'Lyra Silver Cloth!'

Looking at the gleaming silver armor shaped like an ancient Greek lyre, Marco couldn't help but marvel at his incredible luck this time—hitting the jackpot with a single draw and obtaining one of the finest Silver Cloths.

The Lyra constellation was one of the most brilliant in the northern Milky Way.

Though not large in size, it was easily observable.

Its main star, Vega, was one of the vertices of the 'Summer Triangle', and even in bustling cities, as long as one avoided strong light interference, the Summer Triangle could be clearly seen.

'This Cloth... really is assigned based on connections, huh?'

Marco grumbled inwardly.

The Lyra constellation was closely related to some of his existing abilities—very closely, in fact.

The Draco and Cygnus constellations were right next to Lyra.

One vertex of the Summer Triangle was Deneb in Cygnus, while another was Altair in Aquila.

Deneb served as the 'Magpie Bridge'.

'Could the next Silver Cloth or skill be from Aquila?' Marco mused.

With Vega and the Magpie Bridge already here, Altair probably wasn't far behind.

Without hesitation, Marco donned the Lyra Silver Cloth to test it out.

He had to admit, Silver Cloths were simply different from Bronze Cloths—the coverage of the Lyra Cloth was quite impressive.

In truth, Marco's Equuleus and Orion Bronze Cloths were already among the best in terms of coverage.

So his amazement in this regard wasn't overwhelming.

If his first two Cloths had been those with pitifully low coverage...

Then Marco would've likely exclaimed that Silver Cloths were the real deal, while Bronze Cloths were just a haphazard assembly of leftover scraps.

As for what stood out most about the Lyra Silver Cloth, it was undoubtedly the ancient lyre in Marco's hands.

The instrument was entirely silver-white, adorned with golden patterns, exuding an air of elegance.

In fact, the entire Lyra Silver Cloth followed this aesthetic—silver-white as the base, accented with light purple and gold, emphasizing refinement, grace, and nobility.

'Twang!'

Marco plucked the strings, and a magical sound resonated, releasing waves of energy.

The tone was crisp and melodious—there was probably no finer string instrument in the world.

"Too bad... I don't know how to play."

Staring at the lyre in his hands, Marco frowned.

This was one skill he truly hadn't mastered.

It seemed he'd have to learn it properly—after all, the Lyra Cloth's power was entirely tied to this instrument.

Marco suspected that achieving resonance with the Lyra Silver Cloth would be impossible without mastering the lyre.

"I'll start right away!"

Without hesitation, Marco resolved to study the lyre.

For the sake of resonance, picking up a new skill was nothing.

It would be another talent to add to his repertoire, and becoming stronger was always worth the effort.

Resonance with Lyra was crucial—it might even help him connect with the currently Cloth-less Cygnus and Draco constellations, given their proximity.

Though not as closely related as Pegasus and Equuleus, even if Draco remained unaffected, surely Cygnus—another vertex of the Summer Triangle and the Magpie Bridge—could be influenced, right

Absentmindedly lost in thought, Marco left the guild hall, intending to find someone to teach him how to play lyre.

While there were plenty of music enthusiasts in the Fairy Tail guild, none actually played lyre—most preferred lively, upbeat instruments.

Stepping outside, Marco recalled that Magnolia had shops selling musical instruments, though he'd never paid much attention to them before.

As for where to find music teachers, he had even less of an idea.

"I should go ask Mr. Lazio." Marco immediately thought of the well-connected Mr. Lazio.

When it came to the various shops in Magnolia, no one knew them better than him—not even Makarov might match his knowledge.

After leaving the guild hall, Marco arrived at Chico's Café, an exquisitely decorated and spacious establishment.

Mr. Lazio certainly wasn't short on money, being the landlord of Fairy Tail's female dormitory.

"Welcome~"

A waitress greeted customers at the entrance with a warm smile.

The café was bustling, with many couples among the patrons—clearly a popular spot for dates.

"Marco! It's Marco Dreyar!"

No sooner had Marco stepped inside than someone shouted his name.

If not for the excitement in their voices, the urgency would have made him think debt collectors were after him—it was downright startling.

Watching the young couple rush toward him, Marco silently lamented that he still hadn't gotten used to the life of a celebrity.

"Could we please get your autograph?! We're huge fans! The stories of the Great Detective Holmes are amazing!"

The couple was practically vibrating with excitement, clearly visitors to Magnolia.

"Shh—keep it down, you'll disturb everyone."

Marco took the pen and two copies of The Great Detective Holmes, signing them while gently reminding them.

The couple had clearly come prepared, bringing both a pen and books—likely hoping to snag an autograph from the start.

"Right, sorry~"

At Marco's reminder, they lowered their voices.

Glancing around, they saw the regulars of Magnolia watching them with warm, understanding smiles—a testament to the goodwill Marco had earned.

"Marco-kun, could we ask you something?"

As Marco finished signing, the young man hesitantly spoke up.

"It's currently in the works. Stay tuned."

Marco didn't even need to hear the question—he already knew what it would be.

It was the one he'd been asked most often lately.

After chatting briefly with the enthusiastic fans, Marco approached the café counter and asked the busy manager.

"Is Mr. Lazio here?"

Normally, Mr. Lazio could be found at the café—it was his passion project.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have bothered running it, given he could easily retire on rental income alone.

The café had been around for years, thriving solely due to Mr. Lazio's dedication.

"I'm here!"

Before the manager could reply, a voice called from the kitchen.

Out came Mr. Lazio, wearing an apron and a chef's hat.

"Marco? What brings you here today?" Mr. Lazio looked at Marco with surprise and asked curiously, knowing that Marco wasn't particularly fond of coffee.

"I have something to ask you. Do you know anyone who can play lyre?"

Marco bowed slightly to Mr. Lazio before posing his question.

Mr. Lazio was quite old—far from looking like Chico's father, he could easily pass as her grandfather.

In reality, Chico had simply been born late in his life, making her his cherished daughter in his later years.

"Lyre? There is one person, but he probably isn't in Magnolia anymore. I once invited him to perform at my shop—he was a true master, like a bard straight out of a story."

Mr. Lazio answered immediately, showcasing his extensive connections.

This was the advantage of being old money in the area—when it came to such matters, even Makarov couldn't compete with people like him.

"Why do you ask all of a sudden?" Mr. Lazio tilted his head in curiosity.

"Because I want to learn the harp. Can you still contact that master?"

Marco's eyes lit up.

A master was exactly what he needed—the better heis, the more useful the lessons would be.

If he just wanted to play casually, he wouldn't need a teacher at all; he could figure it out on his own.

"Let me think… The last I heard of him was two days ago. He was invited by the Heartfilia Conglomerate. You might still find him there if you hurry."

Mr. Lazio quickly provided the answer, having kept tabs on the master in hopes of inviting him back someday.

"If you do find him, please ask him to return to Magnolia. Tell him I adored his performance—his music has a power that soothes the soul."

After sharing the master's whereabouts, Mr. Lazio added a special request.

If Marco could bring him back, he'd even cover the tuition for Marco's lessons.

"Mr. Lazio, do you really think I'm short on money right now?" Marco gave him a deadpan look.

The moment he said it, Mr. Lazio realized his mistake—even if lessons with a master wouldn't be cheap, money was hardly an issue for Marco now.

He'd forgotten just how wildly popular Marco's books had become.

"Right, i fotgot Marco Dreyar is now a household name across Fiore! Who knows? Master Valtava might just give you the time of day!"

Remembering Marco's fame and status, Mr. Lazio's eyes sparkled with renewed hope.

"Don't worry, I'll definitely bring him back."

Even as Marco left the café, Mr. Lazio kept reminding him, leaving Marco no choice but to reassure him with a sigh.

Then, in his enthusiasm, Mr. Lazio even sponsored Marco a carriage and his personal coachman to ensure a swift journey.

The city where the Heartfilia Conglomerate was located wasn't far from Magnolia—just a mountain apart, one on this side, the other on that. It wouldn't take long to reach.

"I've heard that Jude Heartfilia, the head of the conglomerate, also lives near Magnolia, though I don't know the exact location."

Sitting in the carriage, Marco listened to the coachman sharing various information.

The Heartfilia Konzern was a newly emerging financial group that had risen to prominence only in recent years, barely a decade old.

Its founder Jude and his wife were said to have both been Mages in their time.

"Quite interesting."

Marco had indeed heard of this couple before—primarily the wife, Layla Heartfilia, who was an exceptionally talented Celestial Spirit Mage.

As someone who consistently claimed to practice 'Celestial Spirit Magic', Marco was naturally familiar with the renowned Celestial Spirit Mage who had retired years ago.

However, he had never actually met her.

After all, Marco was only two years old when Layla married and withdrew from the magical world, leaving him no opportunity for contact.

"I should pay them a visit sometime." Marco mused aloud.

It wouldn't hurt to meet her—she was probably stronger than Karen, right? Being a senior and all.

"I heard the lady passed away last year due to illness."

The coachman's words made Marco pause.

'Died of illness? What kind of disease could take down a powerful Mage?'

Marco narrowed his eyes.

His instincts told him something was off—The Great Detective Holmes hadn't been written for nothing.

When something defied logic, there was always a hidden scheme.

Dying in battle would've been more believable than succumbing to sickness.

With this suspicion lingering in his mind, the carriage continued its journey, eventually ascending a mountain path.

The ride grew bumpy—the road was poorly maintained, narrow, and perilous for oncoming traffic.

Accidents were said to happen frequently here every year.

"Hey! Watch out! The carriage is about to tip!"

Just as Marco was meditating inside, the coachman let out a panicked shout, clearly startled.

Yet, he kept a firm grip on the reins, preventing himself from losing control in his alarm.

Thud!

Marco leaped straight out of the carriage and looked ahead.

Sure enough, another carriage was driving erratically towards the cliffside in the distance—its horses seemingly spooked.

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