After the banquet began, the four members of the Wild Cat's Eye headed straight toward Allen and Laxus. Keibel wore a friendly smile as he broke the silence first, asking with some excitement, "You two, do you know why our guild is called Wild Cat's Eye?"
Hearing this, Allen and Laxus exchanged a glance before shaking their heads in unison, indicating that they knew nothing about it. In fact, if not for this chance encounter today, they probably would never even have heard of such a guild, let alone investigated the origin of its name.
Keibel calmly picked up the drink in front of him and took a small sip to moisten his throat before beginning a detailed explanation. "Our guild's name comes from a legend in Obanis. It's said that long ago, a mysterious wildcat once roamed Obanis. That wildcat supposedly possessed a pair of extraordinary eyes that could see through every lie and disguise with ease. Nothing false could escape its gaze. Our guild's founder was already somewhat famous in this region for his extraordinary cleverness. He grew up listening to stories about that wildcat, so once he felt he had gained enough strength, he resolutely joined hands with like-minded companions and founded this guild. That's the origin of Wild Cat's Eye."
As Keibel's vivid tale unfolded, Allen and Laxus gradually became absorbed in it, their eyes filled with curiosity and keen interest. Unable to hold back his question, the straightforward Laxus immediately asked, "Then may I ask how long your guild has been established?"
Reni eagerly jumped in to answer. "Our guild has been around for sixty years! Keibel's grandfather was the second guild master, so this kid made a bold declaration when he was little, shouting that he would take over from his grandfather and become the third guild master when he grew up! But... heh heh heh, we all know perfectly well that with his current abilities, he's still a long, long way from reaching that goal! Hahaha!"
Hearing this, Keibel instantly lost his composure. His face flushed red, then turned pale. In embarrassment and anger, he grabbed the drink from the table and shoved it into Reni's arms, muttering, "Oh, you! With so much delicious food and drink in front of you, it still can't plug that foul mouth of yours!"
Dock and Rudy joined in from the side, taking turns teasing Keibel.
Watching the four of them chatter back and forth until they were laughing and carrying on, Allen and Laxus stood to the side with great interest. Laxus turned to Allen, his face full of curiosity, and asked, "Big brother, do you think our guild will be as lively and chaotic as theirs in the future, with something happening every day?"
The subsequent developments quickly flashed through Allen's mind. After a moment, he revealed a mysterious smile and said, "I think it might be even more exciting than this. Hahaha!"
While the two of them were chatting merrily, Keibel's grandfather, Bessy, slowly approached with several things cupped in both hands. The moment Keibel caught sight of him, he stopped making noise as if he had been struck by a binding spell. Seeing this, the other three immediately understood and reined in their earlier mischief as well. After all, everyone knew that if they acted recklessly in front of the old man, they would receive two solid knocks on the head and end up with a pair of enormous bumps.
When Bessy came closer, Allen and Laxus finally saw that he was holding two badges.
With a smile, Bessy held the two badges out to Allen and Laxus and said seriously, "These are our guild badges. Although our guild isn't very large and our strength isn't particularly impressive, I sincerely hope you'll come to like our guild. These badges symbolize our guild's friendship. If you ever encounter any difficulties or need anything in the future, you can come to us for help. We'll do everything in our power to accomplish whatever you ask of us!"
Allen and Laxus reached out almost simultaneously and firmly accepted the badges Bessy offered them. Allen did not examine his badge right away. Instead, he first extended his right hand toward Bessy in friendship and clasped his hand tightly. Then he looked at Bessy with a solemn expression and replied sincerely, "Rest assured, Old Man Bessy. We'll treasure your friendship. We're truly grateful that you think so highly of us. If you ever need our help in the future, you can come to Magnolia and look for our guild. As long as it's something we can do, we won't hesitate to help!"
Upon hearing this, Bessy's relaxed expression instantly turned serious. He patted the back of Allen's hand firmly and replied in an earnest tone, "Good! It's a promise!"
After the banquet ended, stars glittered across the night sky, while a gentle breeze brushed through the treetops and made them rustle. Allen and Laxus slowly returned to the guest room Wild Cat's Eye had prepared for them.
Once they entered the room, the two of them simultaneously collapsed onto the bed, as if all the strength had been drained from their bodies in an instant. They had walked all day, and lying on a bed felt wonderful!
Allen narrowed his eyes slightly as he casually toyed with the badge in his right hand.
The badge looked simple at first glance, but closer inspection revealed a unique charm. Its overall shape resembled a wildcat's eye. Though it seemed quite plain, mysterious patterns had been carved into the pupil. These irregular markings gave the badge an unusual appeal.
Seeing this, Laxus, who was lying nearby, also examined the badge curiously. He turned it over in his hands several times but failed to find anything special about it, so he put it into his backpack and said lazily, "Big brother, there's nothing wrong with this badge, right? To be honest, it's pretty nice to make these new friends. I hope we meet some more interesting people during the rest of our journey."
Hearing his younger brother's words, Allen couldn't help recalling the friends they had met that day—the cheerful and energetic Keibel, Reni, Dock, and Rudy; the mature and steady Ur; and the gentle, kind Bessy... At the thought, the corners of his mouth lifted into a warm smile. He turned to Laxus and said, "Believe me, Laxus. This is only the beginning. We still have a long journey of training ahead of us, and there are definitely more stories waiting for us to experience!" With that, the brothers exchanged a smile, their eyes filled with anticipation and longing for the journey ahead.
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