Just then, familiar voices rang out from beyond the crowd.
"Why are there so many people in front of the guild?"
"Did something happen again?"
"What!? Move! Let me through!"
A commotion swept through the crowd as Natsu charged out ahead of the others. He looked around, then urgently called out the moment he spotted his guildmates:
"Hey, what happened!?"
Following the direction of their fingers, Natsu tilted his head back and looked up at the guild's roof.
"Pfft-hahahaha!!"
One look was all it took for Natsu to double over, clutching his stomach as he squatted on the ground and pointed at the figure.
"Who's that pathetic-looking guy hanging up there? He looks so stupid!"
Happy followed close behind, covering his mouth as he laughed. "Aye~ He's hanging so high up~!"
Lucy pointed at the roof, looking bewildered.
"Who did this!? Why would anyone strip a person and hang him somewhere like that!! And that thing on his chest-is that our Guild Mark!?"
Gray studied the unfamiliar figure, his brow furrowing slightly. "That guy... don't tell me he's..."
Amid the chaos, Erza stood with her arms folded, gazing sternly up at the roof.
"That's Phantom Lord's Iron Dragon-Gajeel, the one responsible for destroying our guild!"
"So it really is him." Understanding dawned on Gray's face, while Lucy and Natsu both jolted in surprise.
"What!?" Natsu sprang to his feet. His smile vanished in an instant as he glared at Gajeel on the roof, flames of anger blazing in his eyes.
"As for who did it..." Erza narrowed her eyes, carefully examining the vines wrapped around him.
"There's only one person in the whole guild who likes tying people up that way."
Just then, a cheerful greeting came from the other side, instantly drawing everyone's attention.
"Hey, Blanc! You're finally here!"