Gazania

Riyao drove the carriage directly past the Crocus Town, heading straight for Gazania, where the Sabertooth was located.

The carriage traveled along the plains for most of the day, and by the time it arrived in Gazania, it was already completely dark.

Gazania is built on a hillside, and the streets are lined with warm yellow magic streetlights that illuminate the cobblestone streets.

The shops along the street were still open, and the aroma of malt liquor and the noisy clinking of glasses wafted from the pubs. The streets were bustling with people, almost as lively as during the day.

Riyao stopped the carriage in front of a grand, luxurious hotel, tightened the reins, and yawned.

The car door was pushed open, and the girls, who had been cooped up inside all day, jumped out one after another.

Lucy stretched, rubbed her sore neck, and looked around at the brightly lit street scene.

"So this is where Sabertooth is located? It looks quite prosperous."

"Towns with powerful guilds are generally very prosperous, and surrounding villages will flock there to form even more prosperous towns. Powerful guilds are much more useful than the Magic Council."

Mirajane took a lightweight handbag from the car and casually tidied Little Wendy's hair as she rubbed her eyes.

Cana jumped out of the car carrying a flask of liquor, her eyes lighting up at the aroma.

Lisanna pulled Levy look at the sign, while Carla followed at Wendy's feet, wagging her tail.

Mirajane led Lucy and the others into the lobby to check in, while Riyao leaned against the side of the carriage, bending down to tidy the blankets under the seats.

Just then, a series of thunderous footsteps suddenly came from the end of the long street.

A figure came running from afar, moving at an extremely fast speed, raising a cloud of dust.

The street stalls swayed in the wind, and passersby quickly moved to the sides to avoid them.

"Mr. Riyao!!"

His voice was so loud you could hear it halfway down the street; it was full of energy.

When Riyao heard someone call his name, he turned around and saw a figure waving in his direction from the dust.

The newcomer was none other than Sting, the current president of Sabertooth!

Rogue, draped in a black cloak, gave chase, the two cats bouncing and meowing as they were jostled on his shoulders.

Sting on the brakes and came to a smooth stop in front of Riyao.

The soles of his shoes left two black marks on the stone pavement, and the resulting airflow ruffled the stray hairs on Riyao's forehead.

Sting's eyes lit up, and he was panting heavily when he grabbed Riyao's wrists without saying a word.

"Mr. Riyao, are you planning to join our guild?"

As he spoke, he grasped Riyao's hand, his face full of anticipation, his eyes shining like light bulbs.

His large face was almost touching Riyao's nose, and he was laughing like a happy golden retriever.

Riyao shook his hand, but couldn't break free.

His lips twitched twice, and he took a half-step back in an annoyed manner.

"Let go! Who's here to join Sabertooth? We're just tourists. Get lost, don't touch me."

He swung his arm more forcefully, but Sting held on tightly.

Not only did he not let go, Sting also leaned forward, howling loudly and refusing to release him.

Riyao twisted his wrist, his eyes turning cold.

"If you keep holding my hand, I'll smash your two balls when we get back."

Upon hearing this, Rogue, who was standing at the back, turned pale instantly.

Without a second's hesitation, Rogue rushed forward, grabbed Sting by the throat, and dragged him backward with force.

"You idiot, let go!"

Sting was strangled until he saw stars, his hands went limp, and he was on the verge of death.

His eyes rolled back, his tongue lolled out, and his hands finally slid off Riyao's arms.

Riyao rubbed his wrist, looking speechlessly at the two clowns.

Startled, Lector rushed over and patted Rogue's leg with his paw.

"Brother Rogue, Brother Sting is about to be strangled! Let go!"

Frosch also raised her short paw. "Fro thinks so too!"

Rogue quickly released his grip.

Sting lay on the ground, panting heavily, clutching his neck and coughing violently, his eyes filled with accusation.

He rubbed his red neck, looking extremely aggrieved.

At that moment, the hotel door was pushed open.

Mirajane had checked into his accommodation and came out to stand next to Riyao.

Lucy and the others were checking their luggage with the keys when Mirajane walked down the steps with a smile, looking at Sting on the ground and Rogue with a serious expression.

How did you know we were coming? Was coming here a last-minute decision?

Mirajane asked, somewhat curiously.

Sting, who was on the ground, sniffed, scrambled to his feet, and explained while rubbing his neck.

"Oh, well, some guild members were just coming back and saw you on the way. I thought you were here to join our guild, so I rushed over."

Riyao sighed, looked at the red mark on his neck, and shook his head helplessly.

He raised his hand and slapped Sting on the head, a green light appearing in his palm.

A cool sensation spread, and the soreness vanished completely in the blink of an eye.

Sting touched his neck and revived on the spot.

Before Riyao could stop, Sting lunged forward and grabbed Riyao's leg tightly.

"Mr. Riyao, please join our guild! We'll even let you be the guild leader!"

Sting tilted his head back and shouted, his eyes brimming with tears as he promoted his guild.

Riyao swayed his legs with disdain, feeling as if he were dragging a huge iron weight.

"Hey, you're actually trying to repay kindness with enmity? That's going too far! Besides, if I join your guild, won't your young lady run away tonight?"

Riyao shook his leg in disgust, trying to get rid of the irritating plaster on it.

What the hell? They actually want me to go to work and deal with a bunch of lousy stuff?

Just as Sting stubbornly clung to him, a ripple appeared in the air behind him.

The space seemed to have been crushed and wrinkled.

The next second, Sting vanished into thin air.

A muffled thud came from the flowerbed on the street corner in the distance; Sting had fallen straight into the soil.

The spatial ripples subsided, and a tall, elegant figure emerged from the shadows.

Minerva came out.

She was wearing a dark blue, high-slit cheongsam, holding a small folding fan, and her expression carried a hint of helplessness.

"I'm sorry to have troubled you all, President. May I ask what brings you here?"

Riyao patted the dust off his trousers.

"Just here for a stroll, nothing important. By the way, Minerva, could you open the passage to Edolas?"

He asked casually, not holding out much hope, as the magical power required to break through the world's barrier was enormous.

Minerva raised an eyebrow and pondered for a moment.

A wisp of spatial magic flickered at her fingertips, then she shook her head.

"Edolas? Is it that parallel world to our Earth-land? I can't do that."

Riyao sighed, realizing he wouldn't be able to see Old Mys any longer, and carried Mirajane into the hotel.

Unable to see how overwhelmed Mystogan as king, Riyao didn't dwell on it much and led Mirajane up the steps.

Sting, who had just pulled the grass off his head, yelled and tried to rush over.

Sting tried to step forward, but was held back by Rogue and Minerva.

Rogue grabbed his left arm, while Minerva pressed a folding fan against his forehead.

Sting was thrashing about and yelling, while Lector and Frosch frantically tried to calm him down.

Riyao waved without turning his head, then carried Mirajane and pushed open the hotel door.