The night had been short. She left Grey at midnight and have to wake up at six to prepare their departure.

Lucy and Wendy were still sleeping when she woke up. She took a shower and dressed up with the clothes that she left on a side, before closing her suitcase : a black skirt and navy blue blouse in organza with a sash collar, that she put around and tied behind her neck. Then she gathered her hair in a messy bun, put her boots, took her suitcase and descended in the hotel hall.

There was already a lot of people. She took a seat among the rare empty cofee table and began her research. She had heard that some strange activity had been recorded in Crocus since one or two days : some of the old clandestine guilds networks seemed to be reactivating. Crocus was a big city with a lot of potential hiding places, and a large community of independent mages whose ambivalent activity attracted the attention of the council. The wizards they pourchased have surely run away and find refuge there.

That was a good news in some extent. The team had been noticed two days ago and a couple of hours later, Crocus registered movement among the least reputable people in the profession. It was not a coïncidence, they were on the good trail but their lack of discretion gived the advantage at the quintor.

She continue to search information on her lacrima laptop. It was a new technology conceived by a earkype user during the war : lacrima smartphones and laptop had developed a lot, first for a military use and yet to a civilian. A new and huge economic market that led to a giant empire of the technology. Hibiki Leithis was one of the seven earkype wizards at the origin of the project and now he was sewn with gold.

" Hello sweetheart "

He talked with a husky tone and malicious eyes. She exhales but clapped her laptop and raised her eyes towards him.

" Hello "

He bent down to swiftly kiss her forehead before take a seat next to hers.

" First and last you called me sweatheart "

" All you want. Otherwise did you sleep well ? "

" Perfectly fine. You ? "

" Well I missed you but other than that fine "

" Watch your mouth. You're almost irreverent "

" "irreverent" it is not too early for such pedantic word ?"

" Sorry not used to you being slow "

" And now she insults my intelligence. Very mature, we come to wonder who is irreverent ? "

He looked at her with boldness and she was on the point to say something when Wendy arrived with Carla. So she just glared at him and he could read her frustration.

" Hello you "

" Hello did we interrupt something ? "

Wendy look at them in a very demure way that pained Erza.

" Nothing more than the morning ramblings of a nasty man "

" It would be quite funny since you were smiling at each other "

Erza looked at Carla speechless and trying intensely to retain the small blush she feel on her cheeks while Grey answered.

" It was indeed "

" Lucy is still sleeping ? " asked Erza who had miraculously found her voice again.

" No she was awake when we left the room she just needed some time to finish getting ready. Where are Natsu and Happy ? " asked Wendy looking around here.

" He will wake up soon when his stomach will cry out for food unless Lucy wakes him before by passing befront our bedroom like yesterday. And… speaking of the devil "

Natsu appeared with a beautiful Lucy next to him and Happy on his shoulder.

" Wow you're so elegant. I love your shirt"

" Thanks Lucy you're lovely "

The blond smiled before open her arms to Erza who did the same. Grey took off the laptop on her knee and laid it on the table before the readhead gets up to embrace Lucy.

All ot them took a breakfast together before giving their bedroom's cards.

" So what is the program today ? " asked Natsu while he was running out the streets.

" We go to Crocus, we set up our business in a hotel and we go and get as much information as possible throughout the city but above all we remain discreet. Make sure that no one recognizes you, our faces have been known since the end of the war : no one expected the guild to reform. Lay low, we already got noticed in the previous city because Natsu had helped a man. "

She paused looking at him in a way that meant she knows he had not made it in purpose and he nodded back. Fair shot, he got it.

"The news that fairy tail's mages were there then spread like wildfire, so this time we stay away from the problems. We are not the only mages in the capital and there is the royal guard so unless we have no choice we do not intervene. Am I clear enough ? "

She looked at them one by one. Wendy and Lucy understood but they were nit sure to be agree with the fact to ignore suffering people. Carla was clearly suspected something but Erza ignore her untrustworthy gaze.

" Yeah but I'm not agree. We are mages if someone needs help we help Erza. Its our duty"

" I know Natsu and I swear it's just for this time. We don't have the choice. So we stay discreet, we find the five mages, we catch them when no one is looking, we avoid journalists and we escort them until the Council headquarters. And then we never ever talk about this mission again "

Natsu was not satisfied by her answer, it was obvious and she understood him because even her was not. However she tried to convince herself. She had to as she would have to bear his tantrum.

" Why are you so authoritarian ? Seriously Erza that's not you. You act like a servile puppy working for the council. Where are your values ? "

" Natsu ! "

Grey had spoken with a sharp voice, threatening then he realised he overstepped but it was too late. He not even looked at her just at Natsu.

" Sorry. Not my stuff. I go first "

He left towards the train station followed by Wendy and Carla.

" I won't change my mind Natsu. Agree or not you will have to deal with it " and she left.

Erza join the others mile away. Natsu stayed behind. Lucy waited for him trying to calm him down.