"Such a thing actually happened?"
Org frowned, looking completely unaware as he glanced between Marco and Makarov with suspicion.
"You really didn't know?" Marco mirrored Org's expression, equally doubtful.
Org suspected the grandfather-grandson duo was spouting nonsense, while Marco suspected Org was feigning ignorance.
As the main person in charge of the allied forces, even if he wasn't involved, how could he not know anything about it?
"It seems Councilor Deville holds considerable power—enough to bypass you, Councilor Org, the leader of the allied forces, entirely." Makarov chuckled.
Whether Org was involved or aware, they could still mock him mercilessly for failing to control his own subordinates.
"We're all councilors. There's no strict hierarchy among us. He doesn't need to report everything to me."
Org's expression darkened as he defended himself.
After his initial reflexive suspicion, Org quickly realized that Makarov and Marco wouldn't joke about something like this—such claims would be easily exposed with a simple inquiry.
"Take Yajima for example. Even though I'm the Second Seat and he's the Sixth Seat, I can't make him obey me."
To help them understand, Org gave an example.
He believed this would clearly illustrate the dynamics among councilors—Yajima had always defended Fairy Tail and opposed him, yet as the Second Seat, he couldn't do much about the Sixth Seat.
"But when carrying out missions, there must be some order of command, right?" Marco questioned.
While councilors might usually be equals, missions required clear leadership to avoid chaos.
Hadn't Yajima acted as Org's deputy before?
"He arrived later. His mission was different and didn't fall under my jurisdiction." Org shook his head.
Deville, who had carried out these actions, had been sent for cleanup operations—unlike Yajima, who was under his command.
Strictly speaking, they belonged to different departments.
"So you're saying you won't intervene, and you can't even control him, is that it?"
Org's words came off as indifferent.
Marco shook his head, unsurprised.
The Magic Council was probably on the verge of collapse.
"No. I will intervene."
However, Org stood up, making a decision that surprised Marco.
'Is this old man really so principled that he can't tolerate wrongdoing?' Marco fell silent, watching Org rise.
"Let's go. Isn't this what you wanted?" Org walked over to Marco and Makarov.
He knew the two wanted to use him as a weapon to stir infighting within the Magic Council, but he would act regardless—because he believed Deville's actions were truly wrong.
"As expected of Councilor Org, truly righteous and unwavering." Makarov smiled.
The situation had unfolded exactly as he'd anticipated.
Makarov knew that old man Org would definitely intervene in this matter.
If Org truly turned a blind eye to it, he wouldn't have been constantly targeting Fairy Tail—there was no benefit in it for him.
"Hmph."
Org snorted coldly, not giving Makarov a friendly look.
He still held a strong dislike for Fairy Tail.
His involvement wasn't because Fairy Tail had reported it—had it been anyone else, he would have acted the same way.
Since Deville wasn't in his department and their responsibilities differed, Org hadn't been paying attention to Deville work.
He had been busy summarizing the recent mission report and genuinely had no idea what Deville had been up to.
Had he known earlier, he would have stepped in long ago, preventing the situation from escalating to this point.
"That old man Org really has some nerve."
Seeing Org storm off to confront Dreyar, Marco had to admit the guy had a sense of simple justice in him.
But acknowledging that would make Fairy Tail seem like the bad guys, given how they'd been constantly under Org's scrutiny—a man driven by such straightforward righteousness.
"Deville! Stop what you're doing immediately! You're tarnishing the Magic Council's reputation! Abusing the Council's authority for personal gain! I'll give you one chance—halt everything now, and I'll let it slide. Otherwise, I'll report every last detail of your actions!"
Once confirming Deville misdeeds, Org went straight for the jugular without hesitation, leaving Deville utterly stunned.
"Org, have you lost your mind?!"
Deville wasn't young either—likely in his fifties or sixties—but among the Magic Council's members, that still counted as relatively young.
Faced with Org's accusations, Deville showed no fear, instead clashing head-on with him.
This only proved how little hierarchy truly mattered among the Council's seats.
"Who's backing you?" Org questioned the defiant Deville.
He wasn't stupid—Deville wouldn't dare oppose him so boldly without someone powerful behind him.
These schemes weren't just Deville impulsive ideas.
This infuriated Org even more.
This was their Magic Council? These were their Council members? What kind of people were they?!
"Serving the Council requires no backing." Deville remained unyielding, his words sounds righteous.
But both Org and Yajima, who had followed along, caught his implication—Deville was invoking the Council Chairman's authority.
"..."
Org fell silent.
He hadn't expected the Chairman to be so shortsighted, willing to undermine the Magic Council's dignity like this.
Monopolizing scarce magic beast materials for profit might bring in money, but the trust the Magic Council would lose wouldn't be easily regained!
"By the way, Councilman Yajima, don't you have any impeachment procedures? And this Chairman—isn't he elected?"
Seeing the standoff, Marco quietly asked Yajima.
"The chairman is elected only after the previous one dies, and generally, there are no major issues. It's essentially a lifetime position, and the same goes for most council members. Trying to impeach the chairman over something like this is pointless. If it really came to a vote, the result would inevitably be inconclusive. The chairman's style has garnered a lot of support."
Yajima whispered his explanation.
To put it bluntly, the current Magic Council is unlikely to reform itself from within.
The rot starts at the top and trickles down—the Magic Council is practically rotten to the core from top to bottom.
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