Caracole Island

On the Caracole Island, off the coast of the Alacitasia Continent.

The heatwave pounded on the beach, making a row of stilted wooden houses sway.

The dock was filled with fancy tourist boats of all sizes.

The area under the coconut trees was full of tourists wearing floral shorts and sunbathing.

The Fairy Tail group showed no sense of urgency about infiltrating the enemy camp, and strolled around the island as if they were on vacation.

Stepping onto the soft white sand, despite their intention to sneak into the territory of the Alvarez Empire to rescue someone, they managed to turn it into a guild team-building event.

This island is frequented by many people, mostly on vacation.

Foreign travelers of all skin colors haggled over prices at the stalls, while the air was filled with the aroma of grilled tropical fish and fruit juice.

Even with a few more troublemakers, it didn't cause much of a stir.

On this island of pleasure, you can see drunkards rolling around in the streets eight times a day, and nobody even gives them a second glance.

The group covered up their guild emblems, which might seem like a bit like burying their heads in the sand, but it did reduce a lot of trouble.

"Riyao, I want to eat that!"

Mirajane pulled Riyao toward the Starry Ice Cream stand.

She changed into a light blue floral dress, and her long, silvery-white hair was styled into a bun at the back of her head.

Her fair little hands tugged at Riyao's arm and swayed back and forth, her big eyes fixed on the colorful shaved ice at the ice cream stand.

"Slow down, slow down, this stall won't collapse."

Riyao, wearing flip-flops, carrying a bag of tropical fruit, and sipping a straw, lazily let his wife drag him along.

He slapped the money on the stall and took a large star-shaped ice cream.

The two happily ate their star-shaped ice cream, looking just like a young couple on a date.

Mirajane scooped out a large spoonful, tasted it herself, her eyes crinkling with laughter, and then held the spoon to Riyao's lips.

Riyao opened her mouth and took it in; the cool, sweet and sour milk flavor melted in her mouth.

The two sat with their heads close together, chatting and laughing.

Lucy's lips twitched; she couldn't understand these two at all.

Is it appropriate for us to be so openly strolling around here?

She lowered her voice, gripped the backpack straps with both hands, and shrank her neck like a wary quail.

Apart from the two Riyao characters.

Natsu, Happy, Erza, Wendy, Carla, Gray, Juvia were also there, all looking relaxed and on vacation.

On a long wooden bench by the street, Natsu was fighting with Happy over a piece of grilled meat, their mouths brimming with the delicious aroma.

They had been eating dry rations for a year in the wilderness, and now, smelling the sauce-covered roasted meat, they were frantically stuffing meat bones into their mouths.

"Happy, eat your fill! You have to eat your way back from a year's worth of losses!"

Happy was holding a piece of grilled fish fillet in his two paws, his cheeks bulging, and he was making swallowing noises.

"Aye! Riyao is a good person."

If Riyao hadn't generously given them a bag of money, they'd still be picking up seashells on the beach right now.

On the other side, Juvia was pressed against Gray.

On this sweltering day, Juvia clung to Gray's arm like a koala, her eyes turning into pink hearts.

Gray unbuttoned his shirt again, his face slightly flushed, his eyes darting around nervously.

"Lord Gray, Juvia also wants to eat star-shaped ice cream like them."

Juvia pointed at Riyao and Mirajane, who were sharing an ice cream, her voice sickeningly sweet, and rubbed her little face against Gray's arm.

"Oh, isn't it a bit stingy for two people to share one?"

Gray scratched his head, stubbornly turning his face away.

He has money in his pocket, wouldn't it be better to buy two and each eat their own?

"Lord Gray dislikes Juvia... Waaaaah..."

At the souvenir stall, Erza held an umbrella studded with seashells, examining it from all angles.

She was also carrying three large paper bags filled with local specialties.

"This looks good, I'll buy it."

Erza picked up a conch shell music box, wound it up with her fingers, listened to the tinkling sound, and nodded in satisfaction.

Behind her, Wendy and Carla were choosing straw hats.

It was Wendy's first time playing Ishgar, and she found it very novel, so she dragged Carla around to look at everything.

The little girl's eyes were wide open; she would touch the fluorescent coral by the roadside one moment, and then squat down to watch the hermit crabs crawl by the next.

Carla sighed, crossed her arms, and followed behind, nagging Wendy not to fall while helping her straighten her bow.

Along the bustling street, everyone was doing their own thing—some were shopping, some were eating.

Lucy felt out of place.

She stood in the middle of the road, looking at Natsu eating meat on her left, then at the two couples showing affection on her right, and finally at Erza picking out seashells.

Am I the only normal person left now?!

Lucy finally couldn't hold back anymore and screamed, stomping her feet frantically on the sand.

Riyao swallowed the last bite of ice cream, heard the call, and swayed over.

He chewed on a wooden spoon, lazily surveying the flustered, sarcastic girl in front of him.

"How did you manage to vent all the pent-up frustrations you've had for a year? Relax, didn't Laxus and the others successfully infiltrate? Don't be nervous, you're obviously a spy."

Riyao pointed at Lucy.

Her furtive glances and furtive movements made her stand out in the crowd.

The tourists strolling around all stared at her as if she were a strange person.

On this resort island, her tense and wary demeanor seemed to scream, "I have a problem."

Before Lucy could retort, the heavy sound of leather boots stomping on the ground came from around the corner.

A dozen or so imperial soldiers, clad in black armor and wielding magical spears, strode over.

The tall soldier blocked Lucy in the middle of the road, staring down at her.

"Hey, someone reported you for acting suspiciously. Who exactly are you?"

The Imperial squad leader, with a stern face, stared intently at Lucy's pale face with his triangular eyes.

"Ah, I... I just came here..."

Lucy stammered, unable to come up with a reason for a moment.

Her heart was pounding in her throat, her mind went blank, she forgot all the lines she had just memorized, and her tongue was tied in knots in her mouth.

The soldiers' eyes sharpened, and they all took a step forward, surrounding Lucy even more tightly.

The surrounding tourists all looked over, Riyao and his group also glanced over.

The once bustling street suddenly fell silent, and tourists who were shopping stopped to watch the spectacle.

Lucy looked nervously at Riyao, trying to get help.

In her eyes, Riyao was strong and quick-witted, and she could easily fool him with any excuse at this time.

But Lucy clearly underestimated someone's wicked sense of humor.

Of all the reliable options, she chose the least reliable one.

Riyao saw the soldiers looking in Lucy's direction.

The blond youth's eyes met those of several soldiers.

Without a second's hesitation, he wiped away his lazy expression and put on the face of an enthusiastic citizen, pointing his finger at Lucy's nose and yelling.

"Oh dear, this girl doesn't seem like a good person. From the beginning, I've seen her looking around suspiciously."

As he spoke, Riyao pulled Mirajane back half a step, his face full of disdain and defensiveness, perfectly portraying a timid bystander.

Lucy froze on the spot.

Her eyes widened in disbelief, her mind buzzing.

That bastard! He actually kicked me when I was down?!

The soldiers stared at Riyao and Mirajane with suspicion.

The young man in front of them was handsome, wearing a floral shirt and shorts, while the silver-haired girl beside him was gentle and sweet, holding an ice cream in her hand.

The two, dressed in casual vacation attire, were snuggled together eating a star-shaped ice cream cone; they looked like an ordinary couple on vacation.

If I had to point out something suspicious, it would be that these two are just too good-looking.

One of the astute soldiers frowned, scanning Riyao and Mirajane's faces twice, sensing that something was amiss.

"You two will come with us too."

Just as the young soldier was about to grab Riyao's arm, the old sergeant behind him slapped him on the forehead.

"Idiot, don't judge a book by its cover. She's just good-looking. Don't assume everyone looks like a spy."

The senior sergeant glared at the young soldier.

The old sergeant then turned around, pointed at Lucy, whose face had turned pale, and made a conclusion with certainty.

"This unassuming blonde girl, she's the one who looks like a spy."

The soldier nodded, looking aggrieved.

Lucy's mouth opened slightly.

Her chin nearly hit the beach.

Is this how you use the term "judging a book by its cover"?

And what does "plain-looking blonde girl" even mean?!

I'm a beautiful girl who's graced the cover of a weekly magazine, you know! Just how warped is your Empire's aesthetic sense?!

Is that correct?

Damn Riyao!!

Lucy cursed Riyao a thousand times in her mind, her two little fists clenched tightly, feeling so wronged she was about to explode.

Riyao stood outside, smiling and waving at Lucy, while handing Mirajane a peeled orange.

Mirajane just smiled at Lucy, showing no intention of helping her out.

However, their inaction doesn't mean others can sit idly by.

Riyao might not protect Lucy, but Natsu will definitely step in.

Just as two Imperial soldiers reached out to grab Lucy's wrist.

Boom!

Crimson flames suddenly exploded on the street!

The scalding heatwave overturned the parasol, sending sand and gravel flying.

Natsu was originally gnawing on grilled meat, charged forward like a cannonball, the white sand beneath his feet scorched black by the flames!

A blazing ring of fire swept outwards from Natsu, catching three Imperial soldiers off guard. Their armor was scorched red, and they were sent flying four or five meters before crashing into the sand pit.

Natsu stood protectively in front of Lucy, his fists crackling with flames, veins bulging on his forehead, as he roared at the soldiers on the ground.

"Hey, you bunch of bastards, what are you trying to do to Lucy?"