Chapter 64: Fairy Tail's Little Group, Levy, Evergreen...

The Black Magic Guild is truly peculiar. They needed magical materials to build the R System because ordinary people can't withstand such an environment for long.

Hence, they could only capture those with magical talent or low-level Mages.

Since the construction of the first one, up till now, the eighth has been destroyed.

No one knows how many magically gifted orphans have been taken across the continent, nor how many small villages were destroyed and children taken.

However, despite capturing so many talented children, they couldn't find any exceptionally gifted ones.

If they had nurtured even a few properly, they would have had strong representatives by now. But these kids either escaped or were kidnapped, becoming a major source of supply.

Of course, it could be that these cultists have limited vision. They can detect magical talent and just use it to find labor, but anything more profound eludes them.

Perhaps this is a drawback of the Guild's operational model. Though they are widespread, they rely solely on reports and do not directly interact with the captured children.

The subordinates say how many talented children have been caught, and that's the number they report. If they can't identify exceptional talent, it means they believe there is none.

Unlike the Legal Guilds, or Dark Guilds with powerful Mages stationed, who can awaken magic.

Including those rescued this time, Makarov can easily guide them in awakening magic and even find suitable tutors.

This is something the Black Magic Guild can't compare to.

Gaal comforted Wally a bit and decided to wait until this period was over. Currently, there is a conflict with the Grimoir Heart, and they don't have the energy to deal with these issues.

All Guild members have been called back.

Makarov, Gaal, and Ur are currently stationed here. Ivan's whereabouts are unknown, and Makarov doesn't mention him, so they are ignoring his presence for the time being.

Gildarts has taken gathered intelligence from the Council to destroy already identified Dark Guilds.

Gaal plans to go soon as the Dark Guilds represent endless wealth.

The Council provided this information due to the situation's gravity. If Fairy Tail doesn't receive support, how would other Guilds perceive the Magic Council?

Grimoir Heart mobilized one-third of the Dark Guilds on the Ishgar Continent against Fairy Tail. If you have these guilds' intel and don't share it, who would trust the Council?

Typically, Guilds attack dark ones based on luck, like encountering a Dark Guild during a Quest and following the clues.

Or accidentally hitting a Dark Guild's base while undertaking a task in remote forests.

This is generally how Dark Guilds are combatted. No Guild has the financial power to establish a complete intelligence system.

Only the Magic Council, funded by innumerable countries and Guilds, and the three Baram Alliance guilds, funded by the entire continent's Dark Guilds, can sustain such a system.

It's unknown how many Dark Guilds the Council has suppressed over the years, nor do many Legal Guilds watch the Council's actions constantly.

The continent is vast, so they can't keep a close watch.

The Council's recent focus has shifted from handling local magical disasters to expecting local forces to resolve issues first, even if demons are involved. Only unresolved issues are handled by the Council, which mainly focuses on suppressing Dark Guilds.

Now, with access to Dark Guild intel, there's no hesitation in seizing the opportunity. The Council wouldn't dare hide information because if Fairy Tail suffered due to withheld intel, their reputation would plummet.

Gaal plans to set out in a few days. The Council provided much intelligence, and there's been an influx of Dark Guild members into the Fiore Kingdom.

Makarov has been frequenting the Council, while Gaal can't leave right now. Leaving only Ur at the Guild isn't reassuring, particularly with so many children around.

And it's not just these rescued children. Laxus, while undertaking a C-Class Quest in a nearby city, also rescued a green-haired boy who became his little fan and joined Fairy Tail.

He now constantly clashes with Gray and Lyon since they always challenge Laxus.

To that little fan, it's unforgivable to have those challenges.

Gaal recognized him as Fried Justine, future leader of the Thunder God Tribe, proficient in Dark Écriture Magic.

Then there's Evergreen, who always loved fairy tales and wanted to follow fairies.

Due to the widely spread conflict between Fairy Tail and Grimoir Heart, Evergreen, after hearing the news from who-knows-where, came alone to join the Guild to find a fairy.

After joining, she discovered that only the name and Fairy Tail were related, so now she feels a bit isolated. Lately, she's been secretly heading to the western forest…

Gaal guessed that she might have mistaken Gengar for a mysterious fairy, which isn't entirely wrong. Fairies and Pokémon do express the same idea.

Then there's Levy, Jet, and Droy, who, feeling inspired by Fairy Tail's bold declaration of war against one-third of the Dark Guilds on the continent, ran over to join. These three grew up playing together and later formed Shadow Gear.

With so many kids, even within the groups, there are several smaller factions.

Laxus and Fried Justine form one, Gray and Lyon make another. Levy, Jet, and Droy are like an academic rivalry with a relaxed demeanor.

Millianna, Wally, Shaw, and Simon, the rescued kids, are in one group who focus on hard work.

Cana can play with anyone; she's Gildarts's little princess, so she's an aloof presence. Erza keeps to herself unless someone initiates conversation; she's the super hardworking type. Evergreen stands out as the lone-wolf, keeping everyone at arm's length.

Just thinking about it gives Gaal a headache, so he decided to leave it all to the old man, Makarov.

This group of seven, eight, and nine-year-olds is giving Makarov the experience of being a grandfather again. As one gets older, one should enjoy family happiness.

With so many kids, full of laughter and chatter around him, what more could old man Makarov want?