How did he go to do this mission alone? " Wanted to know Natsu.

" That means what it means. " Said Najenda, while smoking. " Gajeel told me that he and Lily will be more than enough to successfully complete this mission! So I let them do to settle the latter!

" Hey, it's not fair! Me too, I want to fight! "

" Not worth it. " Retorted Najenda. " And, to tell you the truth, it's better this way! I have more confidence in Gajeel to come back here without causing us more trouble! With you, it always borders on disaster. "

" Grrr, not even funny. " Said Natsu, leaving the room with Happy.

Seeing them leave and close the door behind them, Najenda sighed in relief, while affirming.

" He was less stubborn than usual. "

However, suddenly caught a bad feeling, she rushed to the door of the room and opened it to see a completely empty corridor.

" What? "

Feeling a draft, she turned her gaze to a wide open window. Then, in the distance, she could see Natsu's silhouette moving away in the sky thanks to Happy.

" Grrr, you stupids ... Just wait to come back here and I will welcome you. "

Suddenly sneering, Suka said.

" What a wonderful fight! "

Fighting with sabers or other weapons, several women, completely naked, were killing each other, under the amused gaze of their masters. When gathered around a field created for the occasion, the men drank sake, while the rest of their slaves served them, while being horrified at the idea of being sent, they too, on the ground.

" Go, ladies, more enthusiasm. " Cried Bach, sitting on a sofa. " Remember that only the winner can survive and thus gain her freedom! "

Suddenly seeing one of them stay too still for his taste, preferring to stay in her corner of the field, to avoid being injured, Bach grabbed a gun and shot her. Having no time to cry out in pain, the young slave collapsed to the ground, lying in a pool of blood. Seeing this, the other fighters froze in terror while Bach said, with a broad smile.

" You are warned! What we want are real fights! If one of you balks at fighting seriously, she doesn't deserve to be watched, and therefore has no interest in being alive. "

Sitting on all fours, like a dog, Air couldn't help shaking in fear while Bach had just killed a new girl in front of her, forcing the other fighters to fight more vigorously to stay alive.

"Please have someone help us! "

Landing on the roof of the place where this death fight was going on, Gajeel affirmed.

" It's here ! It's starting to stink of blood. "

Then, sniffing the air, he smiled before adding.

" And I smell Wendy's odor as well as that of the guy with the armor! They are coming here. "

" I will let you do for the rest of your plan. " Said Lily. " However, I repeat once again that we are taking big risks. "

" Perhaps but, think about it! What would happen if we let the Jaegers try to understand why we are killing these people? When they see our targets torturing people, how will they react? "

Sneering a little, he confessed.

" Honestly, except for Wendy, I have no idea! Will they accept bribes to keep quiet? Will they act as if nothing had happened? Or will they kill these people for us? Who can guess? In any case, for me, there is a good chance that this will force them somewhat to change their opinion on the Empire! And maybe even, to rebel against him! "

" To be sincere, I have doubts. " Admitted Lily.

" We will find out right away. " Assured Gajeel, sniffing the air again, before putting his mask on his face. " Here they are. "

Indeed, rushing towards the building, Run and the rest of the Jaegers could be seen running in his direction, showing that they had managed to find the false mission order that Gajeel himself had written.

" Perfect ! The second part of the plan will begin! IRON DRAGON'S ROAR ! "

Continuing to run, the Jaegers eventually stopped, while an explosion seemed to hit the roof of the building where they were going.

" The attack has started. " Understood Bols.

" Night Raid is here. " Seryu noted, unable to help smiling grimly.

" Let us separate. " Decided Run. " Kurome and Wave, with me! We're going straight into the building! Bols, Seryu and Wendy, you stay outside and stop all the members of Night Raid who will try to enter or leave it, understood? "

" Yes. " Assured the others, already beginning to divide into two groups.

Grabbing Grand Chariot right away, Wave showed off his armor and made a big jump, taking him to the top of the roof, while Run followed him while carrying Kurome. Once on the roof, the trio quickly noticed the absence of anyone, while Gajeel and Lily were already gone, just after creating a huge hole in the roof.

" There is nobody ? " Kurome wondered.

" They are surely inside. " Assured Wave, not losing a moment to jump.

" What… what happened? " Wanted to know Suka, seeing a huge hole in the ceiling.

" No idea ! It looked like a big explosion. "

" Are we under attack? "

Remaining silent, Bach began to rail as a figure fell into the room. Immediately, various people pointed their weapons at him, ready to fire.

" Wait ! Wait ! Wait ! I'm on your side. " Wave asserted, standing up. " I'm Jaegers and I ... "

He was suddenly silent, seeing all the naked women standing in front of him, while most of them were already wounded or dead. Then turning his gaze to see men quietly drinking sake, while other young girls were serving them, the soldier finally hardened his gaze before asking.

" Can I know what's going on here? "

" Hum? So what was written on this strange mission order was true. " Understood Run, dropping near him. " This place seems to be a place where richs people entertain themselves by letting their slaves fight against each other. "

" Grrr! What do you want from us? " Roared an obese man. This is none of your business! We bought these slaves! So we can treat them as we wish! It's one of the privileges of being rich. "

" Here, slavery is not really illegal. " Affirmed Kurome, appearing in her turn. " However, there are a few rules to follow! Even if these people become your property, you have no right to kill them as you are doing it! In short, you are guilty. "

" Guilty? " Sneered the obese man, taking a step towards her. " Guilty of what? We are nobles, my dear! So we can do what we want! It is not because you are part of a special police that you… "

Suddenly, the head man fell at the foot of Kurome, who put away her saber.

" Here! Your voice hits me on the system. "

Seeing this, many people groaned in surprise and fear. Seeing an opportunity to be saved, one of the female slaves ends up walking towards the Jaegers, before begging them.

" Pity ! Help us ! These people forced us to kill each other. "

" I beg you. " Begged another slave. " Don't leave us with them. "

" I don't want to die ! Help us, please ! "

Seeing several girls then bow down at his feet, Wave could only clench his fist while fixing the group of men in front of him.

" How dare you … ? How can you buy human beings and make them just entertainment? "

Suddenly a bundle of bills fell at his feet.

" Take this and get out. " Suka ordered.

Seeing Wave stand still and looking down, the nobleman sighed before asking.

" What? It is not enough ? If so, what is your price? "

" Wait a second! I don't think I understood very well your gesture ! Are you buying our silence? "

" I prefer to use the term '' negotiate an arrangement ''! " Suka retorted, with a little laugh. " It's very simple ! All you have to do is take the money and leave! Nothing very complicated! And then, honestly, you will not be the first of the soldiers to accept one of my bribes! So, is the deal concluded? "

This time, it was a sharp feather, which killed the man, by piercing his skull.

" What ? " Shouted the others men.

" Thank you, Run. " Murmured Wave, then he already had his hand clutching the handle of the Grand Chariot. " I was planning to kill him myself, but it's better this way. "

Then looking up at the rest of the men, he cried out.

" This is your only warning: follow us without resisting. "

His only response was to hear metallic noises, while many people pointed their guns and sabers at the trio.

" I doubt they want to cooperate. " Kurome noticed.

Then, hearing a strange noise, she finally saw, at the back of the room, three people, including two guards and a young nobleman, opening a hatch on the ground to escape into an underground passage.

" Huh ? " Said Kurome.

" No trace. " Roared Seryu. " No member of Night Raid is here. "

" And they don't seem to be in the building either. " Bols observed while he was with the two girls. " Otherwise, we would have heard Run and the others fighting against them. "

A barrage of gunfire was heard, followed by cries of agony.

" Oh ? Would I have spoken too quickly? "

Then leaving the building, jumping out of the windows, some guards dressed in black, found themselves facing the trio. Seeing them in front of them, while the latter didn't really understand what was going on, one of them was horrified.

" AHHHH, the others are here. "

" It is necessary to massacre them immediately. "

Immediately, seeing them direct their weapons towards them, Bols and Wendy put themselves in position to confront them. Nevertheless, placing her arms in front of them, Seryu snickered before calling.

" Koro! "

" Damn it ! What's happening ? " Panicked Bach, while fleeing.

Hearing two cries of agony behind him, the man dared not even turn around, when he found himself alone in the secret tunnel.

"How did she know there was this tunnel here?"

Rushing behind his back, Kurome caught him without problem and made a splendid jump which allowed him to jump over the man, to find himself right in front of him. Stopping immediately, Bach cried out.

" But what do you want from me in the end? I have nothing to do with this matter! I swear, I have no slaves! "

" You are Bach. " Affirmed Kurome. " A slave trader! "

" So what ? It may not be very pretty but it is not prohibited by law. "

" Indeed. " Confessed Kurome, pointing her saber towards him! " But I hate slave traders! Just thinking what one of them did to me, when I was little enough to put me out! "

Then, not giving Bach time to say anything, she melted on him and only a cry of pain could be heard.

Hitting one last guard, Wave crushed his head against the ground, before looking around.

" This time, it's over. "

Indeed, being all lying against the ground, what remained of the soldiers was only a set of corpses either having their heads crushed, or having died by being pierced by sharp feathers.

Then making his wings disappear, Run perceived a noise behind him and turned to see the female slaves half hidden behind the tables. Seeing them thus, more frightened than anything else, wondering what was going to happen now, Run ended up pointing a door with his thumb.

" Go ! "

" Huh? " Said the young girls, while Wave contented himself with looking at his comrade.

" According to the law, if the master of a slave dies, his slave is immediately placed in a place where he can again be sold to another person! If you want to avoid this, run away before the imperial police come here. "

Looking at each other, to find out what the other girls were thinking, the slaves finally left. Running one after the other, many rushed to the exit, before Run changed his mind, while others at least took the time to thank Wave and Run for letting them go. Finally, the women who fought with each other and being too injured to flee were the only ones who stayed with the boys.

There were five of them with injuries too serious to be able to move around without the help of someone. Realizing it quickly, one of them crawled on the ground, towards the two men, before begging them.

" Pity ! Kill me ! I can't bear this pain anymore, and there is no longer any question of being humiliated again by being someone else's toy! I beg you, kill me! "

Sobbing then, she began to giggle.

" It's the only good thing that could happen in my life! Even if I could run away, I have nowhere to go! My village is in debt because of the tax increase and my parents were forced to sell me! The nobles only sees us as cattle and harasses us, while having no compassion for us! We are the ones who serve them and bite the bullet when we have to suffer the blows they inflict on us! I ... I don't want to live in this shitty world anymore! "

"But what happened here? " Wanted to know Wave. " And why did Night Raid want to kill these people? Did these assassins want to save these women? "

Opening the hatch to return to the room, Kurome was in time to hear Run say.

" Wave… I need you to do me a favor. "

" Here we are. " Happy assured, while the building was in sight.

Sniffing the air, Natsu said.

" The air reeks of blood. "

" Gajeel has already had to get to work. "

However, as the duo arrived in front of the building, it was only to see Seryu and Wendy arguing over whether to leave guards, half dead, alive or to finish them off. And not far from them, Bols stood there watching them do, dreading having to be involved in this argument.

" Wendy? " Natsu wondered.

" If she and Seryu are here, it's because the Jaegers attacked this place. " Understood Happy. " I seem to have also seen the face of the masked guy in the newspaper. "

" Grrr! This idiot Gajeel was spotted or what? However, I can't smell its smell. "

" He seems to have already left. "

It was then that he saw many girls come out from behind the building, rushing into the streets to run away.

" Hum? Who are these people ? "

" Maybe they can tell us what happened here. " Happy remarked, taking off.

Sitting against a wall, Air stood there for a few moments, before suddenly smiling.

" They are dead. "

She let her smile grow longer, as she repeated.

" They are dead. "

This time she sneered for good while she cried out in joy.

" HAHAHAHA ! Yes, these monsters are dead! Fal… Luna… you are both avenged. "

Sneering again, the girl was surprised to feel tears running down her cheeks. Finally, after several seconds, she stopped hiding her sadness and clenched her teeth, while crying.

" But even so, I couldn't see you again. "

Then rummaging through her clothes, she almost smiled again, taking out a vial.

" But with this, we'll meet again soon! And when we reincarnate again in this world, it can only be better. "

However, as she uncorked the vial of poison, she was a little hesitant, faced with the death that awaited her.

"No, I must not hesitate! Anyway, only that can happen to me well. "

" Goodbye cruel world. " She cried, pretending to drink the poison in one sip.

Grabbing her wrist, a newcomer stopped her gesture in time, almost threatening to crush her forearm.

" What ? " She wondered.

" Life is precious. "

Then grabbing the vial, Natsu crushed the object in his hand before roaring.

" I prohibit anyone from committing suicide when you knows nothing about the future that awaits you. "

Widening her eyes in surprise, Air stared at Natsu without understanding who he was. And why he had just stopped him from dying ?

" Who is this person ? "

Suddenly sitting cross-legged in front of her, Natsu questioned her.

" Who are you ? "

" Hein? Wait, don't you know me? "

" Of course not ! We never met. "

" In this case, why did you prevent me from committing suicide? "

" Because it's completely silly. "

" Yeah. " Assured Happy, jumping on his shoulder. " A life deserves to be lived to the full, no matter the misfortunes that it involves! Because in the end, there will always be a moment of happiness to live. "

" A talking cat? " Surprised Air. " Who ...Who are you? "

" My name is Natsu, from Fairy Tail! And you ? "

" A… Air. "

" Air? OH ! You must be the girl Leone told us about! You came to see her. "

" What? Wait, are you part of Night Raid? "

" That's it ! We were about to execute the mission, but we were slower that the Jaegers. "

" However, Gajeel should have arrived long before them. " Happy remarked.

" Tell me, what happened? " Asked Natsu.

" Uh ... there was suddenly an explosion, and then three of the members of the Jaegers appeared! When they saw the slaves in the room, they were rather displeased and fought against our "masters" and killed them! Once the fight was over, they let me and the others slaves go. "

" Really ? " Natsu wondered. " In fact, these are nice guys. "

" For me, it doesn't change anything. " Air retorted. " What do you want me to do now? I am as poor as when I arrived here! However, now I'm all alone! My friends are dead and nothing will bring them back to me. "

Sobbing then, she wanted to know.

" Apart from dying, what do I have left to do? "

Being hit on the top of the head, she groaned in pain as Natsu roared.

" To start all over again, silly. "

" Huh ? "

" I understand that you are saddened by the loss of your friends, but that doesn't mean that all is lost for you! From now on, you must live! Live, as well as honor their memory! From now on, you may be the only one who still remembers them and, by dying now, this whole planet will no longer have the slightest memory of you. "

Putting his hands on the girl's shoulder, he then cried out.

" On the contrary, fight and now find a way so that the world does not forget them! You alone can do it now! "

" But ... But I can't ... "

" Everyone is capable of something! Anyone can create their own destiny! So show me that you can also create your own. "

Then rummaging through his clothes, he took out a purse full of money, which he placed in Air's hand.

" Our meeting is the start of your new life! Now it's up to you to run towards the finish. "

Looking in amazement at the purse in his hands, Air clenched her teeth for a few moments, before suddenly crying with tears and almost screaming to get rid of all the sadness in her body.

Seeing her do it, Natsu finally left and let Happy take him away.

" Useless idiot! " Spat Natsu, pressing his forehead against Gajeel's! " You weren't even able to do a mission you were given! "

" What I concern myself ? " Asked Gajeel. " All of this was part of a perfect plan that you would only have ruined if you had come a few minutes earlier. "

When they had made sure the Jaegers' assault went smoothly, him and Lily had finally returned to base to be surprised to meet Natsu and Happy on the way. Now in front of the Night Raid base, the two comrades were arguing, while Gajeel preferred to say nothing about having let the Jaegers voluntarily do the mission for him.

" You can never do anything right. " Roared Natsu.

" Wait, are you talking? Anyway, what does it change? The mission was done anyway. "

" This is a loser's speech. " Natsu assured, with a little laugh, while opening the front door.

Suddenly, a creak was heard. Freezing immediately, the two duos saw Najenda, right in front of them, cracking his knuckles.

" You are back. "

" Boss? " Gajeel and Lily wondered, not understanding why she was in a dark anger.

Suddenly, faster than the wind, Natsu and Happy had scurried away like rabbits, while Najenda had thrown Gajeel and Lily out of her way to run after them.

" Come back here right away. " She roared.

" Ahhhhhhhhh ! Faster Natsu ! She catches up with us. "

" I do what I can. "

Getting up, grimacing, Gajeel barely had time to see them disappear in the forest that he heard cries of agony, showing that Najenda had caught them.

" What… what happened? "

" No idea ! But, expect to receive the same punishment if the boss learns that you start to tamper with things behind her back. " Lily told him.

Then swallowing, Gajeel said, however.

" Tsssss, it's nothing! Anyway, I would just have to tell him that the Jaegers were on the mission site without my knowing the reason! How do you want her to know that I purposely took them there? "

" You forget Wendy. "

" What, Wendy? "

" Her report ! In the next letter she is going to send to Najenda, don't you think that she will talk about the reason that led the Jaegers to go there? I doubt she forgot to mention the fact that you are dropped, in the hands of the Jaegers, a mission order, which should not even exist! "

Immediately, Gajeel remained completely motionless, arms crossed and stern look. However, just seeing the drops of sweat and the puddle that formed at his feet, it was clear that he knew that Najenda would surely punish him much more severely than she had just done with Natsu .