The Calm Before the Storm

Mavis leaped to her feet, instantly transforming back into the first Fairy Tactician who once swept across the battlefield.

A massive 3D model of the Kingdom of Fiore was projected onto the center of the guild hall using magic.

Mavis devised a series of tactical plans.

Meanwhile, at the communication control panel on the side of the guild, Warren was wearing headphones and nervously adjusting a complex magical instrument that was flashing with an emerald green light.

Warren's magic radar early warning system also came in handy.

"We owe this all to Riyao's financial support. Besides these, there are many other fun things. This is a mobile phone; everyone can take one for easy communication. It also has some mini-games that Riyao has created."

Inside, dozens of palm-sized, square magic terminals, as black as ink, were neatly stacked.

Everyone received a cell phone, the back of which was engraved with the guild's unique fairy emblem, gleaming faintly on the metal back cover.

Most people quickly figured out how to operate it, while a few people spent a long time trying to figure it out but still couldn't.

Natsu patted his phone, almost putting it in his mouth to bite it, but Lucy stopped the idiot.

"You idiot Natsu, you're like an old fogey, you can't even use this."

She then proceeded to teach Natsu how to use the phone.

Riyao appeared beside the two, swaying slightly as he carried a glass of chilled lemonade, delivering a timely blow to Natsu's heart.

"In a sense, Natsu is indeed an old relic, after all, he came from four hundred years ago. To accommodate these old relic, there's an idiot mode on the phone that Natsu can also operate."

The veins on Natsu's forehead instantly bulged like writhing dragons!

"Huh?! Who are you calling an idiot, you bastard Riyao!"

Natsu charged forward, determined to deliver a punch to Riyao.

A crimson flame erupted from his fist, instantly raising the surrounding temperature and vaporizing the wine in the glass.

The next second, Riyao's iron fist arrived as expected, and Natsu was slammed into the ground again.

Bang!

Natsu fell straight upside down into the floor, his legs twitching twice in the air.

The little Fire Dragon Igneel, who was squatting on the bar, rolled its eyes.

That poor kid.

The guild hall floor was inlaid with a Fire Dragon, and Iron Dragon hung on the wall.

Gajeel, who had just been embedded in the wall, hadn't even come out yet when Natsu smashed a huge crater in the floor.

Gray was overjoyed; he almost cried.

"Haha, you two are such losers!"

Riyao, holding a glass of lemonade, turned around, looked at the gleeful Gray, thought for two and a half seconds, and then punched Gray into the ceiling.

Boom!

Gray's maniacal laughter caught in his throat, and he smashed a hole in the guild's solid ceiling, his legs swinging in mid-air.

He clapped his hands, glanced at the three unlucky fellows, and nodded in satisfaction.

"It's so much better when it's all neat and tidy."

I can't stand such gloating.

Everyone was used to it. Back when Riyao didn't have much fighting power, he was the unlucky guy who replaced Gajeel. The three of them were constantly being beaten into the wall by Makarov.

Riyao jumped behind the bar, sat on his own sofa, and whispered something to Mirajane.

Mirajane handed him a plate of freshly sliced melon, Riyao leaned against her soft shoulder as they chuckled softly.

The two started being all lovey-dovey again, showering everyone with their affection.

Lucy pursed her lips and turned her face away, only to unfortunately see the Alzack family.

Alzack was lovingly feeding Bisca a small cake, and little Asuka in his arms was giggling. The family of three was surrounded by pink bubbles.

She turned her head to look elsewhere, and this time she saw Juvia holding Gray and blowing on the red, sore spot, and was once again forced to witness their public display of affection.

Gray, who had just fallen from the ceiling, clutched his swollen bump. Juvia, with tears welling in her eyes, sobbed with heartache and gently blew on Gray's wound.

Levy squatting next to Gajeel, seemingly lecturing him.

The little girl angrily called Gajeel an idiot, but in her hand she held a bottle of liniment and gently wiped the bruises on Iron Dragon's forehead.

Lucy looked up at the hole in the ceiling that Gray had smashed into, and tears of bittersweet loneliness welled up in her eyes.

"Hey, Lucy, what are you thinking about? Come and eat some barbecue!" Natsu waved to Lucy.

Fire Dragon scrambled out of the pit, sweating profusely, clutching a huge, juicy roasted cow leg, and yelled at Lucy in a thick-skinned manner.

The Fairy Tail banquet began, and everyone was immersed in the calm before the Tempester.

The sounds of clinking glasses, loud laughter, playful fighting, and singing filled the hall.

Unbeknownst to everyone, someone had already infiltrated Magnolia and was taking a bath at Riyao Manor.

It's late at night.

After the guild members had eaten and drunk their fill, they went home and got a good night's rest so they would have the energy to fight.

Riyao, Mirajane, Erza, Natsu, Lucy, and the others returned to the Riyao Manor.

Everyone went back to their rooms to wash up and prepare for rest.

A few minutes later.

A scream came from Lucy's room at the end of the second-floor corridor.

A piercing scream shattered the silence of the night, and everyone at the Riyao Manor rushed to Lucy's room.

With a bang, the heavy door was kicked open by Cana!

The scene inside the room caused everyone's murderous intent to freeze instantly.

Upon entering, they found an unexpected guest lying on Lucy's bed, leisurely reading a weekly magazine.

On the large, soft bed, Brandish lying lazily on her side.

Her damp, emerald-green short hair was spread out on the pillow, and she was flipping through the latest issue of "Sorcerer Weekly" that Lucy had placed on the bedside table. Her long, slender, white legs dangled idly in the air.

Lucy stood beside the wardrobe wrapped in a bath towel, gripping it tightly with both hands, looking utterly terrified.

What are you doing in my room?!

Upon hearing the noise, Brandish didn't even lift an eyelid.

"I'm part of the vanguard, here to gather intelligence."

Brandish chewed his bubble gum, his tone nonchalant.

With a pop, the pink bubble gum in her mouth exploded, sticking to the corner of her lips. She stuck out her tongue, licked it, and turned to a page of the weekly magazine.

This doesn't look like they're here to gather intelligence at all.

What kind of vanguard soldier infiltrates enemy territory to gather intelligence, not only soaking in the host's luxurious bathtub and eating all the desserts in the refrigerator, but also casually lying on their bed reading gossip magazines?!

Mirajane frowned as she looked at the uninvited guest and tugged at Riyao's sleeve.

Her eyes held scrutiny and confusion as she leaned close to Riyao's ear and whispered.

"Riyao, what exactly is going on?"

Stared at by Mirajane's slightly dangerous gaze, Riyao awkwardly touched his nose and coughed twice.

"Uh, remember that guy we met on Tenrou Island? What was that henchman who possessed Capricorn? That guy stabbed Brandish's mother with a knife, and I saved her. That's probably why he's here."

Upon hearing this, Brandish, who was lying on the bed, paused slightly, and a barely perceptible glimmer of light appeared in his world-weary eyes.