The Council Members Are Out, But the Chairman Is...

A week had passed since the meeting of the guild masters in the magic community of Fiore Kingdom...

During this week, Fairy Tail, Blue Pegasus, Quatro Cerberus, and Lamia Scale had already forgotten about their actions from a week ago. However, the other guild masters did not.

Thus...

Apart from Fairy Tail, Blue Pegasus, Quatro Cerberus, Lamia Scale, and a few guilds that didn't even attend the meeting, the remaining guild masters of Fiore Kingdom gathered with one goal: to lodge a complaint at the Magic Council in Era!

They hoped the Magic Council of the Ishgar continent would give them an explanation.

The guild masters arrived at the Magic Council's doors, pushing Jose Porla, who was bandaged and seated in a wheelchair, to the front. It was evident that they regarded Jose as their leader.

In fact, they had elected Jose to represent them. Although they represented the majority of the guilds in Fiore, their individual guilds were not well-known or influential. Hence, they needed a representative with enough clout, and who better than Jose Porla, one of the Ten Wizard Saints of Ishgar?

"Mr. Jose, are we really going to see a Council member?"

"Maybe we should submit our complaints in writing instead of disturbing the busy Council members."

"Yeah! It seems inappropriate to trouble the Council members with such a minor issue."

As they stood before the massive iron gates, the guild masters began to have second thoughts. For them, meeting the Council members was like mice meeting cats. Usually, guild masters summoned to the Council didn't have pleasant outcomes...

Except for Makarov, the master of Fairy Tail, who often managed to escape unscathed due to his influence and connections within the Council. But for others, such summons typically resulted in severe consequences.

For these guild masters with no strong connections or influence, even dealing with minor clerks of the Council was intimidating.

"We've come this far, how can we turn back now?"

Jose furrowed his brow. They had come with such momentum, turning back now would be humiliating. He, as a Ten Wizard Saint, couldn't afford to lose face like this.

"Hmph…"

Jose calmed himself and noticed the magic recording crystals discreetly placed around. A smile played on his lips.

To increase the success rate of their action, he had even spent his own money to invite journalists from all over the continent. Jose wanted to make this incident big, ensuring that even if Fairy Tail didn't fall, they would at least suffer significant losses.

But if they turned back now, it would be a complete failure, and the media would ridicule him.

"Just follow me. Even if we can't meet the Chairman, it shouldn't be a problem for me, Jose Porla, to meet a Council member."

Jose turned to the nervous guild masters behind him. Though he reassured them, he looked down on them in his heart. He despised these weaklings but needed them for now.

"Yes, yes! With Mr. Jose here, we'll surely meet a Council member."

The guild masters nodded eagerly, praising Jose.

"Good."

Feeling somewhat appeased, Jose allowed Sol, his Earth Element Mage, to push his wheelchair to the gate.

"Hold it! This is the Magic Council. Unauthorized personnel are not allowed."

A guard blocked their way, gripping his weapon.

"We are not unauthorized personnel. I am Jose Porla, master of Phantom Lord. Behind me are the masters of various guilds in Fiore. We are here to file a complaint against the actions of the masters of Fairy Tail, Blue Pegasus, Lamia Scale, and Quatro Cerberus during the recent guild masters' meeting."

Jose wasted no time, stating his identity and their purpose.

"What? They're here to complain about Fairy Tail? This is serious! I must report this immediately…"

The guard's expression changed upon hearing "Fairy Tail". He muttered something under his breath.

"What's wrong?"

Jose noticed the guard's reaction and asked.

"Nothing. I understand, guild masters. Please wait here and do not wander. I will report this to the Chairman immediately. You will receive a response soon."

Simon's guard was temporarily manning the gate due to a lack of tasks. He stressed the importance of staying put and hinted that he would report directly to the Chairman.

"The Chairman…"

Jose's face darkened. It was unusual for such disputes to reach the Chairman. Typically, the Chairman handled only continent-wide issues.

Fiore was a small kingdom of about twenty million people. Its internal magical disputes shouldn't concern the Chairman.

As Jose was about to call the guard back for clarification, the guard had already run off.

"Mr. Jose, did you see how respectful that guard was?"

"Yeah! As soon as he heard it was you, his attitude changed completely!"

"Those Council guards are usually so arrogant, never giving us guild masters any respect. It's satisfying to see them like this!"

While Jose was deep in thought, the guild masters praised him.

"Uh…"

Jose's lips were dry. He wanted to explain that even as a Ten Wizard Saint, he usually approached the Council members with respect. He didn't have the authority to make the guards so deferential.

"Of course! Do you know who this is? This is Master Jose, one of the Ten Wizard Saints, the pinnacle of Ishgar's magical community. Naturally, the Council guards would show respect!"

The Phantom Lord mage pushing Jose's wheelchair shouted loudly, silencing the area and drawing angry glares from other guards.

"Isn't that right, Master Jose?"

The mage looked at Jose with a sycophantic smile.

"Uh, yes…"

Jose nodded reluctantly, unable to contradict his subordinate.

"You all heard that?"

The mage turned to the guild masters, puffing out his chest.

"Yes, we heard!"

"I even recorded it with a magic crystal!"

"Master Jose is amazing! Truly unparalleled!"

"Master Jose's influence is incredible!!"

The guild masters continued their flattery.

"Ahaha, follow me, and you'll never regret it…"

Seeing the atmosphere, Jose put on a grandiose act, smiling at the guild masters.

"Cough, cough, who's here to file a complaint against Fairy Tail?"

Amidst the praise, an old man in a loose robe, with a head resembling broccoli, appeared before them.

"Uh…"

The guild masters were stunned, looking at the old man in disbelief.

"Chairman Warrod?!"

Finally, one of the guild masters recognized him.

Indeed, it was Warrod Sequen, who had successfully ousted Crawford Seam from the position of Chairman of the Magic Council. The Council had essentially become a second branch of Fairy Tail…

But the guild masters were unaware of this.

After all, when Warrod roamed Ishgar as a Fairy Tail mage, most of them weren't even born yet!

"Master Jose, you're amazing!"

"Yes, to have the Chairman personally come out!"

"Master Jose, we'll follow you from now on…"

The guild masters were ecstatic, praising Jose for supposedly having the Chairman invite them in.

"Ahaha…"

Jose forced a laugh, feeling the immense pressure of facing Warrod.

"Such immense power! Far beyond my level!"

"No wonder he's the Chairman…"

Jose broke into a cold sweat, recognizing Warrod's overwhelming strength.

"Ahaha…"

"Since you're here to file a complaint against Fairy Tail, come in. We'll discuss this in the meeting room…"

Warrod's expression softened, and he invited them in with a cheerful laugh.

"Gulp…"

Jose swallowed hard, realizing it wasn't just the guild masters behind him who didn't want to enter the Council—he was also him.

Jose was a smart man. His instincts told him something was off about the new Chairman.

"Please, follow me inside…"

Warrod turned and smiled, a seemingly harmless gesture that sent chills down Jose's spine.

"Let's go, Master Jose! The Chairman himself invited us!"

"Yes, let's go!"

"Come on!"

Jose's followers pushed his wheelchair eagerly, thrilled by the honor of being invited into the Council.

"No! Wait! Uh…"

Jose tried to stop them, but it was too late. Injured and bound to his wheelchair, he was helpless against their enthusiasm and was wheeled into the Council.

Unbeknownst to them, eyes watched from the surrounding buildings—deadly predators observing their prey walk into the trap.