After the serious topics came the joyful meal time, which Makarov particularly loved.
Especially after having a bit of drink, he loved dancing wildly and, like Macao and the others, enjoyed cracking dirty jokes.
His favorite thing was to praise the figures of the beauties in their guild.
It's all fine when he talks about others, but when Rhode hears him lamenting 'It's a pity Mira retired from modeling', he knows the president is too drunk and needs help sobering up or being coaxed to sleep.
Rhode, ranked sixth among the Ten Wizard Saints, lives up to his name; he can take down Makarov, ranked seventh, with ease.
Daring to lay a hand on the president, that's rebellious. Rhode grabbed the back of Makarov's collar, feeling somewhat offensive.
He then changed to carrying the old man on his back, bidding farewell, "I think it's about time, there's still work at the guild, we'll be going now."
"Safe travels." Hayberion tried hard to maintain his composure, pretending not to have seen the previous scene.
Jura politely said, "Do visit Lamia Scale when you have the chance."
Uluvheim didn't even bother to look at the guy who entirely lacked the dignity of a Wizard Saint.
Brellins had somehow managed to dismantle the door lock of the room, was engrossed in his research, and didn't notice them leaving at all.
Rhode couldn't be bothered to rent a carriage or anything, so after sending back the two river crabs outside, he stepped into the Hex Flying Gate.
The familiar dizziness brought by hyperspeed subspace travel was like taking an elevator for Rhode.
Makarov hadn't woken up yet, naturally feeling nothing.
Rhode simply carried the old man down the stairs on his back.
Awkwardly, at the staircase on the second floor, he ran into Laxus, feeling embarrassed to speak for a moment.
Laxus asked in confusion, "What happened to Grandpa?"
"Nothing, he drank too much." Rhode turned around, "Just in time for you to take care of him."
"Uh, okay." Laxus nodded and took Makarov over, indeed smelling the boozy aroma all over the old man.
Rhode nearly burst out laughing upon seeing this—Laxus holding the president was like carrying a child, absolutely hilarious.
He kept a straight face, waved casually, and went downstairs.
Mira was helping Wolian register a task, not looking up.
Rhode saw Wolian carrying not only a backpack but also a suitcase. He curiously asked, "Long-term task?"
"Yeah, the Magic Research Room in the Royal Capital is planning to develop a small communicator more convenient than Communication Magic Crystals and invited Telepathy Magic experts to participate."
Wolian smiled confidently, "I feel my Telepathy Magic is decent, and I have quite a few ideas about it."
Rhode found it intriguing, "A research project, that's quite rare."
Wolian chuckled, "Perhaps this time we could make a fortune."
"Alright, good luck." Mira handed the commission slip to Wolian.
Due to the task's unique nature, it also came with a letter of introduction.
"Thanks, no idea how long I'll be gone this time, so goodbye for now." Wolian waved his hand and left with his suitcase.
On the way out of the guild, he also bid farewell to quite a few people.
Long-haul, long-term tasks are common for mages. Such goodbyes aren't sad because home is here, because they'll always return.
Mira watched Wolian leave, then turned to look at Rhode, her happy expression slowly shifted, and soon her lips pursed.
He met her after returning from a trip but spoke to Wolian first instead of his wife, excessive. She decided to be mad for a minute.
Rhode was stunned by her seamless expression switch.
He well knew his wife was a drama queen but didn't expect her to perform right in front of him, making it clear she wasn't even trying to act anymore.
Rhode pondered for three seconds, casually took a goblet to pour himself a drink, then leaned on the counter, swirled the drink in the glass with a smirk, and flirtatiously said, "Hey beautiful, all alone?"
Mira retorted fiercely, "And if I am?"
Under her gaze, Rhode took a small sip, placed the glass back on the counter, and pushed it towards her, "Happens I'm alone too, why not join me for a drink? Or should I join you for one?"
"Sure." Mira slightly raised her chin, looking quite haughty, "I'll buy you a drink, you finish it, you call the shots on what happens next; if not, I do."
"Deal." After all, it was just a game, Rhode agreed right away.
Then he watched as Mira pulled out the cocktail shaker that might not even be used once a year in the bar.
Mira then took a few bottles of the strongest liquor from the shelf behind, placing them on the counter one by one, then grabbed some soda, lemon, and even an egg.
"Here we go~" Mira smiled sweetly, introducing, "The next drink I'm making is called 'Memory Black Hole'."
The name immediately gave Rhode a bad feeling.
"Rest assured, it just makes you lose a small piece of memory after drinking, harmless to the body." Mira smiled as she looked at Rhode, "And I assure you it tastes great."
"..." Isn't this just blackout booze?
Oh no, Rhode knew Mira well, seeing this expression meant no good news.
She seemed indeed capable of making cocktails, and his tolerance wasn't the best. If he passed out after a drink, Mira was bound to do something not too excessive but certainly embarrassing enough to get him teased by his companions...
Rhode raised his hands in defeat, "I surrender, you call the shots."
Mira gestured Rhode to sit, then walked behind him, bent down, pressing her chest to his back.
She leaned in close to Rhode's ear and whispered, "My husband's out of town today, care to come to my place for a chat, maybe talk about something interesting?"
Rhode played along, grabbing her hand like a scoundrel, "Sure, how many 'chats'?"
Mira blinked, "Ten times?"
Rhode stood up and bowed, "Farewell."
Mira giggled softly, then touched her face—it felt a little warm.
The act was fun, but it seemed she said something embarrassing.
It was all that certain someone's fault, always spewing nonsense at home.
She shot Rhode a glance but tugged him to sit back down, began tidying things up, and asked, "How was the party?"
"Not too bad." Rhode gave a brief rundown, focusing on sharing the bad news of trading places in rank with the president.
"Oh dear, oh dear..." Mira understood what troubled him, suggesting, "Why not take the president's advice and become the official fourth generation? And... if you're worried he'd get bored, just pass the position back to him, making him the fifth generation."
Mira thought she had a brilliant idea, "That way, the president really becomes your junior, so what if he ranks behind you!"
"..." Rhode stared in shock at his demoness wife, eventually unable to hold back his laughter, "You're truly a genius!"