Wendy had agreed to move in out of genuine affection, but Rhodes wasn't going to take advantage of that. In addition to covering her meals and lodging, he calculated a proper rate of pay based on standard mission pricing.
"Wendy's arrangement is settled. As for Carla..." Rhodes adopted the tone of someone about to say something inadvisable. "Stay in cat form during meals. It reduces the food budget."
"You..." Cat-form Carla paddled furiously against Wendy's arms trying to reach him.
"There's really no need for any of this," Wendy said, working very hard to stay between them.
Her grip on Carla remained firm throughout, which did somewhat undermine the peacekeeping impression.
Once the arrangements were sorted, Rhodes went back to the Council to apologize to Lahar and finish what remained of the day's work before finally coming home to sleep.
The next morning, Rhodes spotted Lucy in the training formation.
"You're not off developing your new magic?"
Lucy looked energized. "I asked Crux last night. He said the concept is workable. Aquarius and Loke both agreed to lend me their power. Now I just need to work out the specific method."
She paused. "Crux did remind me not to neglect the basics no matter what I was developing. So I decided to keep training with everyone in the mornings and spend afternoons on the new magic."
"That's exactly the right approach." Rhodes approved of Crux's advice entirely. "In that case, I'll have Erza pay you some special attention this morning to compensate for any training you miss in the afternoons."
Lucy immediately began pleading. "That's not necessary..."
"Too late." Rhodes left her there and went to organize the session.
After the morning training ended he didn't go back inside, heading instead on his own to Sabertooth.
"Mr... Mr. Rhodes!"
The receptionist's expression upon seeing him was complicated in several distinct ways. Sabertooth had been on the receiving end of a thorough lesson, which had translated into considerable respect for the Ten Wizard Saints. At the same time, the last time this particular person had visited, he had frightened the entire guild considerably. And more recently, Fairy Tail had done Sabertooth a meaningful service.
She processed all of this and followed protocol, showing him to the reception room.
"No need to rush," Rhodes said. "I'm here to visit Miss Minerva. I have a few things I'd like her advice on. Is she available today?"
"Of course, please be seated, I'll find her immediately!"
The receptionist poured his tea and hurried out.
Rhodes sat down, summoned Warm, and helped himself to some of Sabertooth's complimentary refreshments, feeding the occasional Poro-Snax to Warm as well.
Amid the small crunching sounds, he noticed a green figure in a pink frog outfit standing in the doorway, staring at the Poro-Snax with round eyes and a slightly damp expression.
Rhodes thought for a moment, then held out a piece. "Are you Frosch? Would you like some?"
Frosch swallowed. The temptation was visible. But he shook his head, voice small and earnest. "I can't. The dining room is open right now and Frosch shouldn't take things from guests. Thank you though."
Warm spread its back legs wide on the tabletop, lifted a Poro-Snax with its front paws, and extended it toward Frosch with a cheerful sound.
Frosch tilted his head and considered. "If it's from a friend, that might be okay."
Frosch hopped up onto the table, accepted Warm's gift with a small earnest thank you, and sat down beside it to eat.
Rhodes stared at them.
Exceed could communicate with the Poro without any difficulty? And on what basis exactly was Rhodes the guest here while Warm got to be the friend?
It wasn't long before Minerva and Rogue came in together.
"Mr. Rhodes." Minerva's eyes moved around the room with a searching quality, found no trace of Mirajane, and settled with a trace of disappointment.
Rogue moved immediately to gather Frosch. "I'm so sorry, Frosch was being rude..."
"Not at all. Warm and Frosch are friends now." Rhodes smiled. "I'm the one intruding. Thank you for seeing me."
Minerva and Rogue both started to say "Not at all" at exactly the same moment, caught each other's eyes, and went slightly pink.
Rhodes looked between them.
Something was going on there.
Which perhaps explained why Frosch had been left to wander the guild unattended. What exactly would cause a Dragon Slayer to step away from his own Exceed?
Seeming to sense the awkwardness, Minerva moved on quickly. "How is Mirajane? I heard she's close to her due date."
"She had a checkup just yesterday and she's doing well." Rhodes smiled. "I didn't expect you to be keeping track."
"Of course. After what happened, Mirajane gave me a great deal of encouragement." Minerva's expression softened with genuine warmth. "If it's convenient, I'd like to visit her sometime soon."
"You're welcome anytime. She hasn't been able to do much lately and tends to get bored." Rhodes was genuinely glad to have more people willing to keep Mirajane company. "Speaking of which, are you feeling alright yourself? No lasting effects?"
"None at all. Porlyusica is remarkably skilled." Minerva said it plainly. What Tartaros had injected into her had left no lasting damage. If anything, it had left her considerably stronger. Not at the level of full demonization, but after training, she was confident she was no weaker now than she had been then.
The three of them caught up on everything that had happened since they last saw each other, and then Rhodes got to the point.
"The main reason I came was to ask about your Yakuma Eighteen Battle Gods Magic," he said. "Would you mind telling me where you learned it?"
Minerva answered easily. "My father taught me."
Mentioning her father brought a brief shadow across her face, but the question itself gave her no difficulty.
"Have you heard of the Yakuma clan?"
Minerva frowned, thinking. "My mother may have been from the Yakuma clan."
"May have been?"
"I'm not certain." She reached back through her memory. "My mother died when I was very young. I think I heard my father mention it once, in passing. In practice, all I've ever known is that the magic came from the Yakuma clan. I don't know much about what that means. Though I may well be a descendant."
Rogue asked carefully, "Is this connected to your investigation of Ikusa-Tsunagi?"
"You know about that?" Rhodes looked at him, mildly surprised, then quickly understood. "It was in the papers?"
"This morning's edition. It wasn't covered in detail, but it identified the giant as one of the Yakuma Eighteen Battle Gods."
Rhodes nodded. "That's the situation."
Rogue leaned forward slightly. "Will Minerva's identity and her magic put her in danger?"
"Hard to say for certain." Rhodes thought briefly about Acnologia's two visits to Yakuma settlements and chose his words carefully. "That said, I think as long as she doesn't do what the Avatar cult did and summon a battle god without cause, there shouldn't be a problem."