Baggs has decided to collaborate with Fairy Tail and won't ask for compensation.
Mainly because on our side we've once again asked them for help to detoxify, and it's a bit embarrassing.
So it's better to do a free favor to repay the debt.
After some discussion among the group, the sun has completely set.
Baggs said, "It's getting late. I think we should return and rest for today. It doesn't seem like those guys will come out again."
More importantly, his drink was finished, and he was embarrassed to ask Rhode for more. Additionally, his underlings needed rest as well.
"So let's wrap it up for today," Rhode said, "Where are you staying?"
Baggs said, "At the town's inn, of course. Rooms have been booked. Haven't you booked yours?"
Rhode shook his head, "The bee swarm hasn't been resolved yet, we need to stay in the village just in case."
"See you tomorrow then. We'll be on time." Baggs waved, and Semus carried the exhausted Loka on his back.
Rhode contemplated some care for his teammates, and instead of calling River Crab, he summoned Warm to transport everyone back.
The first thing Warm did after transforming was trying to stick out its tongue to lick everyone.
With quick reflexes, Rhode grabbed Wendy's collar and stepped back, letting Lucy get drenched in saliva.
Carla managed to avoid it due to being unnoticed, looking as calm as an old cat despite being quite flustered.
Lucy turned around, "Why didn't you pull me back as well!"
Rhode responded confidently, "Warm would be sad if it didn't get to lick at least one person."
"Do you have to sacrifice me for that?!"
"Don't worry about such trivial things. Being licked by a kitten or a puppy is normal. Warm is so adorable, what's there to complain about?"
"Then why did you dodge it!"
"Let me come up with an excuse... Well, this outfit was just cleaned by Sister Mira. If it gets dirty like yours after just one day, she'd be upset."
After noisy complaints, everyone finally climbed onboard the "ride."
The soft feel of Warm's back was like sitting on clouds, making someone want to lie down right away.
Wendy didn't hesitate at all, snuggling into the fluffy white fur on Warm's back with a happy smile.
Carla folded her arms proudly, enjoying but not showing it.
Lucy restrained herself slightly and soon lay down, joyfully rolling about.
Rhode looked at Lucy frolicking, coughed lightly, and silently sat on Warm's head.
After a while, Lucy suddenly realized and, blushing, pressed her skirt to sit up straight.
"Speaking of which, why did those bees suddenly disappear before?" Lucy casually asked to ease the awkwardness.
Wendy guessed, "Maybe because it's getting dark, and they're going to sleep?"
Carla said, "If you calculate carefully, the bees disappeared around the time Baggs chased away the Three-headed Dog."
Lucy asked, "Are you saying they're in cahoots and have a connection?"
"Given how close their appearances were, both being abandoned Star Spirits, it'd be strange if there weren't any connection."
"Makes sense..." Lucy thought and asked, "So should we search for them like today then?"
Rhode turned back and said, "Don't worry about that; I already have a plan to lure them directly. Just watch my arrangements tomorrow."
With Rhode saying this, everyone felt assured, knowing he definitely had a great idea to be so confident.
Lucy then moved the topic to today's place to stay, hoping it wouldn't be too bad, and at least convenient for showering.
Soon, Warm carried them to the village.
The village chief was pacing around anxiously at the village entrance.
Seeing the group return safely, the village chief's face lit up with a smile, completely ignoring the huge Warm.
After checking them over, he noticed their clothes were a bit dirty but didn't seem to have any injuries: "May I ask, was today successful?"
Warm shrunk down, and everyone slid off elegantly.
"The situation's a bit complex. We eliminated thousands of bees today but haven't completely solved the issue yet."
Lucy avoided telling the details to the village chief, as the task wasn't completed, and the response from the Star Spirit Realm wasn't certain yet.
Rhode took out a bunch of Daylily flowers, "These are today's harvest, hand them over to the doctor for medicine."
Helping with flower picking was originally part of the task, and although Wendy detoxified everyone, the village was still short on such herbs.
"Thank you, the lodging's been arranged; please follow me." The village chief knew this matter couldn't be rushed.
As they brought a large number of high-quality Daylily flowers, it showed they had ventured deep into the mountains and weren't slacking off.
The village's accommodation was quite basic, with three people and a cat sharing a large bunk room.
But small needs like bathing could still be met.
Rhode was reading in the room when he suddenly remembered something, wrote a small note, handed it to Warm, and threw it into the Hex Flying Gate.
...
In the Guild, Lisana just pushed out the last customer from the tavern, a drunken Kana, and turned to see her sister daydreaming.
Lisana walked over quietly and waved her hand in front of Mira's eyes, "Sister Mira, snap out of it! Brother-in-law just went out for half a day."
"I was just contemplating whether to sign off on this last request." Mira flicked Lisana's forehead and signed the document.
"That hurts!" Lisana clutched her forehead, feeling it would surely be red. Who hits their sister so hard, it definitely wasn't out of embarrassment.
She looked at the document Mira just signed, snatched it suddenly, pointed at the signature, and laughed, "You say you haven't been thinking of brother-in-law, look what you signed!"
Mira glanced at it and saw Rhode's name neatly written in the signature box, making her blush and chuckle.
"It's something I can't help. We've been inseparable for months, and suddenly he's gone away... I'm not used to it."
Having been exposed, Mira openly admitted she was missing her husband.
Lisana wanted to tease her more but suddenly heard light footsteps from upstairs.
The sisters looked towards the stairs, seeing a tiny white fur ball tumble down.
"Warm?" Mira delightedly rushed to catch it, "Have you returned?"
"Hum~" Warm shook its head in her arms.
Mira now noticed Warm had a note in its mouth.
Clearly, he can't return, so Mira handed Warm to Lisana and opened the note to read.
Lisana held Warm, noticing how sweet her sister smiled.
"Bah, so indecent." After reading the message, Mira gently reproached Rhode and put the note away.
Lisana curiously asked, "What did brother-in-law say?"
Mira said, "Nothing much, just saying they'll stay in the village to keep watch tonight and can't come back."
Lisana wrinkled her nose, "Yeah, right."