"So....." Aqua said, his voice laced with genuine shock.

"Tt really wasn't you this time."

He surveyed the colossal mess that had once been a city block.

For once, the tell-tale signs of Fairy Tail's brand of chaos—scorched earth from a dragon's roar or flash-frozen fountains—were conspicuously absent.

Instead, the destruction was more sinister.

The work of Jose Porla.

"Makarov, if even you can restrain yourself during a battle, why can't you teach that to the rest of your guild?" Aqua asked, turning to the small guild master with an earnest plea.

As a citizen of Fiore and an officer of the Magic Council, he couldn't deny Fairy Tail's effectiveness.

But if they could just curb their destructive habits, they might actually be presentable.

"Ah... I didn't actually intervene this time," Makarov admitted, rubbing his head with a hint of awkwardness.

"Not you?" Aqua froze.

If Makarov hadn't been the one to take down a Wizard Saint, then who could it have been?

Surely not that so-called "Star Rose God" he'd heard rumours about.

The reports from the guild masters' meeting were clear: Makarov's grandson was impressive, but not that impressive.

A swell of pride puffed out Makarov's chest.

"It was my two grandsons, Laxus and Marco. They worked together to defeat Jose."

Aqua's expression remained flat.

He suspected Makarov was just trying to build up his grandsons' reputations.

Two young mages taking down Jose Porla without the old man's help?

The story was too convenient.

Sensing the disbelief in Aqua face, Makarov shrugged.

"Believe what you want. The evidence is right there for you to investigate. Now, if you'll excuse me."

With a huff, he turned and marched toward the rescue effort, not bothering to explain further.

The truth didn't need his defense.

"Nothing for now," Aqua replied to the retreating master, though his mind was racing with questions.

Makarov's claims were fantastical and for now, he had a more pressing issue.

He sighed, his gaze falling upon the unconscious form of Jose Porla, surrounded by Council knights.

"A Wizard Saint..." Aqua muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"What a political headache."

This wasn't like arresting one of the Elements Three while Jose was away.

This was the master of Phantom Lord himself, a pillar of the magical world, defeated and captured.

They couldn't just make him disappear.

"Fairy Tail," he groaned. "Even when they don't cause the destruction, they hand us a bigger problem."

As always, anything involving that guild became impossibly complicated.

"Let the higher-ups deal with this mess."

This wasn't his call to make.

His job was to investigate.

With the Magic Council's personnel joining the rescue, the operation concluded swiftly.

They moved with an practiced efficiency that spoke of long experience in disaster relief.

Makarov wisely didn't ask why they were so experienced, and neither Marco nor Laxus made any snide remarks.

The resentful looks the officials shot their way said more than words ever could.

After the last citizen was accounted for, Marco surveyed the scene, a sense of disbelief washing over him.

"Only a few minor injuries... Seriously?"

Given the sheer power of Jose's spell—a torrent of dark magic that had taxed even his own reserves to block—he had expected the worst.

Yet the bystanders had emerged with little more than scrapes from tripping in the panic.

It was as if Oak's citizens came with built-in invincibility frames.

"See, Aqua?! Told you it would be fine!" Makarov finally straightened his back, his relief was palpable.

This happy ending was another testament to Fairy Tail's bizarre luck.

"Oak is a historic magic city," Aqua countered, refusing to credit the guild.

"Its people have remarkable crisis management skills. This is a testament to their competence, Makarov."

Privately, he sighed in relief.

Had casualties been high, Jose's fate would have been sealed.

As it was... there might be room for negotiation.

"Fairy Tail will contribute to relocating the residents," Makarov announced, clapping his hands together.

His voice boomed across the plaza.

Aqua's tired expression brightened for the first time.

"Good! Makarov, that alone justifies all the times I've defended your guild in my reports."

A guild taking financial responsibility meant less expenditure for the Council, which in turn looked good for him.

"Huh? You actually spoke up for us?" Makarov looked genuinely surprised.

Aqua gritted his teeth, reminding himself not to get drawn into an argument with the old man.

"Sometimes, telling the truth without embellishment is the best defense, isn't it, Mr. Aqua?" Marco's calm voice cut in.

He had been listening nearby, and he understood the Councilman's position perfectly.

Aqua was frustrated with their methods, but his reports were always factual, always emphasizing the lack of civilian harm.

As the man on the scene, his word carried weight.

Aqua turned, surprised to hear such insight from someone so young.

"Master Makarov," he said, his voice softening with genuine emotion.

"It seems you finally have a worthy successor."

He was nearly fifty.

His very first mission had involved cleaning up a Fairy Tail mess, with a much younger Makarov taking the heat.

Almost thirty years later, nothing had changed.

Honestly, Aqua sometimes felt sorry for the old master.

Then he glanced at the 82-year-old man, who looked more energetic than him and reconsidered.

These powerful mages lived unnaturally long lives.

"All the children of Fairy Tail are outstanding," Makarov replied, his answer both diplomatic and deeply sincere.

"I have a feeling they will lead the guild to even greater heights."

Laxus let out a dismissive "Hmph" from where he leaned against a half-crumbled wall.

He'd heard Aqua's praise for Marco.

Successor.

The word was meaningless.

Strength was the only thing that mattered.

Still, he smirked at his grandfather's words.

Their generation would lead Fairy Tail to glory.

He just needed to get Marco to see that their path was paved with power, not paperwork.

Marco, sensing his brother's gaze, glanced over.

He knew that look.

It was the same silent tug-of-war they were always in.

He didn't dismiss Laxus's ideas—power was essential.

But as he looked at the repair costs mounting in his head, he knew it wasn't the only thing.

A guild needed a strong heart and a full treasury.

He was greedy.

He intended for Fairy Tail to have both.

"Master Makarov! Thank you for coming... I'm so sorry for all this trouble!"

A soot-covered man rushed forward, bowing low.

It was Totomaru from Phantom Lord.

"Lift your head, son," Makarov said, his voice surprisingly gentle.

"The blame for this lies with that bastard Jose. You did nothing wrong."

Aqua's eyes narrowed. "So this is the root cause of the incident?"

"The root cause is Jose Porla," Marco stated coolly before Totomaru could stammer a reply.

"Exactly!" Makarov boomed.

"Jose wouldn't let him leave peacefully!"

Aqua sighed, rubbing his temples. "Even so, Mr. Totomaru, the proper procedure would have been to contact the Magic Council."

Makarov, Marco, and Laxus all shared a look of utter disdain.

As if the Council would have done anything in time.

Totomaru, however, just wanted it all to be over.

He nodded obediently, not wanting to make waves.

"You're right, sir. I apologize."

All he wanted was to retire and become a magic teacher.

Was that really too much to ask?

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