"So, what did you want to talk to me about by keeping me behind, Councilman? And as far as I know, you're not just some ordinary councilman, are you? Mr. Siegrain, one of the Ten Wizard Saints?" Ed looked up at Siegrain, somewhat curious about why the man had stayed behind.
"Don't say that. Whenever you lot caused trouble, I put in quite a few good words for you. And as an aside, if the Ten Wizard Saints hadn't already been full, you might've received a nomination by now." Siegrain waved a hand as he spoke to Ed.
"There was nothing special about keeping you behind. I just wanted to see what kind of person the renowned Golden Flash was. That's all. Well then, we'll talk again if we get the chance." With that, both Siegrain and the woman beside him vanished.
"Hmm... what the hell was that supposed to mean?" Ed looked around the now-empty room, then headed out and started on his way back.
Elsewhere, at ERA Headquarters, the woman who had just stood beside Siegrain asked, "What did you think after seeing the Golden Flash, Lord Siegrain?"
"I thought someone capable of crushing Lullaby head-on would be exceptionally powerful, but his magic power was merely average. He had only barely reached the level of the Ten Wizard Saints. Though he was about on par with this version of me, I can still... I really don't know whether those troops mistook Lullaby's magic power for his. In any case, he won't affect our plan. Continue as planned, Ultear." Siegrain spoke expressionlessly.
"Understood, Lord Siegrain." Ultear nodded and slowly withdrew. "Hmph, Fairy Tail... Erza... I've waited a very long time."
The moment Ed returned to the guild, everyone crowded around him with questions. Ed went straight to Mira,