CHAPTER 761: PREPARE TO LEAD MY SISTER TO SCORE

"You can’t really call it the worst draw," Makarov said matter-of-factly. "Given the guild’s current situation, we don’t exactly have the luxury of picking and choosing missions."

He leaned back with his usual ease. "So I’m not against taking on high-difficulty jobs. However, since the target this time is a three-headed hellhound, the guild Quatro also wants in."

Rhodes blinked. "Don’t tell me it’s for some stupid reason like proving that Four Head Hounds are stronger than a three-headed one?"

Makarov gave him a knowing look and chuckled. "You know Goldmine well."

"Heh." Rhodes twitched his lips. Of course I do. "After all, he’s your old drinking buddy, how could he possibly have normal logic?"

"Do we have to compete?" Rhodes asked.

Makarov shrugged. "Goldmine’s talking about an exchange, but whether it turns into cooperation or competition depends on the kids themselves. Maybe he just wants to see if Fairy Tail’s new generation has kept up with the times."

"Well, that’s not a bad thing," Rhodes said. "Our guilds exchange work often anyway. So why are you worried?"

Makarov’s expression turned serious. "Because I’ve never heard of this kind of magical beast before. Even Chef God’s Carving Knife, those cooking maniacs, said something felt off about this one, but they couldn’t figure out what. So I’m concerned there might be some real danger."

Then, with that sly old smile, he added, "But since you’re back, why don’t you go?"

"You really are a heartless Master," Rhodes sighed dramatically. "I just got back from a long trip yesterday, and you don’t even ask if I’m tired before tossing me out again."

Makarov frowned slightly. "You realize you sound exactly like Mira when you talk like that?"

"Do I? I’m just stating facts."

The old man’s mustache twitched. "Who told you to refuse the Guild Master seat? If you were the Fourth, you could just order me to go travel instead."

Rhodes smirked. "How could I possibly order an old man around? Fine, fine, I’ll go."

"That’s the spirit." Makarov clapped his hands together. "When do you depart?"

"This afternoon. I still have some things to settle."

"NASTU! Let’s fight again!"

Natsu burst through the door like a hurricane, only to freeze when he saw who was inside. "Old man?!"

"Perfect timing," Makarov said with a grin. He picked up a thick stack of paperwork and handed it to Natsu. "Come with me."

"Eh?! W-Wait, what did I do?!"

"Nothing yet," Makarov said cheerfully as he dragged him off. "But we’re going to have a nice long talk about all the things you might do."

Rhodes chuckled as the two disappeared, then turned and saw Mira looking a little troubled.

In front of her stood Wendy and Carla, both puffed up like angry cats. They were having what could only be described as... a very rare argument.

Rhodes tilted his head. "What’s going on?"

Carla huffed and turned away from Wendy, and Wendy did the exact same.

Mira sighed and handed Rhodes a request form. "Wendy picked a slightly dangerous mission, and Carla wants her to change it. Wendy refuses."

"What kind of mission could make you two fight?" Rhodes asked, glancing at the form. The reward was 500,000 J, enough to suggest it wasn’t a beginner job.

At that level, even senior mages would need to stay sharp.

Wendy had the raw power for it, but her gentle nature made people worry all the same.

Rhodes read the request carefully: eliminate or drive away a swarm of poisonous bees near the village, and help detoxify the stung villagers.

He nodded. "Helping with detoxification actually suits Wendy perfectly."

"See!" Wendy brightened immediately. "Even Rhodes says so!"

Carla quickly retorted, "Look at the back, will you? It says other mages already went there and were stung before they even reached the hive!"

Rhodes flipped the page, his expression shifting. The mission site was a small mountain village called Lutes.

At first, only a few villagers were stung while farming, no big deal. But soon, the victims began showing signs of serious poisoning.

The villagers brought in a doctor and tried to exterminate the bees themselves. Instead, more people got hurt, and even the detox herbs ran out.

They finally turned to a small local guild for help. That guild sent two mages... and both went missing.

Unable to handle it, the local guild advised the villagers to post a formal request to a major guild.

Originally, the villagers had intended to commission Sabertooth.

But just then, news spread that someone had dismantled Sabertooth.

After hearing that, the villagers decided Fairy Tail might actually be stronger, and so the request ended up here instead. The reward also increased significantly from the original amount.

Wendy, worried about the poisoned villagers, was determined to go.

But Carla’s intuition told her those bees were anything but ordinary. If Wendy went, something dangerous might happen, so she flatly refused.

The two of them were like little girls having a spat, both feeling the other just didn’t understand.

Now, both Wendy and Carla were staring at Rhodes expectantly, waiting for him to take their side.

Mira smiled and suggested, "If it’s dangerous to go alone, why not find someone to team up with?"

At that, Wendy and Carla immediately forgot their argument, and in perfect unison, said with troubled expressions,

"If we team up, it’ll be exhausting..."

It wasn’t that they disliked traveling with others. In fact, working with their friends was always fun, and no matter how hard the mission, they’d always succeed.

But it also tended to be... chaotic.

Even when the job was simple, something extra always happened. So once in a while, they wanted to take on a quiet, ordinary mission, just the two of them.

Wendy murmured, "Erza said she was going out today to look at a new set of armor, Gray’s following a strict training plan, and Natsu..."

From somewhere inside the guild, behind a not-so-soundproof wall, Makarov’s booming voice could be heard:

"NASTU! WHAT DID I TELL YOU ABOUT..."

Followed by Natsu’s faint protest.

Apparently, Master was settling every single one of Natsu’s "recent accomplishments" at once.

Rhodes couldn’t help chuckling. Makarov always encouraged his children to follow their own paths, just not before he finished yelling at them first.

After thinking for a bit, Wendy asked, "Should we invite Lucy?"

Carla hesitated, then sighed. "I feel like having her along would make me uneasy..."

Rhodes laughed softly. "Then why not invite me?"

Wendy blinked. "Eh? Really? Can I?"

Carla tilted her head. "Didn’t Master just give you a mission?"

"I’m headed to Cerberus Town," Rhodes explained. "And the guild that Lutes Village originally hired happens to be based there. So we can go together."

Then he smiled at Wendy. "I’ve been meaning to spend more time guiding you, but between Edolas, the exams, and everything else, that never really happened. Let’s make up for it now, shall we?"

Wendy’s eyes lit up, and she hopped in place with excitement. "That’s great!"

...

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