Makarov felt a bit of heartache.
He had just heard from the children that many people in the guild couldn't even afford meals because they couldn't get decent commissions, so they had to leave the guild.
Though it's not their fault, it's indeed their responsibility.
Setting Laxus aside, there were 9 groups of 18 participants in this S-Class exam, along with 3 examiners, 1 chief examiner, and the chief examiner's assistant, making it 23 people.
Even without the 'undercover,' there are still 22 people.
All the candidates for the S-Class exam were the best in the guild, and those chosen as partners were also quite exceptional. Even ignoring Hapi and Carla's combat power, there are still 20 people.
A guild of about a hundred people suddenly losing 20 powerful members including the president is a huge blow, as one can imagine.
The current situation had been turbulent for years, and everyone also had to spend manpower and resources searching for missing companions...
Had it not been for the huge prize they won back then and the help of many people, it's hard to say whether the guild could have lasted until now.
Makarov couldn't even begin to imagine what kind of difficulties the children had faced over these years.
After discussing these somewhat heavy topics, Marcus suddenly laughed: "But it doesn't matter now! Because everyone is back, the guild will definitely get better!"
"Exactly!" Wolian also laughed and said, "As long as the president is here, Fairy Tail can become the strongest guild again!"
Alzack, Bisca, Jet, and Troy all smiled.
"Of course, that's my responsibility as the president." Makarov realized his retirement plan might be delayed again.
No, Makarov suddenly remembered something: "Who was the president during these years when we were not here?"
He suddenly felt like he might as well take this opportunity to just retire directly.
"Well..."
"Look, Harujion is here!"
In the midst of Marcus's contemplation, Alzack, with the best eyesight, suddenly reminded everyone.
Everyone quickly ran to the side of the ship to watch.
Everyone was showing expressions of disbelief: "Is this really Harujion?"
In their impressions, Harujion was a bustling port city, with ships and fishing boats always docked at the pier.
Some ships were big, some were small, but without exception, they were all wooden, powered either by sails or oars.
But now, most of the ships docked at the port were metal ones, with hardly a trace of sails to be seen.
Even more surprising, there were actually some flying ships landing in the sky here.
Looking farther out, the architecture of Harujion had also changed significantly; not only were the buildings taller and more magnificent, but there was even a small floating castle in the city center.
In an instant, everyone even started doubting whether this place was Aslan or Edolas.
Seeing their companions' astonished looks, Marcus spread his hands: "We told you, the Fiore Kingdom has changed a lot."
But this is too much.
Could such a big change really occur in just six years?
Only Natsu wasn't concerned about this; he struggled to reach out his hand: "Ugh... Finally... finally here, I thought I was going to die..."
"Ah!" Wendy's attention was drawn by Natsu's movement, and she said apologetically, "Sorry, Mr. Natsu, I forgot to use Troya on you!"
Natsu felt like he had been struck by a critical hit, and his head and hands drooped directly; he himself forgot that now they were no longer competitors, and he could ask either Wendy or Rhode for help!
Crying over his own foolishness.
On the shore and on other ships, some people also noticed the two ships rapidly heading toward the dock, finding them odd at first glance.
"There's still such an old sailing ship in this era?"
"That's unavoidable; those ships also have a long lifespan. Carriages haven't been fully phased out yet, have they?"
"You're right, but isn't the one in front a flying ship? Such a rare combination."
"Could it be a sea rescue? That flying ship may have simply encountered a ship in distress or something."
"Come to think of it, the style of that flying ship seems a bit old too."
Someone joked: "Ha, you can't even afford the cheapest flying ship, yet you laugh at others' old ship styles."
The one refuted stubbornly said, "Who says I can't afford it? It's just not practical!"
"Stop arguing, those two ships have the same mark... wasn't the one at the back the sailing ship that left port this morning?"
"Is there actually a guild that simultaneously has both a flying ship and an old sailing ship? Speaking of which, whose guild emblem is that? It looks somewhat familiar."
The two ships grew closer, and gradually someone saw the row of people standing at the bow, especially noticing Makarov's clothes with the exclusive emblem of the Ten Wizard Saints.
"That elder is... Makarov!"
"So the others are..."
"Fairy Tail!"
"The president of Fairy Tail and all those missing members have returned!"
"Oh, is it that guild with a mixed reputation?"
"That outdated, old-fashioned guild, I heard they were on the brink of bankruptcy."
As the ship approached, Gajeel and Wendy, with the keenest hearing, already heard the discussions on the shore.
Wendy, full of worry, briefed everyone on a few snippets.
"Who are those bastards calling outdated?" Gajeel, displeased, almost wanted to go and hit someone.
Natsu also heard, but he had just regained a bit of energy and couldn't even blow out a small spark.
Alzack advised: "There's no need to get angry over such things; anyway, we're all back, and it will get better."
Makarov smiled and soothed everyone's emotions, Kildas also jested to lighten the mood.
Everyone parked that sailing ship at the dock, and Bisca ran over to entrust it to the management staff for safekeeping.
Then the Fairy Battleship slowly lifted off, left the sea surface, and shot out a long tail flame from the back, accelerating towards Magnolia.
Under the effect of Troya, Natsu finally temporarily overcame his seasickness, bouncing around and running circles around those who came to pick them up.
"Troy, how did you end up in this shape? Feels like Lidas!"
"Didn't I tell you," Troy helplessly repeated, "because I once thought I'd never see Reby again, so I ended up getting obsessed with food..."
"So that's it." Natsu, as if just boarding this ship, curiously asked questions that everyone else had already asked before.
Fortunately, after such a long-awaited reunion, they were patient in answering Natsu.
"You mean Nabu? Still the same, not working at all. As for Macao... oh, right, do you remember his son Romeo? You'll be shocked when you see him!"
Natsu asked questions incessantly, while Rhode and others kept their eyes on the rapidly retreating scenery below.
The towns along the way had seen significant changes, and occasionally flying ships could be seen flying in the distance.
However, many villages still seemed to maintain their original appearance, perhaps too high to discern from above.
And as they moved further away, explosive news began to spread widely from Harujion:
Six years ago, Fairy Tail's main members, believed by the world to have perished at the hands of the Black Dragon Acronologia, miraculously survived today!
Major newspapers hurried to finish their drafts, major guilds enthusiastically discussed, and even the Council added an extra topic to their routine meetings.
Will the Fiore's first guild of six years ago regain new life with the return of its main members?