Rhode summed it up, Bisca's hometown had a harsh environment and fierce people.
Moreover, her childhood story is somewhat heartbreaking.
However, looking across the entire Fairy Tail, there are many who have suffered more than her, now is not the time to focus on these.
Alzack patted Bisca and began to tell his own story:
"The environment in my hometown is better, the people around are relatively gentle. But the neighboring country seemed to always covet our land, so wars were continuous.
"When I was very young, my father died in battle at the border as a Mage. So it was almost my mother who raised me.
"But because later on, the war always ended in defeat, and our territory was constantly being invaded, my mother and I fled from war in many places.
"Later, my mother fell ill, and we had no money to buy medicine. I tried to use the Gun Bullet Magic my father taught me to find work.
"As a result, I messed up the first job, although I succeeded the second time, when I returned, the doctor I had invited said... it was too late, he could not do anything."
Bisca hugged Alzack's arm, Alzack forced a smile:
"It's okay, my mother left with a smile, she said I looked like my father holding a gun. Seeing me able to earn a living by myself, she had no more regrets.
"My mother told me to leave the country and find a place without war to live. That's why I came to Fiore, this neutral country that, they say, hasn't had war for a very, very long time."
But now, it seems like the flames of war are about to reach here.
Alzack made up his mind that if war really happened, he would absolutely not let his daughter experience the same things.
After Alzack calmed his emotions a bit, Rhode asked: "Was it the Alvarez Empire attacking your country?"
Alzack shook his head: "No. At that time, although Alvarez was a very strong country, they didn't border us."
Rhode asked: "Did you hear about Emperor Sprii and the Twelve Shields over there?"
Bisca said: "I heard the name Sprii, but not the Twelve Shields—what is that?"
"That is Emperor Sprii's guards, the most solid shields, the strongest 12 Mages of the Alvarez Empire.
Rhode explained a bit, then suddenly thought that God Serena should have only joined in recent years, maybe they were short-staffed before?
Considering this possibility, he said: "Maybe there weren't 12 people at that time, and they used other names? In any case, they were trusted aides of Sprii, have you heard of them?"
Alzack tentatively asked, "Are you talking about the Twin Jewels of the Empire?"
Bisca seemed completely clueless, puzzled: "Twin Jewels of the Empire? Who's that?"
Alzack was surprised: "Haven't you heard? At that time, the Alvarez Empire had two strongest Mages, one called the Calamity of August, the other the Crimson Despair. Their names should be very famous."
Bisca thought for a while, then said embarrassedly, "Maybe because ten or so years ago... I was young and didn't understand magic.
"I didn't pay any attention to Mages' affairs at that time. But I heard about a minister named Yajil, who was a very capable person."
Rhode felt he asked the right question this time: "Let's talk one by one, start with the Twin Jewels of the Empire."
"Okay." Alzack tried hard to recall, "I don't know much, the Calamity of August, named August, I heard he followed Emperor Sprii for a long time and always assisted the Emperor with dedication."
Rhode asked: "What magic does he use?"
"I heard it's... all magic."
Rhode was taken aback: "All magic?"
Alzack said: "Yes, the legend goes like this, August is proficient in all magic past and present, no matter what kind of Mage the opponent is, they absolutely cannot defeat him.
"When you stand against him, the outcome is already decided. Any country that resists the army he leads will be subjected to a calamity-like purification."
"Is it that exaggerated?" Rhode found it hard to believe that one person could master all magic.
But it was very possible that this person had a vast reserve of magic—did he like to research and study like the Second Master?
Alzack said: "His legend has been circulating for decades, even saying he can destroy a country by himself, so I can't confirm if it's true."
Regarding power, it shouldn't be exaggerated; someone who followed Zeref for a long time having such power is not surprising.
"What about the other person? The Crimson Despair."
"The other is a lady, name... I forgot."
"Huh?"
Alzack helplessly said: "Because she hasn't been with the Empire for long, her story is far less than August's... and it's been so long, it's normal to forget, right?"
Rhode had no choice: "Alright, what's her magic?"
"Everything."
"Everything?" Rhode looked at Alzack, "You're hard to understand today. 'Calamity' uses all magic, 'Despair' uses everything magic?"
"That's not what I mean." Alzack organized his words and said,
"It's said she is like a born Queen, whether sky or earth, flame or water, all before her must be under her control.
"As long as she stands there, her enemies can do nothing—except despair.
"Because of her crimson hair, she is called the Crimson Despair."
This description is also exaggerated... Rhode couldn't help but start doubting if relying on these legends to judge an opponent's information was unreliable.
Bisca seemed to find this person interesting and said with a smile: "A red-haired Queen, is there another Erza in the Western Continent?"
Makarov sighed: "If only she were Erza's sister or something."
"Based on age, she should be her mother, but isn't that kind of thing impossible to imagine?"
Rhode knew Erza is from Rosemary Village, from the sound of it, it's a small village in the Fiore style, having nothing to do with the Western Continent.
"Although vague, it's still better than knowing nothing, which is a good thing."
Rhode scribbled down key information in his notebook, then looked at Bisca.
Bisca said, "The Yajil I heard of probably isn't a Mage.
"Because I heard people praise his ability, managing internal and foreign affairs in an orderly manner. But I've never heard anyone say he had any military achievements.
"But he should be very old, right? Even if there's a war now, it shouldn't involve him."
Rhode nodded, noted down Yajil's name, wanting to ask more:
"Try to think, is there any other powerful or famous Mage? Even if they weren't from Alvarez when you left."