Warrod understood precisely what "our late First Master Mavis" implied, and had no doubts whatsoever.
The others received it with a mixture of surprise and cautious skepticism. Zeref was immortal, after all. It was entirely plausible that he had used the name Spriggan long ago and that the Fairy Strategist had uncovered the connection during her lifetime.
If they had previously put the odds of the western continent launching a war at roughly even, the revelation that the Black Wizard himself stood at its head pushed that probability as close to certainty as made no difference.
That was the weight a name like Zeref carried.
The sudden enormity of it left the Council members' thoughts in disarray.
Hyberion looked to Rhodes. "Do you have a direction in mind?"
"Two tracks running at the same time," Rhodes said. "Gather intelligence on the enemy, and strengthen our own side. Learning what we're actually up against is the more urgent of the two, we can't fight an enemy we know nothing about.
I'm not certain yet whether the Dark Guild network is connected to any of this, but if there are no better leads, that's a reasonable place to start.
On the strengthening side, I intend to recall the guild members and push hard on training. The Council's forces can't afford to let up either.
We also don't know which direction the enemy will approach from, so the kings of each nation need to be notified to prepare for invasion. Unite whoever can be united. For those who can't, at the very least make sure they aren't caught completely off guard."
The room nodded in agreement, and the discussion continued a while longer to firm up the immediate action plan.
As the meeting broke up, Jura let out a tired smile. "Now I understand why you said those two countries wouldn't need mediation. I doubt they'll have the bandwidth to care about their quarrel much longer."
"We should still keep an eye on it," Rhodes said. "Times like these have a way of producing Ishgar traitors and western continent sympathizers in equal measure."
Jura took a moment to parse the two coinages and said, somewhat wearily, "I'll watch for it."
Everyone went their separate ways. Only Mest stayed close to Rhodes. Lahar lingered a moment, then thought better of it and left.
Rhodes glanced at Mest's expression. "Something on your mind?"
Mest hesitated. "This training you mentioned, recalling everyone from the guild, does that include me?"
"In principle, yes. Though it's technically voluntary sign-up."
"Then, I'd like to stay here." He looked briefly in the direction Lahar had gone. "That dark cult is dangerous. I'd rather see it through and help Lahar close it out first."
"That works," Rhodes said without hesitation. "Staying here counts the same. Wolfheim will see to it that you don't miss out on training either way."
Mest thought of Wolfheim's idea of encouragement and felt a residual chill. "Right. One more thing, I want to ask Wendy for help at some point. That woman's plague magic is too unpredictable to deal with alone."
"Fine by me. Once you've located them and you're ready to move, get in touch. I can have Wendy there whenever you need. That said, go ask her yourself."
Rhodes pushed open the office door.
Levy and Lucy looked up from their desks with identical expressions of surprise.
"Handing everything over? Right now?"
Rhodes paused. "Didn't I mention it on the way here?"
Levy crossed her arms in a firm X. "You absolutely did not."
"Hm. I must have forgotten. There's an important event back at the guild, we can't stay on much longer."
Lucy muttered under her breath, "If it's that important, how do you just forget to mention it."
"Hm." Rhodes turned to her with an approving nod. "Well said." His expression shifted immediately. "Lucy, loudly raising personal grievances during office hours. Ten percent off your allowance."
Lucy pointed at him. "That is a completely personal vendetta!"
Rhodes tilted his head. "Twenty percent."
Lucy folded at the waist. "I'm sorry. I was out of line."
"Good attitude. I'll let it go this time. Back to work." He waved a hand. "Call me over if anything needs handling."
Lucy immediately held out a folder. "Funny you should say that, this one actually does need your signature."
Rhodes took it, thought about it for exactly one second, and said, "On reflection, let's go with the twenty percent after all."
"Noooo!"
Having thoroughly settled that score, Rhodes sat down in excellent spirits and got to work.
Lucy collapsed against Levy and wailed, "He's such a bully. We do all the work and he still docks my allowance."
Levy patted her on the back. "He's only joking."
On the other side of the building, Mest wrapped up his conversation with Wendy and left in a hurry. Wendy and Carla were in no rush to be sent back, so they stayed to help the others with the handover.
Lucy and Levy were a little flustered but managed to get everything wrapped up smoothly, and were ready to head back to the guild well before finishing time. After saying their goodbyes, Rhodes gathered the group and transported them home, then went straight to find Makarov and report on the day's meeting.
Levy and Lucy fell into step with Wendy and Carla, puzzled expressions matching.
"Do you two know what this important activity Rhodes mentioned actually is?"
Wendy tilted her head. "There's an activity at the guild?"
"I haven't heard a word about it," Carla said. She thought for a moment. "Didn't the Magic Parade just finish at the start of the month?"
The four of them headed downstairs full of unanswered questions and found Mirajane.
"Well." Mirajane's expression turned pleasantly mysterious. "The Guild Master did mention something to me this morning. But he asked me to keep it quiet until everyone is back and gathered."
"What could possibly need to be kept secret right now?" Levy murmured, tapping her chin. Then her eyes lit up. "Could it be that the S-Class Exam candidates have already been decided?"
Lucy straightened. "That's right, tomorrow is November. The exam is only a month away!"
Mirajane appreciated the deduction, but shook her head. "Good thinking. Not quite, though."
"Then what is it?" Levy pressed, leaning forward. "You can tell us ahead of time, can't you? It'll be days before everyone makes it back."
Lucy's curiosity had fully taken hold. "Exactly. We won't breathe a word to anyone."
Mirajane's eyes lit up with that particular gleam she got when a good piece of gossip was on the table. "Do you promise?"
"We promise," Lucy and Levy said together.
Wendy and Carla hadn't spoken, but both found themselves nodding along without quite meaning to.
Mirajane gestured for them to lean in and dropped her voice to a whisper.
"Wha... Hellish Training?!" Lucy yelped, then slapped both hands over her mouth. "Hellish Training," she repeated in a hush. "And for an extended period?"
"Why?" Levy asked.
Mirajane said, with an air of perfectly innocent ignorance, "I really couldn't say. The Guild Master just said the S-Class Exam may not be held this year.
Rhodes proposed this training out of nowhere and didn't explain his reasoning. And you can't find out who else has signed up until you've signed up yourself." She paused. "Would anyone even want to join something like that? Anyway, not a word to anyone. Especially don't tell Natsu and Gajeel that Gray is very likely planning to participate."
Wendy and Carla nodded with great solemnity.
Lucy and Levy glanced at each other. Then at Mirajane's expression. Then their eyes drifted off in opposite directions.
"We definitely won't tell them."
Mirajane chatted with them a little longer, then watched the four of them go with a quiet smile.
"He could have just announced it to everyone directly, but instead he has me do his dirty work without ever telling an outright lie." She shook her head fondly. "My husband really does have a mean streak."
She paused.
"Though I may have gone slightly beyond the brief just now. I'm not so innocent either."
Her hand rested lightly against her stomach.
"Little one, don't take after Mommy."
A beat.
"And definitely don't take after those two."