Jun Danton wasn’t joking. He imdiately had soone bring a map of the Joya Kingdom and pointed out a marked area in the eastern territories, right beside Lake Sephyr.
Rhodes studied the map, which also included the territories and known ranges of the larger bandit gangs. He chuckled.
"I thought you’d put it right in the densest nest of bandits."
"So ministers did suggest that," Jun Danton admitted without hesitation, "but I vetoed it.
If one day my plan fails and I must ask for help, I believe you’d rather respond to a plea for aid than feel you were being used."
He produced a smaller parchnt and offered it with both hands.
"So, would you be willing to accept this fiefdom?"
Rhodes didn’t refuse. He took the map and replied,
"I’m a Magician. If there’s a need, just submit a commission."
That answer said enough. Jun Danton smiled in satisfaction.
"Then the official docunts will be delivered before dinner, Earl Rhodes."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Rhodes decided to accept first and verify later. Tomorrow, he would investigate the fief’s condition, and, along the way, check what was being said about the nobles and bandit gangs to confirm the King’s story.
Jun Danton had been earnest, even friendly; the resemblance to Shagotte and Lily’s counterparts in this world had further raised Rhodes’s impression of him.
Anyone else from Fairy Tail would likely have believed every word by now. But Rhodes preferred to see the truth for himself.
If everything turned out as the King claid, he wouldn’t mind lending a hand, and it’d be a fine chance to train his magic alongside Mira.
That evening, the King hosted a grand banquet in the palace; the splendor went without saying.
anwhile, Back at Fairy Tail...
At that mont in Magnolia, Makarov sat behind his desk, holding a neatly sealed letter of thanks, and frowning in confusion.
At first, he’d wondered which mber of his guild had managed to earn such high praise. But after reading only two lines, he sighed.
Of course. It’s Rhodes again.
Still, wasn’t Rhodes supposed to be on his honeymoon? How did that turn into another mission, and a rescue one, no less?
"Oh, it says it was taken under rmaid’s Heel."
Makarov’s expression tightened instantly.
"What? Don’t tell he’s doing jobs for another guild just to avoid paperwork as Guild Master!"
After a long exhale, he cald himself. No, Rhodes and Mira weren’t that type. Besides, the letter had been addressed to Fairy Tail after all.
At that mont, Cana strolled over.
"Master, another letter for you."
Makarov nearly dropped the one he was holding.
"What? Another one already?"
Cana blinked. "Why are you so startled? You act like it’s bad news."
He took the envelope and asked, "Who sent this?"
"My old man told to pass it along." Cana casually pulled a wine bottle from her bag, popped it open, and started drinking.
"Gildarts? Why send a letter..."
"Because he’s off traveling again."
Makarov froze for half a second, then muttered, "Figures."
He opened the letter, scanning it quickly.
As expected, Gildarts wrote that he’d been feeling great lately, reunited with his beloved daughter, helped organize the S-Class Exam, attended Rhodes and Mira’s wedding, but after staying in Magnolia so long, his wanderer’s heart had started itching again. So, he was off to travel the world once more.
Makarov sighed, glancing at Cana, who was happily gulping her drink.
"Honestly... he rembers he has a daughter, can’t he at least pretend to settle down for her?"
"Ha~." Cana wiped her mouth with a grin.
"I don’t need him to do anything special. I’m happier when things stay the sa. I actually feel safer when he’s off wandering."
In truth, Gildarts had left her a second, private letter, full of sentintal words he hadn’t managed to say in person. Cana had forced herself to read through it, confird there was nothing urgent or embarrassing, and promptly tore it to shreds.
Still, he’d left behind one more thing: an Ergency Contact Card, saying she could call on him anyti if she was in danger.
Cana had almost torn that up, too, but decided to keep it, if only for sentint’s sake. She was no longer that little girl who needed her father’s protection.
Cana didn’t really have much use for her father’s ergency contact card. She’d been force-trained in magic by the guild for so long that she could now hold her own just fine.
Still, thinking about the identical contact card that Rhodes and Mira had asked her to craft before their departure, Cana decided to keep Gildarts’s card carefully tucked away.
That unreliable old man’s whereabouts were always uncertain, what if the guild ever needed to track him down?
Makarov sighed deeply.
Rhodes and Mira were still off on their honeymoon, their whereabouts unknown.
Gildarts had gone wandering again, no clue when he’d return.
Gajeel, Lily, and the Shadow Gear Team had disappeared into the mountains for special training.
Laxus had been taking high-difficulty missions one after another to boost the guild’s reputation. The Thunder God Tribe was always dragging Elfman off on extended trips.
Even Erza’s team only appeared in the guild once every few days.
With all his "children" so busy, Makarov suddenly felt like an empty-nest grandpa.
Then again... maybe that was a good thing. It ant the kids had grown up, after all.
’Everyone’s working hard... busy is good,’ he told himself, and a faint smile crossed his face.
After thinking for a mont, he called Lisanna over and handed her the thank-you letter.
"News from your sister and brother-in-law?"
"Really?!" Lisanna’s eyes lit up as she grabbed the letter. She’d received a few small packages of souvenirs from them recently, but never an actual letter. Aside from one little piece of gossip in the newspaper, she had no idea what they’d been up to on their trip.
"A ghost ship?! That’s amazing!" she exclaid, both thrilled and a little frightened.
’Big Sis must’ve gotten even stronger... Will Brother-in-law ever get tired of her being so scary?’
When she finished reading, Makarov asked, "Speaking of which, Rhodes and Mira have been gone for, what, a month now? Shouldn’t it be about ti they ca ho?"
Lisanna thought for a mont.
"I’m not sure. Mira-nee never said when they’d be back. A honeymoon lasts a month, yes, but no one ever said it can only last one month."
"WHAT?!" Makarov’s jaw dropped.
’It’s not just one month?!’
Even if there was no official limit, didn’t those two ever run out of money? Oh wait, of course not. They were loaded, and they’d just completed a huge high-paying mission.
"..." Makarov clenched his fists, trembling with mock outrage.
"Is there no law anymore?!"
...
Rhodes and Mira stood in the middle of a mountain trail, surrounded by dozens of ard bandits.
Rhodes glared around dramatically.
"So many of you against the two of us? If you’ve got guts, fight one-on-one!"
"Hahaha!" A burly bandit laughed. "Didn’t expect that delicate-looking pretty boy to have a spine! Boss, let deal with him!"
He charged forward clumsily, brandishing his weapon. Rhodes lazily drew a glowing circle in mid-air with one finger.
"Let’s test this new move, Amaterasu: First Form!"
A ring of purple runes spun outward from his fingertip and detonated with a booming shockwave. The charging bandit was instantly blown off his feet, tumbling away in a cloud of dust.
The others froze in shock.
"He’s a Magician!"
Worried they’d panic and run too soon, Rhodes raised his chin proudly.
"How’s that? A single strike that used half my magic power!"
That, of course, made their courage surge again.
’If the blast really drained half his energy, that ant he could only pull it off once more!’
Mira chuckled softly behind him. Her husband’s ability to toy with weaklings was truly sothing.
"Alright, stop teasing them. We still have a long way to go."
"Fine, fine." Rhodes lowered his hand with a grin.
"Once we finish our main business, I’m sure plenty more bandit gangs will show up for ’training practice.’"
...
Stones Plzzz
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