"Pwah!!"
The mouthful of tea Crawford had just swallowed sprayed straight across the table.
He did not even bother wiping the tea from his dripping beard. Shocked, he bounced out of his chair like a ball and shouted in disbelief,
"What did you say? An Alvarez magic airship is coming toward us?!
Why are they here? An invasion? A diplomatic visit? Or a declaration of war?!
Quick, quick, notify the communications department and have them find a way to contact the people aboard that airship.
At the same time, raise the Council's defensive magic barrier. Have the combat divisions enter the highest state of war readiness and prepare for battle!"
Looking at the chairman, whose emotions were even more explosive than his own had been a moment ago, the frog-man very much wanted to complain.
Fortunately, his courage was not quite that great. He hurriedly acknowledged the order and ran out of the meeting room at once to relay Crawford's commands.
The moment he left, the meeting room, which had barely held itself together until now, instantly erupted into chaos.
"What is going on? Why would the people of Alvarez enter Ishgar without even giving notice?!"
"Have they not learned their lesson? Are they preparing to launch another war against us?!"
"What about troop strength? How many forces do we have at headquarters? Should we send orders to the branch divisions outside and have them all rush back for reinforcement?!"
"It is not enough. Alvarez is too strong. We cannot hold them back with our own power alone.
Hurry and summon the guilds and the Ten Wizard Saints too. We need them to help resist the western continent's attack!"
Watching this group of colleagues shouting as if the end of the world had already arrived, Yajima and Org let out sighs at almost the exact same time.
Knock. Knock.
"Quiet down! You are all panicking this much over a single airship.
If even councilors like you are this timid, then what right does the Magic Council have to call itself the guardian of Ishgar?"
Org rapped on the table and sharply rebuked the panicked crowd.
At that moment, Yajima also stepped forward to support him.
"Brother Org is right. Everyone, now is the time when we most need to remain calm and coordinate the bigger picture.
I suggest that all of you immediately dispatch your Thought Projections to reassure the various departments of the Council.
As for us, we will remain here and decide our next move once we have a clearer picture of how events develop."
After saying that, Yajima and Org exchanged a nod, then each split off a Thought Projection and sent it out of the meeting room.
The other councilors followed suit one after another. But even with the two of them working to steady the room, the anxiety on everyone's faces and in their hearts did not lessen in the slightest.
Crawford collapsed back into his chair, clutching his head as his eyes darted wildly.
Though he still had no idea what exactly was happening, he had already made up his mind. If things took a turn for the worse, he would either immediately activate Etherion or abandon headquarters and conduct a strategic withdrawal.
The others all had their own private thoughts as well.
In an instant, the meeting room fell into silence, so quiet that even the sound of a pin dropping could have been heard.
Then, amid that tense and suffocating wait, an enormous semicircular barrier slowly rose, covering the entire Council headquarters.
The various magical combat units also obeyed Crawford's orders, assembling rapidly before quickly dispersing again to their designated battle positions.
About ten minutes passed like that.
Then the frog-man who had left earlier stumbled back into the meeting room once more.
The moment they saw him, Crawford and the other councilors all shot upright from their seats in nervous anticipation.
Under their tense stares, the frog-man took several gasping breaths to steady himself, then reported with uncontrollable excitement on his face,
"Ch-Chairman, good news! Lord Kabe of Fairy Tail has completed the Ten-Year Quest we issued!!!"
"The ten-year what?"
Crawford blanked for a second, then immediately exploded with fury.
"Who gives a damn about that stupid quest?! Just get to the point already! What did the people of Alvarez say in response?!"
The frog-man was so startled by the roar that his brain froze for a moment, and no words came out.
Seeing him still standing there in a daze, Crawford was so angry he nearly wanted to march over and personally smash some sense into his skull.
But just then, Org seemed to think of something. His face shifted, then he said in stunned disbelief,
"The quest you are talking about... is it that one the Council posted ten years ago, the mission to gather intelligence on the upper ranks of Alvarez?"
"Y-yes, Lord Org. That is the one."
The frog-man replied shakily, though he still could not hide the joy in his voice.
"Lord Kabe completed the mission beyond all expectations. Not only did he persuade one of Alvarez's higher-ups to defect, he also stole one of their newest magic war airships!"
At those words, Org's eyes nearly bulged right out of his skull.
"Y-you... what did you just say? What exactly did he do?!"
The other councilors, only now finally catching up, all wore expressions like they had just seen a ghost.
How in the world had that young man managed to do that?
He was absurdly strong for his age already, and now he had even carried out intelligence work to this extent?
Crawford froze for a moment, carefully recalling the mission they were talking about.
Then his entire expression changed, and a surge of wild joy exploded in his heart.
'It is here. This is huge, bigger than huge. Could that boy actually be my lucky star?!'
"Quick! Prepare the highest-grade banquet possible. I am going to personally receive our great hero, and also the former honored guest of Alvarez who has chosen to abandon darkness and come to the light!"