Night fell, and the moon hung high in the sky.
As the crowds dispersed, the Guild Hall lost the clamor that had filled it during the day.
Creak—
Amidst the silence, a small blue cat flew stealthily up to the Guild's second floor, pushed open a window, and slipped inside.
Happy tiptoed—or rather, tiptoed through the air—over to the quest board. His large, glossy black eyes darted around for a mont before he selected the cheapest quest slip on the board; carefully tearing it off and clenching it in his teeth, he vanished back into the night without a single glance back.
Ron watched the whole process from a distance, a slight curve appearing at the corner of his mouth. "Quite the mischievous little kitty, aren't you?"
The next mont, he turned his head and t a sharp, aggressive gaze.
"Goodnight, Laxus!"
Ron grinned, stretched, and let out a yawn, calling out from afar.
"Hmph!"
With Laxus's light snort, the night fell back into silence.
"This is bad, Master!"
The next morning began with Mirajane's anxious voice.
She rushed down from the second floor, her fair, pretty face filled with worry and disbelief.
"A request form is missing from the second floor!!!"
Mirajane's words were like a clap of thunder, instantly exploding in the guild hall.
"What? A request form is missing?!"
"Since it was posted on the second floor, that ans... it's an S-Class request."
"What idiot would actually take a mission like that?"
"..."
Everyone began talking at once, with exclamations and questions rising one after another.
To them, S-Class missions were unreachable dreams and synonymous with danger. No one expected soone to take such a mission without permission.
"It was a cat."
A lazy, playful voice drifted down from the second floor.
Everyone looked toward the sound and saw Laxus sitting on the second-floor railing with his legs crossed, looking down nonchalantly.
"Last night, I saw a cat with wings steal the request form."
Hearing this, Mirajane blurted out in surprise, "Happy?!"
Hearing that na, everyone else also realized instantly.
"In that case, it must be Natsu and Lucy..."
Lucy: So you just lumped Natsu and together like that?
Ron: Didn't you go?!
Lucy: Fine, I did go with them.
But who told Natsu to test with a Zodiac Key? What official could withstand that kind of temptation?!
A smirk played on Laxus's lips as he looked at his grandfather with interest.
"This is a serious violation, Gramps." His tone carried a hint of schadenfreude. "When they get back, you'll expel them from the guild, right?"
He paused and added another line.
"However, with their amateur skills, they might not even make it back after challenging an S-Class mission."
Laxus's unbridled sarcasm and ridicule completely infuriated Mirajane.
Her eyes, usually as gentle as water, were now flashing with anger, and a faint surge of magic power even appeared around her.
"Laxus! Why didn't you stop them if you saw it?!"
"I just saw a cat fly off with a piece of paper."
Laxus spoke nonchalantly, his face showing a cold indifference as if it had nothing to do with him.
"I didn't know it was Happy, and I certainly didn't expect that Natsu guy to take an S-Class mission..."
These excuses made Mirajane tremble with rage, her usual gentle image replaced by anger.
She knew Laxus had clearly done it on purpose!
"Hey, hey, It's been a long ti since I've seen... that kind of expression on your face."
Seeing Mirajane's dark expression, the playful smirk on Laxus's face deepened.
Then, as if rembering sothing, he changed the subject.
"At that ti, the Copy Brat saw it too. He didn't stop them either."
"Ron?!"
Mirajane was stunned, her gaze shifting to the spot where Ron usually stayed, which was empty today.
'That lazy guy...'
Mirajane cursed inwardly, but then confusion welled up in her heart.
Given Ron's personality, it was truly unusual for him to see it and not stop Natsu from taking an S-Class mission.
Makarov frowned in distress and muttered to himself, "This is not good."
He looked up at Mirajane on the second floor.
"The missing request... what mission was it?"
Mirajane took a deep breath, trying to calm her inner frustration, and replied word for word.
"The Cursed Island... Galuna."
"What did you say?!"
Makarov's pupils suddenly constricted, and he stood up abruptly.
"Laxus, go and bring them back imdiately!"
"Don't be ridiculous. I have a mission later. Who would want to go catch those idiots?"
"In this guild, there are no Wizards who can't clean up after themselves..." Laxus t Makarov's gaze defiantly. "Am I right, Gramps?"
Seeing this, Mirajane stepped forward. She had already recovered with Ron's help and was capable of bringing Natsu back by force.
"Master, I'll go..."
"Gramps!"
Gray stood up from the crowd, interrupting Mirajane.
"I'll bring them back!"
Watching Gray's back as he left Magnolia, Ron smiled.
"This is a classic case of throwing a at bun at a dog—he's not coming back."
The port city, Hargeon.
Lucy was still reminiscing with Natsu and Happy about their first eting here, completely unaware that their unauthorized S-Class mission had already been discovered.
"Found them..."
After rushing all the way, Gray finally found Natsu and Lucy, who were looking for a boat to Galuna Island.
Hearing this, Natsu whipped his head around to see Gray walking toward them with large strides.
"Gray?" Natsu's face was filled with shock. "What are you doing here?!"
"Why am I here? It's all because of you, you idiot."
Gray took a deep breath, his tone serious.
"Natsu, Lucy, your secret is out... Gramps ordered to bring you back."
"Eh!" Natsu's eyes went wide. "We've already been found out?!"
"That's right. If you co back now, you might still avoid being kicked out of the guild!"
"No way!!!"
Natsu still didn't waver in the slightest, his eyes as firm as a rock.
"I'm going to do an S-Class mission!"
"It's impossible with your strength, and besides..." Gray's tone suddenly beca ominous. "If Erza finds out about this, you'll..."
The terrifying image of an angry Erza flashed through the minds of Natsu, Lucy, and Happy almost simultaneously. They all shuddered in unison, cold sweat instantly drenching their backs.
"Save , Gray!"
Terrified, Happy imdiately flew behind Gray, clinging tightly to his neck as he squealed in a trembling voice, "I was forced to co by those two!"
"I'm going to show Erza my true strength. There's no turning back now!"
Even Erza's intimidation couldn't break Natsu's resolve.
So, after a 'friendly' exchange between the two buddies, Gray successfully fell to Natsu's underhanded blow.
"Hehehe..."
Natsu pulled back his fist triumphantly, a sly and satisfied smile on his face.
"Since you're here, let's go together, Gray!"
"Natsu, is it really okay to knock Gray unconscious like that?!"
Lucy looked at Gray, who was easily hoisted onto Natsu's shoulder, her face filled with worry and helplessness.
"It's fine, it's fine!"
Natsu waved his hand dismissively and walked toward the small boat while carrying Gray.
"If we let this guy go back to the guild, the next one to co..."
"...would be Erza!!!"
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