taking out the collection needle, and trying to ignore her now broken bones, Renbrook stuck it into a particularly large vein and got to work.
Rage.
Rage was the only feeling the young woman had left.
Throughout the long and tedious years of her relatively short life, the once proud and respected lady experienced quite a wide range of emotions, some being far more pleasant than others.
Sorrow, vanity, confusion, betrayal, perhaps even jealousy, if you can believe it. But now, for all she had suffered, for the unspeakable, wretched humiliation she was forced to endure, all those petty thoughts were evaporated by the indignant flames of her wrath.
"How 'bout now? Huh? We should hit 'em now! C'mon, sweetheart, they're wide open! Now's the time. Let's go. C'mon, c'mon, let's get 'em."
"Quiet! If you want the entire kingdom to know of our whereabouts, please continue." Her furious, slanted dark eyes narrowed as she turned to her companion.
"And you will address me as Milady."
How she missed the long, glamorous halls of Sabertooth, how she regretted not slaughtering that Lucy girl when she had the chance, how she dreamed of strangling that insufferable Erza Scarlet in her sleep. In time, such desires would be made into reality, but for now, baby steps.
Minerva Orland had hit almost rock bottom in just a few weeks, once holding the title as the strongest mage in the strongest guild, and now, she was sneaking around in the shadows with an incompetent band of imbeciles.
"There are too many of them to attack head-on, we must wait for the opportune moment, I thought that was obvious."
"Fine, Milady. K-K-Know why they call me J-J-Jitters?"
"I don't have the foggiest idea."
This oaf had been more of a chore than an asset the moment they embarked on this little quest. Jitters was an absurdly lanky man with unusually long limbs, and true to his name, it didn't seem physically possible for him to stay still.
"C-Cause I'm always on the move! I-I-I need some action! There's only five of 'em over there, so let's give 'em the business!"
"Those aren't ordinary thugs, you babbling buffoon, they're from a mercenary guild. See the marks? It's Southern Wolves, I'm sure of it, what they wouldn't do for money. In any case, we must be cautious."
"They're sellswords, they can't use magic!"
"And you know this how? If they know what they're doing, we could be in for quite the exhausting battle."
The towering oak trees of this somber forest shook restlessly overhead, shielding the encampment from the golden sun above. Five men, all carrying ridiculously oversized weapons, stopped the cart they were escorting to settle down for the night, and would presumably continue their trek first thing in the morning. A few tents were set up, and the mercs were currently gathered around a makeshift campfire, roaring and bragging about their past exploits on the job.
Minerva eyed that cart hungrily.
"What are we trying to steal again? What's in it?"
The lady growled. "Have you not heard me the first eight times? One of our contacts made claims of an immensely rich shipment scheduled to pass through this very forest, on its way to New Everton, no less. These fools are guarding half a billion jewels worth of silver."
"Yeah? Who are we stealing from?"
"Does it matter?"
"S-S-Sure your info's solid? Seems like pretty light security for such a thick prize."
"Well, there's only one way to find out."
This was certainly a different kind of job than what she was used to, however, the girl was certain she would adjust, given time. Succubus Eye was notoriously weak, but that was the point, you see, this is simply a stepping stone back to the path of glory, where she belonged.
"Listen carefully, fool, here's the plan, I'll distract them with a spell, you will come from behind and-"
"Know what? Time's up, let's do this. JITTTTTTTTTTERS!"
"IDIOT!"
All hell broke loose as the guards jumped up in alarm and drew their blades, hardened gazes locked on the impulsive dark mage charging toward them. The cart's horses whinnied in distress as Jitters unsheathed his own weapon, an ugly-looking sickle, and blocked the first attack made against him. Getting over her initial shock, Minerva lept across the clearing and into the heat of battle.
The lanky man seemed surprisingly agile, able to fence against three swordsmen with relative ease. Another mercenary pointed his long rifle at him from afar, but the lady quickly shut that down, creating a circular rift in space to send that bullet right back, killing him instantly.
Jitters then cut another warrior's throat, sending the others into an enraged frenzy, they fought like wild animals and swung their weapons chaotically, forcing the thief to leap back.
"Get down, Jitters!"
The lady brought her hands up and cast another sinister spell, trapping the two angry men in the air before unleashing a torrent of hellish explosions. Tents were blown away and nearby trees were reduced to splinters, the echoes of destruction reaching far and wide throughout the unsettling landscape.
This is how a queen battles.
"Give up! I got him!"
The last guard, who managed to sneak up on them, pulled out his dagger and pressed it against Jitters' neck.
"You bitch! Come any closer and your boyfriend's a dead man!"
Sighing, she simply used her Territory to vanish, only to reappear behind the mercenary to execute a finishing blow, striking him cleanly on the back of the skull. As the final soldier collapsed to the ground, and as the conflict subsided, the pair of dark mages were left to gaze upon their grisly handiwork. Perhaps this would teach Fiore that Succubus Eye wasn't as feeble as they were made out to be.
Minerva found herself staring at the lifeless corpses scattered around the field, most of which were struck down by her own cruel hands. This was… this isn't how this job was meant to turn out. She was simply going to use her magic to whisk the cart away. No one had to die here, it's not as if these mercenaries were evil men. Now, the lady felt another emotion, one besides rage.
Guilt.
No. Such sentiments were below Minerva. Her father made sure to beat that lesson in when she was very young. The strong survive and the weak die, there was nothing else to it.
Anger building, she turned to her partner in crime with an accusing glare.
"Care to explain yourself? This was an unmitigated disaster!"
"What? I-I-I got a feeling!"
"Now we have five bodies to dispose of and a whole camp to burn down because of your hubris!"
The Southern Wolves would be hunting them now, probably alongside the Rune Knights. What a drag. Tents and whatever else these guys brought with them lay ruined on the dirt, but at least the cart and horses were okay. For all the hoops she had to jump through to get here, this damn cargo better be worth it.
Sauntering over regally to the wagon, Minerva took hold of the tarp and tore it away, and was almost blinded by what was hiding underneath.
Bars of pure silver, dozens and dozens of them. Masterfully smelted and polished to utter perfection. If sold to the right buyer, Succubus Eye could grow into a force to be reckoned with, and maybe, just maybe, they could break free from the oppressive control of Tartaros.
"Everything seems to be in order, just as the contact said it would. Jitters, help me pile up the cadavers, we need t-"
That's when she saw it.
A logo, bright red in colour, was painted on the side of the wood, one she had grown all too familiar with during her years in Sabertooth. A wave of panic washed across her delicate features as the lady began to tremble.
This cart belonged to the Bolton Company.
They just killed men who were in their employment.
"We need to go."
"W-W-What? W-W-What are you talking about?"
"Leave the bodies. Leave everything. We need to go now."
"C-C-Chill out, sweetheart, you got a screw loose or something?"
"DAMNIT, JITTERS! LISTEN FOR ONCE! You have no idea who these people are! Forget the treasure!"
"W-W-Why leave it? Just use your magic to teleport the cart away!"
"It's too heavy! We won't be able to escape the reclamation team in time, it's dead weight!"
How did their agent fail to mention who owned this cargo?!
A series of light wheezing caught their attention. Oh, brother. One of them survived. Crawling pathetically towards them, the mercenary tried futilely to reach for his rifle, scowling at them as blood poured from his mouth like an endless river.
"When… when the Boltons hear about this… you're… you're both fucked!"
A short, derisive snort could be heard from around the corner as a set of heavy leather boots approached the half-dead man from afar. Minerva and Jitters tensed.
Someone had already found them.
With every step the figure took, the ground seemed to tremble.
Birds stopped singing.
Children ran to hide behind their mothers' skirts.
That forbidding figure emerged from the clearing and stopped, standing over the fallen guard like a leering crow.
"Hm. Golly gee. Can't find good help anywhere nowadays."
And, without sparing a moment of hesitation, she calmly placed her boot on the poor man's neck, snapping it like a twig.
Minerva let out a small gasp of displeasure, and Jitters pulled out his sickle, waving it around threateningly in the air.
"If you want to go that route, you're going to need a bigger knife."
"W-W-W-Who are you?"
"Who am I? Who I am, that's complicated, but what I am, that's… easier to understand, I'm what you call a threat."
Everything about this woman screamed intimidation.
She was middle-aged, probably in her early to mid-forties, with neat, pale blonde hair tied in a rather short ponytail. A long, jet-black military coat adorned her slightly muscular body, four golden stars pinned on each shoulder, she must be an officer of some kind. Her deadly calm expression, along with her indifferent violet eyes, created an almost bored-looking demeanor, as if none of this was even worth the effort.
The Bolton Company's logo was imprinted proudly on her chest, but what truly concerned Minerva was the twin thunderbolts pinned arrogantly on the woman's uniform.
The twin thunderbolts of the 7th Legion.
This was a soldier who's been through many battles, many hardships, many killings.
If the rest of her appearance wasn't enough of an indication, there was one more horrifying characteristic worth mentioning.
A scar. A large, terrible scar implanted on her left cheek, doubtlessly caused by a firearm. It completed the look of a terrible monster.
"I don't know who you think you're talking to, but I am Minerva of Succubus Eye. Surely this isn't a fight you wish to partake in."
The stranger chortled.
"Well, thanks for the introduction, cupcake. Is that Minerva with an "e"? I want the coroner to spell it right."
The lady readied her Territory Magic and put on a mask of defiance.
"Woah, partner, hold your horses. Are all youngins this trigger-happy? I ain't here to shoot you, at least not yet, so let's chat."
She reached in her pocket, causing both dark mages to tense, but relaxed as the woman pulled out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter.
"Want some?"
No response.
"Hm. Fine. More for me."
She lit one and brought it to her mouth, breathing in and then exhaling a foul cloud of smoke. Minerva relaxed and signaled Jitters to put his blade away, narrowing her eyes as she stared at the newcomer in realization.
There was a name stitched on her overcoat, emboldened in powerful white letters, typical of a high-ranking military official.
WASHINGTON
"So, you're General Lynn."
"In the flesh. Want a picture?"
"I'm assuming these mercenaries were hired to escort this cargo to New Everton. Perhaps you want to kill us now and be done with it?"
Washington took a brief moment of silence as her gaze wandered across the shattered encampment.
"Ever been to military school? No? Be thankful, it's like watching paint dry. Anyway, one of the very first things they teach you is to never trust a sellsword. Greedy sons o' bitches, they are, always drooling over the highest bidder. Now, I don't have to pay 'em, so thanks for that."
Her violet irises shone fiercely.
"I've spent the last three months in Pergrande. It's fucking cold up there, the beer tastes like piss, and the women aren't particularly eye-catching. I'm tired and angry. When I finally get back home with my beloved employer's hard-earned loot, what do I find? Thieves. You're lucky this isn't Antegria, else you'd taking a dirt nap right about now."
The dark-haired woman sputtered but didn't form a coherent sentence.
"See, Johannes is like a son to me, and watching you little devils try to steal from him is something I cannot tolerate. But here's the thing, sometimes Bolton spares people who need to die, and sometimes he offs them when they need to live. He's young and short-tempered. Me, I'd like to think I'm a tad bit more reasonable."
Jitters tilted his head and leaned forward. "W-W-W-What are you getting at?"
"You say you know about me, Orland? Well, I know a helluva lot more about you. Aren't you sick of crawling around Fiore like a dirty rat? There's no place for you in a dark guild. Join the 7th Legion. Take a royal pardon, earn a decent wage, and help us pave a bright new future for the Fioren people."
"For Black Jack, you mean?"
"Heh. You left Crocus without settling your debts. Not nice. I might have to punish you for that."
"Debts?! Preposterous!"
"What? Daddy dearest didn't inform you? Did he fail to tell his beautiful daughter the truth behind Sabertooth's inexplicable rise to power? Building a kickass guild from scratch ain't cheap. There are taxes, damage fees, the occasional bribe, who do you think funded him?"
That's… that's impossible! Jiemma, a cruel yet exceptionally prideful man, took out a loan?! Minerva did wonder now and then how he managed to pay for everything, construction of the guildhall, recruiting the strongest members, etcetera. Their relationship was far from perfect, it was more than likely that he was keeping secrets from her.
But… accepting dirty money from an ironmonger? The girl never would have guessed.
"Sting Eucliffe is running that dump now, breach this subject with him."
"No, no, no. You're here now. He ain't. We can't locate your pappy, so you'll have to suffice. You've got some serious talent, kid, I'd hate to see something bad happen to you. Join us…"
Lynn breathed out another disgusting cloud, staring ominously through the grey smoke.
"... or die."
"N-N-Now hold the phone!" exclaimed Jitters. "T-T-There's two of us and only one of you. How about we cut your head off, mail it to Bolton, and take your-"
BANG!
Washington pulled the trigger so quickly that she can be easily mistaken as a professional quickdraw artist. No one even saw the General draw her sidearm.
A stupendously loud gunshot echoed throughout the dimly-lit forest, and when the cacophony of death faded into silence, Jitters lay motionlessly on the ground, bleeding from a clean bullet wound to the head, his lifeless face staring up at the dark sky above.
Minerva jumped back and hastily got into a fighting stance.
"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND, WASHINGTON?!"
Lynn simply waved the lady off with her shooting hand.
"Sorry, but there's only one vacant position available. Your buddy didn't have what it takes."
"I'll have your life for this!"
"Hm. I was kind of hoping you'd say that."
Minerva connected her hands together, creating another rift in space and preparing to launch a devastating attack.
Sighing, the General slowly took the cig out of her mouth and flicked it forward.
It flew slowly through the air, but the girl couldn't possibly expect what would happen when it connected with the hardened earth below.
In a flash of red and orange, the cigarette exploded in a ball of ethernano, like a giant hand grenade.
The young woman's senses started to fail her as she was flown backward. All she could hear was a constant ringing sound, her vision replaced with flashes of blinding light. Had she fallen to the ground? Minerva couldn't really tell. Whimpers of insufferable pain escaped from her mouth as she struggled to use her magic.
"That quieted you down some, didn't it? What's the matter? I thought you loved blowing shit up."
Crouching down, Washington examined the burn marks and coat of ash covering her body. This broad would live, although, she'll probably wish she was dead.
"You don't want a job? Fine. You'll work that debt off one way or the other. I know a doctor. He'll be happy to get his hands on a pretty thing like you."
No one heard the former Tiger's screams as she was dragged off into the shadows.
"What took you so long?"
"Shut the hell up, Yoren."
"Oh, that looks painful. Salamander gave you some trouble, did he? Did you get the vial?"
Sergeant Renbrook shot the man a fuck you glare before reaching for her pouch, pulling out a large needle filled to the brim with crimson liquid.
"Excellent work," said Noda in apparent satisfaction, "now that the fieldwork is out of the way, we can hop right to it. I'm assuming the Dragon Slayer is still alive?"
"Aye, sir. Used a sleepin' spell on him. The dimwit won't have the foggiest idea of what happened when he regains consciousness."
"Good. Staff Sergeant, is the Lord Admiral in position?"
"Yeppers. Rainfall won't miss the signal. You'd have to be blind as a goddamn bat not to see it."
"Then there's no further reason to delay."
"What about the other three Slayers staying in Akane? We need their blood too, don't we?"
"Not our problem. Bolton made himself perfectly clear. Dragneel is the primary concern for now."
An orchestra of feral hissing noises reverberated off the foul sewer walls, none of which sounded terribly pleasant. Understandably, these things couldn't be too pleased about being locked away in a giant, suffocating cage for so long. Yoren grimaced as one of them began chewing on the truesteel bars, desperate to escape its captors.
"Those things don't look happy."
"Then let's relieve them, Staff Sergeant. Set the charges."
The Lieutenant did everything his leader asked of him. This extravagant scheme was absurd and devious in almost every aspect, but if the aim was to create a better Fiore, a better Ishgar, then he would carry out said instructions without question.
One can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs, right?
Even in the dead of night, that beach was truly something to behold, the moon shining down gracefully on the crystal clear water below.
For some unexplainable reason, Mirajane couldn't stop herself from staring at it.
Perhaps it reminded her of Magnolia, or the sandy shores of Tenrou Island, or… maybe even… her hometown. The barmaid sighed. There was a cliff she and her siblings used to play at by the ocean, not too far from the house of her childhood, this stunning view was remarkably similar.
Sometimes Mirajane wondered how different things would have turned out if she never stepped foot in that church on that fateful day. Her arm would never have gotten infected, they never would have been chased away, and they would have continued their peaceful lives undisturbed.
Well, nothing to be done about it now.
The eldest Strauss sibling hoped Lisanna and Elfman were doing okay, although, it was kind of ridiculous to be worrying at this point, seeing how it hasn't even been a full day since their train left. They were both more than capable of looking after themselves, but she simply couldn't help it.
Mira just felt incomplete without them.
"Aw, darling, you're the picture of loneliness. It really breaks my heart."
A fancy drinking glass was placed smoothly on the table she was sitting at. Glancing to her side, the barmaid frowned at that deceptively charming smile.
"You didn't finish your drink earlier. That really pulled at my heartstrings. Here."
Mirajane didn't immediately reply, only staring back at him in blatant irritation. The oligarch assumed she was still miffed about their little spat earlier.
"Oof. Here I thought Titania was the Ice Queen around these parts, but that's alright, there's nothing hotter than a cold shoulder."
"If you don't mind, Johannes, I'd prefer to be alone right now."
"Right. Sorry to interrupt you staring off longingly into space. Maybe I was a tad bit harsh, you're not soft, you're just… different."
"Aren't you the flatterer? Here to give me another philosophical lecture on the finer points of vengeance? The mailman came a few minutes late to my house the other day, maybe I should go and decapitate his whole village and put their heads on a pike?"
"Nah, that's too messy, I like to start smaller. Ears, fingers, organs."
"Can I help you with something, Mr. Bolton?"
Black Jack grunted as the Strauss woman ignored the freshly-concocted margarita he so graciously offered. Disregarding her hostile tone, the businessman pulled out an empty chair and plopped himself down like a rock.
"Feeling homesick, barmaid?"
Mira looked back at him in surprise but quickly shifted her expression back to one of mistrust.
"Fairy Tail is my home."
Bolton chuckled. "We both know that's not what I meant. There's a certain look to you, one of regret, I'd bet my left testicle that you're yearning for something."
"Literally everything you say is so gross."
"Word is you traveled far and wide to settle down in Magnolia. Why not just move back to your birthplace, if you miss it that badly?"
Memories of torches, pitchforks, and horrible insults flooded her memory in a wave of anguish.
"If you're as well informed about us as you say you are, Jack, you should already know the answer to that."
"Nothing churns my insides more than when heroism is rewarded with scrutiny. You were a hero that day, helped drive out a monster, and look how they repaid you. Damn shame."
The waitress motioned for him to lean in closer, whispering her next words with poorly-hidden fury.
"I know what you're doing, and I've got to say, I don't like it. If you try to manipulate me or play around with my emotions like that again, you'll see firsthand why they call me the Demon."
The oligarch shuddered mockingly. "Ooooooh, I just got chills! Manipulate you? Wouldn't dream of it. I guess you don't want the drink?"
"No thank you."
He picked the glass up and took a sip.
"All I'm saying is that things don't have to be that way."
"I'm… sorry?"
"In case you haven't noticed, I'm a rich man. One word to the Mayor of your old village and the Strauss Family's record would be wiped clean. I'll ensure there's nothing left to tie you back to that fucking church. You, your pretty little sister, and that big lug of a brother can return as if none of you lived there in the first place. Sounds peachy, doesn't it?"
"Why would you do all that?"
"Because I like you, sweetheart. No other reason."
"Yes, it might be nice to go back for a day or two, but the life of a mage is all I know. I don't think I can imagine myself without Fairy Tail."
A few crickets could be heard chirping amongst the humid summer air before she continued.
"What about you? Don't you miss Antegria? Your company could be run overseas, and I'm sure you could land a fancy political position there."
"And do what? Become President? Desk ain't shiny enough."
All the other Fairies retired to their rooms for the night. Perfect. None of them questioned why they were the only guests staying in the VIP building. Also perfect. Noda's unit got the blood sample he requested. Jackpot.
Johannes leaned back comfortably with a suspicious model sitting right beside him, and waited.
Everything was up to Lord Admiral Douchebag now.
Mira's eyes wandered to the tabletop, staring in absolute bewilderment at Bolton's fruity beverage.
The liquid… it… began evaporating… out of nowhere.
Black Jack turned away to hide a devious smirk. There was no going back now. Time to start wrecking the place.
The Strauss woman shot up from her seat in alarm. Magic.
She turned to the pool and watched as it began emptying itself, the water dissipating into thin air in a metaphorical puff of smoke.
"J-Johannes! Something's happening! We need to… to…"
Mira was cut off by what she was staring at. The previously breathtaking ocean was now hindered, cut off from view as an ear-piercing rumble tore across the relaxing atmosphere.
The Blue Sea Sergeant bared its fangs and prepared to unleash its wrath upon the woefully vulnerable populace of Akane.
Bolton stood up and took his place beside the trembling barmaid, his bright blue irises shining in stalwart determination.
Come tomorrow, he'll either be remembered as a legend…
… or not at all.
