A Dream-Tier Delicacy: Feather Fish

Hughes raised an eyebrow slightly upon seeing this. Was this a direct statement or an allusion to a certain dark mage?

However, after he had Mira receive Satan last time, the two of them just left without a word, leaving the magic circle sealing Satan intact and still lying in the small ravine.

Hughes handed the mission request form back to Makarov: "Mira took over the demon Satan, and the Magic Council didn't say much, right?"

"They dare?"

Hughes smiled slightly, a silent laugh escaping his lips, and gave Makarov a thumbs-up.

Hughes knew how much the Magic Council feared demons.

After all, a single Lullaby was enough to frighten them into mobilizing their directly subordinate armed forces to Custody Enforcement Unit.

But so far, the Magic Council has not taken any action against Mira, and judging from the old man's tone, the Magic Council will not mention Mira receiving Satan again.

Hughes knew without a doubt that the old man had played a significant role in it.

Sure enough, whenever it comes to matters involving guild members, Makarov is the most reliable person.

The old man scoffed at Hughes's praise, "Come on, take me to the place where you fought Satan. Clearing the magic circle sealing the demon is no easy task; the sooner we finish, the better."

Upon hearing this, Hughes's smile vanished instantly, his eyes widening in surprise. He pointed to his handsome face with his index finger. Was this old man serious?

He even needed the guidance of the Mira siblings to get to Magnolia Town, let alone the Clover Grand Canyon with its numerous faults and complex terrain; countless people have gotten lost and died in the Clover Grand Canyon, it's not just a saying.

To find the magic circle that seals Satan, we need to go through the marks we made along the way last time, but after so many days of wind and sun, the marks have long since disappeared.

Seeing Hughes standing motionless, Makarov looked at him suspiciously. "Hurry up and lead the way. I've dealt with the sealing array in the Clover Grand Canyon, but I still need to report to the Magic Council. I'm very busy."

"Since the president trusts me so much, then I, Hughes, will not refuse. Let's go!" Hughes immediately rolled up his sleeves, looking proud and imposing.

It's rare for someone to trust him so much, and he's determined to finally shed the reputation of being directionally challenged.

Mira, Lisanna, Elfman, keep a close eye on them. Last time was just an accident; this time, Hughes' true strength will be revealed.

Hughes, head held high and chest out, strode away...

"Damn it, Hughes, you're going the wrong way. The Clover Grand Canyon is to the left of Clover Town, not to the right."

"Damn it, you should have said so earlier next time, Chairman!!"

Inside the Clover Grand Canyon, a listless Hughes and Makarov sat on an unknown cliff, clutching the simple fishing rod Hughes had made himself.

It was called a fishing rod, but it was just a dead twig picked up from the ground and some strings tied to it from clothes; it didn't even have a hook or bait.

"Hughes, tell me the truth, do you even remember where the magic circle that sealed Satan is?" Makarov sighed.

They had been walking in the Clover Grand Canyon for two days, but Makarov felt like they were just going in circles.

Especially this cliff, which was the third time he had encountered it, Makarov glanced at the boulder beside him.

He had left a mark on the boulder when he first passed by it, and two days later the mark was slightly worn; but the more Makarov looked at it, the more he felt that the mark was mocking him.

"President, don't worry, I will lead you to the magic circle that seals Satan no matter what," Hughes assured him, patting his chest.

As for when it would be found, Hughes didn't dare say...

"But we've encountered this cliff three times already, three times in two days!" Makarov emphasized.

Given this reality, how could he trust Hughes?

Hughes patted the old man on the shoulder. "This means we are destined to meet it. As long as we take the destined item from inside the cliff, the cliff will no longer block our way."

Makarov:... How did Hughes have the nerve to say that?

What nonsense about destined treasures! Isn't it just that you're drooling over the Feather Fish below the cliff? Don't think I haven't seen you staring intently at them every time you pass this cliff.

Makarov strongly suspected that the reason they passed the cliff three times was simply because Hughes was captivated by the Feather Fish and deliberately led him in circles.

Poor Makarov never considered that Hughes was directionally challenged.

Fearing he would have to see the cliff again, Makarov stopped this time and allowed Hughes to fish for Feather Fish there.

But... Makarov glanced at the fishing rod, which didn't even have a hook. Could this really catch any fish?

Seeing Makarov glancing at him like he was an idiot, Hughes pretended to cough a few times. "Chairman, you should know that the highest level of fishing is called 'willing to take the bait'."

Fishhooks and bait are things only the weak need.

A strong fish like me only needs to sit here and lower my fishing line; these fish will obediently bite the line and wait for me to pull them up.

Makarov paused briefly, then spoke a truth that stung Hughes: "Hughes, you need to learn to distinguish between reality and wishful thinking."

Last time, you had a fishing competition with Gildarts and the others in the lake behind the guild, and you were the only one who didn't catch a fish!

Makarov emphasized the last six words, pausing carefully as he spoke each one.

Upon breaking through his defenses Hughes immediately retorted in fury, "What skill is it to catch a fish? I caught the most precious treasure in the lake."

Don't underestimate that ordinary underwater rock; it's these ordinary rocks that make up the entire Ishgar Continent.

"Rounding it up, I caught the entire Ishgar Continent."

Makarov ignored the already disarmed Hughes; he had heard similar remarks countless times from Gildarts, who loved fishing.

This is what fishing enthusiasts with poor skills but great addictions are like: they don't catch many fish, but they come up with one excuse after another.

Makarov even saw Gildarts break through his defenses and jump into the water several times, scooping up a lot of fish from the lake with his hands, and then returning to the guild to lie and say that he had caught them himself.

He didn't even look at himself, soaking wet; Makarov didn't even bother to comment.

Shaking his head, Makarov shook off the more unpleasant memories of Gildarts that followed in his mind, and secretly glanced at Hughes.

He just hoped that Hughes wouldn't become like Gildarts in the future; having a powerful but unreliable mage in the guild was already a huge headache for him.

If there were one more, Makarov would really cry his eyes out.

Upon noticing Makarov's Hughes maneuver, Hughes scrambled to the side, shifting his position three or four times.

"President, I feel like you're thinking something very impolite!"

"It's already terrifying enough that you have one Chairman Bob in your senior team, we can't afford to have a second one!"

Makarov was immediately exasperated, then his massive fist sent Hughes flying. "If you don't want to go fishing, we can set off right now!"

"Oh dear, President, don't be so easily teased..."