Search and Rescue

When Sordil returned to the guild, Makarov was pacing back and forth, clutching the Request Letter.

"That unreliable guy, Sordil! I told him the mission was urgent, but he's still nowhere to be seen!"

"Well!"

The president's sigh had barely faded when a protest came from behind him.

"President, talking behind people's backs is not a good habit!"

Hearing the voice behind him, Makarov turned around and sneered, "If you had shown up on time, would I have been talking bad about you?"

Looking at the president's angry face, Old Suo felt a sense of guilt for some reason.

"President, I'm sorry, I was wrong!"

"Phew! Finally, we managed to fool that kid!" (Makarov's inner thoughts)

The guild leader reached out and patted Old Suo's head, then said earnestly, "Alright, let's not talk about this anymore, let's quickly discuss the commission!"

"Um!"

After Old Suo nodded, Makarov handed him a Request Letter.

"This is your mission!"

After receiving the Request Letter, Old Suo quickly glanced through its contents.

"Searching for three archaeologists? (Old Suo)"

"That's right!"

"President, this kind of request shouldn't be classified as S-Class, right?"

"If it were just a search and rescue operation, it wouldn't qualify as S-Class search, but with the time limit added, it's close enough." (Makarov)

"Time limit?"

After muttering something under his breath, Old Suo glanced at the Request Letter again.

"To be completed within a week? And the mission location isn't in Fiore? (Old Suo)"

"To be precise, there are only five days left!" (Makarov)

After the president finished speaking, Old Suo nodded knowingly.

"It will take at least half a month to get to the Northern Continent from here. Add the time for the search, let alone five days, it may not be possible to complete it even in fifty days."

That's why I was in such a hurry to call you back, President!

"Okay! I understand, let's go!"

Seeing that Old Suo was about to leave, Makarov quickly stopped him.

"Wait a minute!"

"President, is there anything else?"

"Wait here a moment, I'll introduce you to someone!"

After speaking, Makarov turned and walked into the guild, leaving Sordil, the imposing figure, to guard the guild gate.

A short while later, Makarov returned to the gate with three figures.

"President, what's going on...?"

"Although this mission is a bit time-sensitive, it's not very dangerous. Therefore, I hope you can take the three of them with you and help them familiarize themselves with the work process."

"What the heck! All the other S-Class Mage are dashing loners, how come I've become a professional stay-at-home dad?"

After mentally cursing his fate, Old Suo looked up at the sky for a moment, then said helplessly, "Okay! I understand!"

"Kana and Laxus are already quite familiar with you, so I won't waste my breath. As for this one... he's Lidas, who just joined our guild. You two should get along well."

"Hmph! Even though I'm face-blind, I can still recognize Lidas! (Old Suo's inner thoughts)"

After venting his frustrations, Old Suo said, "Yes, yes, yes! We'll definitely get along well!"

Seeing how well-behaved and sensible someone was, Makarov nodded in satisfaction, then roared, "Everyone's here, what are you still doing here? Get moving!"

After enduring a powerful roar, Old Suo dared not delay any longer and immediately set off on his work journey with his new teammates.

A small town in northern Isban.

Although the town is covered in thick snow, it is just as lively as those big cities in the south. All sorts of people move around the town, giving it a unique charm.

"Guest, come and take a look at my goods! I guarantee you'll be satisfied!"

"Wonton! Steaming hot wonton!"

"Guest, you have excellent taste! This sword is the best weapon in our household!"

"Flowers for sale!"

"Boss, this is too expensive. Can you make it cheaper?"

"Sigh! Fine!"

"Warcraft materials! Just arrived Warcraft materials!"

"Knock knock!"

"Knock knock!"

After feeling the earth tremble, the once bustling town instantly fell silent as people stopped what they were doing and tried to find the source of the tremor.

"Knock knock!"

"Knock knock!"

As time went by, the vibrations became louder and louder, and the amplitude of the vibrations became more and more intense.

Just as everyone was looking bewildered and at a loss, a sharp cry of surprise drew their attention.

"Ahhh! A monster!"

Not long after the screams subsided, a huge, bluish-black head with horns appeared in everyone's view.

"Call out!"

Before the residents could react, a beam of orange-red light suddenly shot out from the monster's mouth.

"Boom!"

A beam of light pierced through the entire town along the main street, triggering a violent explosion.

Ah~

"Help! Someone save me!"

"My legs... my legs... ah~~"

"Mom! Dad! Where are you?"

"Xiao Lin, where are you?"

"You bastard! I'll fight you to the death!"

"A monster! It's a monster! Everyone run!"

Hearing the shouts and roars from below, a slight smile appeared on the dark blue-black monster's metallic face.

A moment later, the dark blue monster stopped smiling and once again projected that terrifying orange-red beam of light into the town.

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

In a short while, the town was engulfed in flames, and the residents were reduced to piles of debris on the ground.

"Roar!"

Looking at its masterpiece, the bluish-black monster let out a triumphant roar.

A few minutes later, the dark blue monster, having vented its anger, left the town with heavy footsteps, heading to find the next amusement park.

"Buzz!"

A blinding Silver-White Light suddenly flashed in the silent icy valley, and the next second, four figures appeared in the valley through the silver-white halo.

Feeling the biting cold air piercing through his chest, Laxus, dressed in a red T-shirt, complained, "Old Suo, you're such a jerk! Why didn't you tell me we were coming to such a cold place beforehand!"

"Bang!"

After warming him up with Maruko, the captain said coldly, "Hmph! You can't even withstand this little bit of cold? You should go home and sleep!"

Looking at the extremely dignified captain, Kana felt a sense of disorientation, while the newcomer on the side was surrounded by an overwhelming sense of tension.

"So handsome! So stylish! Is this guy really the unreliable Uncle Sordil we know?" (Kana's inner thoughts)

"So... so strict!" (Lidas's inner thoughts)

"Bang!"

After prying that lightning idiot out of the ice, the captain began to give orders to everyone.

"Kana, take good care of Laxus!"

"Lidas, immediately use painting magic to search the surroundings and see if there are any clues!"

"Yes! (Kana, Lidas)"

After answering, the two immediately began their operation as instructed by their captain.

Then, following the clues discovered by Lidas, the four of them headed toward a certain ice wall.

"What a huge ice cave!"

Upon hearing Kana's exclamation, Laxus and Lidas nodded, while Sordil, as the captain, frowned slightly.

"Lidas, carefully survey your surroundings, and also protect those two!"

"Yes!"

After Old Suo's words fell, Laxus wanted to say that he and his companion didn't need protection, but seeing the captain's serious expression, he swallowed his words. So, the four of them advanced into the cave in a wedge formation. Of course, leading the way as the spearhead was His Majesty the King.

Looking at the huge claw marks on the ice track, the three newbies instantly understood why their captain was so nervous.

"What kind of creature lives in there? How could there be such a big paw print?" (Kana)

"Although I don't know what left this behind, one thing is certain... this guy is definitely not to be messed with! (Laxus)"

"I think we should go back to the guild first and come back for the search and rescue once we've gathered enough people!" (Lidas)

"Tch! What's there to be afraid of! This guy may be tough, but Old Suo isn't one to be trifled with either. If we really run into each other, it's hard to say who'll come out on top!" (Laxus)

"Exactly! (Kana)"

Just as Lidas was about to retort to the two, the captain walking in front suddenly shouted, "You three, stop talking and come here right now!"

Upon hearing this, the three of them did not hesitate and hurriedly ran over to meet up with their captain.

When the three arrived at the target area, they were instantly speechless with astonishment at the sight before them.

"Wow... what a huge ice palace!" (Lidas)

"Old Suo, where is this place? Why are there so many abandoned houses?" (Laxus)

"This must be an Underground Magic Palace!"

"Underground Magic Palace? What's that? (Kana)"

"The so-called Underground Magic Palace is the site of an ancient civilization buried underground."

"Ancient civilization ruins? Could there be some treasures there? (Laxus)"

"It's hard to say, because some ruins are just ordinary dilapidated houses with nothing left, while others were once palaces or treasure troves with rare treasures. But judging from the surrounding environment, this place is probably neither."

"So where is this place? (Lidas)"

"Prison!"

"Prison? (Kana, Laxus, Lidas)"

"That's right! It's a prison, and a specially made prison used to detain some kind of extremely dangerous creature."

After Old Suo finished speaking, the three of them carefully observed the situation ahead. Then, the archive about the claw marks suddenly came to mind.

"Gulp" (Trio)

After swallowing her fear, Kana stammered, "Then... the people we need to save..."

"I hope they're alright!"

Hearing their captain's words, the three exchanged glances. Then, the newcomer advised, "Captain, the scene has already turned out like this. Those three are definitely doomed. We should hurry back and report to the guild leader!"

"No!"

"Now that we've accepted this commission, we must get to the bottom of this, otherwise it will cause huge losses to the guild!"

After saying this, Old Suo dragged the three of them deeper into the cave.