Chapter 200: Calling for Backup
"Well it looks like your finally awake" stated Dante with a smile as he watched one of the bandits wake up. The bandit once waking up realized that he was tied to a chair and could not move an inch. Looking around the bandit noticed that he was alone in a room with just Dante.
"W-where am I" asked the bandit in a shaken tone. Smiling back at the bandit Dante started to speak.
"You're in the town you and your guildmates have been harassing" responded Dante. At these words the bandit became visibly afraid as Dante continued to speak.
"That's right. We know you are a part of Phantom Lord and I have a few questions for you" stated Dante in a cold tone. This was the same bandit that was afraid of Dante, the one who recognized who Dante was. Dante stood up and approached the tied up bandit as the bandit started to speak.
"I w-won't say a thing" responded the bandit in a shaky tone. Dante smiled at the bandit as he started to speak.
"Oh, come on don't be like that. I just want to have a friendly talk about your guild" responded Dante in a fake friendly tone.
"I d-don't care what you do to me. I won't talk because if I do then I'm dead" responded the bandit in an afraid tone.
"And just who would kill you? Would that be Jose" asked Dante needing to confirm if they were indeed facing Jose soon. The bandit didn't respond to Dante's question, but his pale look was all the answer that Dante needed.
"So he is behind this, damn" stated Dante to himself as he considered the problems this would bring.
"Y-you don't stand a chance against Master Jose. He's going to kill you with ease, it doesn't matter if you are Dante Strauss" stated the bandit in a challenging tone.
"Don't underestimate me. Believe it or not I've faced Jose in battle before and I have become a lot stronger since then" responded Dante in a steady tone. While he was worried if he could beat Jose in battle, he wanted to make the bandit believe that he had a good chance.
"W-wait you faced Jose in battle, and you are still alive" asked the bandit in a shocked tone. Nodding his head, Dante started to speak.
"That's right, and I didn't even face him at my best. Over half of my magic power was depleted when I faced him, and I still challenged him" responded Dante with a smile. The bandit seemed to pale at these words, rethinking how strong Dante was. After a brief moment of silence, the bandit started to speak.
"It still doesn't matter. Master Jose will defeat all of you puny fairies" stated the bandit.
"Maybe he will but I'd still like to have that talk about your guild" responded Dante with a smile.
"I already told you I'm not talking" responded the bandit in a scared tone. Just after the bandit said these words, Lisanna walked into the room and started to speak to Dante.
"Just got done with another bandit big brother" stated Lisanna with a smile. Dante smiled back at Lisanna as he started to speak.
"Oh really, did he talk like all the others" asked Dante with a smile. Nodding her head, Lisanna started to speak.
"Yup, he spilled everything he knew easy" responded Lisanna with a smile. Hearing these words, the bandit reacted with shock and disbelief as he started to speak.
"W-what? No that's not possible" responded the bandit in disbelief that his fellow guildmates would talk. Turning his attention back towards the bandit, Dante started to speak to him.
"What are you surprised that your comrades talked? They all folded easily, I suggest you do the same. If you don't talk then we only have their side of the story to go on and that might not look good for you since jail is your final destination" responded Dante with a smile. Hearing these words, the bandit slumped his shoulders in defeat as he started to speak.
"Fine, I'll talk" stated the bandit in a defeated tone. Dante smiled, his little rouse worked.
"I'm glad to hear that. Answer all my questions and maybe the authorities will take it easy on you" responded Dante with a smile before he started to question the bandit. After a short while Dante and Lisanna walked out of the room to join Juvia who was waiting for them. Sitting down at a table, Dante started to speak.
"Well at least we have a clearer picture of the situation now" stated Dante as he thought about everything the bandit just told him. Lisanna smiled at her big brother as she started to speak.
"That was a great idea by the way Dante. Making the bandit think the other's talked" responded Lisanna with a smile. Smiling back at Lisanna, Dante started to speak.
"Thanks, I thought that ruse might work, and I wanted to try it before having to resort to other means" responded Dante glad that he didn't have to get physical with the bandit. Even though the bandit was a criminal, it didn't sit right with Dante to torture him for information.
"What did the bandit have to say? Is Jose really behind all of this" asked Juvia in a scared tone. Dante's smile faded from his face as he turned his attention towards Juvia and started to speak.
"I'm afraid so. The bandit was pretty afraid of talking because of what Jose would do to him if he did" responded Dante, seeing the worried expression of Juvia's face.
"That is terrible. Juvia doesn't know if we can beat Jose" responded Juvia as she remembered the terrible man that used to be her guild master. Dante gave Juvia a reassuring smile as he started to speak.
"Aww come on Juvia. Don't tell me you are counting me out already" asked Dante in a light tone with a smile on his face. Looking at her beloved, Juvia started to speak.
"M-master Juvia knows you are strong but" responded Juvia before Dante cut her off.
"But nothing Juvia. I don't care if I have to face Acnologia himself, I will never lose a fight if it means protecting you or anyone else in Fairy Tail" responded Dante with conviction in his voice. It didn't matter how impossible the odds were for Dante, he would never let one of his loved ones fall. Glancing towards Lisanna for a moment, Dante continued to speak.
"I will never let someone I love die again" stated Dante in a serious tone that told Lisanna and Juvia he was determined to keep them both safe. Lisanna nodded her head in agreement as she remembered the last job she went on with Dante. Smiling back at her master, Juvia started to speak.
"Okay master, Juvia believes you and is sorry for counting you out" responded Juvia with a smile. Smiling back at Juvia, Dante started to speak.
"Don't sweat it Juvia. You're cute when you are concerned about me" responded Dante with a smile, he liked it that these words caused Juvia to blush. Taking a brief moment, Dante then continued to speak.
"Jose being the one behind this isn't all we learned. We learned that this isn't the only town the new Phantom Lord is harassing for money. It seems the new Phantom Lord has four towns under their thumb, they are trying to gather a large amount of funds" stated Dante in a serious tone.
"Why are they trying to gather funds" asked Juvia, afraid of the answer.
"To destroy Fairy Tail. Jose is obsessed with exacting his revenge against Fairy Tail" responded Dante in a serious tone.
"That's why we have to stop him" stated Lisanna in a determined tone. Nodding his head in agreement, Dante started to speak.
"That and they are hurting innocent people to achieve their twisted goals. We also learned that Phantom Lord operates in small cells near each of the towns they control. No one knows the main guild hall location except for the four lieutenants of Phantom Lord" stated Dante.
"Four lieutenants" asked Juvia in a curious tone.
"Yes, it seems these four lieutenants are a sort of replacement of the old element four. According to the bandit we questioned, each lieutenant is immensely strong and leads one of the four Phantom Lord cells" responded Dante in a serious tone as he went on to continue speaking.
"Knowing this I would expect one of these lieutenants to attack once they learn of the first groups failure. Its' obvious that this job is much bigger than we originally thought so I am going to call for backup" stated Dante as he stood up and retrieved the communication lacrima the town mayor gave him. Focusing his magical power, Dante concentrated on the communication lacrima he knew was in the Fairy Tail guild hall. After a brief moment, the Fairy Tail guild hall appeared in the lacrima, Mira's face smiled brightly at Dante as she started to speak.
"This is a pleasant surprise. How are you doing Dante? Is the job going well" asked Mira in her usual sweet tone. Smiling back at Mira through the communication lacrima, Dante started to speak.
"I'm doing fine, everyone is safe and sound. The job is much more complicated than we originally thought though. Is Master Markov nearby? He's going to want to hear about this" responded Dante in a serious tone. Mira felt worry fill her at these words as she nodded her head before she fetched Markov. A short moment of silence followed before Markov appeared on the lacrima and started to speak.
"Dante it's good to hear from you. Is everything alright" asked Markov in a concerned tone. Dante gave Markov a serious look as he started to speak.
"We are all fine master, but you need to hear about this" responded Dante as he explained the current situation to Markov. After his explanation, Markov was viably angry as he started to speak.
"Damn that Jose! How dare he try and continue to harm my children" stated Markov in an angry tone.
"Master it's obvious we need backup with this job. Can you send the rest of Team Natsu to help us out" asked Dante.
"Absolutely not! I don't even want you three to continue the job! Get back home this instant" responded Markov in a serious tone. Responding with a similar tone, Dante started to speak.
"I'm sorry master but I can't do that. Jose is trying to gather funds and resources to destroy Fairy Tail. If we don't stop him here and now then the problem will just get worse" responded Dante. Even through the communication Lacrima, Dante could feel Markov's anger as he started to speak.
"Have you forgotten the last time you fought against Jose?! If it wasn't for me, Jose would have killed you" responded Markov, nearly shouting his response.
"Yes I remember master, but I've gotten much stronger. I can take him; I just need some backup" responded Dante in a determined tone. A long moment of silence followed before Markov sighed with exhaustion and started to speak.
"There is nothing I can do to convince you otherwise is there" asked Markov in a tired tone. Smiling at Markov, Dante started to speak.
"Could anyone convince you not to risk your life for the guild" responded Dante with a smile.
"No, they could not. I would do anything for my children, and I understand that you feel the same Dante. Fine, I will allow you to finish the job and send Natsu and the others to assist you. They will leave at once and should be there by tomorrow" responded Markov.
"Thanks master. I promise everyone will be fine, I won't let anything happen to them" responded Dante in a determined tone. Giving Dante a serious look, Markov started to respond.
"See to it that you remain safe as well Dante. You are just as important to everyone in the guild as anyone else. Don't throw your life away carelessly" responded Markov in a serious tone since he remembered hearing about how Dante sacrificed his life during the dragon attack some time ago. Nodding his head in understanding, Dante started to speak.
"I won't master, thanks again" responded Dante before the communication lacrima went dark. Turning his attention back towards Lisanna and Juvia, Dante started to speak to them.
"Okay Natsu and the others should be on their way soon. We just need to sit back and wait for them. We also need to stay alert, one of those lieutenants might" Dante started to say before a loud crashing sound was heard just outside the building they were in. Sighing to himself, Dante continued to speak.
"Looks like they are already here and tearing through the town. You two evacuate the villagers, I can handle the intruder" stated Dante in a serious tone as he prepared for battle. Whoever this lieutenant was, Dante was going to teach them a lesson about what happens when you mess with Fairy Tail.
End of Chapter 200