The King's Council Chamber.
King Faust was an elderly man with a gloomy demeanor. Decades of wielding absolute power had honed him into a figure who commanded respect without even trying. Even when seated quietly, his presence alone was enough to make everyone around him feel immense pressure.
In attendance were:
- The Chief of Staff—Byro.
- Captain of the First Magic Combat Squad—Panther Lily.
- Second Squad Captain—Erza Knightwalker.
- Third Squad Captain—Hughes.
- Fourth Squad Captain—Sugarboy.
A lively young girl with brown hair and a green hat darted around the room.
Byro, a short old man who looked half-dead already, was bald but had distinctive eyebrows and a beard shaped like four white triangles.
Byro spoke, "It's truly remarkable. Everyone from Earthland has magic within them."
"Hmm," Sugarboy chimed in, "It's almost as if they're all Exceeds."
"But ordinary people's magic isn't as potent as that of the Exceeds, while powerful mages surpass them. It seems they can train to increase their magical power," Byro explained.
'Slurp slurp—'
The sound of someone noisily eating noodles interrupted the otherwise serious atmosphere.
At the far end of the council table, a young man was shamelessly eating ramen in this formal setting!
He even added three boiled eggs!
And yet, no one seemed to find it odd or even glanced his way.
Of course not—they couldn't perceive him at all.
Their main enemy was sitting right at the same table, casually slurping noodles while listening to their top-secret meeting.
Such was the power of Deception Magic—it made infiltration laughably easy.
After the meeting concluded, everyone dispersed.
Jehfrit finished his meal, cleaned up, and prepared to sleep. When he slept, his magic wouldn't activate, so he had to be cautious.
Following Mystogan's advice, he sought refuge with one of his late father's former concubines—a woman named Maria. She was older now and out of favor, living quietly in a small courtyard.
Jehfrit slipped into the courtyard unnoticed. Maria was reading a book when she heard a knock on the door.
"Who's there?!" Maria exclaimed, startled.
"Lady Maria, I'm a friend of Mystogan's. My name is Jehfrit."
"Jehfrit? The famous Jehfrit?" Maria's voice trembled with urgency. "What are you doing here in the palace? Goodness, if anyone finds out… I don't matter, but you're so young…"
"Wait, Lady Maria, may I come in to explain?" Jehfrit interjected.
Maria hesitated. As a single woman living alone, inviting a strange man inside wasn't proper etiquette—but something about Jehfrit felt trustworthy.
"Very well," she said, grabbing scissors for precaution before opening the door. "Come in."
Once inside, Jehfrit handed her a letter from Mystogan explaining his return to Edolas and requesting Maria's assistance. After reading it, Maria was overwhelmed by the gravity of the situation.
Having spent her youth secluded in the palace, her understanding of the outside world was limited.
"Is Mystogan involved in something dangerous?" Maria asked worriedly.
"It's important work, but not dangerous," Jehfrit reassured her. "He's strong, and we're helping him."
"I see… I don't fully understand these matters," Maria admitted. "What do you need my help with, Mr. Jehfrit?"
"I'd like to stay here temporarily. Everywhere else is too risky," Jehfrit replied.
Maria thought for a moment, then nodded. "If it helps your cause, I'll do what I can."
"Thank you, Lady Maria. Here are some snacks I bought earlier; please enjoy them." Jehfrit presented an assortment of treats.
"You're such a kind boy," Maria said, taking a pastry. "Tell me about Mystogan. How has he been?"
Jehfrit didn't hold back, sharing humorous stories about life in the guild. Maria laughed heartily, feeling happier than she had in years.
After resting in Maria's quarters overnight, Jehfrit discreetly cast a spell on her. Should she ever attempt to reveal anything, she'd immediately faint.
The next day, Jehfrit strolled into the King's office and leisurely perused a series of documents.
"So ambitious…" Jehfrit muttered, stroking his chin.
"Let's play along."
---
Back at the inn.
"That guy Jehfrit still hasn't contacted us," Natsu grumbled impatiently.
"Patience, Natsu. Trust Jehfrit," Lucy advised.
"Speaking of which, Gajeel hasn't returned from the karaoke bar yet," Wendy noted.
"They haven't kicked him out yet?" Lucy shook her head. "People here have incredible tolerance."
"Or maybe they're just too scared to fight back," Wendy suggested.
Shortly after settling into the inn, Ikuto reunited with Gajeel, learning they needed to wait for Jehfrit's instructions. The two Gajeels decided to pass the time singing at a karaoke lounge instead.
Meanwhile, Laxus lounged on a couch napping, while Lisanna sat on a stool nearby, holding a paintbrush and inching closer cautiously.
Emily concentrated hard, pressing her index fingers against her temples to maximize her magic output.
Just as the brush tip neared its target, Laxus snapped awake, grabbing Lisanna's wrist.
"Hehe," Lisanna giggled mischievously.
"Thwack." Laxus flicked Emily's forehead.
"When will we finally get moving?!" Natsu paced anxiously, glaring at the massive Magic Crystal towering over the square. Knowing their guildmates awaited rescue inside only fueled his frustration.
"After I finish lunch," came Jehfrit's calm reply.
Everyone turned toward the voice.
"Master!" Emily's face lit up as she rushed over.
Jehfrit sat at the table, casually eating takeout.
"When did you get here?!" Natsu growled.
"Just now. Relax, I've got two bites left," Jehfrit answered nonchalantly.
As Emily leapt into his arms, he lifted her briefly and remarked, "You've gained weight."
"No way! Master, stop saying things like that—it's rude!" Emily pouted indignantly.
"It's the truth," Jehfrit shrugged.
"Girls start growing during this age," Lucy offered diplomatically.
"Is that so?" Jehfrit glanced at Wendy.
"Mr. Jehfrit!" Wendy reacted sharply, feeling insulted until she remembered that Edolas' Wendy was tall, curvy, and stunningly beautiful. Relieved, she concluded she was simply a late bloomer.
Finishing his meal, Jehfrit announced, "First, let's discuss the king's plan."
"He already knows Dragon Slayers can't be turned into Magic Crystals. So your identities are compromised, and he's set a trap waiting for you to fall into."
"Second, he plans to convert all Exceeds into Magic Crystals and eradicate them entirely, leaving himself as the sole ruler."
"What?!" The group gasped, especially Happy and Carla.
"This is a copy of the document." Jehfrit tossed a file, which Happy and Carla eagerly snatched.
"How could this happen…"
They'd barely arrived in this world, and their entire race was already facing extinction?
"Don't panic," Jehfrit assured them. "I have a plan to resolve this."
Everyone leaned in attentively.
"Three steps."
Jehfrit raised a finger.
"First, Natsu, you and the others will pretend to get captured. Happy and Carla will inevitably be used as bait and handed over to the Queen of the Exceeds. At that point, I'll give you the original document. Convince them of the truth."
"Second, Gajeel will destroy the Magic Crystal in the square using Dragon Slayer magic to draw attention. Once he does, Natsu and Wendy will free everyone trapped inside."
"Third, expose the king's ambitions to pave the way for Mystogan's ascension. The king has a trump card—a Dragon Knight with formidable strength. Be careful not to get one-shot. However, with contracted beasts, you won't need to worry too much."
"Finally, it'll come down to a decisive battle. Gather as many allies as possible."
The group mulled over the plan.
"We execute tonight," Jehfrit declared.
"Jehfrit," Laxus interjected. "Why not assassinate the king directly?"
Jehfrit's magic was unparalleled in this world, where everyone relied on magical items. A direct strike would be effortless.
"Assassination is the worst option," Jehfrit countered. "We can't leave behind chaos for Mystogan to clean up. If the king dies mysteriously and the Magic Crystals vanish, the public will erupt in anger. And Mystogan, a prince who disappeared seven years ago, won't easily gain their trust."
His reasoning resonated with the group.
"Any objections?" Jehfrit scanned the room.
"No," everyone shook their heads.
At this moment, Emily timidly raised her hand. With a cute little hop, she asked, "Can I join the first phase of the operation?"
"No, only Natsu and the others."
"Aww…"
"That's final!" Jehfrit's tone brooked no argument.
"By the way, it's a shame Edolas' Jehfrit left recently. You could've met him. He went to rally reinforcements," Lucy mentioned.
"There'll be another chance," Jehfrit said, looking toward the white-haired girl sitting quietly on a stool.
Slowly, the girl stood up.
"Big Brother Jehfrit!"
Lisanna ran into his arms.
This was the Jehfrit she knew.
"Hmm, you've gained weight," Jehfrit teased after lifting her slightly.
"You always say that to girls!" Lisanna pinched his cheeks and stretched them apart.
"Hahaha," Jehfrit chuckled, ruffling her hair. "Welcome back."
"I'm home… waaahh!" Lisanna suddenly burst into tears, burying her face in his chest.
Jehfrit glanced at Laxus, who avoided eye contact.
Their rift had been repaired.
Before Lisanna's return, both Jehfrit and Laxus harbored resentment toward each other due to their shared guilt over her disappearance. Neither blamed the other outright, but the unspoken tension weighed heavily on them.
Over time, their personalities subtly shifted. Jehfrit became more cautious with the team, allowing them to face hardships to grow stronger. He understood he couldn't shield everyone indefinitely—against threats like Acnologia, he was powerless for now.
Thus, seeing Natsu beaten bloody didn't faze him—he'd laugh it off. But should anyone threaten Natsu's life, he'd intervene faster than anyone.
As for Laxus, he grew increasingly obsessed with gaining strength, losing sight of his original goals along the way. Thankfully, recent events knocked some sense back into him.
With Lisanna's return, the cracks in their hearts healed. There was no longer any animosity between them, though their dynamic remained unchanged.
After crying for a while, Lisanna gradually calmed down.
"I'm heading back to the palace. Proceed with the plan," Jehfrit instructed.
---
Later that night, news arrived.
Two Dragon Slayers and a woman had been captured.
Upon regaining consciousness, the king ordered Happy and Carla sent to Extalia—the Exceed homeland.
Jehfrit swapped the fake document for the real one and delivered it to Happy under everyone's noses.
Then, he turned toward the dungeon where Natsu and Wendy were imprisoned.
Byro planned to run experiments on them, but Jehfrit knocked him unconscious and freed the pair.
"The Magic Crystal is airborne, heavily guarded. Wait for my signal before making a move."
"Got it," Natsu nodded.
"What should we do now?" Wendy asked.
"Go rest at Aunt Maria's place and prepare for battle."
"And you, Jehfrit?" Natsu questioned.
"I'll stay here, working with Lucy to keep the king occupied."
"Understood."
Jehfrit escorted Natsu and Wendy to Maria's residence. She welcomed them warmly, especially Wendy, whom she adored. Having no children of her own, she felt a special connection knowing Mystogan treated Wendy like a younger sister.