The task has been sent out, now it's just a matter of waiting for a response. If no one takes the job within three days, we'll resend it to another batch of guilds.
Of course, some people can't sit still and will take on some tasks near that small town to see if they can find new clues.
Gajeel, that stubborn guy, also chose that mountainous area for training with Li Li.
Rhode will also take some time to visit that inn and try summoning Warm, while being busy with his own matters for the rest of the time.
This continued until the third day after the task was sent out.
Marcus shouted loudly: "Rhode, someone's looking for you."
"Have they finally arrived?" Rhode put down the newspaper and notebook, welcoming the stranger who just walked in.
The visitor was a middle-aged man with short hair, wearing a light gray cotton coat and sparse stubble on his chin, looking somewhat... familiar?
The visitor excitedly shook his hand: "Mr. Rhode, it's great to see you're safe!"
"..." Rhode couldn't recall who he was, apologetically asking, "Excuse me..."
The visitor understandingly said, "My name is Calute. Have you really forgotten about me? Well, it's been a long time after all."
Rhode furrowed his brow, thinking: "Calute... sounds familiar."
Calute had to continue, "I used to be a carriage driver. Back then, I was seriously ill and urgently needed herbs from the snow mountain. My wife entrusted Fairy Tail with the task.
"When you and your companions arrived, my daughter and son had secretly run off to the mountain. If it weren't for you..."
"Oh! So, it's you!" That snow mountain's Laban fur was nice, and I even made two coats back then...
Rhode finally remembered, "At that time, you were very sickly, and your complexion wasn't good. You've changed a lot now."
"Thanks to the herbs you brought back, and also thanks to you for saving Jimmy and Hunter," Calute said gratefully and with relief,
"Six years ago, we heard you and your companions had an accident, and we were all very worried. Fortunately, it turned out to be nothing. I came to the area for some matters today, so I took the liberty to visit. Now that I've seen you're alright, I can update Vis when I go back and be at ease."
"Thank you for coming specifically; please sit here for a bit." Rhode called inside, "Elfman, someone familiar has come to see us! Laki, help bring something to drink!"
Although he wasn't the person he was waiting for, Rhode still warmly invited him to sit down.
Elfman looked puzzled for a moment, then realized, "Mr. Calute?"
Rhode was a bit surprised, "You actually remember?"
Elfman said, "Because for me, it hasn't been that long anyway. So how are Jimmy and Hunter doing?"
Calute laughed, "They're doing well. Jimmy became a mage earlier this year, and Hunter is attending magic school."
Elfman chuckled, "Oh, that's great, isn't it?"
"Here's what you wanted..." Laki brought over three drinks. Seeing the guest's face, he exclaimed in surprise, "Mr. Calute, how do you have time to come to the guild? Is there another task?"
Rhode was even more confused, "How do you know him as well?"
Laki said, "Because during that difficult period for the guild, Mr. Calute sent over a sum of money and helped bring in some tasks, which was a big help."
"?"
Calute waved his hand modestly, "Please don't say that; that was your money, to begin with.
"At that time, our family couldn't pay the reward. It was Mr. Rhode and Mr. Elfman who allowed us to delay the payment temporarily. It's been so long since, and I'm really sorry."
Back then, it seemed they were worried about the family's livelihood, so they left a promissory note. Rhode remembers it was given to Mira for safekeeping, letting her keep it in the guild, right?
Laki clapped his fist into his palm, "Ah, I forgot. That money should indeed belong to you and Elfman.
"Besides Mr. Calute, over the years, some other people especially helped our guild because of you..."
Like a village head who uses Receiving Magic and a village that had a rat plague, for instance.
Many people have helped the guild to some extent, but due to the many events over the years, it slipped our minds to tell Rhode.
Clients who received help from other companions also existed, but those clients also experienced unpleasant situations, so they didn't have as high a 'conversion rate' as Rhode's.
After chatting for a while, Calute mentioned he had to leave. He really was only in Magnolia for some business and came to check in.
As Rhode saw him out, he thought about how many people had helped the guild, and figured he'd have to find a chance to visit them.
After leaving, Calute got into a magic four-wheeled vehicle with a trailer. Rhode was surprised, "Is this yours? Impressive, upgrading from a carriage to a magic four-wheeled vehicle."
Rhode remembered this thing was pretty expensive, not something just anyone could afford.
"How could it be? I rented it for hauling goods. Me and a few friends came here for transport, it's not really changing careers," Calute waved with a smile, "It's almost time to meet up, so until next time."
Rhode waved his hand, "Safe travels."
He watched as Calute drove away and then turned to see a large crab coming from the other side carrying a lot of stuff, with Mira and Lisana carrying two small bags beside it.
Rhode went up to them, asking with a smile, "Did you get everything?"
Mira nodded, smiling, seemingly in a good mood, "Yes, there was a big sale at the mall today, saved a lot of our budget."
This woman is becoming more and more frugal. Rhode sighed inwardly.
"I'm dead tired!" Lisana tossed the bags in her hand into Rhode's arms, complaining, "Sister Mira felt sorry for a brother-in-law, so she dragged me to fill in."
"Because one of us had to stay at the guild to wait, right?" Mira said, "And weren't you happy shopping just now?"
Lisana protested stubbornly, "But in the end, apart from the things needed for the guild, it's just stuff for you two."
Rhode asked, "How about we give you today's saved personal budget as pocket money?"
Lisana cheered, "Hooray for brother-in-law!"
But Mira held Lisana down by her head, "No, you can't be so extravagant."
"Mira~~sister~~~" Lisana hugged Mira's arm and looked pitifully at Rhode, "Brother-in-law~"
Rhode thought for a moment and nodded sternly, "Your sister makes a good point."
"..." Lisana pouted, both of them were mean.
Rhode was about to tease her a bit more when he suddenly looked toward the end of the street, seeing a white-haired girl with a blank expression walking towards the guild.
At first glance, there was something distinctly familiar about her.
"Lisana?" Rhode was stunned for a moment and asked Mira, "Do you have another sister?"
"Of course not." Mira said, confused, but when she looked in that direction, she was also shocked, "She really looks like Lisana."
Lisana gaped, "Huh???"