Byakuran had originally intended to perform a Take Over on Mahoraga immediately.
However, at the last moment, he remembered the Guild Master’s previous warning.
Thinking about it again, the idea that there would be no risk was ultimately just his own speculation.
Without actually testing it, anything could happen.
Besides, he had only recently promised the Guild Master that he wouldn’t act recklessly.
If he turned around and attempted to Take Over such a powerful creature, it would be incredibly awkward if the Guild Master found out later when he used it.
After considering everything, Byakuran decided to return to the guild and ask the Guild Master to keep watch over him during the process.
He would also explain that Mahoraga was under his control.
That way, everyone could rest easy.
“Have you guys heard about the major incident that happened in the Royal Capital a while ago?”
“What major incident? There was nothing about it in the newspapers!”
“I heard it was suppressed. Apparently, the newspapers weren’t allowed to report on it.”
“I heard that the Wizard Saints fought fiercely underground beneath the Royal Capital over some kind of treasure. The entire city trembled from the clash of their magical power. It must have terrified everyone living there.”
“That sounds like complete nonsense. What kind of figures are the Ten Wizard Saints? Why would they go underground in the Royal Capital and fight over some treasure?”
“Besides, wouldn’t anything buried beneath the Royal Capital belong to the Royal Family? Stealing from the Royal Family would be nothing short of suicide.”
“In any case, the rumors are incredibly detailed. And the fact that the newspapers were strangely forbidden from reporting on it makes it even more suspicious. The story could only spread through word of mouth among the residents. For it to reach all the way to Magnolia, something major must have happened!”
Byakuran didn’t join in on the surrounding members’ gossip.
He was still thinking about asking the Guild Master to guard him while he performed the Take Over on Mahoraga.
Unfortunately, when he returned to the guild, he discovered that the Guild Master was out.
For the time being, another guild member was managing the counter.
After learning that the Guild Master would be returning today, Byakuran could only wait around with nothing else to do.
Holding a freshly purchased drink in his hand, he casually glanced around.
His gaze soon landed on Gray.
Gray was sitting intently at a table, staring at a letter in his hand.
“Oh? Looks like we’ve got something interesting here.”
Byakuran immediately became interested.
He quietly tiptoed behind Gray, intending to sneak a look at what he was reading.
Just then, Cana suddenly popped out from the side.
“What are you guys looking at?”
“Ah!”
“Who is that?!”
Byakuran and Gray were startled at the same time.
Scaring someone while they’re doing something suspicious can scare them half to death!
Cana wore a mischievous smile as she teased Gray.
“A letter? Is it from some gi~rl?”
“Oho! It might be a love letter.”
Byakuran joined in with a laugh.
Hearing the gossip, Laxus, who was sitting nearby with his back to them, straightened slightly.
His ears perked up, and a highly interested expression appeared on his face.
Nearby, Erza also turned her head toward them in confusion.
“Huh? Of course not!”
Gray hurriedly denied it.
He glanced down at the letter in his hand before explaining with a hint of nostalgia in his voice.
“It’s from an old friend of mine.”
“Hmm… A girl friend?”
Cana squinted suspiciously, half-covering her mouth with her hand.
“It’s a guy! A guy!”
Suddenly, a loud voice came from outside the guild.
“Wahahaha! This place is huge!”
“Is this the guild where so many mages gather?!”
Byakuran looked toward the entrance in confusion.
Cana was also startled.
Gray answered instead.
“It’s coming from outside.”
“Oh, right. The Guild Master sent word earlier that he’d be bringing a new member back today.”
The moment he finished speaking, the guild’s front doors were pushed open.
The Guild Master stood at the entrance alongside a pink-haired child, both of them backlit by the sunlight outside.
“Yo, brats! This is our newest member, joining us today!”
“Get along well with him!”
The pink-haired boy stepped forward proudly.
“My name is Natsu Dragneel!”
“I am the son of a dragon!”
After completing the registration process, Natsu immediately jumped onto a table.
He opened his mouth and breathed out a blast of fire before shouting at everyone in the guild.
“Hey! Have any of you seen Igneel?!”
“Igneel?”
“Just giving us a name doesn’t help us know who that is.”
“Igneel isn’t a human!”
Natsu puffed out his chest proudly.
“He’s my father! A Fire Dragon! A real dragon!”
Hearing this, everyone in the guild whose attention had been drawn toward Natsu couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
“Hahaha! Kid, are you still dreaming?”
“How could there still be dragons in this world? Dragons went extinct four hundred years ago!”
“No, they didn’t!”
Natsu immediately retorted angrily.
“Dragons aren’t extinct! I was raised by Igneel!”
His furious expression slowly turned somber.
“It’s just that he suddenly disappeared a while ago.”
Seeing how absolutely certain Natsu was, the people around him began to waver between disbelief and suspicion.
Could there really be dragons that survived until today?
Byakuran, however, knew the truth.
Dragons did indeed still exist.
In fact, there seemed to be quite a few of them over on the Northern Continent.
As for Igneel and the other Dragon Kings…
They hadn’t gone anywhere.
They were simply staying inside Natsu and the other Dragon Slayers.
Of course, it wouldn’t be wise to reveal that to Natsu.
If he accidentally let the information slip, he might end up on Igneel’s bad side.
Seeing Natsu’s arrogant attitude, Gray somehow found himself annoyed.
Unable to resist, he mocked him.
“Could it be that you’re just trapped inside your own delusions and can’t find your way out?!”
“Huh?! What did you say?!”
Natsu’s temper immediately flared.
“Are you looking for a fight, you clothes-shedding, slanted-eyed pervert?!”
“Huh?!”
Gray’s expression darkened.
“How dare you talk to a senior like that, you droopy-eyed bastard!”
“Let’s fight, then!”
Natsu clenched his fists.
“Who’s afraid of you?!”
Natsu was the first to throw a punch.
He rushed toward Gray, but Gray’s speed was no slower.
The two immediately began trading blows.
They leaped around the guild, exchanging punches and kicks as they fought.
The shameless spectators immediately became excited.
They began cheering from the sidelines.
“Go, Gray! Show the rookie the authority of a senior!”
“Rookie, I’m rooting for you! Take Gray down!”
“Don’t let him win, fire-spitting freak!”
“Underwear freak!”
Meanwhile, Byakuran watched the fight with great interest.
Then his eyes suddenly lit up.
He ran over to Macao’s table, where bets were being taken, and placed his allowance on a draw.
At this stage, Gray and Natsu were evenly matched.
Neither could gain an advantage over the other.
Moreover, they wouldn’t be able to fight for very long inside the guild anyway.
It’s basically a guaranteed win.
Sure enough, it wasn’t long before Erza finally couldn’t stand watching any longer.
She stepped forward.
Bang!
One punch each.
Both Gray and Natsu were sent crashing to the floor.
“You’re both comrades, so get along!”
“And don’t cause unnecessary destruction inside the guild!”
“×_× So annoying…”
Gray grumbled under his breath, not daring to voice his anger aloud.
“(￣ε(#￣)☆ Damn it…”
Natsu muttered resentfully from the floor.
“Haha! As expected, there was no winner!”
Byakuran jumped up excitedly.
“I won! Come on, pay up! Pay up!”
“How does that count?”
Macao immediately protested.
“The bet was on the outcome between the two of them. A third party intervened, so the bet is obviously void.”
“Macao, you’re cheating!”
“Byakuran!”
Erza’s voice suddenly came from behind him.
Byakuran was so startled that he immediately sat bolt upright.
“Yes! (·_·;;; )”
“Why are you fooling around with them too?!”
“And Macao!”
“E-Erza… Σ(っ °Д °;)っ”
“Don’t corrupt Byakuran!”
“Yes! (·_·;;; )”
In the end…
The money Byakuran had won still went down the drain.