Lucy laughed so hard that tears almost flowed out.
She looked directly into Jude's cold eyes and said clearly and firmly, word by word:
"I admit that I was wrong to run away from home. However, I have decided to go my own way!"
Her voice echoed in the empty study room, full of unprecedented power.
"I don't need you to arrange my life! It's not your turn to use my marriage as a bargaining chip!"
She suddenly raised her hand and pointed at Jude, her eyes very sharp.
"Also, I'm warning you, don't touch a hair of Fairy Tail! Otherwise, our entire guild will regard you as an enemy!"
In Jude's shocked eyes, Lucy stretched out his hands and grabbed the priceless dress on his body.
"Tear--!"
With the harsh sound of the fabric tearing, she ruthlessly pulled off the expensive skirt, revealing the simple but clean casual clothes underneath.
"Do you think this is what I need?"
Lucy slammed the torn piece of fabric to the ground, tears flashing in his eyes.
"What I really need is a place that can recognize me and accept me! A home that is 10,000 times warmer than here!"
She raised her right hand, and the pink guild emblem on the back of her hand shone brightly in the sun.
"Fairy Tail is my home! I believe that if my mother was still here, she would definitely support me!"
After saying that, she turned around and didn't look at the man again.
When she reached the door, she stopped and said in a calm tone that she had never used before, without any honorific:
"Goodbye, Dad."
After saying that, she left the cold prison without looking back and walked towards her mother's grave in the back mountain.
At this time, Lu Chongwei and his party also chased Heartfilia Manor outside in a hurry.
They looked at the palace-like mansion, and they were all shocked from ear to ear.
At this moment, they saw the familiar figure walking out of the manor.
"Lucy!"
Happy let out a cry and threw itself into Lucy's arms like a blue cannonball.
"Woooooooo...Lucy You don't want us anymore? Why do you have to run back alone?"
Happy hugged Lucy tightly and burst into tears.
Lucy felt the warmth in his arms, and the last haze in his heart completely dissipated.
She smiled and gently stroked Happy's back.
"Fool, I just went home and ended things with the past."
She looked at her chasing friends with a heartfelt smile on her face.
"I just want to tell him my determination in person."
When everyone heard this, their hanging hearts finally fell back into their stomachs.
"Really, it's useless for us to worry!"
Gray breathed a sigh of relief and couldn't help but complain.
Erza beside him quietly stretched out his hand and pinched Lu Chongwei's soft flesh hard as a punishment.
"Hiss--"
Lu Chongwei gasped in pain, but did not dare to make a sound.
Natsu and Gray looked at the mansion in front of them with jealous expressions.
"Damn it! It turns out that Lucy is this kind of super rich young lady!"
"Living in such a big house, how much delicious food do you have to eat every day?"
Happy got out of Lucy's arms, flew to Lu Chongwei, blinked his big eyes, and asked funny:
"Hey, Zhongwei, how much do you think it will cost to buy such a big house?"
Lu Chongwei looked at the vast manor, subconsciously touched his chin, and fell into deep thought.
Happy walked over curiously, only to hear him muttering in a low voice in a serious voice:
"Is the reward of one hundred S-Class Mission enough? If not... maybe two hundred or three hundred... plus the compensation for the damage to the mission over the years... Well, four hundred or five hundred will probably be enough..."
Magic Council headquarters, Era.
The post-war sunshine dispelled the gloom of many days and shone on the ancient stone steps, bringing some warmth.
Makarov and his old friend Yajima sit side by side, like two ordinary old men sunbathing.
"I really didn't expect that those old stubborn people Magic Council would actually acquit us this time."
Makarov took a sip of wine, with a hint of emotion about the aftermath of a disaster in his tone.
Yajima smiled, and the wrinkles on his face relaxed.
"My old face is still of some use. I kept my mouth open in front of them and finally suppressed the matter."
He patted Makarov on the shoulder.
"However, you owe me a big favor."
"Hahaha, no problem!"
Makarov laughed boldly.
"Come to our guild another day and I'll treat you to ramen to keep you satisfied!"
Yajima Upon hearing this, his eyes suddenly lit up.
"Then I want goblin ramen, the kind with twelve slices of barbecued pork!"
He smacked his lips, already smelling the alluring fragrance, but then the smile on his face gradually faded away and turned solemn.
"To be serious, Makarov, your guild has violated too many treaties this time and has caused too much trouble."
Yajima sighed and advised earnestly.
"Stop trying to be brave. You are no longer a young man. Do you still remember Rob back then? That kid Erza is still mentioned from time to time."
Hearing this name, Makarov's eyes dimmed a bit.
Yajima continued, "Although I suppressed most of the objections this time, those two old guys Mikaelo and Ogre have been looking for opportunities to dissolve your guild. If you continue to hold on like this, one day..."
He didn't finish what he said, but the meaning was self-evident.
"Think about retiring, old man. If your life is gone, there's really nothing you can do."
Makarov was silent and drank all the wine in the gourd.
After a long while, he replied in a low voice in a voice that only he could hear.
"... I'll think about it again."
A few days later, Fairy Tail was at the old site of the guild.
On the busy construction site, Mirajane stood behind the temporary bar and clapped his hands. The clear voice instantly attracted everyone's attention.
"Everyone, starting from today, the guild is officially accepting applications for work entrustment again!"
she announced with a smile.
"Oh oh oh oh oh--!!!"
After a brief silence, the entire construction site instantly erupted into earth-shaking cheers.
Everyone, who was as tired as dead dogs a second ago, seemed to have been given a shot of blood at this moment, swarming around the simple temporary task panel, their eyes shining brightly, as if they had seen a mountain of gold coins.
"Finally enough money to pay the rent!"
"My drink money! Here I come!"
"Come on! Grab S-Class Mission!"
Lucy held his chin with one hand and looked at these living treasures, somewhat dumbfounded.
"Really, I'm usually very lazy, but when I have work, I'm more active than anyone else."