"..."
"..."
At the new Fairy Tail guildhall, Laxus, the so-called strongest S-Class Lightning Dragon Slayer Mage, and his Thunder God Tribe subordinates were still facing off against the other Fairy Tail members on the stage in the castle's first-floor tavern—including their guild master, Makarov.
They stood beside the stone statues of Mirajane and Elfman, who had been turned to stone. Using the siblings' safety as leverage, they kept the furious people below the stage from rushing them all at once.
"Everyone, quiet!"
After gesturing for everyone else to hold their tongues, Guild Master Makarov put on a solemn expression. He glanced at Mirajane and Elfman, still trapped in stone, then slowly walked forward until he stood just in front of the stage.
"Tell me, Laxus..."
"What exactly did you come back here to do this time?!"
He looked up at Laxus and the Thunder God Tribe, his grandson's bodyguards standing on the stage, and demanded an answer in a stern voice.
"Hmph!"
"What, wasn't I clear enough just now?"
"Fine!"
"I'll say it again: it's simple, old man. I just think you're too old. The war with Phantom Lord already proved a few things, didn't it? So I think you should retire...and hand over the guild master position sooner rather than later."
"In my opinion..."
"The Fairy Tail guild master should be the strongest person in the guild, not someone you picked on a whim and handed the position to—that little girl."
"And I..."
"Am that strongest person!"
To be honest, Laxus hadn't originally planned to make his move so hastily.
He'd meant to set up a scheme first, then take advantage of the Fairy Tail members returning for the festival to capture the entire guild and prove that he, Laxus, was the strongest mage!
Then he would naturally