When Lin Yuan and Mira pushed the empty cart back to the Guild, the hall was unusually quiet.
Natsu wasn't shouting, Gray was fully clothed, and even the cigarette in Wakaba's mouth had stopped moving.
An unfamiliar young man stood in front of the bar.
He was much taller than Lin Yuan, with short blond hair spiked back and a dark coat draped over his shoulders. A travel bag sat at his feet, and the hem of his coat was still dusty from the long journey. Faint arcs of electricity flickered around him.
In his hand was the test report sent by the Magic Council.
"Unable to measure?" He shook the paper. "Old man, since when did you start counting a broken instrument as a result?"
Makarov sat behind the bar. "Explain the three compensation bills you brought back from the west before you comment on anyone else's results."
"I finished the job, didn't I?"
"The bridge collapsed too!"
"The magic beast crashed into it."
"It only hit the bridge because you knocked it into it!"
The laughter everyone in the hall had been holding back finally burst out.
A bolt of lightning flashed at the blond young man's temple, and the laughter immediately died down. Only Natsu rushed forward without fear. "Laxus, fight me!"
Laxus didn't even turn around. He merely raised a finger.
Golden lightning crackled, sending Natsu flying under a table, smoke rising from his body.
"So he's Laxus," Mira said quietly.
"You know him?" Lin Yuan asked.
"The master's grandson. He joined the Guild a long time ago, but he's always been away on jobs."
Laxus had clearly heard her. He turned around, his gaze passing over Mira's demon arm before settling on Lin Yuan.
"You're the guy who filled the measuring pillar?"
"That's me."
"How much did you release?"
"Less than half."
Natsu, who had just crawled out from under the table, immediately added, "And all three spare crystals started smoking!"
"So what?"
Laxus slapped the report back onto the bar, his voice betraying no surprise. "No matter how much magic power someone has, if all they do is stand there and take hits, it just means they can take more of them. You won't know who can win until you fight."
Mira raised an eyebrow. "Want to try?"
"I was asking him."
"Beat me first. It's all the same."
Black magic rose along Mira's right arm, while golden lightning gathered in Laxus's palm. The moment the two forces collided, the cups in the hall began to rattle.
Lin Yuan pushed the empty cart aside and took the water cup off it.
"What are you doing?" Mira asked.
"Protecting the job supplies."
"The job's already over!"
Makarov's fists came down on Mira's and Laxus's heads at the same time.
Bang!
The darkness and lightning went out together.
"Anyone who dares fight in the Guild can fix the roof first!" the old man roared. "Especially you, Laxus! You've only just gotten back, and you already want another compensation bill?"
Laxus held his head, his face darker than a thundercloud. Mira was just as defiant, but Lisanna and Elfman grabbed hold of her, one on either side.
"Sis, we haven't collected today's pay yet!"
That worked far better than trying to talk her out of the fight.
Mira immediately retracted her demon arm and turned to look for the job settlement form.
Laxus looked at Lin Yuan again. "Outside."
"No."
"Scared?"
"Today's job is over. I'm going to eat."
The Guild fell quiet again for a moment.
Gray couldn't help laughing, then shrank behind Erza when Laxus shot him a look. Erza pushed him aside and said seriously, "Lin Yuan is right. A fight that wasn't agreed on in advance will only disturb other people."
"When did this place fill up with so many troublesome brats?"
"You're not that much older," Cana pointed out.
Laxus snorted and dropped the matter. He walked over to the first-floor job board, reached past the regular members looking for jobs, and took the sheet posted at the very top.
It was an A-rank subjugation job.
An armored beast that devoured metal had recently appeared at a northern mine and destroyed two tunnels. The reward was 300,000 J, and the wizard was required to drive it away without causing the mine to collapse.
Laxus read it over and handed the sheet to Makarov.
"I'll take this one."
"You just got back."
"So?"
"At least go home and take a look first."
"After I finish the job."
Makarov looked at his grandson, his lips moving. In the end, he simply stamped the job sheet.
Laxus picked up his travel bag and headed for the door. As he passed Lin Yuan, he suddenly stopped.
He flicked a gold coin from his fingers, sending it straight toward the spot between Lin Yuan's eyebrows with a flash of lightning.
Lin Yuan didn't dodge.
The gold coin vanished half a foot in front of him and flew out from behind Laxus the next instant. Without turning his head, Laxus raised a hand and caught it between his fingers. The lightning between them was cut into several pieces, flashing one after another through the distorted space.
Neither of them released any more magic power.
No tables or chairs were damaged, and no more water was spilled from the cups. Only a faint burnt smell lingered in the air.
Laxus finally turned his head slightly, a hint of a smile appearing on his lips.
"I'll take the S-Class Exam next year."
He pushed open the Guild doors, and golden lightning flashed for an instant in the sunlight.
"You come too. Don't keep me waiting too long."