Even Jiang Bai Miscalculated Sometimes

"Jiang Bai?"

"It really is Jiang Bai!"

"My God, Jiang Bai single-handedly wiped out the Phantom Lord's branch!"

Looking at the photo in the newspaper, with the building reduced to dust in the background, the Phantom Lord members rolling on the ground in the foreground, and that aloof departing figure, everyone Boil.

In other words, Jiang Bai not only dismantled the guild, but also beat up everyone in it!

In an instant, the gloom and resentment that had previously hung over everyone vanished, replaced by unbridled elation and pride.

"Haha! That's exactly how we should do it!"

"That's right! Did they really think Fairy Tail was someone to be trifled with!"

"As expected of Jiang Bai! This is truly our trump card!"

"Brother-in-law is awesome! A true man among men!"

Macao, holding his wine glass, wore a knowing look on his face. "I knew it! How could Jiang Bai possibly swallow his anger? He acted so calm yesterday, but sure enough, he caused Heavenly Movement uproar today!"

Only Natsu, his face filled with displeasure and frustration, slammed his fist on the table. "That bastard Jiang Bai! He didn't even invite me to such an interesting event?!"

Natsu,

Mirajane smiled as she wiped a wine glass.

"Jiang Bai called you yesterday, but you just didn't understand."

Natsu looked bewildered. "When? I have no recollection of it at all?"

"Sigh~"

Makarov took a large gulp of wine and let out a long sigh.

"That brat Jiang Bai is so naive. How could he think that a simple-minded creature like Natsu could understand codes? Even I almost overlooked it."

"You even know about the old man?" Natsu was even more shocked.

Mirajane put down her glass and patiently explained, "It was when Jiang Bai left yesterday that he gently tapped you on the head."

"Think about it, normally, would he go so easy on you? He was telling you to meet at the guild gate at 1 a. m. to do something big."

Natsu's mouth gaped open in an "O" shape. He racked his brains, and it seemed... that was indeed the case!

He immediately clutched his head, letting out a wail of utter regret. "Why! Why couldn't I have thought of that!"

Lucy, watching from the side, chuckled, "Looks like Jiang Bai can make a mistake too. He actually thought that an idiot Natsu could understand such a profound code."

As the truth came to light, the gloomy atmosphere in the guild was completely ignited.

Everyone started raising their glasses, cheering and celebrating, making the basement more lively than ever before.

Cheers to Jiang Bai!

"Cheers!!"

Gray, holding his wine glass, walked up to the president. "President, so you knew all along that Jiang Bai would make a move against Phantom Lord, right? That's why you were so calm yesterday."

Makarov smugly snorted, "Of course! I raised this kid; I know exactly what he's going to do the shit from the way he sticks his butt out."

At this moment, a guild member raised his hand and asked, "But Guild Master, doesn't the Magic Council have a rule that regular mage guilds are not allowed to attack each other without permission?"

Upon hearing this, Makarov slammed the wine barrel down on the table and stood up.

He roared, his beard bristling and eyes wide, "I told you not to sabotage missions! Did anyone listen?! Huh?!"

He glanced at the silent crowd, then changed the subject.

"Besides, I'm just waiting for that brat Jiang Bai to come back!"

"The Phantom Lord is teeming with experts, and they have a full complement of members. None of our guild's top- S-Class Mages were there back then. How are you expecting me to challenge them?!"

After saying that, he seemed to remember something and quickly waved his hand in Mirajane's direction. "Ah! Mira, of course I wasn't talking about you."

Finally, Makarov stood on the barrel, raised his arms, and shouted:

"Listen up, you brats! Jiang Bai has already given us a brilliant first strike!"

"Next, if those Phantom Lords from the Spectres dare to cause trouble again, then we won't tolerate it any longer. Let's give them a good beating!"

After a brief silence, the entire guild erupted in a deafening Roar.

"Oh!!"

Just as the guild members were celebrating Jiang Bai's feat, a lazy voice came from the entrance to the basement.

"It's so noisy!"

Upon hearing that familiar voice, the guild's commotion instantly subsided, and everyone's eyes turned to the entrance.

Jiang Bai yawned and slowly walked in.

"Jiang Bai!"

"You're back, kid!"

"Well done!"

The crowd swarmed around him, chattering excitedly and patting his shoulder, their words filled with admiration and worship.

Jiang Bai smiled and responded to his enthusiastic companions before walking straight up to Makarov.

"Grandpa, I'm back."

Makarov first carefully examined Jiang Bai from head to toe, making sure that not a single hair on his body was missing, before nodding in satisfaction and showing a gratified smile on his face.

"Good job, kid!"

If it were anyone else in the guild, even Erza, Makarov would never have allowed them to impulsively charge into the enemy guild's gates alone.

But Jiang Bai is different.

This child, whom he had watched grow up from childhood, possessed monstrous strength that was beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.

Of course, there is an even more important reason.

Even if I really wanted to stop him, I probably wouldn't be able to stop this willful brat at all.

Natsu pushed through the crowd and rushed to Jiang Bai, asking excitedly, "Jiang Bai, did you see that guy? How strong is he?"

"That guy?"

Jiang Bai thought for a moment,

"Oh, you mean that guy named Gajeel?"

He stroked his chin, feigning a serious assessment. "His strength... is about the same as yours, you're probably a little stronger. However, he is definitely more resilient than you."

Upon hearing that he was stronger than his opponent, Natsu immediately broke into a bright smile and proudly put his hands on his hips.

Lucy, standing nearby, tugged at Gray's sleeve curiously and whispered, "Hey Gray, does Natsu have a grudge against that Gajeel? Why is he so concerned about him?"

"Grievances? There shouldn't be any,"

Gray shook his head and explained,

"The reason Natsu is paying so much attention to him is probably because the other party is the Iron Dragon Slayer."

"Eh! The Iron Dragon Slayer?"

Lucy's mouth dropped open in surprise.

"Could it be... that the other party eats iron?"

"Ai!"

Happy showed Natsu no mercy, adding insult to injury from the sidelines.

"Natsu and Gajeel are both Dragon Slayers, but the other one is Phantom Lord's ace."

"I see,"

Lucy suddenly realized, and then looked at Natsu with a sympathetic gaze.

"We're both Dragon Slayers, but Natsu, you're not even S-Class."

That's not true at all!

Natsu, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, immediately jumped up to retort.

"I don't know why! I just heard about him and inexplicably wanted to have a match with him!"