The Guild Master Cries and Throws a Tantrum

Makarov felt he had failed in his management and wanted to step down and hand over the reins to a more capable person.

He was hunched over, dragging a large, bulging bag of luggage, slowly making his way towards the guild gate, his face full of frustration and grievance, looking like a bullied old child.

"No need to persuade me anymore; I have failed my predecessor."

He waved without turning his head, his voice trembling with emotion, but he didn't stop walking.

Upon seeing this, the guild members swarmed around them all at once.

Macao and Wakaba grabbed the large package tightly from either side, tearing it out of shape and nearly spilling the clothes inside.

Elfman hugged Makarov from behind around the waist, while Cana and Levy each grabbed one of his legs.

"President, don't go! What will we do without you?"

Lisanna looked up at her with her little face upturned, her voice trembling with tears.

"No one but you can keep these bastards in check."

Wakaba gritted his teeth and pulled back with all his might, beads of sweat appearing on his forehead.

"President, I'll show you my limited-edition weekly magazine!"

Macao shouted at the top of his lungs, his face showing a desperate expression.

Riyao strolled leisurely through the crowd, leaned down to Makarov's ear, a faint smile playing on his lips, and lowered his voice.

"Old man, before you leave, please pay back the billions you owe me."

Makarov's gaze had already softened, but upon hearing Riyao's words, he shuddered, and the hesitation on his face vanished instantly.

His eyes widened suddenly, and his short legs kicked the ground as if they were springs, straining with all his might to rush towards the guild gate, shouting all the while.

"Let me go! Let all of you go!"

Mirajane had somehow appeared in front of Makarov, his arms slightly outstretched, blocking his path.

She tilted her head slightly, revealing her signature sweet smile, so gentle it was like a spring breeze, yet for some reason, that smile also exuded an aura that made people dare not act rashly.

"President, where are you planning to go? I heard you're thinking of abandoning us lovely kids."

Mirajane's voice was as gentle as if he were coaxing a child, but his gaze was fixed firmly on Makarov's face.

Makarov looked up at Mirajane in front of him, then turned to look at the smiling Riyao behind him, his lips trembling slightly.

Suddenly, he lay down on the ground and rolled around like a spoiled child.

"Waaaah, I also want to live a happy retirement life. I've worked hard for most of my life..."

He rolled around wiping away non-existent tears, his short legs kicking wildly in the air, looking both pitiful and funny.

The guild members looked at each other, unsure whether to laugh or cry.

Riyao looked at the old man rolling around on the ground, sighed helplessly, rubbed his temples, and spoke.

"I'll cover all of Magnolia's compensation this time, okay?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Makarov's rolling motion came to an abrupt halt.

He remained lying on his side, one eye peeking open a crack as he glanced sideways at Riyao, his gaze filled with suspicion and anticipation.

"Really?"

His voice still carried the lingering echo of his earlier crying, but his tone had clearly changed.

"Really."

Riyao spread his hands and nodded.

"Not a loan?"

Makarov sat up abruptly, bracing himself on the ground with both hands and stretching his neck forward.

"It's not a loan."

Riyao suppressed a laugh and confirmed it in a serious tone.

Makarov paused for a second, then sprang to his feet with a somersault.

He strode up to the large package, kicked it cleanly into the corner, straightened his back, calmly straightened his collar, and cleared his throat.

"Since everyone wants me to stay, then I will continue to be the chairman."

He put his hands behind his back, raised his chin slightly, and wore a smug little expression on his face.

"You won't be able to make me step down so easily in the future!"

The guild members were taken aback at first, then burst into laughter, which echoed throughout the guild hall.

Natsu laughed so hard he slapped the table, Gray clutched his stomach and bent over, and even the usually composed Erza couldn't help but turn her face away, her shoulders shaking.

Ur stepped out from the crowd, approached Makarov, and whispered that he had something to discuss with the chairman.

Riyao glanced at Ur's expression and silently followed.

As soon as the three entered the chairman's office, before the door was even fully closed, Gray crept over and pressed himself against the door like a gecko, his ears pressed tightly against the door panel.

Gray was listening intently when he suddenly felt a bit cramped next to him.

He frowned and turned around, only to be startled to find that a crowd had gathered behind him: Mirajane, Levy, Lucy, Happy, Natsu... not one was missing, all pressed against the door in the exact same pose as him.

Lucy lowered her voice, her eyes gleaming with gossip.

"Could it be that the chairman plans to choose Riyao as his successor?"

Levy nodded her little head, tapping her chin lightly with two fingers.

"I think so too. Senior Riyao is indeed the most suitable candidate."

Mirajane shook her head slightly, a knowing smile playing on her lips.

"Riyao said a long time ago that he didn't want to be the president anymore, and the president won't force him."

Happy tilted his head, resting his chin on one paw as if deep in thought, while his tail swayed slowly behind him.

"Then we should definitely have Riyao buy fish to compensate the residents! Aye!"

Everyone rolled their eyes at Happy.

What they didn't know was that there were more than three people in the chairman's office.

As soon as Makarov entered the office and saw the person standing inside, he leaned back abruptly, almost losing his balance, his mouth agape wide enough to fit an egg.

Riyao wasn't particularly surprised; he merely raised an eyebrow slightly and casually waved.

"Hey, isn't this Ultear, the culprit who destroyed the Magic Council headquarters?"

Ultear stood by the window, her posture elegant. Upon hearing this, she bowed slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"Long time no see, Badass Kras."

"Pfft..."

Upon hearing the name, Riyao's cheeks puffed out, and he couldn't help but burst into laughter.

He quickly covered his mouth with his hand, but his shoulders were shaking uncontrollably.

Ur stepped forward, gently took Ultear's hand, and turned to look at Makarov, his gaze filled with a mixture of solemnity and tenderness.

"Chairman Makarov, Ultear is my daughter."

Makarov's eyes widened, his wrinkles deepening, and he looked at Ur, then at Ultear, speechless for a moment.

Riyao quickly wiped the smile off his face, put on a surprised expression, opened his mouth into an "O" shape, and even gasped for breath.

Ultear's eye twitched, and a faint tic appeared on his forehead.

"Riyao, you don't need to be surprised. You already know the truth, what's there to be surprised about!"

Riyao scratched the back of his head, chuckled, and looked up at the ceiling.

"Haha... I always feel like I should be a little surprised at times like this."

Although Makarov had a bad impression of the Magic Council, his wariness towards this woman who had once destroyed the Magic Council's headquarters made him instinctively tense up.

However, seeing Riyao's relaxed and casual reaction, his tense shoulders slowly relaxed again; it seemed he wasn't an enemy.

He remained silent for a moment, his gaze sweeping back and forth between Ur and Ultear several times, before finally speaking in a deep voice.

So what exactly happened?