No matter how much Jude despised magic, he couldn't deny that a mage was responsible for helping the Heartfilia Consortium, which he had poured countless hours into founding, claw its way back from the brink of bankruptcy.
"Mr. Noah, thank you so much."
"And you too, Rena."
Watching Jude force a faint smile onto his stern face, Rena burst out laughing. His old friend, who cared so much about saving face, had actually swallowed his pride and thanked them. They had to do something to celebrate.
How about adding another 2.5 million to the reward for his friend's sake?
Jude's expression changed in a flash. Was his face only worth 2.5 million? He suspected Rena was mocking him, but given the circumstances, he couldn't blow up at him.
Noah hadn't expected the client to be so generous with the extra money. There was the original reward of 3 million, 2 million that went toward Black Bird's operating funds, and now another 2.5 million.
Was this the recklessness of the rich?
7.5 million in all—almost two-thirds of Mira's reward for taking down the Beast King. But compared to the life-or-death S-Class Mission, this one had been child's play.
7.5 million in cash would have needed a huge box. To avoid the hassle, Rena opened a bank account for Noah and deposited the reward directly into it.
"Please keep this Payment Lacrima, Mr. Noah. When you need to make a purchase, just activate it to pay. It's already in use in many big cities, so you don't need to worry about any hassle."
Noah took the Payment Lacrima. He hadn't expected this world to have developed a system like this. No need to carry cash when you went out—just scan with the Payment Lacrima and pay. It was definitely convenient.
After hearing the Magic Crystal announce, "7.5 million J received," Noah's commission was officially complete.
Rena wanted Noah to stay another day or two so he could play host, but Noah was far too much of a shut-in for that. All he wanted now was to get back to his dorm and laze around.
Before leaving, however, Noah glanced at Jude. He remembered the story about him that Rena had told him earlier, and how Jude had locked his daughter away at home like a caged bird, ignoring her completely.
"Mr. Jude, there are some things an outsider like me shouldn't say. But I doubt we'll ever cross paths again, so I don't care if you get angry after hearing me out."
"I don't know much about magic, but I do know whether it's good or evil depends on the user's perspective."
"Your wife died because of magic. I don't know the details, but if that's why you're taking your anger out on your daughter, ignoring what she wants and crushing her dreams... then you're a pretty terrible father."
"Don't wait until you come to your senses to regret it. There's no cure for regret in this world."
"Treasure your family and friends."
Whether or not Jude took his words to heart, Noah turned and left as soon as he'd finished speaking.
Noah hated trouble. The only reason he'd said so much to someone he'd just met was that Jude's situation reminded him of his own father, Faust.
Before Noah had even been created, Faust had lost his queen during childbirth. On top of that, the world was facing a crisis as its magic dwindled, and he took all his anger out on his newborn son.
Noah's poor older brother had been cruelly abandoned not long after coming into the world.
By the time Faust's heart of stone had softened because of Noah, he finally remembered how he'd failed his eldest son. But by then, there was no way to make amends. All he could do was give Noah twice as much love.
Jude, however, was much luckier than Faust. He hadn't hurt his daughter any more than he already had, and he still had a friend who cared enough to think of him.
Hopefully, he'd be able to move on from the pain of losing his wife.
If not, that had nothing to do with Noah. He was just a passerby.
The young man had been gone for half an hour, but neither of the two men in the office had moved. Rena looked at Jude, who had been dazed for a long while, and sighed.
Rena himself couldn't remember how many times he'd tried to talk his friend into listening to what Noah had just said.
But had any of it worked?
Jude was still as stubborn as a rock.
"Rena... thanks."
"Come home with me and see Lucy. If I go alone, she definitely won't talk to me."
Jude suddenly spoke up, startling Rena, who had already given up hope. Then, he felt a rush of joy. That lucky idiot had finally come around!
So all those years of advice and comfort from him had meant less than a few words from an outsider?
Because we're friends, you never took my words to heart, huh? You're a real bastard, Jude...
He cursed him in his heart, but Rena was still willing to help his friend. He immediately offered some advice. "Then what are we waiting for? Go buy some things Lucy likes. She's fifteen now—old enough to understand things. You need to apologize and admit you were wrong."
At Rena's words, Jude first looked moved and grateful. Then his expression froze.
His daughter... what did she like again?
After so long apart, with so much distance between them, Jude realized he didn't know what his daughter liked anymore.
"You really are a rotten father."
Even Rena, who was usually a gentleman, couldn't help swearing. Then he continued helplessly:
"Dolls, storybooks, pretty clothes, good food... those are things most girls like."
"Lucy inherited her mother's Celestial Spirit magic. Hurry up and send your people to the magic shops to see if they're selling any Celestial Spirit Keys. It'd be even better if they could get their hands on a one-of-a-kind Zodiac Twelve Key."
"Stop standing around! Get moving! You bastard, with nothing left but your money!"
After leaving the Merchant Guild, Noah had no interest in knowing what happened next.
All he knew was that he'd completed the commission in just three days. Rena, the guild president, had even given him a five-star review on the commission form to show how satisfied he was.
Erza couldn't complain now, could she?
There were four days left until Christmas. Noah planned to take the rest of the year off. It was only about ten days in total, anyway.
The final days of the year were the perfect time to relax.
"Laxus, I'm still the guild master!"
"Old man, you'll regret this!"
Two angry voices reached Noah's ears from outside the guild hall. He could've sworn he'd heard those lines somewhere before.
Hadn't Rena and Jude said those exact things while arguing?
Was one of them about to storm out through the door?
As Noah wondered, the door swung open from the inside, and out strode a cool-looking blond man in a black coat and a pair of distinctive headphones.
The man was...
Makarov's own grandson,
the powerful rebel Thunder,
the first S-Class Mage of the new generation,
the keeper of the guild's second floor,
a fan of classical and hard rock music,
and, in Noah's eyes, a lunatic.
Laxus Dreyar.
Before you continue