"Pergrande did what!?" Makarov spat out his beer, quickly using his hand to wipe his mouth clean before staring at Erza.

Erza simply nodded to Makarov to confirm what she just told him. "Yes…Pergrande made a superweapon…one that destroyed a dragon in one shot."

"Politics aren't exactly my strongest suit…" Lisanna said while placing her index finger on her chin. "But…shouldn't something like that be approved by all of the other countries? I'd personally be a little afraid if something like that was unveiled here…"

"That was part of the issue." Mira sighed while placing a hand on her cheek. "Because of the incidents that took place here and a few other countries…they really didn't have a choice but to agree with such a monstrosity. It was a majority vote."

"So Pergrande now has free reign with that machine…" Makarov sighed. "This makes me feel a little uneasy that such a mobile monster has no restraint."

"Not only that…!" Natsu began; obviously still angry at how Ashnard played everyone at the meeting. "But that King Ashnard is an asshole! I really wanted to punch him in that smug face of his…"

"Yeah, you do that and put us in even more trouble…" Lucy rolled her eyes at Natsu's shouting, but really she sort of felt the same way despite her logical spin on things. "But he's not wrong…the way that king was speaking truly rubbed me the wrong way…plus he's really ugly."

"That's a blunt way of puttin' it…" Cana snickered.

"She's not wrong." Cynthia chimed in.

"What about that dragon you all fought?" Laxus questioned from the second floor, merely peering down below with a brow raised. "Any idea where it came from?"

"It wasn't any random dragon." Wendy sighed. "It smelled just like the Isle of the Dragons…which really worries me. There was talk of King Ashnard going there with Heracles to blow it up…but luckily he was talked out of it."

"The Isle?" Evergreen fanned herself and scoffed. "I don't believe for a second that after what happened there they'd willingly send a dragon over just to create some havoc."

"Exactly." Gray nodded in agreement. "It was a setup, and whoever set it up intended to have us take the blame. Those Joyian soldiers were tough, too…"

"I doubt that's the last time we'll see them…" Gajeel scoffed, unable to help but remember that smug grin on Tuba's face during their fight. Oh, next time he saw that fatass he was going to hit him good. "But anyway…that's all we got."

"You all did the best you could. For that, good job, and thank you for keeping as much control as you could." Makarov gave a firm nod. "Excellent work. Now, business as usual."

"Speaking of business…Has anyone seen Freed…?" Bickslow asked while looking around.

"There was a job specific request just for him," Laxus clarified. "It was a little odd, but he decided to go and get it over with before coming back here."

"I hope everything's all right…" Kinana said while wiping down a table. "You know, it's strange…but a lot of mage specific requests have been going around Fiore lately…could it be the same person?"

"That would be way too coincidental…and weird." Lisanna shook her head. "I'm sure it's nothing!"

"I suppose you're right…" The purple haired female gave a slight shrug before resuming her waitress duties.

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.

[Several Months Ago]

Rylo and Evanee walked into a somewhat large room. It was mostly vacant minus the desk in the middle and all the empty…jars in shelves. "Is this the place…?" Rylo asked Evanee while glancing at her. It was clear even she wasn't entire sure if they were in the right location.

"I think so…" Evanee responded with a small shrug. "This is where the request said to come to…"

"I'm glad you could make it." The Client responded from his chair just behind the desk. He had his chair turned around so the two mages couldn't see him. "Rylo Yutaka and Evanee Carlise, the two strongest mages of Twilight Zone."

"That would be us…" Evanee gave a slight nod while crossing her arms under her chest. "What is it you wanted from us exactly?"

"Magic is quite a wonderful thing, don't you agree?" The Client asked while standing up from his seat, walking around the room with his arms crossed behind his back. "It's amazing to me how we as humans only understand a fraction of magic…how we can only use but a few types…and how there are only few in the world that are actually capable of using magic…"

Rylo tilted his head slightly. "What are you getting at…?"

"Despite the fact that there are so many mages present, that's only 10% of the overall population." The Client continued, staring at the empty jars behind him. "Do you two recall hearing about the Fiore's End incident? I'm sure you have. A mad scientist with no magic empowers a little girl. The power she has is astonishing, and when he no longer deemed her useful, he discarded her. He took her magic and placed it within himself. It was at that moment that a magicless person became a wizard, even if it was brief."

"And your point?" Evanee lifted a brow.

"It was at that moment that I began to wonder, is it possible to give a magicless person magic through other means?" The Client continued. "Aiden Viscard was a fool, focusing on a single thing! He had a blueprint for something extraordinary, but he was tunnel visioned on destruction and fear instead of greatness. It is possible to create a nation of wizards...or a single wizard with immense power."

"And what did you say your name was again?" Rylo spoke while adjusting his tie.

"I'll tell you my name if you agree to my conditions." The Client replied calmly.

"Yeah, I'm not really liking the terms and conditions here." Evanee said with a narrowed gaze.

"I contacted the two of you for a reason…I wish for you to help me with my research on magic." The Client stated before facing the two of them.

"And how are we supposed to do that exactly?" Evanee tapped her foot impatiently, wishing The Client would hurry up and get to the point.

"Do you see these jars?" The Client gestured to the jars floating around the room. "They are not jars…these are all in fact lacrimas for storing magic. And I would like for you two both…" Now turning to face the mages, The Client showed his face, grinning evilly to the two Twilight Zone mages. "To give me your magic." On that cue, two of the lacrima moved forward, shooting for beams that aimed for both of the Twilight Zone mages.

"Ev, watch out!" Rylo shouted. Both of them leapt to the side to evade the beams.

"Another freakin' nutjob…wonderful…" Evanee rolled her eyes before using her speed to appear behind The Client, grabbing him back the back of his head to slam his face into the ground, taking him out instantly. "Geez…as if those Dealer creeps weren't enough of a pain to deal with."

"That was a little hairy…" Rylo said while adjusting his tie. "What do we do with him? Report him to the Council?"

"We're turning him in." Evanee nodded. "A nut job like this shouldn't be running around free…it'll only cause me a bigger headache…"

[3 months ago.]

Rylo was spacing out, thinking about the last mission he took for Twilight Zone before Evanee's sudden disappearance and the guild's disbandment shortly after that. But where was the magician now months after his home broke apart? The Underground Market. The name alone told all what the business was about…there were many requests all the time for taking out political officials, officers, even rubbing out mages such as Reve Volver, Erza Scarlet, Natsu Dragneel, etc. Just how did he get himself into this gig? Well, let's just say that it wasn't a choice he was forced into.

"Rylo-san~." A voice called out to Rylo to snap him out of it. This voice belonged to Leo Lange, a tall blonde male with hazel eyes. He was one of the operators within the Underground Market.

"Wha?" Rylo blinked, turned to Leo with a confused look. "What?"

"You were doing that thing again, where you space out. Thinking about that old dump again?" Leo questioned while running a hand through his hair.

"No." Rylo shook his head, completely denying the accusation. "Anyway, what did you need from me, Leo?"

"The boss is about to make an announcement." Leo clarified.

"Daz right." This voice belonged to the muscle of the Soricere Warehouse: Tiny. It was such an ironic name considering he was a huge man in a suit with a scar over his left eye and sideburns. "Now youz two better listen up good, ya got that? Dat include you too, X."

Tiny was referring to the female who secluded herself in the corner, X had dark emerald hair and pale yellow eyes along with a bit of an attitude. She was sharpening one of the many swords she had in her possession while glancing up at Tiny. "I'm listening." Her response was short.

"Good, everyone's here." The boss of the Underground Market spoke. This voice belonged to one surprising individual: Kemuri, the Sixth Wizard Saint. As far as everyone else on the outside was concerned, Kemuri was just a simple merchant…but truly, he was the leader of the Underground Market. "I've got an announcement to make."

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[1 month ago.]

Council transport. This was the time where those who committed horrid crimes were being transported from the Council Prison in the HQ to the Council Stronghold by the warden himself, Ryusei; along with some captains such as Lahar, Doranbolt, and Correll. "Keep moving." Correll said while ushering people along.

"We've got an interesting batch of new inmates, don't we?" Ryusei commented before stopping one familiar face: Aiden Viscard. "Oh ho…? Aiden Viscard…you've been quite a thorn in Fiore's side with your little creations you know that?"

"Hah." Aiden merely laughed in Ryusei's face. "You can't hold back the will of science, I hope you know."

"Get this one out of here." Doranbolt shook his head. "He's done more than enough damage and will continue to do so if we let him stay free."

"This one's apparently dangerous as well." Lahar gestured to The Client. "We want these two locked up."

"Along with this guy." Correll pointed to a tall, bulky male with his hair hanging over his head, wearing prison garb. "Rail…the Ace of Silent Sanctum…we were lucky to nab this one. You won't be seeing this sunlight again, you know that?"

"…." Rail didn't say a word.

"Get moving, all three of you." Ryusei scoffed. The prisoners continued their trek and were soon loaded into a carriage. The ride lasted for about 10 minutes, but then the ace of spades card appeared and in the next instant…boom. An explosion occurred, catching everyone off guard and throwing the carriage off balance, knocking everyone and everything to the ground.

"What the hell was that?!" Doranbolt looked around within all the smoke, but he couldn't see a single thing with all the panic and shouting going around. Before he knew it, something clocked him in the back of the head and he fell over, unconscious.

"Ah ha…" Hyde chuckled while retracting his cane. "It's been oh so long since I've gotten the chance to write a new script. But it's time for this story to finally unfold!"

"Hmph…" The Client merely dusted himself off before walking off without a care. "That was a fortuitous stroke of luck..."

"Indeed." Aiden said while approaching The Client. "You and I were bound for a rather lonely stay."

"So you must be him." The Client looked over at Aiden Viscard. "You're Aiden Viscard. The man who tried to topple Fiore with the power of flames...and failed."

"That's right." Aiden knew that the other man's words were a dig at him. Yet he continued to entertain the conversation. "And who might you be, to speak as if you are above me?"

"My name...is Hosonaga Iwai." The Client said with a grin. "The man who will surpass what you attempted."

"Pardon?" Hyde tilted his head at The Client's words. "You dare think you can concoct a play that surpasses anything we have created thus far!?"

"Of course I can!" Hosonaga replied with a widening grin. "I've seen your plots and how they crash and burn at the very end. Your endgame was misguided. You focused all of your efforts into a single girl, one that you couldn't control in the end, and you lost it all. But you did inspire one very curious notion: What if a non-wizard became a wizard!"

"You think that's uncommon?" Aiden chuckled.

"No, you fool!" Hosonaga said with a scowl. "When you took that girl's lacrima and gained her magic, though brief, it inspired me. "Why stop at just one magic? Why not take all the magic that Fiore...no, this world has to offer! I was a researcher myself, but you opened my eyes to what science and magic together are truly capable of. Your narrowminded way of thinking was your downfall, while it has only expanded my horizons."

"What? Do you intend funnel all of the magic Fiore has to offer into yourself?" Aiden lifted a brow.

Hosonaga laughed and proceeded to pace around. "Of course I do! This way, a man with no power can become the strongest wizard Fiore...no, Ishgar has ever seen! There won't be a single soul in this world that could stand up to a man that wields the magic of an entire country and more!"

Aiden stared into the eyes of Hosonaga for a moment. Ultimately, he turned away and shrugged his shoulders. "You will fail. But if you were to work with me..."

Those words made Hosonaga's eyes narrow. "What did you say!? You think I am second to someone who has failed not once, but twice!? I have learned from your mistakes and won't make the same ones you did."

Aiden's arms crossed behind his back. "It is because I made those mistakes that I can look you in the eyes, and say that you will fail. Do you have the means to force Fiore to bend to your will, or do you think you have the means? Your eyes remind me of my own two years ago...full of arrogance and naivete. Allow me to tell you something I was told once. You could have all the magic in the world at your disposal, and powerful as it may be...it is not the magic that makes one strong, but the mage. But it's clear that you don't understand that. That is why your plan will crash and burn, because Fiore is not a country you can push around with mere ambition alone."

"Hah!" Hosonaga just laughed. "Wise words from a failure. Feel free to watch as my research surpasses what you attempted. Fiore's mages will bend to my will soon enough, and I know exactly how to do it! So I thank you, Aiden Viscard, for inspiring me to become better than you." With that, the man known as The Client began to walk off.

"...What should we do?" Hyde questioned. "It sounds as if he's in the process of writing a fantastical play. Should we be a part of it?"

"Absolutely not. It is a waste of time. Although, I had no idea I had become such an inspiration these days. It's flattering in a sense." Aiden replied while crossing his arms behind his back, glancing at the unconscious Doranbolt. "If nothing else, he will make a wonderfully entertaining opening act for us.."

.

.

[Now.]

Freed Justine entered the office of The Client, closing the door behind him. He wasn't sure what to expect with the odd request tailored specifically for him, but those were questions that he hopefully was going to get answers to. "You're the client, yes…? This is the right location…?"

"Yes." The Client responded with a nod, facing Freed with what one could call an almost menacing grin. A few of the lacrima in the room were already full with magic, glowing specific colors that were almost distracting. "I'm so glad you could make it here today, Mr. Justine."

"What is it you need me to do, exactly…? What can I assist you with…." Freed trailed off, realizing that he didn't even know The Client's name and was hoping he would introduce himself officially.

"My name isn't important. This won't take more than a few seconds, I promise. I am a man with a great dream. I just need one very important thing from you, Mr. Justine…your magic." The Client didn't even bothering answering Freed's question. Before the rune mage could react, a beam shot out from a lacrima behind him, draining of his magic.

"…!" Freed's eyes widened but he couldn't do a single thing. He collapsed on the ground and fell unconscious while a purple glow began emanating from the lacrima that absorbed his magic. He quickly found himself losing consciousness, but as his eyes drifted, he could see an unconscious Hibiki Lates in the corner of the room...

"Wonderful." The Client grinned before the lacrima shot a beam out at him, cloaking him in the same purple light. He then ran his fingers along the air, creating some runes with harmless effects just to test out the effectiveness of Rune Magic. "Absolutely splendid. Just as I suspected…very powerful runes. Now Fiore…we're going to play a game…and you're going to abide by my rules, whether you like it or not…"

There was then a knock at his office door. The next person who stepped in...Minerva Orland. Who had no idea what she was walking into.

"Right on time." The Client said with a widening smirk.

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Next Time: Fight for Fiore!