Thud!
Before Blanc could decide how to respond, Natsu's face darkened, and he punched Happy on the head, raising a large lump instantly.
"Ow! That hurt!" Happy shrieked.
Natsu shouted, "How could Blanc possibly be a spy!"
Gray and Lucy also stared speechlessly at Happy. Who would send a monster that powerful undercover?
Happy clutched his head, his eyes brimming with tears, and protested, "I never said Blanc was a spy! I just meant he happened to join around then, so he might know something!"
Natsu froze, then scratched the back of his head and apologized sheepishly to Happy. "Oh! Sorry, sorry."
"Hmph! I won't forgive you unless you give me a hundred fish, Natsu."
Seeing the attention turn toward him, Blanc covered his mouth and coughed, diverting their attention.
"Well... I'd only just joined back then and was busy doing jobs every day. I really didn't notice anyone suspicious."
"You should ask Gray. He joined even earlier, so he'd know more."
At that, Gray rubbed his chin and searched his memories with intense concentration. "Kids who joined nine years ago... tsk, there wasn't anyone besides Blanc."
Then he raked his fingers through his hair in frustration. "Doesn't that leave us with no leads at all?"
"I guess so..." Lucy sighed as well, looking a little discouraged.
Natsu stood off to the side with his arms folded and nodded as though it were obvious. "See? I told you there wasn't anyone like that in the guild."
Blanc said nothing. With his left hand resting on his right arm and his right hand covering his mouth, he pretended to be thinking just like everyone else. Only the fingers resting on his right arm kept twitching slightly.
"But... that person only left Grimoire Heart nine years ago. They might not have gone