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CHAPTER START---
---Era, Magic Council Chairman's Office…
Makarov pinches the bridge of his nose, squeezing his eyes shut for a moment before he continues reading the reports.
He's sitting in front of Chairman Crawford Seam's desk, with the large and broad man in question on the other side, sipping tea while gently stroking his beard. Beside Makarov is his dear friend Yajima, a member of the Magic Council's Ishgar Branch.
Yajima slowly sips his own tea while glancing at the papers in Makarov's hand, having already poured over them himself. "Maybe we should call in Bob for this."
Makarov frowns. "No, this isn't that kind of issue. Besides, Coral is a Wizard Saint. If we are to launch a direct attack, Blue Pegasus will not be of much help. They aren't strong enough, and the region she's in is too fortified for their airship."
"We also don't want other guilds involved," Chairman Seam says. "We need a Light Guild to take the spotlight, yes. But a Wizard Saint must be front and center of this incident. Having Coral be a traitor is one thing, but having anyone but a Wizard Saint take her down or be involved would be another public relations issue for the Magic Council."
"Agreed," Makarov says. "Fairy Tail will handle this, and the Rune Knights' support will be appreciated."
"You'll have it," Yajima says. "But Maki', this is no small task. Taking down a Wizard Saint is one thing, but if our intel is true, if she really does control a Book of Zeref…"
"The information is correct," Chairman Seam reaffirms. "She denied ever having it, then we got proof that some ritual is being done to tame whatever is inside the book."
"Do we know which of his monsters it was? Is it a known book?"
"No," the chairman says. "But it must be powerful if Coral thinks it's worth the anger of Ishgar. That would mean she believes it could defeat even God Serena."
"If it could do that," Makarov frowns. "That would make her by far the most powerful Mage on the continent. We have to put an end to this before it goes too far."
"Can you handle this?" Yajima asks. "Not to doubt your power, but Coral never leaves her base. That entire region is layered with Runes of all kinds to defend her. It's impossible to get close without her sensing your approach. And her Guild is likely as strong as Fairy Tail."
"Yes, those are certainly problems, but I'm sure we can overcome them."
"What will you need?" the chairman asks.
Makarov thinks for a moment, flipping through the reports a few more times before he speaks. "Access to the emergency transportation matrix."
"What good would that do if you can't get close enough to invoke it?"
"I have a way around that. We should also move quickly. I'll give you a list of the equipment and items needed. It shouldn't take long to gather. I'll also need you to contact the bases around Fiore. Oberon is out of Communication Lacrima range…wherever he is, I'm sure you've been keeping track of his every movement since this entire fiasco began."
"Why would you think that?"
Makarov gives the man a bored look. "The Magic Council hasn't been very subtle about trying to make Oberon the face of this new era. The symbol for the Light Guilds and all that, you wouldn't let him out of your sights."
"Would any of that be a problem?"
"Not particularly. Oberon is strong enough to handle any fool who tries to attack him for glory. And above even that, his heart is in the right place, so our trust in him isn't misplaced. But I would have preferred you ask me before making him the face of your new campaign."
"I will keep that in mind for the future," the chairman says. "And I'll be sure to add something special in the reward for him. But after all the stories I've heard, and the memories that have been volunteered by allies and captured enemies, I would very much like to meet him."
"Me too," Yajima says. "Laxus speaks very highly of him, as does Bob. But Maki' says the boy is always on the move."
Makarov chuckles. "Oberon is always seeking improvement. That means he's always on a Job or off training. But I should warn you, both of you. His power comes with a certain uniqueness. Becoming so powerful at such a young age can cause him to be unintentionally…intense."
---Elsewhere…
Under the pale moonlight, Oberon sits with both hands in his S-Class Coat pockets, a bored expression on his face, with his legs crossed atop a ruined train car. He and the train car are currently just below the clouds, and in front of him is a man covered with scrapes and bruises, his lower body engulfed in a green tornado.
"Come on, just give me what I want, then give up," Oberon says as he stretches, yawning.
The man's brow twitches, glancing at the fortress below, half destroyed thanks to Oberon attacking their base. "I really can't stand people like you."
"Hey, no need to be a jerk about this."
"Me? You can't be serious right now."
Oberon shrugs. "You're the Dark Guild Master here."
"What the hell do you even know about that anyway? You're just a freakishly strong kid. You don't even know what being a Dark Guild and Dark Wizard means."
"I try not to make this stuff personal," Oberon says. "Dark Guild, Dark Wizard, it's just another way to say 'Criminal'. That's all there is to it. You're wanted by the Magic Council. My job is to come get you. End of story."
The man grinds his teeth, his rage threatening to shatter them against his gums. "You don't know what the hell you're talking about! My guild and I aren't criminals! We're assassins! How would you feel if you spent decades of your life dedicated to perfecting your skills? Using them to get work, to support your family and friends.
Hell, we even got Jobs from the damned Magic Council itself! Now they just up and decide to change the laws. Destroy our way of supporting ourselves and our people, destroy the economic systems we've depended on. The business we've built. And then they have the nerve to brand us as criminals when we just want to continue our work. You think that's fair?!"
Oberon frowns. "I already told you, I try not to make things personal. I was assigned to capture you and your guild, that's what I'm going to do. Nothing more, nothing less. But I would prefer you give me that Celestial Spirit Gate Key first."
"As expected of you, Oberon, poster boy and dog of the Magic Council," the man rears back his hand, gathering Magic Energy into his arm before punching forward. "We have reasons to fight just like you!"
A powerful but narrow tornado is launched horizontally at Oberon, shredding the metal train car as he floats away from it. Oberon remains in his seated position as the man pushes his Tornado Magic even farther, but before he can find his limit, Oberon snaps his finger.
The man reacts instantly, having seen this very attack before, and drops his attack to spin around and use a solid Shield Magic. It blocks a Magic Energy blast from below, fired from Caelum mounted on the ground.
The man is surprised that not only did he survive, but his shield didn't break, especially after seeing Caelum slice through his fortress with this very attack earlier. He turns back to Oberon, but the boy is gone, and a deep pain rises into the man's chest.
His vision blurs, looking down to see Oberon's fist crashing into his gut, knocking the wind out of him and causing his dinner to rise up.
Oberon keeps the man floating with Gravity Magic, but turns his head to avoid a messy situation. And seconds later, the man is completely unconscious.
Oberon quickly rifles through the man's pockets, and as expected, he finds the key on his person, claiming his new Silver Celestial Spirit Gate Key. "Which one are you?"
He immediately flows Magic Energy into the key, and seconds later, it shines bright silver as the Celestial Spirit appears.
Oberon is puzzled for a moment as a large Sextant appears in front of him, boasting two wooden humanoid arms. It immediately begins flailing and falling, but he quickly catches it with Gravity Magic and controls them all to slowly descend.
"Sorry. I really should have summoned you on the ground," Oberon says. "So uh…Sextants are used in navigation. Do you do that?"
It gives him a thumbs up.
"Can you help me find a specific place?"
It gives a thumbs down.
Oberon sighs, already knowing where this is going. "Do you just point me toward true north?"
It gives an excited thumbs up.
"Right, silver key…"
CHAPTER END---
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