About a month later, Jude sent word that the preparations for the pharmaceutical company were complete; all they needed were Noah's formulas. As it happened, Noah had already developed several formulas suitable for different needs, so he took them to Jude to get the business running.

Arriving at the Heartfilia estate, Noah handed over the researched formulas to Jude, took the medicinal ingredients Jude had collected for him, and also gave the family a check-up, prescribing more suitable tonics for their current conditions. Layla and the others had made good progress in their search for the Zodiac keys; several had been found, but the remaining ones were proving more difficult to locate. To prevent them from running out of time, Noah specifically reminded them not to limit their search to the continent of Ishgar, but to search other continents as well, as the keys were not only found there. Jude nodded in agreement; he hadn't thought of that before, subconsciously assuming that since his wife was a Celestial Spirit wizard from here, the keys would be here as well.

He also thought that since his own daughter would most likely become a Celestial Spirit wizard, he could also purchase some silver keys while searching for the Zodiac keys, as a show of support for her.

Noah, enthusiastically persuaded by Layla, stayed at the Heartfilia estate for two days before saying his goodbyes and returning to Magnolia.

When he got home, he found that everyone was out on requests. Since he had just acquired a large number of new materials, Noah began his own research and studies. Very quickly, he discovered a huge problem.

He was broke!

The cost of research was truly enormous. He had just earned a lot of money from S-Class requests and had received a large supply of ingredients from Jude, but in the blink of an eye, it was all nearly gone. He needed to earn more money. However, he had already completed most of the S-Class requests that were suitable for making quick cash, and Jude's pharmaceutical company had only just started; it would be some time before it turned a profit.

Were there any other ways to get a lot of money quickly? The most profitable enterprises were all written into the law, and Noah didn't want to do anything illegal.

As he was racking his brain, Ultear happened to return from a request. Seeing Noah sitting on the living room sofa, deep in thought, she walked over and sat beside him. "What are you thinking about? You look so troubled."

Noah turned his head, saw it was Ultear, and then turned back without much thought. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him. He whipped his head back around and stared intently at Ultear. She blushed under his gaze. "Why are you looking at me like that?!"

Noah slapped his hands down on her shoulders and laughed wildly. "That's it! It's you! It's you! Hahahahaha!"

Ultear's face grew redder, and she asked in a small voice, "What's me?"

"Hahaha! Thank you, Ultear! I like you the most!"

With that, Noah released her shoulders, ran back to his room with a thump, thump, thump, and after a moment of rummaging, he rushed out, flying past Ultear like a gust of wind and leaving the house.

Ultear was left standing there, still blushing and muttering to herself, "He likes me the most... he likes me the most..."

But after a moment, she came to her senses. Something about that whole scene felt very strange. The more she thought about it, the more it didn't seem right. "Did he just have a nervous breakdown? No, I have to ask him what that was about when he gets back. If he did... hehe, I'll make him pay!"

Arriving at the guild entrance, Noah suddenly felt a chill. He looked around but saw no one. With his current physical condition, he shouldn't get cold so easily. Shaking his head, he pushed the door open, tossed aside two guild members who were arguing in the middle of the path, and went to Makarov.

"Gramps, do you have any news on dark guilds? Even small rumors will do."

"Why the sudden interest in subjugating dark guilds?" Makarov asked, confused.

"It is time for the light of justice to shine upon the heads of the dark guilds!" Noah declared, looking at Makarov with a righteous expression.

Makarov closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and let it out slowly, calming himself before opening his eyes again. He felt that Noah was becoming more and more... lively lately, having these strange episodes from time to time. Where had the worry-free Noah from before gone?

With a sigh, Makarov told him a few recent rumors about dark guilds. Noah memorized them and then ran excitedly out of the guild. Makarov offered a moment of silence for the dark guilds, then raised his glass of medicinal wine—prepared by Noah—and took a drink.

Noah went to one of the locations Makarov had mentioned, a deep forest. After a bit of searching, through the swaying shadows of the trees, he saw a castle in a clearing. This was the headquarters of the dark guild "Bloody Rose." According to Makarov's information, they had four S-Class level members and dozens of other wizards. Their overall strength was formidable, and most official guilds were no match for them. They were one of the powerful dark guilds that had risen in recent years.

A quick detection spell confirmed that there were indeed four powerful individuals and a host of other reasonably strong magic users inside the castle. His undisguised magical scan had also alerted them. Figures were already moving, and someone was coming out to investigate.

"Hehe, what level am I on, and what level are you on? Do I really need to fight you slowly? Besides," Noah's eyes turned into money signs, "to prevent you from damaging my property, I can't let you jump around for too long."

His hands came together, and a golden sphere of light appeared. The air and the ground began to shake. The huge commotion brought the people from inside the castle running out.

"Th-that's such strong magic! I've never seen anything like it! Enemy attack! Enemy attack!!!" the first dark guild member to rush out screamed, a cold sweat breaking out all over his body the moment he saw Noah. Hearing his cry, more people poured out.

The one with the strongest magic power rushed to the front. The others all shouted, "Master!"

The dark guild's master also broke out in a cold sweat when he saw Noah. He could clearly feel the gap between them, but he wasn't ready to give up. He roared, "Quick, quick, what are you all standing there for?!! Attack! Kill him for me!!!"

He was the first to unleash his magic, and the others followed suit, all of them launching their signature spells at Noah.

"Too late!" Noah said with a smile. He clapped his hands together, and a gigantic golden magic circle appeared in the sky. It pulsed once, and an endless light poured out from Noah's body.

"Fairy Law!"

The overwhelming light completely covered the area, illuminating it as if it were day. After a few seconds, the light receded, leaving behind a field of unconscious dark guild members.

~~~

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