As evening settled over Magnolia, bright lights shone from the worn old tent on the outskirts of town.
It was the performance venue of the Pure White Theatre Troupe, and backstage, the remaining members were in complete chaos.
The two leading actors scheduled to perform that night had mysteriously vanished, and Wes, the acting director who normally managed everything behind the scenes, was nowhere to be found either.
Nothing like this had ever happened before.
“Where did the acting director go?” A tall male performer pressed a hand to his forehead in frustration.
“Are we supposed to throw two random people onstage and hope for the best?”
“I see Wes!
He’s over there!”
A heavily made-up actress had sharp eyes and spotted Wes entering through the tent flap.
However, his brows were drawn together, his usually straight back had slumped slightly, and his distant expression was filled with exhaustion.
The actress hurried over to him.
“Wes, the two leads have disappeared.
What are we supposed to do now?”
“Don’t worry about them for the moment,” Wes replied evenly.
“Gather everyone backstage.”
Though visibly confused, the actress followed his instructions.
Before long, all thirteen remaining troupe members had assembled.
Wes looked at the young performers crowding around him and let out a deep sigh.
Then he turned toward a narrow gap in the curtain beside the backstage area.
“Everyone who’s left is here, Director.”
The troupe members widened their eyes and exchanged startled looks.
“Did Director White come back?”
“Weren’t he and his wife traveling?
Why would they suddenly return?”
Under their uneasy gazes, a small hand pulled the curtain aside.
Ron stepped through instead of the Director White they had expected.
He was so short that everyone had to lower their eyes to look at him.
Ron walked calmly to Wes’s side, turned to face the gathered performers, and lifted his chin slightly.
Surrounded by adults who towered over him, he showed no sign of nervousness and smiled with easy confidence.
“Strictly speaking, I’m not the director yet.
Uncle Wes is still serving as acting director.
We gathered all of you because we have an announcement to make.”
The calm ease with which he addressed a group of adults made him seem nothing like an ordinary ten-year-old.
Ron slowly swept his gaze across the troupe.
A chill ran down several spines, and the quiet whispering faded until the backstage area fell completely silent.
“You all looked awfully nervous when you heard the director had returned.
Were you afraid someone had discovered what you did?”
The effect was immediate.
Fear appeared on some faces, regret on others, while several people lowered their heads and refused to meet Ron’s eyes.
The tall performer stepped forward angrily.
“What are you talking about?
We never—”
“Don’t bother denying it.
This time, I have evidence.”
Ron cut him off before he could finish and casually pulled a list from inside his jacket.
“Eugene confessed.
According to the list he provided, every one of you except Wes took part in Lawyer Eugene’s fraud scheme.”
The man’s anger vanished instantly, replaced by stunned disbelief.
He swallowed and stumbled several steps backward.
At that moment, the curtain on one side of the backstage area was yanked open.
A full squad of Rune Knights marched in and surrounded every troupe member except Ron and Wes.
Ron raised his voice as he addressed the stunned performers.
“You are all suspected of fraud and forgery.
I suggest you cooperate and accompany the Rune Knights without causing trouble.”
Several people tried to flee, only to be tackled to the ground without mercy.
“And one last thing…”
Ron paused and glanced toward Wes.
Wes immediately understood.
Determination replaced the weariness in his eyes.
“As acting director of the Pure White Theatre Troupe, I formally announce that every one of you is dismissed!”
The Rune Knights placed the gathered performers in handcuffs.
Several others were sent to the study to collect the two leading actors, who were still tied up and unable to move.
Within minutes, the backstage area was empty, leaving only scattered costumes and stage props behind.
All the strength seemed to leave Wes’s body.
He collapsed into a chair, drained by the emotional upheaval of the day.
“Director…
they seemed genuinely worried that tonight’s performance wouldn’t go ahead.
Were they really…?”
“Uncle Wes, they were worried about their wages.”
Ron had seen through them completely.
“If Eugene refused to pay them the rest of the money, they would’ve reacted the same way.”
“They chose to take part in the scheme.
They should have known there would be consequences.”
Wes listened in silence, drew a deep breath, and nodded.
“I’m sorry.
I was being foolish.”
Ron looked at him but did not criticize his kindness.
What Ron needed most right now was someone he could trust, and Wes had remained at his side throughout the entire day.
After being dragged through one crisis after another, the man was undoubtedly exhausted both physically and mentally.
His current state was perfectly understandable.
Ron reached out with his small hand and patted him on the back.
“You’ve had a long day, Uncle Wes.
Tell the audience what happened, then go home and get some rest.”
Wes straightened his back and rose from the chair.
Together, they headed toward the stage.
“The few people outside are longtime regulars.
What should we tell them?”
“Just say that the Pure White Theatre Troupe is temporarily suspending performances because of major staff changes.
“And tell them not to worry.”
Ron pulled aside the heavy stage curtain.
The lights illuminated the confident smile on his face.
“When the new Pure White Theatre Troupe is ready to return, we’ll make sure they hear about it!”
…
Early the next morning, the first floor of the Fairy Tail Guild was already filled with the usual noise of its members drinking, laughing, and shouting over one another.
Makarov sat cross-legged beside a large round table, holding a thick document in both hands.
He brought it close to his face and carefully read through every page.
When he finally reached the end, he placed the document on the table.
His wrinkled face scrunched up in conflict as he stared at the figure sitting across from him, who happened to be almost exactly the same height.
Ron was still wearing his cheap gray suit and orange wig.
He leisurely sipped from a steaming cup of black tea as though he had all the time in the world.
“Master Makarov,” Ron drawled pleasantly as he lowered his cup.
He looked up with a narrow-eyed smile.
“Is there something wrong with the long-term commission contract?”
“Do you have any questions?”
Makarov rubbed his bald head, glanced down at the document, then looked back at Ron’s smiling face.
He struggled with himself for another moment before finally sighing.
“Most of these conditions are perfectly reasonable.
There’s only one clause I’m not sure about.”
Makarov frowned and tilted his head.
“You want to join Fairy Tail?”