Jura and Makarov, the two leaders deeply concerned about the world situation, created an extremely gloomy atmosphere.
Meanwhile, Sherry was boasting to Lucy about their guild's achievements.
"Miss Lucy, you've completely fallen behind now! Our Lamia Scale has become the second strongest guild in Fiore over these past years!"
Sherry explained proudly. Lucy said thoughtfully, "So that means Blue Pegasus is number one?"
"How could that be?!" Toby exclaimed excitedly, while Yuka sighed helplessly and retorted, "Why are you suddenly so angry...?"
"The strongest Magic Guild in Fiore today is called Sabertooth."
Lyon, who had been thrown aside by Ultear, joined the discussion.
Gray fell into thoughtful silence for a long moment before exchanging a glance with Natsu and asking.
"Have we ever heard of this guild before?"
Natsu frowned, straining to recall, before finally shaking his head. "Never heard of them at all."
"They're a guild that rose to prominence over the past seven years. Just by changing their Guild Master and adding five Mages, they immediately became Fiore's strongest guild."
Yuka clasped his hands behind his back, his expression grave.
Lucy gasped in shock. "They became Fiore's strongest just by adding five people?"
"How terrifying must those people be..."
As Lucy was marveling at this, she suddenly noticed the two shirtless martial brothers had started arguing.
The reason?
The icy, scheming Lyon caught a glimpse of Juvia gazing tenderly at Gray and immediately fell head over heels in love at first sight.
Without a single word, Lyon rushed over to confess his feelings to Juvia.
Then, he immediately started picking fights with Gray...
"Such a cliché love triangle..."
Lucy instinctively muttered the complaint before propping her chin in her hands and drifting into thought.
'Fiore's strongest guild, Sabertooth...'
'I'd really like to see them for myself...'
...
"What's there to see? Are those five really stronger than Erza and Natsu?"
That afternoon, in the Ram Company headquarters at the center of Akane Resort city, Ankh sat at a table speaking dismissively.
Sitting directly across from him was Frey, who had shouldered intense family power struggles, complex company affairs, and Magic Council military authority over the past seven years.
After all this time, the aura around this formidable woman had grown even more intimidating.
Her dashing short hair fell in stylish waves, her face adorned with exquisite makeup.
Though... her figure remained regrettably underdeveloped, compared to seven years ago, Frey clearly wasn't a tomboy anymore.
Looking at her long-separated ally, Frey crossed her arms somewhat helplessly.
"Don't underestimate them. While Sabertooth doesn't have decisive heavy hitters like you and Laxus, compared to other guilds, their combat power is overwhelmingly superior in all aspects."
Ankh scanned through the magical world intelligence Frey had compiled for him when his eyes suddenly paused on one specific section.
"Grand Magic Games... What's this?"
"A competitive festival that emerged during these seven years," Frey explained in detail. "Nearly every guild in Fiore participates. It is where all the nation's guilds compete comprehensively for the title of the top guild."
Ankh's expression turned peculiar—the festival gave him a strange sense of déjà vu...
Wasn't this just like the entertainment industry from his previous life?
Where older artists gradually built their popularity while newcomers simply joined competition reality shows.
"So Sabertooth secured their position as the strongest guild through this festival?"
Frey nodded, and Ankh fell into thoughtful silence.
If that was the case, with Sabertooth's powerful five-member team, the participant-limited Grand Magic Games would indeed be the perfect platform to maximize their guild's displayed strength.
"Never mind that—what about your problem?" Frey slapped the table and stood up, looking directly into his eyes as she asked.
"You actually encountered the Black Dragon and the Alvarez Empire? The Council's statement was true?"
Ankh shook his head and said, "We did encounter them, but it is entirely different from what the Council publicly claimed. We were lured there by the Council using Tenrou Island's ownership as bait."
"So that's how it was. During the time you disappeared, the Council went crazy suppressing the old Council faction internally."
Frey, who never believed the Council's story in the first place, massaged her forehead with a headache.
"The old Council faction, because they sided with Fairy Tail, are in an incredibly awkward position now."
Ankh nodded.
He had learned this from the memories Anselion sent back, which was exactly why he needed to quickly disrupt the new Council's plans.
"I will return to the Council tomorrow, as Ankh."
A flicker of unpredictable darkness passed through Ankh's eyes.
Frey felt somewhat worried about her ally's potential recklessness and reminded him:
"The Council is still the governing authority after all. It would be better not to resort to violence."
Ankh waved his hand dismissively, smiling. "Don't worry, am I the type who likes to use force?"
Frey fell silent, too mentally exhausted to even retort.
Ever since meeting Ankh, Frey had never seen this guy stay still for long.
"When are you ever going to settle down...? Roaming around like this, as your ally I feel quite insecure."
Despite being separated for seven years, Frey and Ankh shared such camaraderie that there was no sense of distance between them.
She teased him without any reservation.
Ankh instinctively wanted to retort like bantering with a friend, but instead showed genuine concern.
"That is what I wanted to say to you too. Don't bury yourself in work all day—hurry up and start a family."
Frey's expression froze for a moment before she cleared her throat and hesitantly whispered.
"Actually... I'm already seeing someone."
Ankh was stunned for a second before immediately understanding.
Time truly is a remarkable thing—seven years had actually made this iron tree blossom.
He still remembered when he first met Frey and brought up this topic, the tomboy said she'd used Magic to predict her romantic future.
The prediction showed numerous obstacles with an uncertain outcome, so she adopted a defeatist attitude, preferring to remain single.
What made her change her mind so suddenly now?
"Who? Who is it? Some promising young talent? Do I know them?" Ankh couldn't help widening his eyes, curiosity getting the absolute better of him.
Frey looked at him somewhat guiltily and whispered, "Someone from your guild."
Ankh was taken aback, muttering to himself.
"Among those who stayed in the guild these seven years... It can't be Macao or Wakaba. Jet and Droy don't seem the type. Max, Warren, Reedus? Who is it?"
Frey's expression grew even stranger as she awkwardly tucked her hair behind her ear and whispered.
"It's not a guy..."
Ankh's mind went completely blank.
It felt like ten thousand alpacas were stampeding right through his brain.
Never in his wildest dreams would he have expected her to say that.
Simultaneously, the name of Frey's girlfriend was already on the tip of his tongue, her image instantly flashing through Ankh's mind.
No way...
Did these seven years really change people that much?
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