Fairy Tail: Vector Manipulation Chapter 34

"Wait until the trial is over," Frog Face said tactlessly.

Chen Fan merely glanced at him and ignored him. He had no interest in dealing with such a minor figure.

"Chen Fan, don't be so arrogant. This is the Magic Council, not your Fairy Tail guild!" A council member stood and slapped the table as he shouted sternly.

"You're new here, aren't you?" Chen Fan looked at the speaker, his eyes carrying the unmistakable look of someone staring at a clueless amateur, making the man feel uncomfortable all over.

"So what if I'm new? Even if I am, I'm still one of the council members!" the man said to Chen Fan with forced severity.

"You... do you believe I can have you removed tomorrow?" Chen Fan said, his tone carrying an obvious threat. The man was so frightened that he did not dare speak again. Chen Fan still wielded considerable authority within the Magic Council.

At that moment, a white-bearded old man spoke up. "Chen Fan, what exactly do you want to say?" His tone was deeply dissatisfied. Chen Fan had casually spoken of replacing a council member in front of so many people, which made this veteran council member lose face.

"Oh, I was just joking. Don't take it so seriously. We've all known each other for so many years, right?" Chen Fan said, clapping his hands. His tone was so punchable that everyone in the Magic Council wanted to attack him, but they barely held themselves back. This was not a good place to start a fight. They all knew Chen Fan's standing. Long ago, he had already been an influential figure in the country. After all these years, they did not believe he had no power of his own.

Boom... The wall was smashed open with a huge hole, and Natsu, dressed in gaudy clothes, barged in, throwing Chen Fan's plans into disarray. Chen Fan had even forgotten this part.

"I'm the armored female wizard! If you can catch me, then come and try! I'm Erza! Hey... explain what crime I committed!" he shouted, spewing fire as he began causing a scene.

"Shut up, you bastard!" Chen Fan and Erza roared at Natsu in unison.

"Ah, Chen Fan, you're here too! Hurry up and tell them that I'm the armored female wizard," Natsu said to Chen Fan.

"Now that this has happened, Chen Fan, what do you think we should do?" Urutia asked teasingly.

Chen Fan did not bother with her. It was not yet time to deal with that woman. Turning to all the council members, Chen Fan said, "All right, you've seen it. He did it, so lock him up."

The Magic Council members looked at one another. It was obvious Chen Fan was talking nonsense, but they really could not afford to offend him right now. So they said, "Lock up that armored female wizard. Erza is acquitted and released."

"Wait. It was my mistake, so I'll take responsibility for it. Lock me up with him too," Erza said seriously. She truly could not let someone else take the blame for her.

Several council members looked eagerly at Chen Fan, clearly leaving the decision to him. This was only a minor matter; there was no need to offend Chen Fan over it. At the same time, they regretted their actions somewhat. Of all people, they had chosen to trouble Erza, hoping to test Chen Fan's attitude toward Fairy Tail. Instead of finding trouble for her, they had only gotten themselves into a mess.

"Then lock them up," Chen Fan said. Erza was stunned, and a trace of disappointment rose in her heart, but Chen Fan soon continued, "Arrange for Erza to stay in that first-class cell. An ordinary cell will do for Natsu."

Good, he still has a bit of conscience, Erza thought, a faint smile appearing on her lips.

Moonlight shone through the window into the room, casting a gray halo. From time to time, the screams of rats rang out beyond the window, making the place seem especially eerie. Chen Fan sat in a chair by the window, facing outside with his back against the chair, his eyes closed as if he had fallen asleep.

Suddenly, Chen Fan opened his eyes. "You're here."

A figure emerged from a dark corner. It was the Magic Council member who had argued with Chen Fan during the day.

"Have you gained a firm foothold in the Magic Council?" Chen Fan asked calmly without turning around.

"Yes. Today, this subordinate successfully entered the center of the Magic Council's power," the figure said, kneeling on one knee.

"Does anyone suspect you?" Chen Fan continued.

"At first, the Magic Council members were somewhat suspicious, but today's dispute with Master made them lower their guard. Only Jigrein and Urutia seem to still have some suspicions about this subordinate."

"You don't need to concern yourself with Jigrein. He's a smart man. I was the one who raised him up, and I can pull him down at any time. I think he understands that as well. Just deal with him less in the future, and don't reveal any flaws. All right, go back," Chen Fan said, waving his hand.

"Yes." With that, the figure gradually faded, disappearing bit by bit into the air. At the same time, another figure outside Chen Fan's door also vanished.

Although Natsu had disrupted his plan, the Magic Council's behavior today had confirmed it for him. The Magic Council was the one that had acted against him. Otherwise, they would not have been so accommodating. Only those old fools could do something so stupid.

But the Magic Council was indispensable. Otherwise, Chen Fan truly would have wanted to wipe them out. He had never let anyone who dared move against him live. His fist clenched tightly, then slowly loosened.