The small monster slammed around inside the Magic Ball a few times but couldn't break through the thin barrier.
It glared at Rhode with its eyes, baring its teeth, not as a threat, but with a fearless smile.
Rhode suddenly felt a sense of familiarity: "This damn familiar feeling, where have we met?"
The creature didn't respond, it just continued to frolic inside.
"Oprah..." Ivan looked at the creature that resembled a Little Demon in surprise, but there was no time to focus on that now.
He mobilized all his magic power, countless paper figures enveloped in purple magic power converged into five terrifying storms, crashing towards the Mountain Sub-Dragon's head.
The Mountain Sub-Dragon lifted its chin, giving Ivan's attack a good angle.
Boom!
Ivan's magic made the Mountain Sub-Dragon's head sway slightly.
The Mountain Sub-Dragon scratched its chin with its front paw, feeling that, in recent years, the beatings from the old man weren't in vain... Ah, memories of the past are unbearable.
"You mean... it's completely useless..." Ivan's confidence shattered, even against a Giant Dragon, at least a few scales should have fallen off, right?
Seeing Ivan dare to strike, Rhode had no choice but to put the little creature aside: "Your magic power barely does justice to the old man."
But the magic's destructive power seemed quite ordinary.
"What's Makarov! If only I could obtain Flowing Starlight..."
"Alright, alright, stop dreaming in broad daylight," Rhode interrupted him, "You three have a total of three opportunities left, if you don't speak up, let's see who's the next lucky one. 1, 2..."
"I'll talk!"
"Stop! I'll talk!"
Freyja and Black Snake spoke one after the other, then, as if afraid their words wouldn't count for time, they rushed to shout: "We didn't capture your companion at all!"
Ivan shouted at the two: "Shut up!"
Rhode pointed at Ivan, saying to the Mountain Sub-Dragon: "Make him shut up first."
The Mountain Sub-Dragon released its paw, but rocks grew from the ground, and a thick stone ball enveloped Ivan's limbs, body, and mouth, leaving only his nostrils for breathing.
A slight fluctuation of magic power in his body would immediately tighten the sphere, pressing against his chest, suffocating and causing pain, making it impossible for him to concentrate, forcing the magic to interrupt.
Only then did Rhode feel assured and turned to look at the other two: "Alright, you speak separately."
He stomped on the ground, and two thick arched soundproof stone walls rumbled up.
Black Snake felt a bit scared, scared that the Dragon he was treading on was responsible for interrogation because he couldn't understand the question if spoken too quickly. If mistaken for being dishonest and then stomped to death, it'd be too unjust.
Fortunately, Rhode personally came to his side: "Explain clearly, what's going on?"
Black Snake organized his thoughts: "The cause was when me and Narubudinge—who is that Purple Sweet Potato—unexpectedly saw you and the Demon traveling. The President said that information on Fairy Tail must be reported to him recently, especially concerning you and Laxus...
"Then we set a plan to ambush you, only to waste two days waiting there."
Black Snake cautiously watched Rhode's expression, relaxing only when he showed no reaction to the word 'ambush.'
"Later, the President said the plan was canceled and asked us to investigate why Fairy Tail suddenly sought after Star Spirit Mage so vigorously.
"We then used an undercover to find out the whereabouts of your Guild's original Star Spirit Mage..."
Rhode exclaimed at the unexpected revelation: "Wait, undercover?"
Black Snake said: "Gajeel was sent by the President as an undercover to your Guild. Although he disappeared for six years, he made contact immediately upon his return."
Gajeel as an undercover? Nonsense.
Rhode looked at him: "You better think carefully before speaking."
"It's true! He regularly reports Fairy Tail's information to us. We knew before any media coverage that you and the Demon were getting married, the Rain Woman had a crush on the Naked Guy, and the Fire Dragon and the Heartfilia heiress had a vague relationship, and so on..."
"..." Rhode was at a loss for words for a moment; was this undercover reporting intel or gossip?
"Alright, go on with the main topic."
Black Snake said: "Yes, in conclusion, after watching closely, we discovered the disappearance of the team led by the Fairy Queen, and your Guild members were searching everywhere.
"You were looking for the Star Spirit Mage for this reason. So the President thought of a plan to pretend to have kidnapped them before you found their clues, luring you and Laxus to separate you and eliminate you individually.
"The President led four of us elites against you, one of the Ten Wizard Saints, while all other forces were elsewhere against Laxus.
"By the way! Judging by the time, they should be acting soon over there too, you should still make it if you rush to save him now."
Black Snake thought this crucial intel should be enough to exchange for his life. If this guy was eager to save Laxus, maybe he'd let him live... Right?
However, Rhode wasn't in a hurry when he heard all forces were against Laxus.
He showed a look of disdain: "You consider yourselves elites?"
"..." Black Snake was silent for a second, usually, he couldn't stand being looked down upon. But today, he had no intention of arguing with Rhode, obediently saying:
"Actually, when we're together, the President calls us the 'Specially Enhanced Unit for Fairy Tail,' saying our magic type is one Fairy Tail's mages aren't adept at dealing with."
Rhode pondered for two seconds, what was their magic again?
Jumping out of the ground to hit people, putting hair underground for sneak attacks, using Mimicry Magic to hide for sudden attacks, even Oprah seemed to use a sneak attack style.
In some respect, it's indeed a type Fairy Tail would despise, but saying they're not adept at dealing with it is a bit far-fetched.
Because Rhode is an expert in playing such dirty tricks, back when he lacked strength, although often engaging in frontal combat, he'd occasionally practice such things...
Did Ivan rely on stereotypes or intel for this judgment?
If Gajeel really was undercover and provided such intel, Rhode might have to reflect if using brute force while beating him wasn't appropriate.
He continued asking: "How many people are in your Guild in total, and where is Laxus ambushed?"
"A total of 44 people, at the site where he went to complete a mission yesterday, Rosemary Village."
Rhode nodded, 40 people below the 'elite' standard, feeling like going for a rescue would be underrating Laxus.
"Why did you choose the two of us?"
"Because the two of you are the most likely candidates to inherit the President's position, and thus most likely to know the secret. We think you might have an even higher possibility than Laxus."
"... Most likely to be President! Can't someone hope for something good for me?"