In the Guild Hall, sunlight streamed through the stained glass, casting colorful patterns on the floor.
Natsu and Gajeel were wrestling, while Gray sat nearby, gleefully eating ice cream and occasionally using Ice Magic to create small troubles for them.
As for Happy, he had taken Yuumi to fish by the lake behind the Guild.
"Fire Dragon's—Iron Fist!" Natsu shouted, throwing a punch that Gajeel blocked with his steel-hardened arm.
"iron dragon's—Steel Fist!" Gajeel countered, their fists colliding with a metallic clang.
"Can you two idiots be quiet?" Gray rolled his eyes, casually creating a small ice sculpture and throwing it at them, "If you want to fight, go outside. Don't disturb my ice cream time."
The ice sculpture accurately hit Natsu's head, and he immediately redirected his target: "Gray! Are you asking for death?"
Gajeel seized the opportunity to kick Natsu's butt: "Don't show your butt to this great me!"
The three instantly devolved into a chaotic brawl, overturning tables and chairs.
Mira stood behind the bar, maintaining her usual smile, but a vein throbbed on her forehead because these three had knocked her freshly made cake to the floor.
"I say…" Mira's voice was terrifyingly gentle, "If you break one more table, none of you will get to eat my special strawberry cake tonight."
The three instantly froze, as if a pause button had been pressed.
"Mira…" Natsu turned, his eyes welling up with tears, "I was wrong…"
Gajeel immediately stood up straight: "Fighting is childish."
Gray quickly returned to his seat, pretending nothing had happened, and continued eating his ice cream.
Cana and Marcus sat at a nearby round table, playing poker.
Laki stood behind Marcus, occasionally giving him pointers on which cards to play.
"You lost again!" Cana smugly collected the stakes on the table—a few silver coins, "This is the seventh hand today, Marcus, your card skills are truly terrible."
Marcus indignantly slammed the table: "No more playing, no more playing! Laki must be interfering with me!"
Laki rolled her eyes: "You're the one who can't count cards, what does that have to do with me?"
"Hey, Ezreal!" Marcus leaned on the bar, stirring the juice in his cup with a straw, "Didn't you take a Council mission a few days ago to continue investigating that 'Evil Flower' thing? How come we haven't seen any movement from you these past few days?"
Ezreal, who was helping Mira wipe glasses, smiled slightly at the question.
He snapped his fingers, and a white light flashed at his fingertips; a letter appeared out of thin air between his fingers. "Who says there's no movement? I just received intelligence this morning."
Ezreal unfolded the letter, "I asked a friend to help investigate the movements of the Dark Guild 'Evil Flower,' and I just received a reply this morning."
Evil Flower was not a famous Dark Guild; its scale was not large. Besides the information Ezreal received from the Council, he had asked Ultear to help investigate their movements.
Cana put down her poker cards and leaned closer: "You have a lead?"
"Yes." Ezreal nodded, spreading the letter on the table, "Evil Flower has been active in Hargeon Port recently. They've also hired a group of freelance Mages, seemingly preparing for something."
Gray, who had approached at some point, still had an ice cream spoon in his mouth: "Finally, some action? I'm practically dying of boredom."
Natsu and Gajeel also stopped their brawling and squeezed to the table: "We're coming too!"
"No." Ezreal firmly refused, "This is a covert investigation. You two always make too much noise, and we don't need too many people."
"What?!" Natsu yelled in dissatisfaction, "We can be very quiet too! Right, Gajeel?"
Gajeel, uncharacteristically, nodded in agreement: "This great iron dragon can sneak around as silently as a shadow."
Gray sneered: "Both of your voices are twice as loud as everyone else's."
"That's how a Dragon's throat is!" Natsu and Gajeel defended in unison.
Mira walked over, smiling: "Alright, let Ezreal and the others go. Natsu, Gajeel, you can help me organize the wine barrels in the cellar."
The two immediately deflated: "Ah… moving wine barrels…"
Marcus raised his hand: "Can I go too? I've been so bored lately."
Ezreal looked at Cana and Gray, who both shrugged, indicating they had no objections.
"Alright, welcome aboard." Ezreal smiled and nodded, "But you have to follow orders, don't act recklessly like some people."
Marcus jumped up excitedly: "Don't worry, I'll go prepare!"
With that, he rushed up to the dormitory on the second floor.
Laki shook her head helplessly: "I hope he doesn't act rashly…"
Cana patted Ezreal's shoulder: "So, when do we leave?"
"We'll leave after lunch." Ezreal looked at the magic clock on the Guild wall, "Yukino went to buy some necessities; she should be back soon."
Just as he spoke, the Guild door opened, and Yukino walked in, carrying a bag of items.
She had changed into a dark blue, short outfit suitable for movement today, and the white Fairy Tail emblem on her collarbone sparkled in the sunlight.
"I'm back." Yukino said softly, seeing everyone gathered together, a little puzzled, "Did something happen?"
Cana ran over and took the bag from her hand: "Perfect, Ezreal got intelligence. We're heading to Hargeon Port this afternoon."
Yukino nodded and took out a few small bottles from the bag: "I bought some invisibility powder and tracking potions; they should come in handy."
Ezreal nodded approvingly: "Very thoughtful."
Mira clapped her hands: "Alright, everyone, let's have lunch first! I made seafood paella and vegetable salad. You need to eat well to have the energy for the mission."
Everyone cheered and rushed to the dining table, with Natsu and Gajeel in the lead.
"Line up!" Mira shouted, hands on her hips, but still with a gentle smile on her face.
Lunch proceeded in a lively atmosphere. Natsu and Gajeel competed to see who could eat more, while Gray elegantly (relatively speaking) enjoyed his portion, occasionally taunting the two.
Cana and Marcus discussed training issues, while Yukino listened quietly, occasionally interjecting a few words.
Ezreal, meanwhile, chatted with Mira and Laki about other recent Guild affairs.
After the meal, the five-person mission team gathered at the Guild entrance.
Natsu and Gajeel looked at them with envious expressions.
"Are you really not taking us?" Natsu asked, unwilling to give up.
"No." Ezreal said firmly, "This mission requires covert action."
Gajeel crossed his arms: "Hmph, this great me isn't even interested!"
Gray rolled his eyes: "Then why are you still staring at us?"
Marcus was fully equipped, with various bottles and jars hanging from his waist and a large bag on his back. Laki was helping him check his gear.
"Why are you carrying so much stuff?" Cana asked in surprise, "We're going to investigate, not camping."
Marcus proudly patted his backpack: "Better safe than sorry! These are high-grade seasonings. If it's like that trip to Asgard again, at least this time we'll have seasonings—"
Cana couldn't help but roll her eyes.
"Alright, it's getting late." Ezreal interrupted him, "Is everyone ready?"
After receiving affirmative replies, Ezreal walked to the open space in front of the Guild, a white light glowing at his left fingertip. He casually drew a line in front of him.
A white crack opened before him, twisting and transforming into a clockwise-rotating white energy vortex, which gradually expanded as it slowly spun.
Through the vortex, the scene of Hargeon Port was faintly visible—a clear blue sky, a bustling dock, and ships anchored in the distance.
"Wow!" Marcus exclaimed, "Ezreal, when did you get the coordinates for the port?"
Ezreal smiled slightly: "I got them from the Newborn City trip; I still have the coordinates."
Cana was the first to jump into the portal: "Let's go, guys!"
Marcus strode in with his hands on his hips, "Ah, I'm fired up!"
Gray shook his head: "Isn't that Natsu's line?" He said, following behind and stepping in.
Yukino nodded goodbye to Mira and the others, then also entered the portal.
Ezreal was the last to enter, and before the portal closed, he waved to his Guild companions: "We'll be back as soon as possible."
With a flash of white light, the five vanished from their original spot, and the energy vortex slowly faded and dissipated.
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