Fairy Tail: Vector Manipulation

"Are Natsu and Gray here?"

"Aye..."

Natsu and Gray were disgustingly locked in an embrace. "Of course, Erza. We're getting along very well today too."

"Aye."

"Natsu has turned into Happy." Lucy snarked.

"I see. Friends argue sometimes, but I still prefer seeing you two getting along like this." Erza looked somewhat relieved at the sight of Natsu and Gray.

"No, we're not friends."

"Aye..."

"I've never seen Natsu like this before." Lucy wondered if something had gone wrong with Natsu's head.

"Natsu challenged Erza countless times before and got beaten black and blue every time," Mira explained from the side. Macao added, "Gray got beaten up by Erza too for stripping naked in the street."

"Rocky got beaten half to death for trying to pursue Erza," Kana added.

Suddenly, Erza looked around the guild hall as though searching for something. Seeing her expression, Mira said from the side, "If you're looking for Chen Fan, he went with the master to attend the regular meeting."

"Oh, is that so? That's great." Erza sounded somewhat happy.

But Mira, who had been watching Erza's eyes closely, caught the fleeting disappointment in their depths. She sighed softly, and the smile vanished from her face.

"Natsu, Gray, I have something to ask of you. I heard some things at my workplace. I originally wanted to hear the master's opinion, but I believe it must be dealt with as soon as possible. So I hope to borrow your strength. Are you willing to come with me?" Erza quickly shifted her mood and spoke to Natsu and Gray.

Hearing that Erza was asking for help, everyone in the guild was shocked. "What's going on? Erza is actually inviting others? This is the first time."

Erza ignored what everyone else was saying and continued, "We leave tomorrow. Go make your preparations."

Mira stroked her chin as she pondered. "Erza, Natsu, and Gray... I never thought of it this way before, but perhaps they could be considered Fairy Tail's strongest team."

Meanwhile, Chen Fan, who had not had a chance to appear until now, was sitting dazedly on a sofa in a brightly lit villa. Watching people bustle about, raising glasses and celebrating, he screamed inwardly, Where the hell am I?

Welcome Back, Master

"Chen Fan, you're awake. Come, come, let me introduce you." Makarov called Chen Fan over from a distance.

The moment he saw Makarov, Chen Fan understood. This old man had definitely brought him here. And that old man was actually sitting on a table, stuffing his face and drinking heavily. It was utterly embarrassing.

Chen Fan turned his head away and pretended not to know him, but Makarov jumped down from the table, walked over, then leaped onto the table in front of Chen Fan and clapped his hands. Everyone in the hall turned their attention toward Chen Fan, leaving him nowhere to hide.

"Greetings, fellow colleagues. This is the pride of our Fairy Tail guild. Everyone, give him a round of applause." As soon as Makarov finished speaking, applause broke out. Chen Fan had not expected the old man to hold such prestige among the leaders of these guilds.

Seeing that he could not avoid it, Chen Fan picked up a wineglass from the table between his fingers and stood. A smile spread across his face as he nodded to the crowd again and again. In public, Chen Fan still gave Makarov plenty of face.

Then a startled voice rang out. "Hand of God." The moment those words were spoken, everyone came to their senses and scrutinized Chen Fan carefully. They had been focused on the leaders of the various guilds and had never expected such an important figure to be sitting in a corner. After all, Chen Fan had the power to influence the Magic Council.

One after another, they raised their glasses toward Chen Fan while carefully looking him over from head to toe, or quietly exchanging words with those beside them to see if they could learn more about him.

"Oh, isn't this handsome little Chen Fan? Have you missed me lately?" A gaudily dressed fat man spoke beside Chen Fan, reaching out to touch him. Chen Fan casually sidestepped, avoiding the hand.

"I have. Of course I have. I've missed you to death." Chen Fan gritted his teeth. There was nothing he could do about this fat man. He was Bob, the master of the Blue Pegasus mage guild. Chen Fan had met him before, but he had not expected Bob to start getting handsy the instant they met. Chen Fan hated it so much that even thinking about him gave him nightmares. Naturally, in those nightmares, Chen Fan was giving the fat man a thorough beating with the Pretty Face Restoration Punch.

"Oh my, don't say that. You'll make me blush." He cupped his face with both hands, putting on the shy pose of a young lady. Chen Fan had already turned his head away, afraid he would have nightmares again that night.