The Golden Eggs

Riyao casually crossed his legs, showing no sign of tension whatsoever.

Since we already received Mirajane's chocolate a long time ago, there's nothing to worry about.

The main reason was that Mirajane was worried that Riyao would have bad luck and make the wrong choice, so she gave him the chocolate in advance.

After all, Riyao's luck is notoriously bad. He was ranked last in the last draw, and the time before that, he rolled seven ones in a row. Mirajane was really worried about letting him choose for himself.

Riyao touched the chocolate box that Mirajane had made by hand in his pocket, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up.

An ominous purple smoke billowed from the direction of the kitchen, seemingly reaching the doorway and seeping out through the cracks in the door.

Some of the more timid members trembled and huddled in a corner, too afraid to approach the kitchen.

They were all worried about choosing Erza's chocolate later.

Macao came over, plopped down next to Riyao, and put his arm around Riyao's shoulder.

"Riyao, our lives are in your hands soon. You're a healing mage, so if we get poisoned, you have to save us immediately."

Riyao chuckled and shook his white coat.

"Don't worry, I guarantee you'll be brought back to life."

While the group was fooling around, the kitchen door finally opened.

Mirajane led the way, bringing Erza and the others out.

The girls all wore smug smiles, some with flour and chocolate stains on their faces, but they were all beaming with joy.

They also pushed out a large cart filled with neatly arranged, golden, egg-shaped containers that glittered under the lights.

To prevent Natsu from cheating with his dog-like nose, Riyao spent a huge sum of money to purchase a batch of egg-shaped protective shells to hide the chocolates inside, making them available for everyone to choose from.

Each golden egg was exactly the same; there was no difference between them.

Riyao stood up from the sofa, walked over and stood next to Mirajane, naturally taking her hand and interlocking their fingers.

The two walked hand in hand to a bench and sat down, facing the crowd in the hall as if watching a play.

Mirajane leaned on Riyao's shoulder, a slight smile playing on her lips.

Who do you think will choose Erza?

Riyao thought for a moment.

"It depends on luck, but I think Natsu has the best chance; his luck is just as bad as mine."

Erza stood beside the cart, hands on her hips. She had changed out of her armor into casual clothes, but her imposing presence remained undiminished.

She glanced around at the male members present, cleared her throat, and announced in a loud voice.

"All the chocolates are here! They're all mixed up, we don't even know which is which! Once opened, they have to be eaten!"

The last sentence sent a chill down the spines of the male members present, and several of them turned deathly pale instantly.

Σ( ° △ °|||)

"You have to finish it?"

"You must finish it."

Erza repeated it with unwavering conviction, her gaze piercing.

"That's the rule. No matter who made the chocolate, and no matter what it tastes like, once you open it, you have to finish it. No waste allowed."

The hall was silent for a moment, then erupted in a wail.

"This isn't gambling, it's gambling with your life!"

What if I end up eating Erza's?

"I don't want to die..."

Riyao sat next to him, laughing so hard he almost spat out the grapes in his mouth.

Natsu wasn't afraid. He squeezed to the front of the cart and sniffed each golden egg intently, pressing his nose against the shell and sniffing left and right, trying to detect the differences.

His nostrils flared, like a diligent search and rescue dog, as he sniffed each golden egg.

"This smells a little sweet... this smells... sweet too..."

Natsu became increasingly confused as he listened.

"Why are they all the same?!"

Wakaba stood to the side, manipulating his smoke magic, trying to let the smoke seep into the golden egg to see the chocolate inside.

He closed his eyes and concentrated, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. Smoke coiled around the surface of the golden egg like snakes, trying to find a crack to slip through.

The others also used their own unique abilities: some used magic to sense the egg, some weighed it in their hands, some tapped on the golden egg to listen to the sound, and some even tried to use X-ray vision to see through the eggshell.

Unfortunately, Riyao had already considered this and blocked all possibilities.

Riyao stood up cheerfully, put his hands on his hips, and announced triumphantly.

"Stop trying to probe! I've added a spell inside the golden egg; any detection magic will be blocked. Dream on if you want to find out what's inside, hahaha!"

He laughed like a villainous demon king, while Mirajane helplessly covered her face beside him, but the corners of her mouth still couldn't help but turn up.

Natsu lowered his head in dejection.

"Riyao, you're too cunning!"

Riyao made a face at him.

"Fairness and impartiality depend entirely on luck."

Erza took a distinctly different golden egg from the cart. This golden egg was a size larger than the others and had a red ribbon tied to it.

She handed it to Makarov, her tone unusually gentle.

"President, this is for you. It contains chocolates from everyone. Each person made one and put it inside; it's a token of everyone's affection."

Makarov took the golden egg, his aged hands trembling slightly. Holding the golden egg, which was the same size as him, he was overcome with tears, which streamed down his face and even his nose was running.

(*꒦ິ⌓꒦ີ)

He sobbed, "You bunch of brats..."

Erza he was just touched and patted Makarov on the back, comforting him, "Master, of course we remember you."

Riyao leaned closer, patted Makarov on the shoulder, and whispered, "Grandpa, don't cry. If there's Erza's chocolate in your big golden egg, I'll keep my mature appearance and heal you after you eat it."

Makarov cried even harder, not from gratitude, but from fear.

(´இVanஇ`)

"I don't want to eat Erza's chocolate!"

Choose to begin.

Juvia had her eyes glued to her golden egg from the very beginning, and she had secretly made a mark on it that only she knew about.

Although Riyao said that markings were not allowed, she still placed a tiny, almost invisible water droplet at the bottom.

Her eyes searched the crowd, and when she found it wasn't Gray's, she glared at the person who had it.

An unsuspecting male member reached out and touched the golden egg marked by Juvia, and immediately felt a chill run down his spine.

Turning around, he saw Juvia staring at him with eerie eyes, steam rising from her head, and a strange smile on her lips.

The male member was so startled that he pulled his hand back and quickly grabbed another golden egg.

Juvia nodded in satisfaction, then continued to watch the next person who approached.

Gray walked to the cart, patted the golden eggs like he was picking watermelons, listened to the sound, and then casually picked one up.

Juvia bit her handkerchief, tears welling in her eyes. That wasn't her golden egg! How could her Lord Gray eat chocolate made by another woman!

Seeing Juvia biting her handkerchief and crying pitifully, Gray hesitated for a moment, then reached out and placed his hand on another golden egg. Juvia continued to cry, because that wasn't hers either.

Gray changed again, and Juvia was still crying.

I tried another one, and she was still crying.

Gray sighed helplessly. After exchanging four or five golden eggs, Juvia finally showed an expectant look in her eyes, clasped her hands in front of her chest, her face flushed, and steam billowed from the top of her head.

Gray resignedly took the golden egg, wondering how he had been so easily swayed by a woman's tears.

Juvia was so happy that she spun around in circles, the steam almost blowing through the ceiling.

Natsu didn't think too much about it. He strode over, grabbed a golden egg, swung it around in his arms, and grinned.

"Never mind! Let's open blind boxes!"

Happy flew over, grabbed a golden egg with his little paws, and flapped his wings.

"Aye! Happy some too!"

Freed strode over with elegant steps, tossing his green hair, and snatched away three golden eggs with a confident smile on his lips.

"Beautiful ladies, I accept all your sentiments."

Jet and Troy rushed toward the cart at the same time, standing side by side, their eyes scanning the golden eggs, trying to find Levy's.

Which one do you think is Levy's?

"I don't know, but I feel like this feels off."

"Stop trying to create it, you can't. The Riyao has been enhanced with magic."

"I know, but I just want to try."

The two eventually each took a golden egg, exchanged a glance, and their eyes showed both competition and tacit understanding.

Alzack blushed as he walked to the cart, his hand hovering over the golden egg for a long time, hesitant to drop it.

Bisca secretly watched him from the girls' table, her hands cupping her face, her fingers trembling with nervousness.

Alzack took a deep breath, picked up a golden egg, and glanced back at Bisca. Bisca quickly lowered her head, her ears turning as red as if they were about to bleed.

Gajeel walked over chewing on a piece of iron, grabbed one with a disdainful look, and stuffed it into his mouth without even looking at it, chewing it up shell and all.

"Hey! You have to crack the shell before you eat it!" Riyao shouted.

Gajeel replied vaguely, "Too much trouble."

One by one, the members present received golden eggs; some were excited, some were apprehensive, and some looked ashen-faced.

The number of golden eggs on the cart is decreasing, with only a few left.

Riyao took out a crystal ball and, looking at the diverse group of members in the hall, gave them a knowing smile.

"Alright, now for the most exciting part."

He raised the crystal ball, began recording, and muttered something under his breath.

"The moment of opening the egg, recording a beautiful moment in life."

Mirajane leaned on his shoulder, looking at the men in the hall who were both expectant and afraid, and couldn't help but laugh.

"You just love to make things difficult for people."

Riyao lowered his head and kissed Mirajane's forehead.

That's life.

In the hall, the men held golden eggs, while the women craned their necks in anticipation; the air was filled with a tense yet sweet atmosphere.

Fairy Tail is never short of fun.