Fairies and Pegasus

"Hey~ aren't we there yet? I'm exhausted," Happy complained listlessly.

Dada Liya rolled his eyes at Happy. "Stop complaining. Haven't you been lying on Natsu the whole time?"

"Hey~ weren't you clinging to Feng Lan's head too?" Happy retorted indignantly.

Feng Lan sighed. "Sigh~ stop arguing. We're almost there. You can already see it..."

Natsu and the others looked at the towering villa before them and said in shock, "Damn... this place is huge."

Feng Lan shrugged. "That's why you'd better behave. We can't afford to pay for anything we break."

Mira stared at the villa and could not help complaining, "Whose villa is this? Their taste is awful..."

Feng Lan pointed at the Azure Pegasus flag hanging in front of the villa. "This belongs to Bob, the Guild Master of Azure Pegasus. Looks like they renovated the place... It's even worse than before..."

"The last time you came here was four years ago, right, Brother Feng Lan? When you brought Charuru and Chino back?" Lisanna thought for a moment before asking, "Azure Pegasus took part that time too, didn't they? What kind of guild are they?"

Feng Lan considered it. "Hmm... Ichiya and William came last time, but I didn't act with them. I was fortunate enough to visit a few times afterward, though. William isn't weak; he's only slightly inferior to me. As for the guild's style... Lisanna, you're still a child. Don't ask so many questions..."

Lisanna tilted her head and looked at Feng Lan in confusion. "What? Isn't Azure Pegasus a proper Light Guild?"

"Cough, cough..." Feng Lan coughed twice and said awkwardly, "It is indeed a Light Guild... Whether it's proper is hard to say."

Mira rubbed the tip of her nose. "Hehe, I'd like to see what kind of guy this Ichiya is, the one who left Erza traumatized."

Feng Lan ran a hand through his hair. "Just don't let him traumatize you... Also, stay away from Ichiya's potion bottles."

With that, Feng Lan and the others pushed open the gates and entered.

"Tap, tap, tap..." A set of footsteps came from upstairs. "It has been a long time, Mr. Feng Lan."

Snap! Just as they felt around in the darkness for someone, a snap of fingers rang out, and countless points of light instantly illuminated the pitch-black house.

"Oh? It really has been quite some time. Has work been going well lately, William?" Feng Lan said to a silver-haired man wearing a white formal suit.

"Your scent is as powerful as ever, Mr. Feng Lan. Men~" A greasy middle-aged man sprang out from behind William. It was none other than Ichiya.

Feng Lan turned to look at him. "Mr. Ichiya is here too? You didn't bring any dangerous potions this time... did you?"

"Please rest assured, the potions I brought this time are all for combat," Ichiya said awkwardly, before turning his lecherous gaze toward Mira and Lisanna.

Mira and Lisanna were instantly frightened. "I suddenly understand how Erza feels..."

Like a pervert, Ichiya sniffed the air. "Hmm, both of these young ladies give off such alluring... I'm joking. There is no need for Mr. Feng Lan to give off such a dangerous scent, men~"

Ichiya stared at Mira and Lisanna with a hooligan-like gaze, but before three seconds had passed, he sensed a threat to his life coming from Feng Lan.

William covered his mouth and laughed. "Hehe, Mr. Ichiya simply doesn't know the situation. That Miss Mirajane over there is Mr. Feng Lan's girlfriend~"

"Indeed. A powerful and handsome man like Mr. Feng Lan would have a harder time staying single."

"Though he's still a little inferior to Mr. Ichiya and Mr. William."

Then, two more young men came downstairs.

Feng Lan looked at the two in confusion and asked William, "William, these two are?"

William smiled and introduced them to the Fairy Tail members. "These two are newcomers who joined our guild not long ago: Ren and Hibiki."

"Please take care of us!" Ren and Hibiki said, bowing deeply to everyone.

Lisanna hid behind Natsu. "Natsu, these people are so strange..."

Natsu nodded and whispered, "I feel the same. They really don't seem like a proper guild. We should stay away from them..."

Feng Lan smiled. "I think we can discuss this mission now."

William clapped his hands. "All right, then I'll explain the mission first!"

With that, everyone gathered around a table and looked at a map.

William looked at everyone. "This mission is mainly divided into two parts—protection and assassination!"

"Protection and assassination? How are those two connected?" Elfman asked in confusion.

William shrugged. "Don't rush. Let me explain... Protection means we need to protect a boss who will be going to Midas Casino tomorrow night."

Mira asked in confusion, "What casino? What boss?"

William handed Mira and the others a business card. "This person is the one we're protecting. He owns another casino."

Feng Lan smiled. "I think I get it. This man will use a business partnership as an excuse to lure out the owner of the target casino, and then we'll carry out the assassination, right?"

William nodded slightly. "Yes... but not entirely."

Feng Lan looked at William in confusion. "What do you mean?"

William explained, "Mr. Feng Lan's guess up to that point is completely correct, but the latter half is wrong. The people we're killing aren't just their boss... but all of them."

"All of them!? Why? Wouldn't it be enough to deal with their boss? Why kill everyone else too..." Lisanna asked in disbelief.

Feng Lan shook his head. "Lisanna, you're still too naive. This sort of thing is common in the black market. Once you make a move, you generally make sure there are no survivors."

William looked at everyone and slowly said, "All right... now let's split into groups!"

Feng Lan was the first to raise his hand. "I'll handle the assassination! Killing is more satisfying."

Mira looked at Feng Lan and raised her hand as well. "I'll go with Feng Lan too!"

William nodded. "Then I'll join Mr. Feng Lan and Miss Mira in the assassination. The remaining six will protect the client!"

"I want to join the assassination group too!" Natsu protested. "What's the point of coming all this way if we're not gonna fight?!"

Feng Lan pulled Natsu aside and spoke to him privately. "Natsu, don't say that. Even a protection mission can give you a chance to fight!"

Natsu said unhappily, "But... assassination missions are so cool! I don't want to be like some bodyguard..."

Feng Lan thought about it speechlessly for a while. "No, Natsu, look at those Azure Pegasus mages again. What do you think of them?"

Natsu glanced at them. "They don't seem like decent people..."

Feng Lan clapped his hands. "Exactly. Are you really comfortable leaving Lisanna with them? What if they lead her astray? What if they run off with her? Then no one will be your future bride!"

Natsu hesitated. "But isn't Elfman there too? He's her actual brother, so it's got nothing to do with me, right?"

Feng Lan forced a smile as he thought, Is this kid actually stupid, or just pretending? Is he seriously this dense? You're being handed a chance to show off in front of a girl, and you don't want it? She already likes you, and if you just acted cool and showed off a little, wouldn't you have her completely won over?

"You really don't know what's good for you, do you?" Feng Lan smiled at Natsu. "Three... two..."

"I guarantee the mission will be completed!" Natsu hurriedly stood at attention, saluted, and ran back.

Feng Lan covered his face and followed after him. "This unlucky brat..."