Seeing that the two were about to fight again, Lu Chongwei yawned and walked down from the second floor. He rubbed his sleepy eyes, and his face looked like he had not woken up. He could not see the demeanor of the master who killed Natsu with one punch last night.
"It's so early in the morning, I'm so energetic."
Lu Chongwei walked to the bar and found a comfortable seat to sit down.
"Mira, the same, hot milk."
"Okay, wait a minute." Mirajane smiled and turned around.
At this moment, the door of the guild was pushed open by someone.
"Help... Help! Everyone at Fairy Tail!"
A middle-aged man in plain clothes and sweating profusely rushed in. He looked panicked and his eyes were full of fear, as if something terrible was chasing him behind him.
The noise in the hall fell silent instantly.
Makarov jumped down from the counter and walked up to the man with his hands behind his back, his expression serious.
"Calm down, this is Fairy Tail. What happened?"
The man gasped, grabbed Makarov's sleeves, and said in a trembling voice:
"I... I am the mayor of the border town Black Pine Town. Our place... is haunted!"
"Haunted?"
The Mage people around looked at each other in confusion. In this magical world, the so-called ghosts are usually ghost-based monsters or some kind of illusion.
"It's not an ordinary ghost!" The mayor swallowed, and the fear in his eyes became even worse, "It's a black shadow! Every Midnight, it will appear in the town. It has no entity, and no physical attacks can hit it. It will attack lone villagers, and those who are entangled by it... will become delirious, as if their souls have been taken away!"
"Now people in the town are panicked. No one dares to go out at night. Some people have even started to move. Please, please help us!"
As the mayor spoke, he took out a heavy cloth bag from his arms and placed it on the table.
"This is the deposit, half a million dollars! After everything is done, there will be another half a million dollars!"
One million J!
Hearing this number, many people's eyes lit up. This is definitely a high reward among tasks below S-Class.
"Dark shadow..." Makarov touched his chin and pondered for a moment, "It sounds like some kind of dark magical creature."
He turned around and glanced around the hall.
"Who is willing to take on this task?"
Natsu was the first to raise his hand, with flames burning on his fist.
"Me! I'll go! Just take advantage of that black shadow to vent your anger!"
"I'll go too." Gray followed closely, "One million J is enough for me to pay rent for several months."
Lucy is also a little excited. After all, the two million book search task has not yet been completed, and every cent of this million is not a lot.
Makarov nodded, and then his eyes fell on Lu Chongwei who was drinking milk.
"Lu Chongwei, you should also go along."
"Pfft--"
Lu Chongwei almost spit out the milk in his mouth. He wiped his mouth and waved his hands in defiance.
"Spare me, old man. I've only been back for a few days? I haven't even slept on the bed to get warm. Can't we just let Natsu and the others practice on such a small task?"
Just kidding, he finally stopped being Decade Quest. His current dream is to be a salted fish waiting to die.
"This mission sounds a bit weird." Makarov said in a rare serious tone, "And it happens on the border, so it might involve the Dark Guild. With you following me, I feel more at ease."
"I won't go, I won't go." Lu Chongwei shook his head like a rattle, "I want to rest, I want to take a vacation."
At this moment, a gentle yet inexplicably chilly breath floated over from behind the bar.
"Lu Chongwei..."
Mirajane still maintained that sweet smile, holding a rag in his hand and gently wiping the cup.
"The guild's drinking expenses have been a bit high recently. If you go, this part of the deficit can be filled."
Although she was smiling, Lu Chongwei could clearly see that the background behind her had turned black, and Satan Soul's shadow could still be vaguely seen.
"Besides," Mirajane paused, his eyes became gentler, "You don't want to see your lovely juniors get hurt, right?"
Lu Chongwei's mouth twitched. This is moral kidnapping! Naked moral kidnapping!
Before he could refute, another sharp gaze shot over.
Erza was wiping her armor. When she heard the movement here, she raised her head with sharp eyes.
"Lu Chongwei, as S-Class Mage, you must set an example. Since the president has spoken, you should not shirk it."
Erza stood up, put his hand on the hilt of his sword, and his tone was unquestionable.
"Or do you want me to practice with you?"
There are the Demon Mira in the front and Titania in the back.
Lu Chongwei looked at these two untouchable women, then at Natsu and Gray who looked expectantly next to them, and finally could only sigh helplessly.
"Okay, okay, I'll go. Isn't it okay if I go?"
Lu Chongwei drank all the milk in the cup and stood up with a look of despair.
"Really, in this guild, it's harder to be lazy than to be lazy."
Seeing Lu Chongwei agree, Lucy waved his fist excitedly.
"Great! With Lu Chongwei here, this million is guaranteed!"
"Then it's settled!" Makarov made the final decision, "Lu Chongwei will lead the team, followed by Natsu, Gray, and Lucy. Let's set off immediately!"
The preparation before departure is not complicated.
Mirajane, like a virtuous wife, prepared a large bag of lunches and supplies for everyone.
"Be careful on the road." She handed the package to Lu Chongwei and straightened his collar, her eyes soft, "Come back soon."
"I got it." Lu Chongwei took the package, and the resentment in his heart instantly dissipated a lot.
On the other side, Erza is checking the equipment of Natsu and Gray.
"Natsu, tie your scarf tighter. Gray, you are not allowed to take off your clothes on the road! Lucy, Celestial Spirit Key Have you brought them all?"
"Yes! Sir!" The three of them stood upright, not daring to express their anger.
Lu Chongwei looked at this scene and couldn't help but shake his head.
"Okay, don't make it look like a war. It's just an exorcism mission."
Lu Chongwei walked to the door and looked back at everyone.
"Let's go. Go early and come back early."
Get on the carriage heading to Black Pine Town.
"Ugh..."
Natsu was lying by the window, his face was ashen, and his soul was out of his body again.
"I can't do it anymore... let me go down..."
"Be patient, we have just left the city." Lucy patted Natsu's back helplessly and turned to look at Lu Chongwei who was resting with his eyes closed.
"Lu Chongwei, what do you think that black shadow could be?"
Lu Chongwei said calmly without opening his eyes:
"There is too little information to say. But since physical attacks are ineffective, there is a high probability that it is a spirit body or a special magic structure."
"Could it be a ghost?" Gray guessed, "Ice magic should be somewhat effective against ghosts."
"It could also be the work of darkness Mage." Lu Chongwei opened his eyes and looked through the window at the forest in the distance. "That kind of border area is the easiest place to breed such dark things."
He paused, glanced at the three people in the carriage, and his tone became slightly more serious.
"When you get there, follow my command. Especially you, Natsu."
Lu Chongwei kicked Natsu who was still vomiting.
"Don't rush forward as soon as you see the enemy. This time the enemy may not be afraid of physical attacks, so your fists may not be effective."
"Ugh... I know... I know..." Natsu raised a hand with difficulty.
The carriage sped along the bumpy dirt road, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Lu Chongwei looked at the receding scenery outside the window and tapped his knees lightly with his fingers.
For some reason, he had a premonition in his heart.
This mission may not be as simple as imagined.