Timing his reaction perfectly with that punch, Kabe went flying across the floor.
When he heard Makarov shout about making him the next guild master, the smug expression on his face instantly collapsed.
He scrambled up from the ground, tears practically shooting from his eyes as he wailed in genuine panic.
"No, Master, please no! I know I was wrong, I swear I will never do it again! I am begging you, do not pass the position of guild master to me!!"
Sorano and Juvia both had huge question marks floating over their heads.
What kind of guild is this?
Becoming the heir to the guild, taking over as master of the number one guild in Fiore, sounded like a dream come true.
Why was this guy acting like he had been sentenced to execution?
It was not strange that outsiders like them could not grasp the weight of the Fairy Tail guild master title.
Inside the guild, though, while everyone was laughing at Kabe's misery, quiet whispers were already spreading.
"Hey, did I hear that right just now? I think Kabe said those two girls he brought back are from a dark guild and from Phantom Lord."
"Yeah, I heard it too. I thought they were new recruits planning to join us.
I was getting ready to introduce myself after we finished cleaning up."
"Never thought they would be from a dark guild and from Phantom Lord."
"What is that idiot Kabe thinking, dragging a Phantom member into our guild on top of a dark guild mage?"
"Be that as it may, that Phantom girl is really pretty. Once she grows up, she is definitely going to be a stunning beauty."
"With a face cute, she must have been forced by Phantom. And that white haired lady too."
At first, hearing the murmurs about "dark guild" and "Phantom Lord" made Juvia's stomach tighten with dread.
But as the conversation drifted further and further off track, turning into everyone eagerly helping her invent a tragic backstory and excuses, she slowly realized what kind of people these were.
Sorano's expression was pitch black.
As expected of the guild that raised a pervert like Kabe. Every single one of them is the same type.
Disgusting as their brains were, she had to admit that the man standing in front of her was every bit worthy of the title "Saint Wizard."
That tidal wave of magic just now, even recalling it made her palms sweat.
Seeing Kabe sobbing like his soul was about to leave his body, Makarov snorted, then decided he had vented enough and let the inheritance threat drop for now.
His gaze shifted to Sorano and Juvia. There was curiosity in his eyes, and a hint of confusion.
Compared to that brat, what he wanted to know most was:
Why would a mage from a dark guild and a mage from Phantom Lord dare to walk openly into Fairy Tail?
What had happened between all this, and what was Kabe plotting now?
The moment he realized the topic of succession had been safely moved aside, Kabe instantly killed his tears like flipping a switch.
He strode over with an exaggerated flourish, then dramatically introduced the tiny old man to the two girls.
"This man, I am sure you have all heard of him.
He is the third guild master who led Fairy Tail to glory.
The guardian of Magnolia, honored guest of the royal family of Fiore, acknowledged by the Magic Council as one of the strongest mages on the continent, ranked fifth among the Ten Wizard Saints…
Our guild master, Makarov!"
Whether it was the long string of titles Kabe rattled off, or the power Makarov had casually revealed earlier, both were more than enough to make Sorano and Juvia bow their heads with sincere respect.
They straightened up, took a breath, and spoke in unison.
"Makarov sensei."
Makarov had been a little angry about being tricked, but after being worshipped like this and having his ego thoroughly polished, his mood improved quite a bit.
His face, however, still maintained a deep frown.
"Enough bootlicking, brat. Talk. What is going on this time?"
Only then did Kabe turn serious.
He faced Makarov, placed a heavy hand on Sorano's back, and spoke in a low voice.
"Old man, Sorano is a victim of the R-System.
She was taken when she was a child and raised under Oración Seis by Brain.
She has done her share of bad things these years, but she has not been completely corrupted by those bastards.
She came here to ask for something under your name.
She wants a promise that if she turns herself in, and hands over information on Oración Seis, the Council will not come after her once it is all done."
"R-System? You are also a victim of the dark magic cult?"
Makarov immediately seized on the key point.
Sorano knew that this was not the time to hide anything.
She quickly began to recount her past, bit by bit.
The so called dark magic cult was a group of lunatics who worshipped the black mage Zeref.
They devoted themselves to resurrecting that once in a generation black mage, treating Zeref like a god.
The R-System, also known as the Tower of Heaven, was their masterpiece.
It was a forbidden magic that required living humans as sacrifices to resurrect the dead.
In order to build the Tower of Heaven, the cult roamed the land capturing people to use as slaves.
Sorano had been one of the children taken away long ago.
She was not alone. Erza, too, had been one of the many victims of the R-System.