Invitation to an S-Class Mission

After giving the guild members a series of Haki lessons that shattered their worldview, Zoro's status within the guild became increasingly special.

He was no longer merely a powerful "new member." He was more like a walking treasury of martial arts, a "mentor" who could point everyone toward entirely new paths. Though his teaching methods were crude, mystical, and mostly involved drinking and sleeping.

Guild Master Makarov watched it all with satisfaction. He was pleased to see Zoro growing closer to the guild, but at the same time, a "happy problem" lay before him—he could not keep a "tiger" like Zoro cooped up in the guild every day. His strength ought to be used on a broader stage.

However, the "first ironclad rule of the guild" was like a shackle, limiting Zoro's ability to act alone.

I need to find a way to make use of him while ensuring he doesn't get lost... Makarov thought, stroking his snowy white beard.

Just then, an urgent commission document from the Magic Council was delivered to his desk.

He opened the file, and his brows furrowed slightly.

The commission was to investigate and resolve an abnormal incident at an ancient mine in the Black Iron Mountains on the eastern border of the Fiore Kingdom.

According to the report, the mine known as Wailing Abyss had, for the past month, emitted strange wails from deep within its tunnels every night, like the cries of a woman. More terrifyingly, every miner and Council mage who had attempted to investigate the depths emerged weak and drained, their magic power greatly diminished, as if their life force had been sucked away into thin air.

The Council's magic scholars had tentatively concluded that it was an extremely rare Weakening Curse that affected the soul and life force. Conventional dispelling magic was completely ineffective. With the situation urgent and the location remote, they hoped that Fairy Tail, one of Fiore's strongest guilds, could dispatch elites to handle it.

Mission rank: S-Class.

Makarov looked at the troublesome commission, but a gleam flashed through his eyes.

The location was not too far away, and the enemy was an unknown "curse" rather than a powerful individual. That would avoid a direct clash and test the team's overall ability to respond. Moreover, a curse that affected magic power and life force was practically... the perfect target for a monster who did not rely on magic and possessed life force as vast as the sea!

A meticulous plan instantly took shape in his mind.

He went downstairs and found Erza polishing her armor.

"Erza," he said in an unquestionable tone, "there is an S-Class mission that requires you to lead a team."

Erza immediately stood at attention. "Yes, Master!"

"For this mission, I am assigning Gray and Lucy to accompany you, as an important trial for them," Makarov continued.

"Understood!"

"Also..." Makarov paused, a sly old fox's smile appearing on his face. "I will be assigning a 'special advisor' to your team."

His gaze passed over Erza's shoulder and fell on the green-haired man leaning against the bar, casually drinking with Cana.

"Zoro, lad!" he called.

Zoro lifted his eyelids and looked over.

"There's an S-Class mission with a generous reward—enough to buy you a whole year's supply of good liquor and blade oil. Interested in going with Erza and the others to stretch your legs?" the guild master asked in an enticing tone.

"An S-Class mission?" At last, a glimmer of light flashed in Zoro's eyes. He had long been itching to take on the mission requests hanging at the very top. "Will there be a fight? Is the opponent strong?"

"The opponent... is very 'special,'" Makarov said meaningfully. "And you will not be going alone this time. You'll be serving as the team's 'advisor,' understand?"

Zoro had no real idea what an "advisor" was, but the moment he heard there would be a fight and money to earn, he perked right up.

"Fine. When do we leave?"

"Immediately!"

And so, an extravagant S-Class mission team was officially assembled: led by Erza, the Fairy Queen; with Ice Make mage Gray and Celestial Spirit mage Lucy as its core strength; and Roronoa Zoro, a "special advisor" with an outrageous tendency to get lost and unfathomable power.