WOOO WOOO!
The train slowly pulled into the station, massive steam billowing from the engine's fuel compartment.
Passengers carrying all sorts of bags and luggage are disembarked, the bustle creating a lively atmosphere.
Amid the crowd, Chase walked along the distinctly medieval streets, wrapping slung over his back, curiously taking in this city he'd never visited before.
This was Aslova City, neighboring Hargeon—another port city in the Kingdom of Fiore. Mountains flanked two sides while the sea bordered the third; its geographical location was relatively remote.
Following Makarov's advice and wanting to stretch his legs, Chase had chosen a moderately difficult S-Class request.
And Aslova was the destination for this request!
Chase casually sat on a public bench by the roadside and pulled out the request slip marked with a vivid red "S."
[S-Class Request: Subjugate the pirates running amok in international waters]
[Request Details: In recent months, a band of pirates of unknown origin has been active in Aslova's waters, attacking passing vessels frantically, causing immense losses and disaster. Over a hundred people have died beneath the pirates' blades. Capture these extremely brutal pirates alive.]
[Reward: 9.9 million Jewels]
[Client: Marshall Whitedo]
[Location: Aslova South Coast, Abandoned Lighthouse]
[Special Note: This request requires capturing pirates alive. Extremely dangerous. Please accept with caution.]
"According to the chairman, every mage who's accepted this request has inexplicably vanished without a trace. No one's ever returned safely—not even traces of their bodies found. That's why it was elevated to S-Class."
"Anything can happen at sea, sure, but no matter how you think about it, all the Mages disappearing without a trace is just too strange."
"Putting aside the pirates' brutality for a moment—surely some mages go to sea and never encounter them, returning empty-handed?"
This was the biggest contradiction Chase had pondered throughout the train ride.
Obviously, the missing mages had definitely encountered pirates—that much was certain.
But pirates weren't like bandits confined to towns or fixed mountaintops—their operating area was the vast, boundless ocean. How were they precisely targeting each mage who accepted the request?
It couldn't be through Observation Haki!
Ahem—wrong series.
Chase cleared his throat, collected his thoughts, stood up, and walked toward the end of the city street.
To learn more details, he'd need to meet the client first.
The specified location—"Abandoned Lighthouse"—wasn't particularly hard to find in Aslova.
Chase grabbed a few locals, and After some friendly inquiries, quickly obtain accurate directions.
The Abandoned Lighthouse stood on Aslova's south coast. Following the main granite road through town and crossing a small tropical jungle would lead there.
Chase stood on overgrown wasteland, looking up at a weathered lighthouse perched on the desolate coastal cliffs.
Little remained of its former white paint—salt corrosion had reduced it to irregular gray spots. The rusted iron stairs seemed to speak of past glory.
The sea wind howled through the iron grating at the lighthouse's base, producing a wailing sound.
"That's certainly abandoned enough."
After a brief appraisal, Chase unhesitatingly stepped forward.
He was genuinely curious why someone offering nearly ten million Jewels would live in such a dilapidated place.
He pushed open the lighthouse's ground-floor rusted iron door. Slivers of sunlight slanted through narrow windows, falling upon cracked floor tiles sprouting weeds, patches of light.
In the middle of that light, beside an old lounge, a thin, small man sat alone at a simple wooden table, drinking tea.
"Hello, are you Mr. Marshall Whitedo?" Chase greeted.
Hearing the sound, the thin man set down his teacup, scrutinized Chase from several meters away, and asked doubtfully, "Young man, you need something from me?"
"Right. I'm a mage from Fairy Tail. Did you post this request?" Chase pointed to the Fairy Tail guild mark branded on his right arm and pulled the request slip from his pocket.
"Yes, yes! Perfect! I never expected the mage accepting this request to be from Fiore's most famous guild!"
Hearing "Fairy Tail," the thin man's numb expression suddenly changed. He hurried over, grabbed Chase's hand excitedly, and pleaded, "Please! You must help me catch those damn pirates!"
"Uh, I know you're eager, but hold on—that's exactly why I'm here."
Chase subtly withdrew his hand from the man's grip.
Up close, the thin man wasn't actually old—around thirty, wearing a simple shirt.
His face was gaunt, and a scar running across half his face cut through his right eye.
"Sorry, sorry. I got carried away."
Marshall apologized, invited Chase to the wooden table, and personally poured him a cup of tea.
After briefly checking the request slip information and confirming the client's identity, Chase got straight to the point:
"I've read the request details. Mr. Marshall, could you tell me the specific characteristics of these pirates you want subjugated?"
This was crucial—it'd be ridiculous to go through all that effort and catch the wrong pirates.
"I'd remember those pirates even if reduced to ashes! Their flag has a Demon Claw. The captain's face is covered in Hengrou, he wears a black top hat, and around his neck hangs a necklace made of skulls!"
Mentioning the pirates, Marshall's gentle, friendly demeanor completely shifted. He ground his teeth, his vicious gaze made somewhat penetrating by the scar.
"Any other features? Ship appearance, crew attire, what kind of magic they use?"
Chase noted Marshall's emotional change, picked up the tea, and took a light sip.
The tea was bitter and astringent—worlds apart from what Mirajane brewed!
"Sorry—appearance and attire I can manage, but what magic they use..."
Marshall's face showed apology. "I only saw the pirate captain use magic that spewed flames."
"Got it. I'll remember that." Chase nodded slightly.
After gathering basic information, he looked at Marshall sitting across from him and asked seriously, "May I ask why you posted this request?"
Normally, pirate subjugation should fall to Fiore's Royal Navy, or be entrusted to the Guild Alliance.
This thin man didn't seem the type to spend money eliminating threats for the public good, did he?
Of course, the reward amount didn't worry him.
For S-Class requests like this, the client's funds needed review by the Magic Council to confirm ability to pay before publication.
Mentioning this, Marshall's already ferocious face twisted further. He slammed his fist on the table, blood vessels appearing in his eyes.
"They... those damn beasts brutally murdered my wife and daughter. I want to personally cut them into pieces—chop them into countless fragments and throw them to the fish!"
"So my only requirement is this: capture them alive and bring them before me!!"
"All the previous mages failed... failed..."
As he spoke, Marshall suddenly grabbed Chase's arm, his tone pleading. "Mr. Chase, you're from the famous Fairy Tail guild. Please—you have to help me!"
"You're my last hope!!"
This time, Chase didn't push away the seemingly manic man. Instead, his gaze was solemn as he reached out and gently patted Marshall's shoulder.
"Don't worry. Fairy Tail's different from those counterfeit guilds."
Hearing this promise, Marshall wept with gratitude. "Thank you... thank you..."
"One last question: how do I find these pirates?" Chase asked.
"I only know they often haunt the shipping routes. If you don't have a better method, I can recommend you board an Aslova merchant ship."
Marshall wiped his tear-streaked face, sad. "That's what the previous mages did. Unfortunately, I never saw any of them return."
Hearing this, Chase's brow furrowed slightly, then quickly smoothed.
"Understood. We'll do that then. Thank you, Mr. Marshall."
***
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