Yeah, Right

The gears of fate may be a little rusty, but you can always trust Riyao brand lubricating oil.

Yesterday, Riyao leaned against the bar, the commission form between his fingers, and casually strolled over to Happy.

He bent down slightly and subtly showed Happy the amount on the order form, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.

Happy's pupils contracted sharply, and he covered his mouth with his little paws, letting out a suppressed squeak.

"Aye! That painting is worth 200,000 J!"

Riyao patted Happy's little head, grinning like a triumphant fox.

"Go, Hakibi, go and catch your big fish."

So, Natsu and Happy, who had raided Lucy's room last night, marched towards the Duke's mansion this morning with Lucy dressed as a maid.

Riyao had originally intended to go and watch the spectacle up close, but Mirajane grabbed his collar and said with a grin, "Darling, you have to help the chairman with official business today."

(;′⌒`)

Riyao lay sprawled on the long table in the guild office, a mountain of compensation reports piled in front of him. He turned the pages slower and slower, his expression growing increasingly complex.

"Ho~"

He sat up abruptly, holding up a report, his eyebrows raised high.

"Laxus cooked all the client's cattle to medium-rare."

Mirajane, standing next to him, waved the report in her hand and read it aloud with great interest.

"In her attempt to capture the Dark Guild, Erza destroyed half the town. The walls, tavern, bakery, and fountain square were all completely destroyed."

"Are you praising her or feeling sorry for that half of the town?" Riyao glanced at her sideways.

"Yes, I have them all~" Mirajane blinked.

Makarov's heart skipped a beat every time the two men read a report.

The old man huddled in the chair, his white beard drooping, his eyes twitching as he pulled a small medicine bottle from his pocket, poured out two vitamin C pills, and popped them into his mouth, chewing them loudly.

I'll be driven crazy by these brats sooner or later.

This Vitamin C was a trick by Riyao to trick Makarov into thinking it was a quick-acting heart medicine; it was purely a placebo effect. But every time Makarov took it, he had a look on his face that said, "I'm alive again."

Riyao was particularly concerned about Makarov's health, mainly because he was worried: what if the old man really got sick from anger one day and then used it as an excuse to retire? What if he passed the hot potato of chairmanship to Gildarts, and Gildarts then passed it on to him?

Makarov took a deep breath, suddenly jumped off the chair, grabbed Riyao's leg, and his pants were soaked with tears and snot.

"Riyao! Good boy! The guild is almost out of money to clean up their messes! Lend me a little! Just a tiny bit!"

Riyao chuckled and spread his hands out, palms facing up, his smile utterly harmless.

"Now please call me Riyao Strauss, and all my money is in my wife's hands~"

(´∇ﾉ`*)ノ

Makarov's eyes darted around, he released Riyao's leg, and bounced towards Mirajane...

"Whoosh--"

Riyao grabbed Makarov by the head and lifted him up like a disobedient chick.

The old man's legs were flailing in the air, and his beard was twitching.

Riyao bent down and whispered in Makarov's ear, his voice like a devil's whisper.

"Old man, what do you want to do?"

Makarov scratched his bald head awkwardly and chuckled twice.

"Hehe, it's a subconscious reaction, a subconscious reaction..."

Mirajane sat on the sofa with her legs crossed, holding a cup of red tea, watching the show with great interest, and couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"Haha, President, I can lend you the money, but there has to be some interest, after all, it's my husband's hard-earned money~"

Makarov was put back in his chair, stroking his chin as he brainstormed. "I'll find an opportunity to hand over the chairmanship to Riyao later. That way, the interest won't be my problem, and I can also solve the succession issue at the same time. Killing two birds with one stone, genius!"

As if sensing something, Riyao spoke, tapping his fingers on the table.

"I'll waive the interest, but there's one condition~"

Makarov had already sat back in his chair, his hands crossed on the table, regaining his authoritative demeanor as chairman.

"What conditions? Anything that goes against our principles won't do. We are the Light Guild."

Riyao rolled his eyes so hard they almost popped out of his head.

Do I look like some kind of villain?

Makarov and Mirajane exchanged a glance, then shook their heads in unison, and then nodded in unison.

Even if he's not a major villain, he must at least be a demon.

Riyao pinched Mirajane's little face in dissatisfaction, squeezing her cheeks into a bun shape.

"What kind of reaction is this?!"

Mirajane puffed out her cheeks and mumbled, "Nothing~", but her eyes were full of laughter.

Riyao released his grip and said seriously, "My condition is that you cannot force Mirajane and me to become the guild master of Fairy Tail."

Mirajane tilted her head, looking as cute as a little bird, then her eyes widened in sudden realization—so that's what the president had been planning all along!

Makarov Orz, lying face down on the table, where there should be a heavy snowfall and a telephone booth.

He raised his head, somewhat unwilling to give up, and looked at Riyao with pleading eyes.

"How about you think about it again? Being the president is really prestigious, you know?"

"So impressive, my foot! I'm cleaning up your messes every day." Riyao flipped through the report without looking up.

Mirajane then realized what was happening, pulled out his checkbook from his pocket, quickly signed a check, and slammed it on the table with a "thud," making the teacup jump.

"This is it!"

She pulled Riyao along and walked out of the office, her high heels clicking rapidly on the floor.

"The president is actually trying to pass this hot potato to us, that's too much!" Mirajane raised her little fist, puffing out her cheeks in anger.

Riyao thought for a moment and said, "I reckon among our generation of young people, only Laxus would be willing to be the guild leader."

Laxus sneezed and accidentally unleashed a bolt of lightning, which curled up Freed's hair.

The two walked to the bar and sat down. Lisanna was wiping glasses when she saw them come over and asked with a smile, "Sister and brother-in-law, what would you like to drink?"

"Strawberry milkshake~" Mirajane said, her cheeks puffed out, still not recovered from her earlier annoyance.

"1982 iced cola." Riyao leaned against the bar, idly twirling the ring on his finger.

"Bang--"

The guild door was kicked open, Natsu rushed in carrying Lucy, with Happy flapping his wings and following behind.

Lucy's hair was a mess, her dress was covered in mud, and there were tear stains on her face.

Riyao turned around and joked, "Hey, did Little Lucy get that 2 million J?"

Lucy lay sobbing on the bar, her shoulders shaking.

"What? 2 million? I don't even have 200,000! Waaah, how am I going to pay the rent this month... I'll have to sleep on the streets..."

Mirajane covered her mouth, her shoulders shaking with laughter.

"If you don't have a place to stay, you can come to my house and be my maid~ Room and board included."

Lisanna nodded in agreement, her eyes sparkling. "Three meals a day included! All you have to do is clean two small houses and tend to ten acres of land every day—it's a great deal!"

Lucy, the former heiress, thought of the size of her family's estate and shook her head frantically, her hair whipping around like a rattle.

"I refuse! Absolutely not! Ten acres! People will die there!"

Happy flew over and circled around Lucy, gesturing with his paws.

"Virgo is so weak against Lucy! She couldn't even beat that strange-looking duke and was chased all the way away!"

Virgo appeared out of nowhere, standing behind Lucy in a maid outfit, her hands clasped in front of her, bowing slightly.

"It's a real shame that Princess Natsu's strength doesn't allow me to beat him up."

Lucy stared wide-eyed at Riyao in disbelief.

"Virgo can actually beat Natsu? Riyao, are you that strong?"

The modest Riyao waved his hand and blinked innocently.

"I'm just a weak and powerless healing mage, with just a little bit more magic power~"

Gray and Natsu, who were fighting, stopped simultaneously. Natsu's fist was still on Gray's face, and Gray's ice hammer was still against Natsu's neck. Both of them rolled their eyes.

Cana, who was drinking, almost choked on her alcohol and coughed while patting her chest.

Levy, who was reading, pushed up her glasses, her lips twitching.

Jet and Droy, who were following behind Levy, lowered their heads.

Alzack had been secretly watching Bisca, quietly looked away.

Wakaba and Macao, who were drinking together, exchanged a glance and shook their heads simultaneously.

Loke, who was crouching behind the pillar, almost tripped.

Laxus, who was listening to music on the second floor, snorted coldly.

Freed's lips twitched slightly as he wiped his rapier.

Bickslow was teasing the baby, rolled his eyes.

The vain Evergreen no longer even looks in the mirror.

... The eyes of many guild members twitched simultaneously, each with only one thought in their mind...

"I don't believe you!!"

Mirajane looked helplessly at her lover, reached out and ruffled his hair, feeling both indulgent and exasperated—he'd tricked the newcomer again; he really was a boy who would never grow up.

Riyao grabbed her hand, gently kissed her fingertips, and smiled like a cat that had just stolen some cream, "My dear wife, what would you like to eat tonight?"

"The herbal dessert you made." Mirajane squeezed his fingers, her eyes full of tenderness.

"Yes, ma'am!"