Treasure Hunt, Part Eight

Lisanna moved silently behind Wendy and Carla, her footsteps as light as a cat's.

She had a smile on her face that said, "I don't know anything, but I just want to watch the show."

Riyao tossed the last crystal ball onto the table.

The crystal ball rolled half a circle on the table, bumped into an empty cup, and came to a stop with a clink.

A soft light emanated from the surface of the sphere, spreading outward from its center. Then, a curtain of light was projected from the top of the sphere, spreading out in mid-air.

The edges of the light screen rippled slightly, and the image gradually became clear.

This time, the setting is Riyao Manor.

Sunlight filtered through the branches and leaves of the Parasol Tree, scattering a patch of shimmering gold on the ground.

Little Wendy sat upright on the tree root, her back ramrod straight, a notebook spread out on her knees.

Little Carla sat beside her legs, swishing her tail back and forth, her eyes half-closed, looking lazy.

Wendy, standing outside the light screen, opened her mouth into a large "O" shape.

This was her first time visiting the manor!

Her mind raced, desperately trying to recall what had happened that day.

His fingers unconsciously clenched the hem of his clothes, and his eyebrows furrowed.

Three big question marks popped up above Carla's head; the question marks were almost solidified.

Then something bad happened to her, her pupils contracted, her tail puffed up into a ball of fur, and she lunged at the light screen with all four paws.

Lisanna reacted quickly, pulling her into her arms and holding her tightly.

"Let me go! Don't let me go! Don't let me go!"

"Okay, okay, I won't let go, I won't let you go."

Carla struggled desperately in Lisanna's arms, kicking her four paws wildly in the air and wagging her tail like a fan, but Lisanna's arm remained completely still.

The light screen continued to play.

Little Wendy, holding her notebook, earnestly asked Riyao a question.

After asking each question, she would bend down and jot down two strokes in her notebook, her handwriting neat and meticulous, showing how earnest she was.

Little Riyao was unusually serious for once, squatting down next to her, pointing to the contents of his notes, and patiently explaining.

Occasionally, the corner of his mouth will twitch, revealing an expression that says, "This kid is so funny."

Gray got up from the ground, rubbing his temples, his head still bearing the bump from Erza's earlier attack.

He looked up and saw the image on the screen, and paused in surprise.

"This doesn't seem like a dark history."

As soon as he finished speaking, other people appeared on the light screen.

Little Natsu kicked open the manor gate, the gate slamming against the fence and bouncing twice.

He swaggered in, followed by Little Happy.

Little Happy carried a bulging bundle on his back, bigger than himself, which swayed as he walked.

A long line of people followed behind.

Little Erza was carrying a small bamboo basket, which was empty.

She waved to Little Riyao, said hello, and then walked straight towards the orchard.

She walked briskly and seemed to be in a good mood.

Little Gray changed clothes one step at a time, until he reached the Parasol Tree, when he was left wearing only a pair of shorts.

He looked completely at ease, as if he didn't see anything wrong with it.

Little Riyao stood up expressionlessly, walked over, grabbed Little Gray's arm, and tossed him aside.

Little Gray traced an arc through the air, flew over the manor fence, and disappeared from sight.

Lucy, outside the light screen, squinted, staring at Little Riyao's lips, analyzing each word carefully.

"Riyao should have said was... 'Can't you see there are still children here?'"

Juvia covered her face with both hands, her ten fingers spread wide, staring intently at Little Gray through the gaps in the light screen.

Her eyes gleamed behind her fingers, and a strange humming sound came from her nose.

"Lord Gray was so cute when he was little! So cute, so cute!"

"She's not cute anymore."

Ur smiled and nodded, his wooden chin tapping softly against his collar.

Gray yanked his shirt over his face and shrank back into the chair, wishing he could disappear into the gap in the backrest.

The ears beneath her shirt were so red they looked like they could bleed.

I don't want to face those two women.

I absolutely don't want to.

The light screen continued to play.

The moment Little Happy saw Little Carla, his legs seemed to be nailed to the ground.

It stood there blankly, its mouth slightly open, its eyes fixed on the way Little Carla lay under the tree, its tail swishing back and forth.

The whole world fell silent.

Little Natsu poked Little Happy's head, tapping his finger on its forehead, his mouth opening and closing as if he were saying something.

Judging from its expression, it's probably mocking it.

Little Happy didn't hear it at all.

It pulled a fish out of the bundle on its back.

Little Happy, holding the fish, took his short legs and ran to Little Carla, holding the fish high and wagging his tail like a windmill.

This is clearly an attempt to curry favor.

Little Carla didn't even lift her eyelids. She raised her chin, turned her head to the side, and held her tail high, looking arrogant as if to say, "I don't care."

Undeterred, Little Happy moved closer and held the fish up to Little Carla's nose.

The fish suddenly flicked its tail.

The fishtail drew an arc in the air and slapped Little Carla hard across the face with a loud crack.

Little Carla was sent flying by the blow, tumbling two and a half times in the air before plunging headfirst into the hollow of the Parasol Tree.

Outside the light screen, Natsu was slapping the table and laughing heartily, his hands hitting the surface so hard they were making loud thuds, tears streaming down his face from laughing.

"I remember now! That day, Happy and I had just finished fishing and then went to Riyao Manor to pick fruit, haha..."

Inside the light screen, Little Carla's head was stuck in a tree hole, while her two hind legs were kicking desperately outside.

Little Wendy panicked, ran over and grabbed Little Carla's two hind legs, bracing her feet against the tree trunk, her little face turning red, and pulled with all her might.

Puff!

Little Carla was pulled out, and both the cat and the person lost their balance and fell backward to the ground, rolling around in a heap.

Little Carla sprang up from the ground, her fur standing on end and her tail standing upright like an antenna.

Without saying a word, she rushed forward and unleashed a flurry of cat punches, her claws leaving afterimages in the air, sending Little Happy scurrying for cover and running all over the yard.

Little Lisanna and Little Mirajane emerged from the house.

The two were stunned by the chaotic scene before them, then turned to look at Little Riyao, their eyes filled with "What happened?"

Little Riyao shrugged, a wide grin spreading across his face.

Little Wendy chased after Little Carla, trying to stop her, calling out something under her breath.

He wasn't paying attention and stepped on a loose patch of grass, causing him to fall forward.

A classic flat-ground fall.

Little Carla was firmly pinned down, her four legs kicked twice, and then she stopped moving.

The people inside the light screen laughed, and their laughter echoed through the guild hall.

The people outside the light screen were also laughing so hard they were doubled over.

Wendy's face was flushed, and she buried her face in her hands, only her two burning red ear tips showing.

Carla turned around and buried her face in Lisanna's chest, leaving only her fluffy tail sticking out and shaking.

Riyao shrugged, raising and lowering his shoulders with a relaxed expression as if none of this concerned him.

"This embarrassing incident is alright; it was just a record of Wendy's first visit."

For some reason, Happy pulled another fish out of his bundle, took small steps to Lisanna, and held the fish behind Carla's back.

"Carla, I'm sorry, this is an apology."

Carla peeked half her head out from Lisanna's arms, her lips twitching slightly.

She jumped down, clenched her claws into fists, and punched Happy in the face.

Happy flew back into the bar, making a clattering noise, then fell silent.

Taking advantage of the chaos, Riyao grabbed Mirajane's wrist and pulled her quietly towards the door.

The two of them bent over, tiptoed, and moved as fast as thieves, disappearing outside the guild gate in a few breaths.

When everyone came to their senses from the laughter, they realized that Riyao was gone.

Erza clenched her fists, her knuckles cracking, and her cheeks clenched tightly.

She picked up the Strawberry Sword, strode out of the guild gate, and headed towards the manor.

"Just in time to let the Strawberry Sword draw blood."

Lisanna and Cana exchanged a glance, nodded simultaneously, and followed behind Erza, rubbing their hands together in anticipation.

I have to give him a good beating today to vent my anger.

A few other people followed, but I wonder how many of them were there to beat up Riyao?