A magic merchant infiltrating Fairy Tail

Among the crowd, Ika, Akas, Sanmaru, and Rufus remained silent, patiently waiting for the situation to change.

Just then, a voice rang out: "Oh no! Boss! They're stalling for time!"

"What?! You despicable brat, brothers, let's go!"

When their delaying tactics failed, the students fought back: "Brothers, we can't let them bully us like this, let's fight!"

The strategy of fighting with one's back to the river once again proved effective. The candidates, outnumbered 50 to 100, fought the bandits to a standstill. Furthermore, the remaining troops crossed the river to join the battle, making the outcome of this second melee even more unpredictable.

During the battle, a short figure that Kira was watching kept weaving through the crowd, bumping into things here and there, stumbling and bumping into things on the left and right.

Kira couldn't help but exclaim, "That kid's really something, he probably stole all their magic stones..."

He's a real talent!

"Piece 26 in hand, next up is yours..."

The person he approached this time was Ika!

Just as the thief was about to bump into Ika in the exam room, a hand swiftly reached out from the side, grabbed his collar, and then with a forceful movement, threw him out.

"I can pretend I didn't know you stole someone else's magic stone, but I can't ignore it when it comes to my friend!"

At the critical moment, Rufus bravely intervened and protected Ika's magic stone!

The boy's pupils contracted: "What...what are you saying? I don't understand..."

"I've been watching you for a long time. You use space magic, right?"

Rufus adjusted his noble hat and said softly, "Just now you deliberately created a disturbance to observe where the other examinees hid their magic stones, and then left while they were attacking. I think you've taken quite a few magic stones by now, haven't you?"

The boy, caught off guard, looked flustered and stammered, "No...no, I didn't!"

Seeing Rufus's increasingly cold gaze, the boy panicked and quickly got up and ran away.

"What's wrong, Rufus?"

Sangwan's voice came from behind him. Rufus turned around and smiled gently: "No, it's nothing."

Kira smiled knowingly in mid-air...

The battlefield was chaotic, and none of the more than one hundred examinees noticed that there was a traitor among them. This traitor was also a thief who used his magic to steal all the pass documents that they thought were well hidden.

The battle along the riverbank lasted a long time, and it was now noon, the hottest and hungriest time of day.

The resurrected group candidates were in a relaxed and ready state, and fought without any worries. After all, they had already lost yesterday, so getting the prize now was a bonus. In contrast, the advancing group candidates who had just set off from Hams City today were in a bad state. They hadn't eaten, and some had just crossed the river. They were exhausted and had a very difficult time fighting.

Gradually, the candidates' group began to falter, and in the end, less than a quarter of them were still holding on. The rest were beaten down and fell to the ground, having to rest their tongues halfway through.

Kira noticed that some test takers had already started to slack off, running off to the side to eat the lunch boxes they had brought that morning.

He even saw that some of the candidates' lunchboxes had been turned into a mess during the fight, and he didn't know how they would taste, but the texture certainly wouldn't be good.

Just as the outcome seemed imminent, the team that was vying for the prize unexpectedly withdrew, leaving the test-takers puzzled.

"They were about to wipe us all out, why..."

The remaining people looked at each other, wondering why the other side had let them go so easily. But they didn't have time to think about it now. The sun was scorching, and they were hungry, tired, and thirsty. They chose to rest where they were. Seeing that the main group was not moving, the remaining people did not dare to go on their own and found an open space to recover their strength.

Chapter 201 Meeting again in the forest

High in the sky, Kira and Hyberion continued to observe the candidates' progress.

"It's just like a primary school field trip..."

Hearing Kira's complaint, Hyberion seemed to be testing him, turning to him with a smile and asking, "Mr. Kira, do you know why they retreated?"

Kira stroked his chin and nodded in reply, "If we wipe them all out, then it'll be the 'snatching group's' turn to fight. They don't require the numbered magic stones, and they need two of different colors, so there will be even more people to deal with, making it much more difficult."

"On the contrary, keeping this group of candidates around can divert the enemy's firepower. Moreover, the candidates who have not yet had their magic stones taken away, even the weakest of them, all have a skill, making them significantly more difficult to deal with."

Hayberion's eyes lit up, and he nodded approvingly: "As expected of Mr. Makarov's son, Mr. Kira is quick-witted, clear-headed, and has exceptional analytical skills!"

Although he didn't know what this had to do with Makarov, Kira still smiled politely and said, "You flatter me, senior!"

Uncle, if you can talk, say more!

"There's still half the journey left, and I estimate there will be two or three more battles to seize the magic stone, but there won't be too many people participating then. There are over four hundred candidates participating in the third round to seize the magic stone, and in the end, the main forces on both sides will probably have around thirty or forty people left. The remaining one or two dozen people will depend on luck."

"Hmm!" This time, Hyberion simply responded with a faint "hmm" and did not offer any further praise.

Kira: ? ?

This reaction is wrong! Sir, where's your compliment?

Did I overdo it?

Whether I overdid it or not doesn't matter anymore; what matters most now is...

Under Hyberion's shocked gaze, Kira naturally took out a spare lunchbox from his storage bag—which always contained meat rations—and began his lunch for the day.

"Huh? Senior, aren't you having lunch?"

Hyberion, however, seemed to be fasting, looking every bit like a hermit: "I'll just drink milk..."

What else can you do? Say you didn't bring it?

After a pleasant lunch, Kira used the excuse that he wanted to wander around the area alone to temporarily part ways with Hyberion. Although to an unsuspecting observer, this scene might seem like he had kicked Hyberion off the flying carpet, but...

The host has already gotten off the flying carpet, so which guest would still have the nerve to stay on it?

Kira strolled through the woods, looking around and investigating: "So, what exactly is the reason for the unusual behavior of Dean Connors, Speaker Gran, and Uncle Hyberion today?"

Kira still hasn't figured this out.

He didn't believe nothing had happened; after all, Hyberion practically wore his worry on his sleeve.

"Speaking of which, this area is quite suitable as an ambush point..." Looking at the dense, towering trees around him, Kira couldn't help but think of the remaining hundred or so defeated examinees who hadn't yet appeared. "There must be a group lying in ambush here! And then, there's another group near the valley, after all, that's the final battleground, the competition there will definitely be the fiercest!"

"Magic Detection!"

In order to find the Green Forest that might be hiding in this green forest, Kira activated his Word of Power magic, releasing his senses to explore all the magical fluctuations within a ten-mile radius.

"Sure enough, there's a large group of faint magical energy gathered to the right front, about 10... 20... around 40 people, with a few more scattered nearby. Are they planning to double-cross us?"

"These children, so cunning at such a young age, who knows what they'll become when they grow up... Ah... I'm so worried about the future of the Kingdom of Fiore..."

Kira complained like an old scholar, but couldn't suppress the wicked smile on his face. Just as he lifted his foot to continue forward, he sensed an unusual magic.

This magic is very strong, very white, with a hint of black mixed in.

If the magic of those test takers was like the faint glow of fireflies, then this magic was probably like a bright crystal chandelier.

"This magic seems familiar."

Kira muttered to himself, driven by curiosity, and stepped closer until he saw the master of the magic.

"Oh ho! We meet again!"

Kira waved to the woman before him as if he were meeting an old friend, "Ultear!"

Watching Kira's practiced movements, Ultear's face showed shock, and her mind was filled with suspicion: Kira Hopelight? How does he know my name? Oh, he must have found out from the Council! What's with him saying it's been a long time? I shouldn't have revealed my identity on Karna Island last time! I shouldn't... have I?

Thinking of the punch he received on Galna Island, Ultear felt a stinging pain in his face again.

“Kira Hopelight? Why are you…”

"Hey! Don't be so polite! Just call me Kira, we're all old friends!"

I remember now! That annoying feeling of being interrupted halfway through a sentence!

At this stage, if Ultear were to create a list of the most hated people, Kira would definitely be in the top five. As for the top four, barring any unforeseen circumstances, they would be Ultear, Leon, Gray, and Deliora.

Back on Galna Island, Deliora's death allowed Gray and Leon to reconcile, but Ultear never truly let go of her resentment. Even now, she still harbors resentment towards Ultear for abandoning her, and towards Leon and Gray, her fellow apprentices who stole her mother's love.

Urudia suppressed the anger that was beginning to rise within her and said coldly, "I don't remember being friends with you!"

"How could this be?!"

Kira mimicked Happy's tone and gestures, while appropriately displaying expressions of surprise, astonishment, and disappointment on his face, which then naturally transformed into regret, pain, and resentment. "I thought that after that punch on Karna Island, we were already friends who became acquainted through fighting!"

Here it comes! I'm in acting mode! Foolish woman, submit to my superb acting skills!

Ultear's rage +1 +1...

"You bastard! Who said we became friends after a fight?! And that's not how you use the phrase 'become friends after a fight'!"

How did that bastard recognize himself?

Kira said seriously, "Even if you don't care about that punch you threw back then, at least think about Gerald!"

"What does this have to do with Gerald?"

"Gerald and I became friends after a fight! And he's friends with you, so you and I are friends too, right?"

Urudia: "..."

"Not to mention Gray..."

Before he could finish speaking, a pale blue crystal ball was thrown over, and like a shadow clone technique, it multiplied into dozens or even hundreds in the air, reaching Kira in the blink of an eye.

boom!!!

Countless crystal balls exploded around Kira, stirring up large amounts of mud and sand, and knocking down a pile of branches and leaves.

After a long while, the smoke and dust dissipated, revealing an earthen wall carved with forty dog ​​heads.

The earthen wall slowly sank, and Kira emerged from the dog's head. He dusted himself off, then his face showed just the right amount of hesitation again: "Destroying the greenery isn't a good idea..."

Ultear's hand remained in a throwing motion. She tried her best to calm herself, her eyes filled with undisguised murderous intent, and she coldly questioned, "How...how did you know about this?"

"What did you say?" Kira looked puzzled, then suddenly realized and said, "Oh, you mean that? Of course!"

Ultear continued to stare coldly at Kira, remaining silent, as if waiting for him to continue.

Kira straightened his disheveled clothes and said, "Green plants can absorb carbon dioxide, replenish oxygen in the air through photosynthesis, protect against wind and dust, reduce noise, purify water, and improve the climate..."

"Shut up!!"

"You were the one who asked me..."

Ultear felt her patience had improved a lot lately: How could this person say and do such things so naturally, and even show such a wronged expression?! Are all the Fairy Tail people this shameless?!

How did you find out about me?