After a night of playful roughhousing, the members of the Tenrou Team had all comfortably slept through the night at Ankh's massive manor.
On this peaceful and tranquil morning, Ankh's dining room was filled with people having breakfast together for the first time.
Ankh comfortably took a sip of porridge and asked, "Did everyone sleep well last night?"
Gajeel was voraciously shoving iron sheets into his mouth, while Levy watched him helplessly from the side and responded.
"Quite well, thank you Ankh!"
Lisanna sighed absentmindedly. "Seven years' worth of rent... how many jobs will we need to take to earn that back...?"
Gray remained emotionally stable and said calmly, "I still have some savings. Taking on a few more jobs should be enough to easily pay off the rent."
Juvia's eyes turned into hearts as she said admiringly, "As expected of Gray-sama!"
Although Erza had been utterly despondent last night, her expression had clearly improved today.
She said with a resigned attitude, "I'll just live at my brother's house and slowly pay off the rent."
Originally, she had lived with Ankh since childhood before moving to the Fairy Hills girls' dormitory later, so moving back wasn't really a problem.
Mirajane covered her face while thinking and said, "After paying off the rent, we should still buy a house. Living in the dormitory all the time is too troublesome."
Lisanna felt this future was too distant.
In the short term, they would probably have to keep securely staying at Ankh's house.
Just at that moment, Head Maid Soteni suddenly approached Ankh and reported.
"Sir, Guild Master Makarov has arrived."
Following behind Soteni was Makarov, who wore a highly anxious expression.
As soon as he entered, Makarov hurriedly approached Ankh and spoke nervously, "Ankh, you haven't made a move against the Council yet, have you?"
Ankh was momentarily stunned, then shook his head and said, "Not yet, I was planning to go directly after breakfast."
As he spoke, Ankh proudly patted the large stack of account books and contracts beside him and said with a laugh.
"These are the exact evidence of Chairman Gran Doma's embezzlement collected by Anselion, along with proof of various Council members accepting bribes to suppress and illegally target Magic Guilds."
"There are also secretly taken photos of Council members bowing and scraping before envoys from the Alvarez Empire. From public opinion to hard evidence, we will definitely drag them all down from their positions when the time comes."
Makarov shook his head, took out a formal letter from his robe, and said with a grave expression.
"There is no need to implement that plan. They have already been entirely removed from power."
Huh?
Ankh's eyes widened.
Gran Doma has already fallen from power?
"The superior organization overseeing the Magic Council, the Magic Judgment Council, has officially decided to restructure the Council."
The Magic Council, as the highest authority in Ishgar's magical community, held the responsibility of managing all Magic Guilds across the continent, appearing supremely powerful.
However, in reality, the Council still had a superior organization.
The Magic Judgment Council was the true highest magical organization hidden behind the Magic Council.
Each Council Chairman is strictly decided by the Judgment Council, and the appointment of all Council members must pass the Judgment Council's rigorous review.
Compared to the Magic Council, the Judgment Council is far more concealed, but its administrative authority is even more terrifying.
While the Magic Council can only manage Magic Guilds, the Judgment Council manages the entire foundational operation of the magical world.
Including the former Magic Development Bureau, Magic Device Development Bureau, Magical Creature Research Department, and so on—virtually every single matter on the continent strictly related to magic ultimately fell under their jurisdiction.
"The Judgment Council believes that the authority and influence wielded by the Magic Council have grown far beyond control. Due to the complete inaction of successive chairmen and the irresponsible, highly self-serving behavior of the Council members, the Council's prestige among the populace has severely deteriorated. Thus, it has been decided to entirely reform the Magic Council."
Makarov read the letter word by word, his tone naturally tinged with a hint of unease.
"That's odd… Anselion didn't receive any news about this…" As he spoke, Ankh's expression suddenly turned strange.
Just moments ago, he had received a sudden vision from his clone's perspective: Anselion was currently being escorted away by a large group of fully armed soldiers.
Such a massive, large-scale operation, and even the Council members were kept completely in the dark?
"But what does this have to do with us?" Gajeel interjected, chewing on a piece of iron, clearly puzzled.
Levy, deep in thought, explained, "The Judgment Council currently oversees two major magical institutions: the public-facing Magic Council, which strictly serves to demonstrate military and administrative might, and the hidden Magic Research Department, which acts as logistical support—researching Forbidden Magic, improving magic for worldwide dissemination, and so on. The two bodies explicitly complement each other."
"Is it because the Judgment Council feels the Magic Council has grown far too politically powerful, upsetting the strict balance between the two institutions?"
Makarov sighed and said, "That might be part of it, but the main reason actually lies with the Western Continent."
"The Western Continent?"
Everyone present looked thoroughly confused.
Makarov then officially handed the letter to Ankh and continued, "The Alvarez Empire has relented, agreeing to allow the Judgment Council to formally extend its management to the Western Continent."
"But on one strict condition: they will not accept any rule by the weak."
Ankh took the letter and quickly scanned it, his eyelid twitching involuntarily.
This great empire certainly has a bold, arrogant way of doing things.
Representing the Western Continent, Alvarez naturally did not believe that a group of "amateur politicians"—whose actual magical strength didn't even match that of common Spriggan soldiers—were actually capable of properly managing the magical world.
The Western Continent proposed that each continent establish its own separate Magic Council.
The new councils must be composed of the five absolute strongest individuals from their respective continents, with an additional Chairman jointly appointed by the Judgment Council.
The future use of Forbidden Weapons (like Etherion) would actively require a unanimous vote from all members of both the Eastern and Western Councils.
For the Judgment Council, establishing separate Eastern and Western Councils not only effectively decentralizes the original Magic Council's power but also vastly expands their administrative reach—an absolute win-win political situation.
Coincidentally, the Judgment Council had already been strongly considering a complete reshuffle of the highly corrupt Magic Council members when this good news arrived from the Western Continent.
"Eastern Council… Western Council...?" Ankh muttered to himself, frowning. "Will the Alvarez Empire truly submit to outside regulation? They are probably just using this as an opportunity to slowly get their hands on the Council's Forbidden Magic, aren't they?"
Given the Alvarez Empire's immense strength, once the Western Council is successfully established, aside from the Chairman being a Judgment Council appointee, wouldn't all the other members just end up being their own Spriggan 12 members?
Makarov nodded gloomily and added, "They've thought it through thoroughly. Council members will serve five-year terms, with absolutely no individual allowed to serve more than three terms—consecutively or otherwise. Retired members must have their specific memories of the Council's Forbidden Magic entirely erased to permanently prevent any single faction from dominating."
"Tsk…"
Ankh sucked in a sharp breath, unable to resist grabbing his hair as he muttered.
"Why go to such extreme lengths? What are they really after…?"
For the Judgment Council, they had not only fostered a brand-new political balance but also officially gained administrative authority over the Western Continent.
Moreover, the two highly weakened versions of the Magic Council would be much easier to control.
Once the magical communities on both sides integrated, the pace of global magical development would accelerate significantly.
Furthermore, this operational model might even eventually serve as a reference for future development plans in the Northern Continent of Guiltina...
"So, Master, how did you actually receive this letter?"
Makarov sighed and explained, "The five new Council members of the Eastern Council, aside from the Four Gods of Ishgar, also formally invited me."
Ankh: ???
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