For the sake of the First Generation's mental health, Makarov decided to interrupt Rhode:
"It's about time now, aren't you going to the Council?"
"Hmm... It's okay to go there a bit later, I have something to discuss with you."
"What?"
"About the Book of END."
Rhode briefly explained to Makarov and Mebius the secrets about the Book of END he recently discovered, along with his own speculations.
Even then, there was still so much Rhode had to say, that he was speaking until he was parched.
After finishing, Makarov and Mebius fell into a state of shock, trying hard to digest the vast amount of information.
Rhode sat down and poured himself a glass of water.
After a while, Makarov finally whispered, "Are you saying that Natsu's life is equivalent to that book? The demons of the Gate of the Underworld too?"
"In a certain sense, yes," Rhode thought for a moment and then added,
"But Natsu should be different. He wasn't created by Zeref out of thin air, but was 'resurrected'...
"And just that, the super living magic link on the book is indeed real."
"This is troublesome," Makarov spoke in a serious tone.
He didn't have any intention to personally inspect the Book of END, because Rhode's current knowledge base and judgment were already trustworthy.
Since the problem has been identified, the main thing now is how to resolve it.
The usual ways of breaking living magic links are:
First, the caster themselves lift it, like the person responsible for passing the 'key' during Feis's time.
Second, defeat the caster, allowing the magic to lift itself, for example... Divine Sound Hall of Laxus.
But now, both these approaches seem unlikely to be feasible.
In Zeref's position, he wouldn't come to lift the magic without any reason.
Besides, this sort of super living link magic doesn't seem like something he can actively control, even if he comes, he may not be able to lift it.
As for defeating Zeref, the odds seem equally dim.
Furthermore, Zeref's death might lead to the disappearance of the Book of END, which would also affect Natsu.
But Zeref is their enemy after all, sooner or later they will have to face him...
Thinking this through, Makarov felt like his head was about to explode.
"First Generation, do you have any solutions?"
"I don't know," Mebius seemed a little lost and murmured, "He said his motivation to live was to see his brother. Now it seems like that's Natsu.
"But on Celestial Wolf Island, he should already have met Natsu... So what is he thinking now?"
Mebius thought that being an undead like herself, she should be the one who could understand Zeref the most.
That constant pain of possibly killing innocent lives, that solitude of not daring to enter the crowd, she had experienced it all.
The desire to end oneself was the same.
She also wanted to redeem Zeref and find redemption for herself.
But the result was her death seemingly pushed Zeref one further step towards the cliff.
Mebius was already unable to grasp what Zeref was thinking.
Thinking about this, she felt a bit sympathetic toward Zeref.
If even she couldn't understand Zeref, who else could truly understand him?
Soon after Makarov's birth, when Mebius was with Zeref, she noticed he already showed signs of obsession and madness.
It has been nearly a hundred years now, what has he become?
"First Generation? First Generation?" Makarov called out twice as he saw Mebius dazed off.
"Ah, yes," Mebius came to her senses and continued, "No matter what, we must stop Zeref. Regarding the Book of END... Perhaps we should consult Precht?"
When it comes to magic, Precht is more knowledgeable about Zeref, asking him would be quite appropriate.
"The last time I saw him was more than two months ago, concerning the Gate of the Underworld," Rhode thought, "I have no idea where he is now... Let me try contacting Sin of the Witch."
Makarov and Mebius nodded: "That's the best we can do."
Precht's whereabouts are unpredictable, he left no contact information, Ultear might be able to find him.
By the time Rhode went downstairs, Lucy and Reby were already waiting for him at the front desk, Mira was chatting with them about something.
Reby's face seemed to be slightly red, presumably due to some topic.
Embarrassed, her gaze flitting, Reby was the first to notice Rhode, standing up quickly: "Rhode, you're going to be late for work!"
Mira comforted with a smile: "It's alright, after all, you're in charge of attendance, let's continue talking."
Lucy, sitting leisurely, propped up her chin with one hand and mischievously smiled: "Yeah, Reby, tell us more."
"Lu~ why are you joining in! Hurry up, get to work, there's still a lot to be done at the Council!"
Reby pulled Lucy with one hand and grabbed Rhode's wrist with the other, pulling them backwards out of the Guild.
Curiously, Rhode asked: "What were you talking about?"
Reby hastily denied: "Nothing at all!"
Lucy grinned slyly, pretending to say something: "Actually, Reby she..."
"Ahhh... Lu!"
The two made a commotion, yet didn't reveal anything real.
Rhode could only wave to Mira as he and the two transformed into blue light orbs and flew out of the Guild.
Due to the Council's manpower not being as tight as before, Mira, Ibarglin, and Fried had already handed over their tasks to others.
Only Lucy and Reby would continue going to work with Rhode.
Actually, it was because Mr. Luo found these two little secretaries too useful to let them go.
After all, they didn't mind the Council's work and even occasionally wanted to bring some Dragon Slayer Mages to the Council for a bit of reform.
However, as Fairy Tail's big training session was about to start, Rhode planned to bring people back in the coming days.
Just after Rhode entered Hayberion's office, before speaking, he heard him say:
"You've arrived; just in time, I have something to discuss with you."
Rhode unceremoniously sat in the chair opposite his desk, asking: "What's the matter?"
Hayberion handed Rhode a book.
To be precise, it was a magazine, one he was familiar with, the Magician Weekly Sosha.
The cover featured Jenny's photo, wearing a blue bikini with pink heart patterns, leaning forward, her hands buried in her golden hair with a playful wink.
Rhode reluctantly enjoyed it for three seconds and joked: "We're all working hard; the Speaker is looking at this during work hours?"
"Ahem..." Hayberion choked on a sip of milk.
He maintained his expression, elegantly pulled a handkerchief to wipe his mouth, then said: "I wanted you to see the page with the corner folded."
Seems like there's something important? Rhode flipped open the magazine, the folded corner was on page 18, but he was initially drawn to the content of page 17.
Because this page also featured Jenny's photo, wearing a pink bikini, half-kneeling with her body slightly leaning back.
One would've thought those bewitching things would pop out if her hand didn't modestly cover her chest.
The allure was no less than the cover photo.
Rhode disdainfully glanced at Hayberion: "Highlighting such things while marking them as important?"
Hayberion nearly crushed his beloved goblet: "What kind of person do you think I am? I'm not Makarov..."
Realizing gossiping about someone behind their back wasn't gentleman-like, Hayberion hurriedly stopped himself.
He calmed himself down, annoyed, saying: "I was asking you to look at the ad on the next page!"
The cursed magazine company, placing the photo right next to the ad page to boost ad effectiveness, nearly ruined his gentlemanly image.