"Twilight Ogre... This should be the guild of those small fries, right?"
Laxus stood on the street like a boss, draped in his overcoat with his hands tucked in, sizing up the guild before him.
This guild's building was actually even larger than Fairy Tail's former headquarters, though its aesthetic and atmosphere were clearly not on the same level.
The Twilight Ogre's guild hall was entirely dark brown, with an ugly green ogre statue atop the main entrance and several thick iron chains serving as architectural decorations.
Peering inside from the doorway revealed only heavy darkness.
"Correct. Let's go in and have a chat with them."
Ankh had changed into loose casual clothes, looking less like someone here on violent business and more like a tourist.
Behind them, Freed asked with concern, "Ankh, maybe we should go in with you too."
Bickslow nodded and said, "After all, you're currently injured. It might be inconvenient if a fight breaks out."
Ankh waved his hand dismissively and replied, "Don't worry, I've got Laxus with me."
"Wait outside for a bit. We'll be out soon."
After giving a couple of instructions, Laxus entered Twilight Ogre's doors with Ankh.
Evergreen cheerfully patted her two companions on the shoulder and reassured them.
"With Laxus here, it is Twilight Ogre who should be worried."
...
Inside Twilight Ogre, the main hall was constructed to be exceptionally cold and gloomy.
The ceiling featured sharp, dangerous decorations, and the surroundings were filled with ugly sculptures of ambiguous meaning, completely covered in graffiti.
Seated at the long table was Twilight Ogre's Guild Master, Banaboster—a large-headed, sleazy man dressed similarly to a yakuza boss.
He was currently smoking an expensive cigar with many glittering rings adorning his chubby fingers.
"Brat, shouldn't adults be handling debt repayment? Are they all cowards?"
Banaboster spoke arrogantly, his mouth twisted and eyes narrowed.
Ankh ignored him as if he were an insect, slapping a piece of paper onto the table and speaking as if to himself:
"The funds you provided to our guild show significant discrepancies, and it's clear you're setting up an illegal scam. I just went to the mayor and requested him to act as a mediator to completely recalculate the debt you owe us."
Banaboster spat heavily on the ground, glaring irritably at this kid who seemed to be feigning composure, then lazily picked up the bill on the table.
He naturally wasn't afraid of the mayor cheating him—after all, the mayor was one of his key corrupt business partners tied by mutual interests.
He just couldn't figure out what this kid was trying to pull.
Did he really think the mayor would take his side?
What a joke! The apparent justice and truth were on his side.
Would Fairy Tail dare to openly break the law?
Banaboster picked up the paper carelessly and examined it carefully.
Moments later, Banaboster's mud-yellow, ugly face began to contort.
He then slammed the bill back on the table, his face bright red and veins bulging on his neck as he roared.
"Five million J?! And it's negative?!"
"You want us to pay you that much money?! Are you completely insane?!!"
Banaboster's roar echoed through the entire hall. Numerous mages with highly unfriendly expressions closed in like thugs, ready for a fight.
Yet Ankh remained seated completely calmly across from Banaboster, while Laxus stood steadfastly by his side, unmoving.
After panting heavily for a long time, Banaboster suddenly had a flash of insight and pointed at Ankh, shouting.
"Wait—how did you force the mayor to cook the books?!"
Ankh pulled another shiny badge from his pocket and slapped it on the table, replying calmly.
"With this."
On the small badge, the front was beautifully engraved with a scene of the royal capital Crocus, while the back bore the King's surname.
This was one of the rewards Ankh had received after going to Crocus years ago, completing the King's commissioned mission to eradicate a cult and rescue the Princess.
Ankh, Erza, and Mirajane each had one.
Its main purpose... was essentially a VIP pass to show off and demand absolute privileges from Fiore's officials.
Ankh had never found a single use for it before, but now that he encountered an official problem, it was the perfect time to take it out and deeply intimidate the corrupt mayor.
"The honorary badge given by the King of Fiore to his key ministers—how did you get it?!"
Banaboster's eyelid violently twitched.
This badge meant little to a Magic Guild, but for a corrupt politician like the mayor of Magnolia, it was quite a lethal threat.
With this badge, even if Ankh urinated right at the mayor's doorstep, the mayor would probably grit his teeth and loudly praise him for aiming high.
"So, Ba... whatever your name is, I came here today to properly collect a debt."
Ankh pointed at the bill, enunciating each word with a cold, sarcastic tone.
Banaboster's face flushed bright red.
Finally unable to contain his anger, he slammed the table and stood up. Pointing at several people lying on stretchers behind him, he roared.
"You brutally beat up my men, and now you want me to pay you?!"
Ankh nodded calmly. "That's exactly right."
"You! You! This is a fake account! A fake account!"
Watching Banaboster's furious and flustered state, Ankh rested his chin on his hand and finally showed his first smile since entering.
Staring straight into his eyes with absolute disdain, Ankh said:
"Yeah, just like you—it's a cooked book. What are you going to do about it?"
Bang!
Banaboster flipped the entire table over, his face dark with a sinister grin. "You two brats think you can play dirty with me?! Let me tell you, you're not getting a single coin!"
"You really think I'm afraid of you? Over a lousy badge?! A fake bill?! A trash guild?!"
"Guys! Gather round and take these two bastards down!"
"Ooh!!"
At the Guild Master's command, every single Mage in the Twilight Ogre hall flashed menacing eyes, activating their Magic while charging forward with strange battle cries.
"You made my comrades live in shabby houses, so I'll let you sleep in ruins. Fair enough, right?"
Ankh's smile faded.
The ferocity in his eyes becoming almost tangible as he coldly added:
"No, trash like you only deserves to sleep in garbage bins."
"I'll sell the remains of this guild for a good price."
"Take action!"
Surrounded by Twilight Ogre members yet remaining motionless, Laxus finally revealed a highly pleased smile upon hearing Ankh's words.
After all that blabbering, they could finally move!
"Lightning Dragon's—"
Outside Twilight Ogre, high above Magnolia, countless dark clouds seemed to answer a heavenly summons, rapidly blotting out the scorching sun and instantly casting the entire city into gloom.
Golden lightning bolts continuously weaved through the dense cloud cover.
Laxus looked completely disdainfully at the surrounding Mages, his lightning-wreathed arm swinging down violently!
"Heavenward Halberd!!"
Golden thunder spanning the heavens erupted with a deafening roar, forming the massive shape of a halberd that pierced straight through Twilight Ogre's entire guild hall.
The city was engulfed in boundless golden light and crackling electric arcs.
Through the dazzling radiance, the surrounding citizens watched helplessly as the enormous building was totally turned to dust.
"Clear skies... Laxus."
After many long years, Laxus had once again made Magnolia's residents intimately experience this abnormal weather phenomenon.
---------
Read 40 chapters ahead and support me on patreon.
patreon (.)com/Newbietranslator