A magic merchant infiltrating Fairy Tail

Gildarts noticed Kira's expression and assumed he was worried about his actions, so he laughed heartily: "When facing an enemy like that, you can't be too careful! Besides, apart from the Chairman, I'm probably the only one here who can still hold his own against him!"

His tone showed no unease about facing a powerful enemy; instead, it carried a hint of fighting spirit.

Upon hearing Gildarts's words, Kira understood his meaning and thought to himself: "You obviously want to fight him too! Are all the people in the guild warmongers after all?"

Thinking that having Gildarts accompany the chairman might reduce the old man's injuries, Kira abandoned his intention to dissuade him: "You'd better keep an eye on the old man; his back can't withstand too much strain!"

"Hmph! I'm not at the point where I can't walk!"

Kira ignored the stubborn old man, his expression changing to a villainous, menacing look: "Gildas, you can destroy whatever you want once you're inside. Even if you destroy the entire airship, it doesn't matter! Anyway, when you go to war with Fairy Tail, you have to be prepared to be drowned in the sea!"

“That’s too much…that’s too much…” Gildarts waved his hand speechlessly. “You know, right? Fairy Tail never takes the lives of its enemies, even if they are defeated!”

After saying that, he turned to the others and said, "The leader and I will deal with the other side's boss. As for the others, you can handle them! Is that alright?"

"Of course!"

"Leave it to us!"

Just as the group was finalizing their battle plan and assigning the enemies, Kira's cross necklace suddenly emitted a silvery-white light, followed by a violent surge of magical energy.

The sudden change stunned everyone: "This is..."

“This is a magical artifact used for long-distance communication,” Kira replied, then touched the center of the cross with his hand, channeling magic into it. “It should be news from Jellal.”

As soon as the words were spoken, a mysterious and unpredictable magical power roared out from the cross necklace. Upon its release, it immediately absorbed the surrounding free-floating magical particles, then transformed into a line of crimson text.

Half an hour later, the 'demon' attacked.

"They're coming soon!"

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately stood up, ready to fight, but they were also somewhat at a loss.

Philid asked first, "Sirius Island has a magical barrier, right? How will they attack?"

"According to Gerald's previous information, their guild members will first wrap themselves in magic bubbles and then use the airship to break through the magical barrier of Tenrou Island from the sky!"

Kira explained, then suggested to Makarov, "We still have some time, so how about we conduct the second and third phases of the assessment simultaneously?"

"Huh?! Simultaneously?!"

No one expected that Kira would still be thinking about the S-class assessment at this point!

That was absolutely brilliant!

Kira pulled out a bunch of magical devices the size of fingernails, scattered them lightly, and threw them at the group. The mechanical devices disappeared without a trace the moment they were attached to the group.

Everyone was puzzled: "Disappeared?! What was that?"

"A machine for recording images!"

"Didn't you used to record with a video crystal? When did you switch to this high-tech method?"

Of course, it was taken from Silver's research institute!

Kira didn't bother to explain: "You don't need to worry about that. Just know that it can record your upcoming battle! This is your chance to prove your strength!"

In fact, it also has the function of locating and detecting magical fluctuations, allowing Kira to keep track of the examinees' location and status in real time, but there's no need to say that.

Sure enough, Kira's words stirred the hearts of the group.

During the assessment period, "proving one's strength" is like "you're amazing" in a daily bet; no one can resist its allure, especially members of Fairy Tail.

After discussing with Gildas, Maklov agreed with Kira's opinion and announced: "The third phase is to find the tomb of the first boss, Mavis, within 6 hours!"

The simplest content, the most thrilling adventure!

Natsu, carrying Happy, was the first to rush out: "Whoa!! I'm fired up!!"

Chapter 308 Things That Cannot Be Said

After everyone had left, Gildas looked at Makarov and asked, "Is it really a good idea to make them undergo assessments while simultaneously dealing with enemy attacks?"

Maklov glanced at him: "Didn't you just agree with Kira's proposal? Why are you asking this now?"

"Hahaha... I just got carried away for a moment..." Gildas scratched his head awkwardly. "I agreed earlier because I thought they had become strong enough; now I'm only worried about the children's safety!"

"I know! This is what they call the contradictory psychology of 'parents wanting their children to grow up, but also fearing their children growing up,' right?"

Upon hearing Kira's words, Gildarts suddenly looked at Kira with a "You're still young, don't pretend to know what you don't" gaze: "You're clearly a child yourself, don't talk like you're already a parent! Wait! Or are you really..."

Kira immediately interrupted his frivolous thoughts: "I'm so sorry! Although I can't compare to you, you lecherous old man, I've read a lot of books, so I have no shortage of theory!"

"I think that's fallacy..."

As the two chatted, the atmosphere gradually became like that of a guild, relaxed and comfortable, as if they were not worried about the upcoming enemy attack.

As they talked, the two huddled together and whispered to each other behind Maklov's back.

"Hmm, it doesn't seem to be working..."

"Yes, the old man is still sullen!"

"After all, he was the former guild leader! If he suddenly left Fairy Tail now and came back as the guild's enemy decades later, I would be very disappointed!"

"Before that, there should have been the story of 'he passed the chairmanship to you,' right?"

Unbeknownst to them, Maklov suddenly opened one eye and secretly watched the two whispering lovers.

"Spare me! I have no interest in this kind of thing! Constant adventure is what I'm after in life!"

"That sounds so noble, but he's just an irresponsible man! Isn't it because he's always busy with guild missions that his wife abandoned him?"

"Huh?!!"

Upon hearing this, Gildarts's expression changed drastically. He reached out his right hand and forcefully grabbed Kira's neck from behind. "You bastard!! How do you know about this?!"

Kira struggled free: "I told you, there's very little I don't know about the guild!"

Behind the two men, Maklov quietly approached and listened intently.

Gildas's expression suddenly became still, his face contorted with discomfort, as if he were constipated. After hesitating for a long time, he finally stammered, "Then... do you know... Kana, she..."

"Hmph! I knew you already knew! The way you looked at her completely changed when you came back this time!" Kira said readily. "That's right! She's your daughter!"

"What?!?!"

Just as Gildas was about to speak, a startled exclamation came from close by, startling both of them!

The two turned around and were immediately stunned.

"President?!"

"The old man?!"

At this moment, Makarov looked on with a look of surprise and delight: "What you just said was true? Kana is Gildas's daughter? I've never heard you say anything like that before!"

"Actually, I just found out myself!"

Gildas sighed, a worried look on his face. "After meeting her once in Zonia, I felt that she resembled my former lover."

Kira retorted, "Ah...should we add 'one of' kind of lovers?"

Maklov patted Kira on the shoulder: "Kira, don't interrupt!"

Gildas lowered his head and continued to recount his recent experience: "At the time, I just felt a surge of irritation, so after completing the mission, I went to the city where she lived."

"Hmph... He doesn't care about his former lover at all. She's been dead for so long and he hasn't even bothered to visit her grave. What a heartless man! How can he say he loves her like that?"

Boom!

Maklov punched Kira on the head: "I told you not to interrupt!"

Fortunately, Gildarts showed no displeasure at Kira's sarcasm, simply explaining, "Back then, because I was always busy with work, she had a lot of complaints about me, and eventually even broke up with me and left on her own."

"After learning of her passing, I felt even more guilty and naturally couldn't face her! I suppose she wouldn't want to see such an irresponsible person as me!"

Gildas recounted his past to the old man and the young man before him, his eyes filled with endless melancholy.

"But when I found her there recently, I learned from someone who knew her that she had a six-year-old daughter named Kana."

"Ooooooo!!!"

Maklov's eyes gleamed with excitement. He picked up the teacup beside him, took a sip of hot tea, and looked thoroughly pleased.

Kira was speechless at this scene: Everyone else listens to stories while drinking, but you're listening to stories while drinking tea!

"It wasn't until then that I found out Kana was my daughter!"

Maklov asked, "Then why didn't you acknowledge her after you came back?"

"Originally, I planned to reunite with her after I came back, but after calming down..."

Kira: What are you waiting for?!

Gildas covered his face with his hands in shame: "My daughter has been by my side for 12 years, but as her father, I had no idea! How can I face her now and say, 'I know you are my daughter, and from now on, let me take good care of you'?!"

He became increasingly agitated as he spoke, cold sweat pouring down his forehead: "For so many years, I haven't recognized her! Kana must think I'm an incompetent husband and father, which is why she doesn't intend to acknowledge me! She must feel sorry for my deceased mother and therefore harbor resentment towards me!"

"I wanted to tell her my identity several times, but every time I saw her face and thought about how much I owed her over the years, I lost the courage to acknowledge her!"

As he finished speaking, he burst into tears in front of Makarov and Kira: "Do I really... still deserve to be her father?"

Despite being the strongest member of Fairy Tail, a powerful mage, and a middle-aged man in his forties, Gildarts was crying helplessly, like a child who had broken a glass and was afraid to face his parents' scolding.

What should have been a poignant scene was actually quite moving, but Kira just wanted to unleash a torrent of sarcastic remarks.

This father and daughter... seriously! Are they Virgos?

The daughter felt she was not good enough and unworthy of her father's reputation, so she dared not acknowledge him; the father felt he owed his daughter something and dared not face her reproaches, so he dared not acknowledge her either.

If this continues, when will you ever be able to recognize each other?!

“But… this can’t just drag on like this!” Makarov said, arms crossed. “You’ll eventually have to acknowledge Kana, won’t you?”

Kira nodded repeatedly, echoing, "Exactly!! We're all going to die sooner or later anyway, so a short, sharp pain is worse than a long, drawn-out one... Waaah..."

"Be brave enough to face your mistakes and take responsibility for them. That's what a father should do!" Makarov covered Kira's mouth and looked at Gildas seriously. "Make up for the harm you've done to the child so far by showing her love and care from now on!"

"Will...Kana forgive me?"

Makarov grinned: "Don't worry! She's a Fairy Tail child too, she'll definitely give you the chance!"

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