Fairy Tail: You said you were just acting, are you serious

At the ticket counter, the merchant had already handed Ron tickets for his group of five, plus the newly hired temporary employee Paris.

"Oh dear, we didn't do anything about it, how could we accept this?"

Seeing the blond merchant's generosity, Gildarts couldn't help but shake his hand in gratitude.

Uru also expressed his gratitude to the merchant, feeling a little embarrassed.

"It's nothing to me. You helped me find something important, and this is all I should do."

The blond businessman smiled slightly, indicating that such a matter was not worth mentioning.

Ron and his group boarded the parked magic train early and found their luxury compartment.

Waaah!

As the whistle sounded, the magical train slowly started moving. Ron and his companions leaned against the window and waved goodbye to the merchants on the platform.

"Uncle, we'll be going now, goodbye!"

Have a safe trip, and see you next time!

The blond businessman watched them leave and smiled with satisfaction.

"Young people these days are really something."

He then turned and left with his bodyguards to continue with his work.

Inside the carriage, the spacious and comfortable seats pleased everyone, and they chatted and relaxed comfortably.

Gray excitedly pressed his face against the car window, gazing at the scenery outside.

Just then, another train traveling in the opposite direction passed by on the adjacent tracks.

Gray, who was peering out the train window, happened to see a blue-haired girl quietly leaning out the window of the opposite train.

In the instant the bright train passed each other, their eyes met unintentionally on the speeding glass.

"Um?"

Gray was stunned for a moment, and before he could even see the other person's face clearly, the train suddenly accelerated, and the passing carriages quickly disappeared into the distance.

Gray turned to look at the departing trains, but then, at Leo's call, he looked away and started playfully wrestling with Leo.

"Gray-senpai and Rio-senpai, your performance was so amazing! Could you teach me some of those techniques?"

Just then, Paris, who was wearing square-framed glasses, approached them and asked them questions warmly.

Upon hearing the word "senior," Gray and Leo couldn't help but feel a sense of respect.

"Although our goal is still to become powerful mages, since you're so eager to ask, we can teach you something."

Gray and Leo laughed smugly, then patted Paris on the shoulder.

"Before we leave the troupe, we'll share all our experience with you, junior!"

Upon hearing this, Paris's eyes shone with admiration as he nodded excitedly.

"I will carefully remember your experience and grow rapidly, seniors!"

"Um!"

Looking at his two overly smug apprentices, Uru couldn't help but smile helplessly.

With your subpar acting skills, what can you possibly teach?

Gray and his friends, who were of similar age, quickly started playing and mingling together, filling the private room with a joyful atmosphere.

"Haha, it's definitely good to be young, you can be so carefree."

Gildarts watched the three of them fooling around and couldn't help but sigh.

"Uncle, you seem carefree too, there's nothing to envy."

Ron kept complaining about Gildarts, which made Gildarts want to arrest the foul-mouthed Ron.

Ron reacted quickly, standing up, opening the sliding door to the private room, and closing it again.

He then turned and left, intending to go to the connecting area of ​​the carriage corridor for some fresh air.

However, he froze the moment he reached the corner of the corridor.

A gaunt figure stood nervously at the junction of the corridor, avoiding Ron's gaze guiltily.

Ron frowned and walked towards the figure.

"Didn't you go to turn yourself in? Why are you on the train?"

The person standing there was the same thief from before. When he heard Ron recognize him, he instinctively shuddered and looked at Ron awkwardly.

He lowered his head and pondered for a while, then took a deep breath, revealing a determined look in his eyes as he looked at Ron.

"I... I came here because there's something I want to tell you..."

"What is it?"

Seeing the thief's appearance, Ron decided to listen to him finish speaking before asking him some questions.

"It's about..."

Whoosh!

The door to the private room behind Ron was suddenly pulled open, and the three playful Grays popped their heads out.

"Ron, I'm telling you, Paris..."

"Hey?! What are you doing here, you thief?!"

Gray paused for a moment when he came out smiling, then frowned and assumed the starting stance for Ice Shape magic, wary of the thief.

Leo frowned and said:

"Why are you following me here like a ghost?"

Could it be that they're planning to seek revenge on us on this train?

"No, that's not it!"

The thief was startled and quickly waved his hands, trying to explain.

"Calm down, let's hear his explanation first."

Ron then spoke with Gray and the others, before crossing his arms and looking at the thief, waiting for his explanation.

He glanced at the four people present, and everyone's eyes were fixed on him, making them swallow hard.

Cold sweat beaded on his forehead. After a long period of anxiety, he finally mustered the courage to begin speaking:

"When I first found the guards, they said that since it was my first offense, they didn't keep me in prison and pardoned me."

I thought carefully about my benefactor's teachings and realized that he was right, so I decided to join his theater troupe to work!

Please hire me, my benefactor!

He then bowed solemnly to Ron, but his eyes still betrayed his guilt, and he dared not raise his head immediately.

"Ha, Ron, this guy is obviously lying. Don't hire him."

Gray immediately saw through his concealment; his guilty conscience was obvious to Gray.

Ron did not reply. He lowered his head and pondered for a while.

"Alright, since you put it that way, I'll believe you for now."

Finally, he sighed helplessly and nodded.

He didn't seem to want to say this, but just in case, let's bring him in anyway.

He also confiscated the pills from his person, so he shouldn't do anything illegal under his watchful eye.

The thief looked up, revealing a stunned expression to everyone, never expecting his benefactor to agree so readily.

"My name is Doronbo. Nice to meet you..."

"Ha ha ha ha......!"

Just then, a commotion and a woman's exclamation came from the ordinary carriage behind them.

"Hey beautiful, wanna grab a drink?"

"I don't want to!"

"Don't spoil the fun, we..."

"What are you doing? Let me go!"

Upon hearing the commotion, Gray and Leo exchanged a glance and immediately rushed forward as if on cue.

"Damn it, we need to teach them a lesson!"

"Hey! You two, stop meddling!"

Ron watched helplessly as they rushed forward, even Paris joined them, and felt his blood pressure, which he hadn't felt in a long time, steadily rising.

"Why are there so many things happening along the way? Whose story have I somehow gotten involved in? When will this ever end?!"