A Magic Council Full of Mixed Company

The Magic Council's emblem was engraved on the greyish-white stone walls, and the towering spires cast long shadows in the sunlight.

The guards at the gate stood ramrod straight. When they saw Riyao and Erza approaching, they instinctively straightened their chests, then recognized Riyao and immediately bowed and made way for them.

Riyao navigated the corridor with practiced ease, making several turns before stopping in front of a carved wooden door.

He didn't even knock; he just pushed the door open and walked in, as if it were his own home.

The frogman following behind frantically wiped the slime off his face.

Along the way, it was so nervous that it was sweating profusely, and the slime seeping from its green skin covered its face, making it look like a drenched frog that had just crawled out of a swamp.

I, a frog, have lived a life of constant walking on thin ice.

Riyao raised his hand and waved, greeting everyone with a grin.

"Grandpa Yajima, I've come to see you!"

In the office, Yajima sat behind a large desk, his gray hair neatly combed back, a pair of reading glasses perched on his nose, and a document in his hand.

Hearing Riyao's voice, he put down the official document in his hand, took off his reading glasses, rubbed the bridge of his nose, and sighed.

"So Riyao is here too..."

His tone carried a hint of helplessness mixed with affection, as if he were looking at a grandson who always loved to join in the fun.

"Actually, it's nothing major, just Erza going through the motions."

Riyao walked unceremoniously to Yajima's desk, picked up a bunch of grapes from the fruit plate, popped one into his mouth, chewed it, and then picked another.

"I know those guys care about their image."

He spoke casually as he ate grapes, as if he were talking about the weather.

"They don't want to admit they lost Lullaby, so they're looking for a scapegoat. I just came to see Grandpa Yajima."

After he finished speaking, he popped another grape into his mouth, his cheeks puffed out, and he looked completely innocent.

Yajima couldn't help but laugh at Riyao's overly familiar manner and nodded with satisfaction.

"As expected of Fairy Tail's only good child."

He stroked his gray beard, his tone tinged with a touch of melancholy.

"Unlike other brats who are always causing trouble, Old Makarov has it tough raising such a bunch of little devils."

Erza was standing nearby, scratched her cheek awkwardly upon hearing this and looked away.

She recalled the destruction she caused after each battle, the tables and chairs she smashed when Natsu and Gray fought, and the walls of the guild hall that needed constant repairs...

Okay, she was one of those little ones too.

The two chatted with Yajima for a while, and Riyao took half a plate of grapes before getting up to accompany Erza to the courtroom.

The sound of their footsteps echoed on the stone floor of the corridor.

Just around the corner, a figure blocked their way.

Long blue hair, a gentle face, and a faint smile at the corners of his mouth— Siegrain, or rather, Jellal.

He smiled, his gaze passing over Riyao and looking directly at Erza, completely ignoring Riyao beside him.

"Long time no see, Erza."

His voice was gentle and calm, like a spring breeze.

Erza's body tensed instantly, a complex emotion flashing in her reddish-brown eyes—surprise, anger, and something else she couldn't quite put her finger on.

Her voice carried suppressed anger.

"... Siegrain... why are you here?"

Siegrain a smile, his hands behind his back, his posture relaxed.

"Don't be surprised, I've only come to see you in my Thought Projection '."

His gaze remained fixed solely on Erza, as if she were the only person in the world.

"You were arrested this time not because you were truly guilty of a heinous crime."

After watching the show unfold for a while, Riyao finally couldn't hold back any longer.

He clicked his tongue, crossed his arms, and tilted his head to look at Siegrain.

"Oh, Lord Siegrain, are you trying to seduce our guild's Titania?"

His tone was full of sarcasm, and a mocking smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

"They have no sincerity at all! They're not even willing to send a physical form, just a Thought Projection? I don't agree to this marriage."

Erza her forehead, her temples throbbing.

"Riyao, stop messing around. I just know him."

Riyao completely ignored Erza's explanation, acting like a know-it-all, patted her on the shoulder, and spoke earnestly.

"You don't understand, guys like that are usually jerks."

He held up one finger and analyzed it in a serious manner.

"First, he only dares to meet you in Thought Projection, not in his real body, which shows he has a guilty conscience; second, he says 'you're not guilty of any heinous crime,' but he still arrested you, a typical hypocrite; third, look at the way he looks at you..."

He gestured towards Siegrain with his lip.

"It's all scheming. Things won't end well with him."

Tsk tsk tsk, you think you can manipulate Erza in front of me? No way.

These words provoked Siegrain into a slight jolt. His composed smile froze for a moment, his blue eyebrows twitched slightly, and his voice rose a few decibels.

"Shut up, Riyao! This is between Erza and me, it has nothing to do with you!"

Riyao slightly curled the corners of his mouth, his eyes playful, like a cat teasing its prey.

"Oh no, oh no, I was right!"

Siegrain's expression changed, his lips moved, but he only managed to squeeze out one sentence.

I don't know what you're talking about.

After saying that, he turned and left, his pace much faster than when he came, his back view showing a hint of embarrassment and guilt.

As Riyao watched Siegrain's departing figure, he puffed out his chest like a victorious rooster, hands on his hips.

"Hmph, you think you can mess with me?"

He secretly plotted: the main purpose of this trip was to confront Jellal, who was always thinking about persecuting Erza. He planned to trap him in a sack and knock him out with a club.

Yajima: I've become the clown?

He turned to look at Erza, who was standing there, her gaze somewhat unfocused, lost in thought.

Without saying a word, Riyao reached out and grabbed Erza's wrist, pulling her toward the courtroom.

"Let's go, let's stop spacing out, let's finish this quickly and go home."

Erza stumbled as she was pulled, but regaining her senses, she reluctantly followed.

As the courtroom doors opened, a solemn and oppressive atmosphere enveloped the room.

Beneath the towering dome, several rows of stone seats are arranged in a semi-circle, where the councilors sit upright with serious expressions.

The judge's bench was set up in the very center, and the defendant's seat was below it.

Riyao strode in, showing no sign of nervousness whatsoever. He looked around and waved to the council members.

"Hey, grandpas, it's been a long time!"

His gaze swept across the crowd, then suddenly stopped on one spot— Ultear.

She sat on the council panel, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders, her face delicate and elegant, a faint smile playing on her lips.

She was wearing the Magic Council's uniform, but she managed to make it look uniquely stylish.

Riyao walked over with a smile, hands in his pockets, his tone relaxed.

"Oh, it's been a long time, Ultear."

He looked her up and down a few times, his gaze sweeping over her before finally settling on her face, lingering for a moment.

You've gained quite a bit of weight.

Ultear's lips twitched slightly, but she quickly regained her elegant composure, covering her mouth and chuckling softly.

"Riyao Sunrise is still as fond of joking as ever~"

Her voice was sweet and composed, but a barely perceptible glint of coldness flashed deep in her eyes.

Erza stood to the side, silently observing everything—she could clearly see Riyao scrutinizing Ultear.

She silently made a mental note: Go back and let Mirajane teach Riyao a lesson.

Riyao withdrew his gaze and sighed inwardly: This courtroom is a melting pot of all sorts of people.

Almost all influential forces have infiltrated the Magic Council.

Even Fairy Tail sent an undercover agent in; although it wasn't very useful, it was still proof of their status as a top-tier power.

The Tartaros bribed Councilor Crawford Himm in an attempt to detonate Face and usher the world into the Age of Pyromancy—a byproduct of this scheme.

Ultear, the spy from Grimoire Heart, is sitting on it, presumably to provide cover for Grimoire Heart. It couldn't just be for the purpose of destroying the Magic Council Building, could it?

That would be too degrading.

Jellal is considered to be part of the Oración Seis forces, since Brain was the mastermind behind brainwashing Jellal.

The legislators on the platform began a lengthy trial.

"Erza Scarlet! You and your companions caused serious damage to public facilities during your campaign against the Eisenwald!"

A bald congressman slammed his fist on the table, spitting as he spoke.

"You've practically razed Clover Station to the ground!"

"Not only that!"

Another fat councilor chimed in, his face trembling.

"Your Fairy Tail guild's acts of sabotage over the years are simply too numerous to count!"

He opened a thick notebook and began to read, "Last July, vandalism occurred in Hargeon Public Square..."

He became more and more agitated as he read, his voice growing louder and louder, as if he had personally experienced all this destruction.

Some members of parliament also spoke up for Fairy Tail.

"Eisenwald is a dark guild; Fairy Tail has done a great job this time."

"Without their intervention, Lullaby might have actually succeeded in the assassination."

But these voices were quickly drowned out by a chorus of condemnation.

Most of those who oppose Fairy Tail are older council members. They've long disliked Fairy Tail; these unruly brats are always causing trouble, it's practically a challenge to the Magic Council's authority.

Riyao sat in the audience, arms crossed, speechlessly watching the group of old men spouting nonsense.

He secretly decided: I won't take their orders next time. If I get the chance, I'll put a sack over their necks and knock them out with a club.

The trial lasted a long time, and Riyao's patience was gradually wearing thin.

Several times he wanted to stand up and confront these old men, but each time Erza stopped him with a look.

Erza sat in the dock, appearing dignified, but in reality, she kept one hand on the direction of the Riyao, ready to grab him if he stood up.

Fine beads of sweat appeared on her back, as if she feared that Riyao might overturn the entire courtroom if he was displeased.

Finally--

Speaker Crawford Sim banged the gavel, the dull sound echoing through the courtroom.

"Alright!"

His voice was old and dignified, suppressing all the noise.

"In the Eisenwald incident, Fairy Tail's merits and demerits cancel each other out."

He paused, then added.

"However, we still need to pay for the maintenance costs of Clover Station."

Riyao heard this, he almost rolled his eyes to the heavens.

Do merits and demerits cancel each other out?

They saved all the association presidents' lives, and now they have to pay compensation?

These old guys have skin as thick as a city wall.

He took a deep breath, just about to stand up and say something.

Erza's hand shot out like lightning, grabbing his shoulder with a force as strong as an iron clamp.

She stared straight ahead expressionlessly, but the hand pressing on Riyao's shoulder was trembling slightly.

"Don't... speak..."

She squeezed out three words through gritted teeth.

Riyao glanced at Erza's ashen face, then at the group of whispering old men on the stage, and finally swallowed back the words he was about to say.

Forget it, I'll put a sack over it another day.