Ultear asked, "You've decided to participate in the Grand Magic Games, haven't you?"
"Yes." Rhode nodded.
A few days ago, President Ouba of Lamia Scale was interviewed by journalists, claiming that this year they would send Jura of the Ten Wizard Saints and the renowned in recent years ice-make mage, Leon, to compete.
The old woman boasted that Jura, ranked fifth among the Ten Wizard Saints, would definitely defeat Rhode, ranked sixth, and win this year's championship.
Although even Jura himself didn't dare to claim a guaranteed victory, President Ouba had great confidence in him.
Perhaps it was because Rhode was too young.
No matter how the outside interpreted these statements, it was foreseeable that the level of attention on this year's Grand Magic Games could be described as unprecedented.
This was the first time in years that members of the Ten Wizard Saints were participating in the competition, and two of them at once.
Mages across the Fiore Kingdom were eager for this year's Grand Magic Games, and even many foreign countries were quite interested.
Most notably, Gioa Kingdom immediately sent people to discuss broadcasting rights.
It was said that the King originally intended to visit and watch the games in person, but was persuaded by his ministers to settle for using a Magic Crystal to watch instead.
The rumors spread far and wide, so the news of Fairy Tail's participation was naturally no secret.
Rhode casually said, "You're not thinking of joining as well, are you? I'm afraid I can't help with that."
"Of course not." Ultear chuckled, "There's no way we could ever become a legitimate guild."
Raven Tail could go legit for a small fee because they didn't have any heinous crimes on their record, unlike Sin of the Witch, who were fugitives with no hope of that.
Melty, as if to console Ultear, said, "This way also suits us better, doesn't it?"
They had already decided on their future way of life.
Rhode asked, "Then, for what purpose?"
Ultear replied, "We've received information suggesting that during the Grand Magic Games each year, there's always a strange magic power present.
"This power feels very sinister, and it seems to carry a trace of Zeref's aura, so we wanted to investigate."
"What do you mean by 'received information'?" Rhode noticed a gap, "For the past six years, both of you were sealed on Celestial Wolf Island with us, and the other members of your guild have been in prison for years.
"With so many people combined, none have actually witnessed the Grand Magic Games. How could you sense Zeref's aura?"
Ultear blushed, "Well... it's from a hard-to-explain channel."
"Hard to explain? Do you mean you..."
Rhode glanced Ultear over from head to toe, and one had to admit, from appearance to figure to charisma, she was quite outstanding.
Ultear felt offended, and Melty immediately shielded Ultear, snapping, "What are you thinking?!"
"...Sorry." Rhode became serious and explained, "I just interacted with Loki this morning, and my thoughts got polluted."
"What kind of excuse is that?" Melty couldn't understand the connection.
"I see." Ultear, having heard of Loki's reputation during her time in the Council, immediately understood.
"Hmm?" Rhode raised his head towards the forest where they had just been hiding, where suddenly a formidable magic power emerged.
With Void Divination, Rhode immediately saw a familiar figure: "Second Master… President Precht?"
Ultear and Melty weren't surprised at all, just wore a 'we messed up' expression.
"Hahaha..." Precht walked out of the forest, emitting a hearty laugh, "I told you to find someone else. With this brat's nature, he wouldn't stop until he gets a clear answer."
The last time they met was at a wedding where Rhode received a magic book from Precht and profited greatly from it.
So upon meeting again, they were still somewhat familiar. Rhode asked, "Since you're here, why hide?"
Moreover, to have evaded an earlier Void Divination, the second master knew some things.
Precht said, "They were worried that being with me would make them seen as enemies, so they insisted on talking to you personally."
Rhode asked, "Then what do you mean by letting them find someone else?"
Precht smiled, "Given their guild member identities, wouldn't it be easier to approach that kid who uses shaping magic, or the one with requip magic, or even the one using celestial spirit magic?"
Rhode nodded, confident in his companions, who not only were amiable but also more easily deceived.
Ultear sighed, "But for investigations like this, Mr. Rhode is more reliable."
"Thank you for the compliment." Rhode smiled and looked at Precht, "So, it was you, second president, who noticed something unusual about the Grand Magic Games?"
Precht said, "I heard that my former subordinates were up to some interesting things, so I provided a little information."
Ultear and Melty showed a helpless look, much like Natsu when being scolded by the president.
Rhode looked between them, feeling a strong sense of déjà vu.
As for the truth of the matter, back when they had just returned from Celestial Wolf Island, indeed there were rumors about the second master's activities.
He seemed to have been focusing on the reemployment issues of disbanded Demon Heart members these past years.
He didn't care for those who went into hiding or joined legitimate guilds under false identities.
But for those still with Dark Guilds, including those two peculiar chickens and dogs, a mysterious figure caught and dumped them in front of the Advisory Council's door.
Makarov and Rhode unanimously believed it was the second master's handiwork.
After Ultear and Melty returned and formed Sin of the Witch, and even broke into prison, they likely enticed Precht's interest too.
It looked like he had only recently contacted them.
Speaking of which, while the Council struggled for ages without any leads, Precht could easily find these people anytime he wanted.
Perhaps those who have navigated the underworld have special channels, Rhode mused, internally justifying for the Council.
Precht began to recount his experiences.
Back on Celestial Wolf Island, since he left early and chose a clever direction, he neither encountered Zeref nor the Black Dragon and safely returned to a secret base left in a small country.
But just days after Demon Heart disbanded, he learned that together with Celestial Wolf Island, Fairy Tail was destroyed.
In shock, he tried searching multiple times.
Unfortunately, the Fairy's Ball was so powerful that it eluded all perception and investigative means, leaving Precht and others empty-handed.
Disappointment was inevitable.
Precht went to find Vorod in the desert for a fight, after which they, covered in scars, lay in a sand pit talking for hours.
They only barely crawled out before being buried by sand.
Others might hardly believe it — that Vorod, one of the Four Heavenly Kings of Ishujal, and Hades, president of one of the three forces in the Balram Alliance, were nearly suffocated by sand.