The Khan Calls the Roll

In the guild hall, Lisanna, Happy, and Natsu squatted on the ground in a row, their heads bowed low, while Mirajane stood in front of them with her hands on her hips.

Natsu rubbed his reddened head, his cheeks puffed out like an angry pufferfish, muttering under his breath.

Happy's little blue ears drooped, and Lisanna stuck out her tongue, secretly glancing at Mirajane's expression.

Riyao sat on a bench not far away, twirling Fire Poker bracelet in his hand, propping his chin up with his hand and smiling with his eyes crinkling, looking just like a fox watching a good show.

"Hey, wait a minute!"

Natsu suddenly looked up sharply, his eyes fixed on the commission letter that Riyao was draped over his leg, the two gold-embossed words "S-Class" printed on it particularly glaring.

He instantly forgot his headache, jumped up from the ground with a "thud," and his voice was so loud that it shook the ceiling.

"S-Class mission! Riyao, you accepted S-Class Mission?!"

Mirajane's movements suddenly froze. She turned her head to look at Riyao, and her "big sister" aura instantly weakened by half. Her brows furrowed involuntarily.

"Huh? You said you wanted me to go with you... was it S-Class mission?"

Riyao slowly put away the power of attorney, shrugged, and looked completely at ease.

"Yes, I'm an S-Class Mage, so taking on S-Class requests is only natural for me."

"But you specialize in Healing Magic!"

Mirajane stepped forward, her voice full of worry.

"The danger level of an S-Class mission... Your offensive capabilities have always been weak, can you handle it?"

Riyao immediately dropped his nonchalant attitude, moved closer to Mirajane, gently rubbed his arm against hers, his eyes crinkled into crescents, and playfully shook her wrist.

"Hehe, that's why I came to find you, Mira ~ You're the best, please help me, okay? Big Sister Mira ~"

Gray, standing next to him, rubbed his arms, his fingertips tracing along his bare skin, realizing for the first time without anyone noticing that his clothes were missing.

He looked around frantically, trying to rummage through the chaotic guild hall to find his coat.

Erza stood not far away, sword in hand, her previously tense brows gradually relaxing.

She recalled that during the previous S-Class Exam, Riyao was in a burst state and Gildarts to a standstill.

However, both Makarov and Gildarts later acknowledged his S-Class status, indicating that he was certainly not bad.

Thinking about it this way, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but her face remained serious, like a worried old woman.

"Riyao! Don't look for Mirajane anymore!"

Natsu clenched his fists and rushed towards Riyao, his cherry-blossom hair standing on end.

"I'll go with you! My Dragon Slayer Magic is incredibly powerful; I'm sure I can help you with the mission!"

Lisanna reached out to pull him back, but only managed to grab the hem of his shirt. She watched helplessly as Natsu crashed into her, and couldn't help but sigh and rub her forehead.

Cana, holding her beer mug, nearly spat out a mouthful of beer, while Levy covered her eyes and shook her head, looking like she knew it.

Bang!

With a sharp crack of a thud, Riyao withdrew his hand expressionlessly. Natsu, who had just rushed over, collapsed like a punctured balloon, his eyes rolling back, his body swaying before he fell straight down, his legs twitching occasionally.

Lisanna and Happy squatted down next to Natsu. Lisanna took a freshly picked wildflower from her pocket and tucked it into his messy hair.

Happy took a foxtail grass and carefully placed it in his hand, her movements so practiced it was almost heartbreaking.

Gray opened his mouth, but the words "I'll go too" that were on the tip of his tongue were swallowed back down after seeing Natsu's miserable state.

Elfman grabbed his wrist and dragged him to the table. He could only sit down, completely forgetting about the commission.

Mirajane couldn't help but laugh at Natsu's miserable state. She then cleared her throat, turned her head, and pretended to fix her long hair, but the tips of her ears turned slightly red.

"Ahem... Since you put it that way, I'll reluctantly accompany you."

Don't worry!

Riyao's eyes narrowed into slits with laughter, like a fox that had just stolen a chicken.

"Then we'll have to rely entirely on Sister Mira!"

He then turned to Lisanna and Elfman.

"While I'm away, please help water the fruit trees and flowerbeds in the orchard. Oh, and..."

He glanced at Natsu, who was still convulsing on the ground, and deliberately emphasized his words.

"We must be wary of Natsu (fire) and theft!"

"Okay, Riyao Bro!" Lisanna hugged Happy and nodded vigorously, and Happy echoed back with a "yes".

"Leave it to me!" Elfman clenched his fist.

"Last time, Natsu sneaked into Riyao's orchard to pick fruit, and got so high that he breathed fire and almost burned down half the orchard!" Gray mumbled through his popsicle.

"Ha ha!"

Cana laughed so hard she slapped the table, splashing beer foam all over her face.

"I remember that Riyao was so angry that he hung Natsu from a tree and whipped him all afternoon. He even put up a sign at the door that said, 'Natsu is not allowed to enter!'"

The guild erupted in laughter, the sounds of chairs clattering and laughter mingling together. Even Erza couldn't help but turn her face away, a subtle smile playing on her lips.

Only Natsu, who was at the center of the conversation, was still lying sprawled on the ground, drooling from the corner of his mouth, fast asleep.

Riyao curled his lip and began the Khan's large-scale troop muster.

"Don't be ridiculous! Wasn't it you, Gray, who fought with Natsu in the orchard last time and caused him to breathe fire?"

Gray started frantically looking for his clothes, picking them up in a panic.

"And what's worse, Cana actually encouraged the old man to steal my fruit wine, and what's outrageous is that the old man agreed!!"

Cana tried to bury her face in the beer glass as if there was juice in it.

Makarov, who had been watching the commotion from the sidelines, coughed and stroked his beard upon hearing this.

"I suddenly remembered I have a ton of documents to sign at the guild! I'm off!"

After saying that, he turned and ran away, moving faster than a short old man could possibly.

"Every time Erza comes to the orchard, she picks every single strawberry I grow!"

Riyao then looked at Erza.

Erza stiffly turned her head, awkwardly picking up Gray's clothes from the ground and busily wiping her sword.

"Laxus is even worse! Every day he pretends to be passing by and casually picks the reddest apple!"

Laxus, who was leaning against the pillar listening to music, suddenly froze, silently turned up the volume of his headphones, and pretended not to hear, only the tips of his ears twitched slightly.

"And one more thing..." Just as Riyao was about to continue, the people who were mentioned suddenly became busy.

Mirajane slapped the table, laughing so hard she almost cried.

Riyao leaned close to her ear and whispered something only the two of them could hear. Mirajane's laughter stopped abruptly, her cheeks flushed red, and she pinched his arm, glaring at him fiercely. "What nonsense are you talking about!"

Riyao rubbed his arm, watching his guildmates busy at work, a satisfied smile playing on his lips.

You little punks, you can't handle me.