Two busy days passed by in a flash.
The good news is the President really wrote one less self-reflection, the bad news is Rhode lost the bet.
Hapi and Warm were happily eating fish and Poro Delicacies on a small custom-made table by Laki.
This time they were joined by Pururu, completely snow white, with a pointy nose like an ice cream cone, a round head, like a little snowman.
That's a decorative Star Spirit, the Canis Minor Constellation's Nikola, named Pururu by Lucy.
He, like Warm, consumes very little Magic Power, so even Lucy can maintain his presence for a long time, thus Lucy keeps him as a pet.
Lucy was complaining about Natsu to Mira at the counter.
"Ah, what a pity! Such a rare chance to earn enough for the rent in one go!"
Mira was polishing a glass with a dry cloth: "Did the task not go well?"
Lucy lay on the counter, her side and bear squashed flat, she complained:
"Well, it's not really that it didn't go well, because we completed all the tasks. But when dealing with the thief, Natsu accidentally broke a necklace and just like that, 100,000 J was deducted!"
"Oh dear…" Mira showed a sympathetic smile.
Lucy sat up, irritably messing up her hair: "100,000! It's like we did the hunting task for nothing!"
"So the hunting task went smoothly, then?"
Lucy said weakly, "Yeah, we smoothly took down that leopard. But Natsu always goes overboard in battles, if we hadn't taken Mr. Rhode's advice to be prepared for fires at any moment, it feels like the whole mountain would've been burned."
"That definitely sounds like something Natsu would do." Mira thought for a moment and asked, "When you say fire prevention, do you mean calling Aquarius to put out fires?"
"Yep, before the battle started, we found a place with water…" Lucy lay down on the counter again, covering her butt awkwardly:
"In the end, although the fire was put out, because I summoned Aquarius in the mud, I got a good scolding… It feels like my butt still hurts."
"Need an ice pack?" The enthusiastic Gray conjured cold air in his palm.
"Pervert, you're doing covert sexual harassment!"
"Aye, I wanna see Lucy's red butt."
"That's flagrant sexual harassment!"
"Zzzz..."
"Pururu~ Pururu~"
"Warm and Pururu, don't learn bad things from that stinky cat!"
Though continually complaining and squabbling, it was clear Lucy was actually in a good mood.
Both tasks together were 250,000 J, subtract 100,000, and the final take was 150,000, Lucy can get 50,000 J.
Although it's not enough for rent yet, she can earn the rest with a simple job.
Rhode was contemplating the bet he lost, not knowing how he'd be teased.
He was also genuinely happy for Lucy, to get more than half of the reward teaming up with Natsu was already good, this girl has a bright future.
Rhode glanced at Makarov dozing nearby, if it were the President, at this point he would probably ask—"Do you enjoy this kind of work?"
He casually asked, and Makarov half-opened his eyes and looked at Rhode, the more he looked, the more he liked this kid.
"Despite a little unexpectedness, it's really enjoyable because it's fun!"
Lucy said excitedly, "Miss Mira, did you know? Actually, that jewelry thief wasn't a mage at all! It was a bunch of crows!"
"Crows?"
"Mm-hmm! They stole the shiny jewelry to decorate the leader's nest, isn't that amazing?"
At this point, Lucy showed a mischievous smile, "Hapi got his tail pecked by the crow leader while retrieving the jewelry, it was so funny."
"I only went there because it was for the task, Lucy, you're so mean!"
Hapi, with a tiny piece of fish tail in his mouth, started crying and ran away after hearing Lucy's words, leaving the nearly meatless fish tail on the ground.
"Eh?!!"
Lucy was surprised, it was just a normal joke, after all, he was just teasing about her butt!
Mira put on a sad expression: "Lucy actually made fun of a team companion, and denied his efforts, Hapi must be so sad now."
"D-did I do something that bad?" Lucy covered her head with her hands, looking to Rhode for help, "What should I do?"
"It's not that serious, a fish or two will cheer Hapi up, or not even necessary." Rhode was too familiar with Mira's act and Hapi's nature.
He thought one was teasing Lucy, the other was trying to get a fish from her.
After getting her butt spanked by a Star Spirit, Rhode didn't want to tease Lucy today.
"I-is that so?" Although she believed in Rhode's words, kind-hearted Lucy decided to go buy a fish.
The prank was exposed by Rhode before it could be fully played, Mira glared at him angrily, awaiting the bet's sanction.
Suddenly a commotion broke out in the tavern, a few people in white uniforms appeared in the guild—it was people from the Advisory Council.
"Pardon the intrusion, we've been ordered to investigate the Iron Forest terrorist attack and hope a few involved can help solve some doubts. Makarov, sir, may I ask…"
The group glanced around, then walked up to Makarov to seek his opinion.
Makarov nodded: "Whoever needs to be asked, feel free to mention."
"First is Erza Scarlet, then Natsu Doraguniru, Gray Fullbuster, and Lucy Ha…"
"Huh?!!!" Lucy suddenly shouted, interrupting him.
In everyone's puzzled gaze, she nervously said, "Sorry, am I going to be interrogated? I was startled, ha, haha…"
It was too deliberate, and she suddenly became incoherent, making Rhode feel something was off.
The Council people didn't seem to mind, explaining: "No, it's not an interrogation, just a regular inquiry, you don't need to go to the Advisory Council, it can be done here."
"Erza, Natsu!" Makarov called the two over, Gray was already there, he was planning to ask if there was any suitable work.
Natsu complained, "What's going on grandpa, I was about to duel with Erza!"
Makarov suddenly perked up: "What, a duel? Great, I'll be the judge! Kana, where's the betting table?"
The Council people were a bit confused, "Is this guy really one of the Ten Wizard Saints?"
Mira reminded: "President, please be serious."
"Ahem…" Makarov got serious, "Let's talk about the duel later, first cooperate with the investigation, just answer truthfully."
"T-the Council?" Natsu suddenly felt guilty, "I didn't burn the forest!"
Rhode knocked him on the head: "Idiot, they're asking about the Iron Forest incident."
The Council members exchanged glances, feeling suspicious about this pink-haired guy.
"Come this way." Rhode sighed, leading them to the side round table, grabbed a few stools, and invited them to sit and chat.
Natsu, this guy, hopefully won't blurt out something unnecessary.