Atonement

Having dealt with the last guard, Jiang Bai led Erza into the dark, damp cave.

Natsu, Gray, and the others finished clearing out the smaller foes on the perimeter and followed them in.

Deep inside the cave, in the dim sunlight filtering in from outside, one could see hundreds of ragged, emaciated villagers imprisoned like livestock in huge wooden cages.

Most of them had numb expressions and empty eyes, clearly having had all their hope worn away by years of enslavement.

"Open the door," Jiang Bai said to Natsu beside him.

"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Natsu unleashed a punch, shattering the sturdy cage door into pieces instantly.

The loud noise startled the villagers inside, who shrank back in terror as if they had seen some horrible monster.

Just then, an old man with white hair and beard and a hunched back stood up shakily from a corner of the crowd.

He ignored Jiang Bai and Erza, who were walking at the front, and searched among the crowd behind them. When he saw the burly figure, his cloudy old eyes flashed with disbelief.

"Simon... is that you, child?"

The old man's voice became hoarse with excitement; he couldn't believe his eyes.

"Grandpa Rob!"

Simon rushed over and firmly supported the swaying old man, his face filled with the relief of surviving a close call.

"It really is you... you're still alive..."

Grandpa Rob stretched out his withered hand and gripped Simon's arm tightly, then looked warily at Jiang Bai and the others.

"Who are they...?"

"Grandpa, they've come to rescue us!"

Simon quickly explained, "They are mages from the Fairy Tail guild!"

Fairy Tail?

Upon hearing that familiar name, Grandpa Rob's body jolted. He looked at Jiang Bai, a glimmer of hope igniting in his eyes.

"So... do you know Makarov? How is he?"

"The old man is now the guild master of Fairy Tail,"

Jiang Bai wore his usual relaxed smile.

"I'm in good health."

He continued, "Once we've dealt with things here, we'll take you to see him."

"Really?!"

Grandpa Rob was so moved that tears streamed down his face.

"That's great... that's great..."

Looking at these energetic young people before him, he felt a surge of satisfaction.

Jiang Bai didn't waste any more words, and his powerful Psychokinesis instantly enveloped the entire cave.

"Let's go home."

He led everyone, including Grandpa Rob and the hundreds of villagers, and slowly flew out of the cave, heading towards Akane Beach.

A moment later, everyone landed smoothly on the beach in front of the resort.

Hugh, Wally, and Millianna were already waiting there, and when they saw this miraculous scene, their faces showed awe.

The rescued villagers were still somewhat disoriented when their feet touched solid ground again, and they all stood there stunned.

Jiang Bai settled Grandpa Rob with Erza, then walked over to Simon and the others.

"These people, except for Grandpa Rob, are all under your responsibility."

His voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly.

"Settle them in, give them food and shelter, and once they recover, escort them back to their hometowns."

"Consider this my chance to atone for your sins."

A complex expression crossed Simon's face as he looked at the villagers who had suffered alongside him, and finally nodded heavily.

"I understand, Jiang Bai, thank you."

He knew that this might be the only way they could atone for their past sins.

After entrusting all subsequent matters to Simon and the others, Jiang Bai prepared to take Grandpa Rob back to the guild.

In order to get back to his wife as soon as possible and sleep with her, Jiang Bai, unusually, didn't slack off this time.

"Hold your ground steady."

He gave a brief reminder and then snapped his fingers.

The surrounding space rippled instantly, like a pebble being thrown into a calm lake.

The next second, everyone disappeared from Akane Beach.

Wow! This feels amazing! I'm not dizzy at all!

Natsu's cheers rang out in mid-air.

Considering that Grandpa Rob was old and frail, Jiang Bai did not choose to make long-distance continuous jumps. Instead, he broke the long journey into several short teleports, and deliberately left a few seconds of buffer time in between.

Even so, their speed was far beyond that of ordinary means of transportation.

As we set off from Akane Beach, the sky was just beginning to lighten with the first hint of dawn.

When they reappeared, they were already standing at the brand-new gate of the Fairy Tail guild in Magnolia Town.

At this moment, the sun had already risen, and its warm rays shone on them. From behind the guild's huge doors, a deafening cacophony of energy was emanating.

"This... this is our guild?" Lucy stared in disbelief at the magnificent building before her.

Compared to the dilapidated tavern that had been destroyed by the Phantom Lord, this brand-new guild was like a castle, much larger than anything else.

"Haha! It looks really good after the renovation!" Natsu proudly, hands on his hips.

Jiang Bai pushed open the door and led everyone inside.

The guild was as lively as ever, with members everywhere loudly boasting, arm wrestling, and drinking heartily.

Grandpa Rob followed behind Jiang Bai, looking around with some curiosity.

He discovered that this place was completely different from the Fairy Tail he remembered.

The building's structure, the arrangement of tables and chairs, and even the location of the bar have all undergone tremendous changes.

However, the noisy, unrestrained, and warm atmosphere, full of family warmth, remains exactly the same as it was decades ago, unchanged in the slightest.

Just then, a short figure jumped out from behind the bar and stormed towards Jiang Bai.

"Jiang Bai! You brat, you've finally decided to come back!"

Makarov was preparing to give this guy a good scolding for causing such a huge mess as soon as he went out, and also to brag to him about the changes the guild has undergone.

But before he could finish speaking, his gaze passed over Jiang Bai and landed on the old man behind him, whose hair and beard were all white and whose body was hunched over.

Makarov's voice abruptly stopped, his anger froze instantly, and he stood frozen in place as if Petrification Magic.