Damn It, I Fell for It Again!
The Fairy Tail mages have always loved to join in the fun, and the commotion Hughes made by flipping the table earlier had already attracted everyone's attention.
At this moment, a circle of curious people surrounded the table where Hughes and his companions sat.
Macao and Wakaba exchanged a bitter look, forcefully suppressing their suicidal thoughts.
Makarov just warned them; now is not the time to start a betting game.
well...
Soon, with Erza's help, Mira returned to the four of them. Hughes glanced at Mira a few times. Her hands were covered with an exceptionally dark black cloth, which was quite bulging inside. Judging from its shape, it was probably a lottery tube.
"Whoever doesn't draw a lot goes first, the one who doesn't get a lot will have to go on a mission!" Mira said calmly to the four of them.
As they spoke, Mira moved her arm, hidden under the black cloth, slightly toward Hughes, as if she wanted Hughes to draw first.
Hughes shook his head at her, indicating that Laxus should draw first; he wanted to observe the situation.
From a probability perspective, drawing lots tells you that everyone has an equal chance of winning, but from a metaphysical point of view, it's actually better to be the last one to draw.
Therefore, Hughes wanted to be the last to draw.
Seeing that Hughes didn't want to be the first to draw, Mira sighed inwardly. It was Hughes's own fault for not seizing the opportunity; she couldn't be blamed!
Mira then moved the black cloth in front of Laxus.
Without hesitation or change in expression, Laxus swiftly and decisively slipped his hand inside the black cloth.
A second later, Laxus raised the skewer in his hand, which showed no other color.
Mira didn't even glance at the slip of paper, calmly announcing that Laxus had passed, and then moved her arm in front of Makarov.
After cheering for Laxus for a while, everyone's gaze followed the black cloth in Mira's hand and shifted to Makarov.
No one noticed that Laxus's expression was strange at that moment.
He looked down at the slip of paper in his hand, then looked up at Mira and Erza, a smug smile creeping onto his lips.
Wow, this is going to be interesting...
Makarov mimicked Laxus's movements, and without the slightest hesitation, pulled out a slip of paper identical to the one in Laxus's hand from the black cloth.
Now, all eyes of the onlookers turned to Gildarts and Hughes.
Given two choices, who will be the unlucky one?
The atmosphere was a little tense...
Hughes and Gildarts immediately sat up straight, glancing at each other across the distance, as if a crackling of electricity flashed between them.
"Who goes first?" Mira asked, extending her hand between the two.
Hughes pondered for a moment, then nodded to Gildarts, signaling him to go first.
Gildarts chuckled. This little game was quite fun; he'd never been this nervous even when facing an entire Dark Guild.
He exhaled and, under the watchful eyes of Macao and the others, suddenly reached into the black cloth.
Two breaths later, Gildarts stared at Mira in shock, his eyes wide.
No, is that right?
Mira smiled and nodded, indicating that Gildarts was right; there were only three lots in the lottery box.
She said from the beginning that those who didn't draw a lot would have to go and carry out a mission.
Hughes, who was waiting for the results, noticed Mira and Gildarts exchanging strange glances and immediately sensed something was wrong. His heart raced. "Hey, you two, stop messing around! Gildarts, hurry up and take out the skewer!"
Those around them urged them on, curious whether it was Hughes or Gildarts who was going to carry out the mission.
Makarov and Laxus, grandfather and grandson, stood up without saying a word, and took a few steps back in unison.
If it's none of their business, don't get too close, lest you get caught in the crossfire.
Hughes isn't a normal person... his mind is different from ordinary people.
Gildarts glanced at Hughes, a look of amusement on his face, and then drew the only lot from the lottery tube.
Sure enough, it was the exact same slip of paper as the Makarov father and son's.
Hughes was immediately dumbfounded and petrified to the ground...
"Yes, Gildarts won!" Natsu jumped high in the crowd and cheered.
"Ai!"
Gray clenched his fist and cheered; he had been hoping from the start that Hughes would lose.
There's no reason why, it's just that Hughes often secretly feeds Natsu flames, and anyone who helps that slanted-eyed bastard become stronger is a bad guy.
"I don't believe it! How could I possibly lose twice in a row!" Hughes, regaining his senses, angrily ripped the black cloth off Mira's hands.
"Ha! I knew you guys had a problem! Where's the other one?!" Hughes exclaimed excitedly, pointing to the empty lottery tube as if he had found something he had lost.
The onlookers frowned, their gazes fixed on Mira and Erza. Although Mira and Erza didn't seem like the type to cheat, the situation was still hard to explain!
Why did that unlucky draw that belonged only to Hughes disappear?
Hughes:(◣_◢)
What do you mean Hughes's unlucky draw is missing? If they hadn't cheated, I would definitely have drawn a good one!
"Mira, I never thought you were this kind of person, actually helping those three cheat!" Hughes shook his head, feigning disappointment.
"Since you cheated, I definitely won't accept this draw result!"
Mira gave Hughes a mischievous glare. "Erza, show Hughes the contents of the Recording Magic Crystal so we can see we didn't cheat!"
Soon, everyone saw the whole process of Mira placing the lots. To make sure everyone could see how many lots she placed, they even took a 360-degree close-up of the lottery tube.
Mira continued, "It seems you didn't listen carefully to the lottery rules. I said those who didn't draw a lot have to go and carry out the mission!"
"You didn't get a draw!" Mira playfully pointed to Hughes.
Laxus, who had retreated into the crowd, added insult to injury, "Mira initially let you draw first, but Hughes on being the last to draw!"
Natsu mimicked Happy's snickering, "Pfft, Hughes's so unlucky!"
Lisanna: "Natsu, don't say that. Hughes has never had any good luck!"
Enraged by his impotent rage, Hughes glared at them, his thick fingers slamming onto the table. "Get out! Who taught you to draw lots like this? Draw lots? Do you even know what drawing lots means?"
He didn't even touch a lot; what kind of lottery is this?!
As he spoke, Hughes exerted a slight force with his wrist, and the entire table instantly lifted off the ground, then flew violently towards Laxus, the whooshing sound startling those around Laxus.
"Idiot Hughes, we're still here!"
"Ah, President, that scoundrel has gone mad!"
Suddenly, a crackling sound of electricity reached everyone's ears.
Laxus knew that Hughes was a completely unscrupulous man, and his magical power was already fully unleashed.
Amidst the crackling of electricity, a golden magic circle suddenly appeared on Laxus's right arm, with countless bolts of lightning as thick as chopsticks coiling around it.
"Lightning Dragon's Crushing Fist!"
"Bang!"
Laxus threw a right punch, unleashing a thunderous roar that collided with the table in mid-air. Like a sharp blade slicing through paper, the table shattered instantly, sending countless charred wood chips raining down from above the crowd.
"I'm saved! I'm saved!" Macao patted his chest and gasped for breath.
It's really scary...