Fairy Tail: Vector Manipulation Chapter 41

"It wasn't hard!!"

"Go take care of your own business." As soon as Chen Fan finished speaking, everyone dispersed, leaving one person by Chen Fan's side.

Gray was completely baffled, having no idea what was going on. Before long, Chen Fan followed that person into a room. Gray reached out and grabbed a passing waiter, asking, "What is Chen Fan to you people?"

"The boss. Didn't you come with the boss? How do you not know? The boss's business is huge. He has investments in practically every industry—Adidas, Li-Ning, Kappa..." The waiter went on and on, growing more excited the more he spoke. Apparently, he was another victim corrupted by Chen Fan.

Gray's mouth gradually fell wider and wider open. He knew Chen Fan was rich, but he had never imagined he was this rich. Chen Fan's businesses had spread across the entire country. No wonder even the Magic Council had to watch his expression.

A moment later, someone came out of the room and patted Gray, who was still standing there with his mouth open. "All right, let's go."

Gray looked at the man in confusion. "Uh, who are you?"

Bang. Chen Fan punched Gray and said, "Who else could I be? It's me, Chen Fan—your Brother Chen."

"Chen Fan?!" Gray's eyes widened as he carefully looked Chen Fan over from head to toe. Chen Fan wore a white tracksuit, with the two pockets on his jacket connected together, white sweatpants, white sneakers, and a fashionable white cashmere cap with a brim. They all bore the Nike logo. The black hair at his temples lay neatly against his face, neither too long nor too short. He looked like a bright, sunny young man—one so handsome it was ridiculous.

The contrast with his usual lecherous middle-aged-man image was too great, and Gray could not help staring blankly.

Bang. Seeing Gray space out again, Chen Fan smacked him on the head once more. "All right, you've had your fill of looking. If you're done, let's go." With that, he took the lead. Gray followed behind him in a daze. It was only after he realized Chen Fan was heading the wrong way that he returned to Chen Fan's side to lead the way, though his eyes still kept drifting toward Chen Fan from time to time, making Chen Fan's skin crawl.

When they reached the harbor, Chen Fan and Gray spotted Natsu and Lucy. Natsu and the others were looking for a ship to Garna Island. Gray quietly ran over, while Chen Fan followed behind at an unhurried pace.

"Found you." Gray came up behind Natsu and Lucy and patted them on the shoulders, startling them both. They quickly turned around.

"Gray, what are you doing here?" Natsu asked in surprise.

Gray replied helplessly, "The old man ordered us to bring you back."

"Ah... so we've been found out already? Wait, what do you mean by 'us'? Is Erza here?" Terror appeared on his face as he looked around in every direction. When he failed to spot Erza, he let out a long breath of relief. Meanwhile, their protagonist, Chen Fan, was completely ignored, making his brow twitch in irritation.

"You might not get kicked out of Fairy Tail if you come back now. Let's go," Gray continued.

"Kicked out?" Lucy chimed in from the side, her face filled with fear.

Seeing that Erza had not come, Natsu regained his confidence and said firmly, "No way. I'm going to complete this S-Class quest."

"You can't complete it with your strength. If Erza finds out about this, you..." Gray said ominously, startling Natsu, Lucy, and Happy.

Happy, that disloyal little cat, immediately flew behind Gray's shoulder to hide. "Gray, save me! They forced me to come."

"Traitor!" Lucy shouted at Happy.

"I want Erza to see me in a new light. I won't give up here," Natsu said seriously.

"This is the master's direct order. Even if I have to use force, I'm taking you back. Don't blame anyone if you get hurt." As he spoke, the magic circle on Gray's right hand lit up, and ice crystals appeared in his palm.

"Let's settle this, bastard." Flames appeared in Natsu's hand as well.

"Now, now, now, talk things out. Don't fight." Chen Fan could not stand watching any longer and waved a hand as he cut in.

Natsu turned to look at Chen Fan in confusion and asked Gray, "I've been wondering since earlier—who's this guy?"

Gray also turned to glance at Chen Fan, then answered in confusion, "I don't know him either."

Chen Fan closed his eyes, the vein on his forehead throbbing wildly. He shouted at Natsu and Gray, "It's me, Chen Fan! Ah..."

Natsu and the others covered their ears with both hands and dropped to their knees in agony. Seeing them like that, Chen Fan felt much better. He closed his eyes. That feeling could be summed up in one word: awesome.