"..."
Jehfrit remained silent, but his lips curved slightly.
He began to seriously consider Emily's request.
He didn't agree immediately because this matter required careful thought!
Emily's magic was special and similar to his, though not entirely the same.
She indeed had the foundational qualifications, but that was all.
The key point lay in Emily's aptitude for research, which was still unknown.
As the saying goes, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink."
If Emily learned Deception Magic, influenced by various factors—such as different mindsets, purposes of study, directions of magic development, and most importantly, the pursuit of truth—her Deception Magic would likely not manifest the same way as Jehfrit's, and might even be vastly different.
It was like how Ul's ice, passed down to Gray and Lyon, turned out differently.
Jehfrit's adoptive father's Deception Magic involved verbal guidance with slight visual influence—slight enough to cause a momentary lapse.
Thus, his adoptive father's magic performances differed from Jehfrit's. His were genuine skills where magic added extra flair—allowing him to perform tricks even skilled magicians with tools couldn't.
Jehfrit's grandfather's Deception Magic stemmed from his love for fine cuisine, allowing him to deceive taste buds. He could make simple meals taste delicious; his adoptive father grew up eating plain bread as if it were a delicacy—though his grandfather never pretended to be a chef to deceive others; he was a man of high moral standards.
The same applied to Emily.
Jehfrit couldn't guarantee that Emily's grasp of Deception Magic would match his. If there were significant differences, she would have to rely on herself to improve her magic and make this magic hers.
Deception Magic was difficult.
Though Jehfrit admired Emily's magical attributes, inadequate mental capacity truly hindered progress—it was hard to grow stronger and extremely easy to waste time achieving nothing.
Returning to reality,
Jehfrit said, "I will think about it carefully."
"Mm-hmm!" Emily happily nodded.
The path ahead was clear, without obstacles.
Laxus received Jehfrit's message and moved the battlefield away from the entrance.
Jehfrit "observed" that Laxus was winning.
A battle between a lightning mage and a Lightning Dragon Slayer—what suspense could there be?
Meanwhile, the courtyard battle had just ended.
"Jehfrit." Seeing Jehfrit carrying Emily and leading a large group out, Erza and others were somewhat dumbfounded.
Jehfrit said, "The situation is complicated; I'll explain later. For now, here's a brief summary—"
"All below are bad guys, fight them."
"Understood!" Natsu clenched his fists and slammed them together.
"Lucy, Juvia, take Emily and the others to meet Ikuto and wait for further instructions," Jehfrit said.
"Alright." Lucy and Juvia nodded.
"This is the communication crystal linked to Rade; its magic is almost depleted, so just send a quick safety message." Jehfrit took out a card, transforming it back into a communication crystal.
"Mm-hmm." Lucy took Emily, and Juvia took the communication crystal.
"Lucy, your strength has increased again." Happy watched Lucy easily lift Emily and laughed.
"Shut up!" Lucy lamented.
Her strength really was growing, and she could clearly feel it.
Would she really turn into a muscular woman?
"Brother Jehfrit, do your best!" Emily cheered, making a fist.
"Alright." Jehfrit bumped fists with her, then looked at Erza, Gray, and Natsu, saying, "Let's go."
"Okay."
Everyone stood ready.
'Snap'
At the perfect moment, the sound of a camera taking a picture suddenly rang out.
Everyone looked at Jehfrit.
"Sorry." Jehfrit suddenly pulled a camera from thin air, smiling as he said, "I believe this moment calls for a cool picture."
"..."
The photo printed out.
In the image—
The sky was bright, and the battlefield was broken and chaotic.
Erza looked resolute, stepping forward firmly with her left foot.
To her left was Gray, scratching the back of his head with a confident smile.
To her right was Natsu, fists ablaze with fire.
Behind them, half of Jehfrit's body was obscured by Erza, but his upper shoulders were visible—glasses lightly pushed up, a gentle smile playing on his lips.
This photo shared one commonality—their gazes were firm.
"..." Erza was silent, but her eyes revealed admiration and appreciation.
"So cool!" Natsu exclaimed.
"Not bad." Gray smiled.
"Mr. Jehfrit, please be sure to copy and sell one to Juvia!" Juvia shouted.
"Erza looks so cool!" Lucy said.
"Brother Jehfrit looks so cool!" Emily said.
"Jehfrit, you didn't capture me!" Only Happy expressed dissatisfaction.
"Alright, let's go." Jehfrit put the photo away.
Outside Aharnita Town.
A group of people dressed oddly, walking in strange ways, and looking creatively bizarre arrived outside the barrier.
"Why is there a barrier here?" someone asked.
"Isn't this better?" another replied.
"Don't break the barrier; that deception guy is world-class at escaping." someone cautioned.
"Honor Knight, can you open the barrier and let us in?" someone inquired.
"Of course."
"Choo choo choo"
The train was forced to stop, braking hard—its driver had spotted the enormous barrier from afar. As an experienced employee, he immediately hit the brakes to avoid the train colliding with the barrier and causing tragedy.
The sudden braking caused passengers to lose control of their bodies, tumbling around.
Some were injured.
The attendants quickly comforted and explained, preventing a commotion.
In the middle carriage, in the middle row, sat two eye-catching beauties.
The white-haired beauty appeared gentle.
But the other, who resembled a legendary elf near the aisle, seemed unapproachable.
The train stopped.
Some passengers got off for various reasons, leaving the train emptier.
A handsome, confident blond man approached this row of seats.
He extended his hand, revealing an exquisite, obviously expensive watch on his wrist. He took a few bills from his bag and handed them to two women with children across the aisle, saying, "Beautiful ladies, may we switch seats?"
"Certainly, sir." The two women gladly accepted the money and stood up—they understood the man's intentions, but what did it matter to them?
The man sat opposite the two beauties and said, "Beautiful ladies, hello, my name is Jason, a merchant."
Mira turned to Tifania, who showed no intention of speaking, so Mira smiled and said, "We apologize, but we don't wish to be approached. Please don't disturb us."
"Why not?" Jason said, "Approaching isn't strange; it's just a way to make new friends. I genuinely want to meet you both. Of course, I admit I have other intentions because you two are so beautiful..."
'Boom'
Teefnia slammed her fist on the table in front of her, glaring at Jason and coldly stating, "I don't have a good impression of you humans. Don't look for trouble."
Jason confidently smiled, "Looks like a tough lady. But, 'you humans'? Is this lady not human? Ah, with those long pointed ears and flawless face, are you an elf?"
"Then..."
Jason wiped his hands with a handkerchief and extended a hand as if to shake, "I'm honored to meet an elf like you..."
'Boom'
Teefnia struck, punching the verbose stranger flying. Jason crashed through several rows of seats, finally collapsing in the wreckage, spitting blood and passing out.
The carriage fell silent; everyone stared in shock.
Mira smiled and stood up.
"Miss Mira?" Teefnia looked at her questioningly.
"That massive barrier means something must have happened inside Aharnita Town. Let's go check. If there's anything we can help with, we'll do our part," Mira said.
"Alright." Teefnia stood up.
Underground in the Aharnita family estate.
"Huff huff huff—"
Wilshito panted, looking at Laxus opposite him, confusion and terror etched on his face.
What kind of monster was this?
Haa?
Directly absorbing his lightning?!
"Disgusting." Laxus grimaced, as if he'd been forcibly fed a strange-tasting candy by Lisanna earlier that day—playing games, losing repeatedly to Jehfrit, and being stuffed with strange candies over and over by Lisanna, ruining his appetite. Then Laxus had even been knocked down by stomach pain.
"But..."
"It fills the stomach."
Laxus casually flung a bolt of thunder; Wilshito hastily dodged, sweating profusely—what kind of monster was this, getting stronger with every strike!
"Lightning Dragon's Iron Fist!"
Laxus charged, throwing a punch.
'Boom'
The underground passage nearly collapsed under his blow.
"He runs fast." Laxus looked at the blood on the ground.
The guy was decisive, enduring his injuries and turning to flee after being blown away by Laxus.
Laxus naturally wouldn't let him escape—a dark guild master with considerable strength, letting him go would surely lead to future trouble.
So Laxus quickly pursued.
Laboratory.
Franck and his subordinates looked confident, pointing to several living subjects on the lab tables, excitedly telling John, "Mr. John, our experiment is successful!"
"Hoo—"
The subjects on the beds sighed in relief.
One of them was John's second daughter-in-law, and the other one was an elder of the family. After injecting the Elixir of Immortality, she regained her youthful appearance!
She was full of joy, feeling the vitality in her body—she was one of the fortunate few successes!
Unfortunately, her husband and children hadn't made it.
But as long as she lived...
'Pfft'
Suddenly, blood vines pierced the lab table and the woman from below.
"Why..." the woman looked at John in disbelief.
John coldly used the blood vines to kill all of them.
Franck and his subordinates exchanged glances, secretly relieved.
Franck said, "Mr. John, we'll inject you with the Elixir of Immortality."
"Good." John nodded.
He controlled the blood vines, supporting his disabled body, and lay down on the lab table.
Franck and his subordinates gathered around, smiling, "It will be over soon, Mr. John. When you wake up, you'll have regained your youth."
"How wonderful..." John gazed at the bright light above, seeing hope.
His old, worn-out body was on the brink of collapse.
Fortunately, at the last moment, he succeeded.
Next...
The bright light gradually transformed into a sun in John's eyes—a new sun.
"It's about to begin, Mr. John." Franck said.
"Thank you, Franck." John said, "I'll give you a gift."
"No need, Mr. John." Franck's smile stiffened.
"I've already given it to you." John said.
'Pfft'
The tip of the blood vine extended a long needle, piercing into Franck and his subordinates.
John said, "An incurable blood poison that will activate in an hour unless I extract it."
"Franck." John looked at Franck calmly, saying, "I have money, I don't want to die. You're young, you don't want to die either."
"I hope I wake up alive."
"Then I'll give you a gift called 'life.'"
"Yes..." Franck trembled as he injected John with the Elixir of Immortality.
"Cough cough."
Edward walked through the streets.
The streets were chaotic.
News of the great battle at the mayor's mansion spread throughout the town.
Soldiers were leaderless, acting like headless chickens—too afraid to approach the battle among mages and unsure of what to do.
The Aharnita family controlled nearly all power in the town, occupying any position that offered benefits, resulting in no one able to take charge during this chaos—old hands sought to stay safe, hiding in their offices, while passionate youths lacked experience and means, struggling to maintain order with little effect.
Thus, chaos ensued. Criminals sought to take advantage of the confusion for their gain—some dark mages, previously too timid to cause trouble, now acted without restraint.
Edward looked up and saw a crying little girl—her family shop had just been robbed, her parents beaten.
"I must do something."
"Laxus is fighting."
"He's right; we can't sit idly by."
"I have my own battles, my own reasons not to fail."