Clap, clap, clap… Countless hands applauded along both sides of the path.
In the lonely depths of the jungle, so much sudden clapping was downright terrifying.
Yuri, Precht, and Warrod tensed in an instant, every sense on high alert, breaths held and hearts in their throats.
The playful, teasing air of a second earlier vanished without a trace.
"Who's there?!"
"Watch out!"
"Damn it, did we disturb the spirits guarding the Tenrou Jade?"
But the next moment—
Brightly colored fireworks blossomed out of the darkness.
Whistle—
Pop, pop, pop…!!
The fireworks shot skyward, lighting the road ahead clear as day.
The trio stared, and froze.
Because the figures before them weren't guardian spirits at all; they were Tenrou villagers who'd been dead-drunk in the tavern only hours earlier!
Men, women, kids, the Village Head... and Weston!
"Why… why are you all here?"
Cold sweat broke out on the three thieves' foreheads as their guilty hearts pounded.
The worst had happened—
Caught red-handed before the theft, and the loot still untouched.
They'd heard the Tenrou Jade was the island's sacred heirloom; "attempted larceny of the Tenrou Jade" had to be a grave crime here… right?
Would Weston ever let them join Fairy Tail after this?
Could "just out for a walk" really work as an excuse?
No, no… if the villagers had trekked all this way, they must've known the plan from the start; any excuse was useless now.
Ugh… headache.
Weston stepped from the crowd and turned to face the villagers.
Mostly, he looked at Mavis and Zera in front, wearing an "I told you so, aren't I brilliant?" grin.
"See? I was right, wasn't I?"
"They're terrific people, perfect future comrades!"
"With them aboard, Fairy Tail will flourish even after we move to the mainland!"
Mavis beamed, nodding so hard her whole body swayed; her joy was obvious.
Zera tossed her head with a proud "Hmph, so you guessed right, big deal."
The other villagers were used to their trio's antics; they merely murmured praise—"Amazing," "Classic Weston," and the like.
Only when Weston reached the three did Yuri give a wry smile.
"Looks like we were busted from the start…"
"But when exactly did you notice something was off?"
"From minute one!"
Weston clapped Yuri's shoulder. "The moment we met I knew you weren't shipwrecked merchants. No storm had hit Tenrou waters lately."
"And real sea-traders don't dress like you, move like you, or skip checking local markets and cargo."
"Honestly, if you'd claimed 'adventurers' or 'travelers,' I might not have batted an eye."
That, of course, was a lie.
Weston knew the original tale and their identity as Treasure Hunters. Any disguise would have failed.
Yuri replayed their recent actions and saw the glaring holes Weston mentioned.
"But even if you suspected us, how did you tip off the whole village? I never saw you speak to anyone."
So many people had shown up; they all had to know the trio was shady.
Yet the three had barely interacted with the locals, so the news must have come from Weston, but when and how?
"Magic, of course. It's called Telepathy!"
"It lets me speak straight into someone's head, like this…"
Weston tapped his temple and projected into their minds: 'Like this! Like this! I can talk to you directly!'
Instant understanding dawned on the trio: "So that's how; amazing what magic can do."
"So… what are you going to do with us?"
Now that they knew how they'd been exposed, the next question was their punishment.
Yuri's group steeled themselves.
If Weston drove them off Tenrou Island this instant, they would accept it without complaint.
Just a shame they'd never be guildmates… "Punishment?"
"What punishment?"
Weston blinked innocently. "Didn't you already agree to join Fairy Tail?"
"Eh?!"
"Since you're guildmates, of course you're free to stroll around the island Shrine."
"B-but we weren't sightseeing, we came to… to take the Tenrou Jade!"
Heaven knew how much courage Yuri needed to admit it.
"You mean the Tenrou Jade?"
"It isn't even here."
"What?!" ×3
That stunned not just Yuri but Precht and Warrod behind him; they looked utterly gobsmacked.
"Impossible!"
"Absolutely impossible!"
"I grilled the village kids and found the shrine; I saw the Tenrou-glyph wall and the sparkling orb set into it…"
Weston's lips twitched as he fought laughter. "Oh, that thing?"
"Those are just Stone Beads I polished; smooth surfaces catch light. You must've stayed too far to notice."
"Stone… beads?!"
An absurd sensation swept over the trio.
"So the Shrine isn't where the Tenrou Jade is kept?"
Weston shook his head. "Up until seven years ago, yes, the Jade was enshrined there."
"Then where is it now? Wait, seven years?!"
Mid-sentence Yuri's voice cut off.
Realization struck.
"Exactly what you're thinking."
"Seven years ago Blue Skull invaded Tenrou Island and stole the Tenrou Jade; we've never taken it back."
"If I'm right, the Jade is currently… enshrined in Blue Skull's headquarters."