West Street, Grand Hotel.
In the largest and best room, over a dozen Wizards were gathered in one place, counting the money and supplies sent by the local residents over and over again.
If any of the victims attacked yesterday were here, they would discover that the room contained not only the so-called 'Wizards of Fairy Tail,' but also the evil Wizards who had attacked them.
"Damn, this Fairy Tail name is really useful!"
"Just by putting on a little act, those people act like idiots. They don't even investigate, they just hand over money and supplies!"
"When we go to other towns later, we should do the exact same thing!"
"Hahaha, I agree! But in the next town, we should swap roles, right? Why do we always have to be the bad guys while you guys get to be the 'heroes'?!"
"Tch, fine, fine."
This group of Wizards hiding in the hotel were precisely the remnants of the Dark Alliance that had been crushed by the Council previously.
To evade the Council's pursuit, they had traveled thousands of miles to the Kingdom of Fiore. Besides the fact that this was a permanently neutral country and relatively safe, it was also because this place was considered a 'remote area' within the entirety of Ishgar and was near the sea, making it easier for them to flee to the Western or Northern Continents.
"Um... is it really okay for us to do this? If we get caught..."
"We won't be caught! I've already investigated. This place is very far from the guild where Fairy Tail is located; it's impossible for anyone to find out! Even if the locals eventually realize something is wrong, we'll be long gone by then!"
"Relax. After we do this four or five more times, we'll stop for a while and find a place to hide. Once the heat dies down, we'll consider rebuilding the guild!"
"Sigh... I guess that's the only way..."
Just then.
BOOM—!!
A massive explosion suddenly rang out, and every Wizard in the room shuddered in unison from the shock.
Everyone nervously looked toward the direction of the commotion, and what met their eyes was a great gale of wind carrying thick smoke and dust.
The wind and smoke poured into the room, instantly choking the Wizards so much they couldn't speak.
"Cough cough... cough cough..."
"What happened?!"
"Who is it?!"
Amidst the confusion, a strange and cold voice rang out through the dust.
"Is it you lot?"
"The bastards impersonating Fairy Tail?!"
It's over!
We've been found!
In an instant, the hearts of these outlaws sank simultaneously.
"Run!!"
Without any hesitation, their first instinct was to flee.
Although it wasn't yet clear how many enemies had tracked them down, what was certain was that their identities had been exposed.
Thinking about it further, if they didn't have absolute certainty, how could a normal person arrogantly charge into a 'nest' where over a dozen Wizards were gathered??
The opponent must have already set up an ambush outside.
Therefore, what they feared was not Weston who had suddenly smashed through the door, but the Council troops who might already be standing guard outside.
"Go through the window!!"
With someone blocking the main door, the window was always the best way out.
"What?!"
"But... but this is the fifth floor!!"
"Useless! You're a Wizard, are you actually afraid of falling to your death?!"
One Wizard roughly pushed aside the person next to him, opened the window with a 'clang,' and took a quick sweep of the street outside.
"There's no ambush on the street!"
No ambush meant a way out!
The Wizards were simultaneously invigorated and rushed toward the window, unable to wait.
There were also some who didn't bother fighting with the others; instead, they took advantage of the chaos to turn back toward the money and supplies piled on the floor, frantically stuffing them into their pockets.
After the person in the lead finished his shout, he didn't care about the accomplices behind him and leaped straight out.
Just as the way out was right before his eyes...
Suddenly!
A beam of purple light shot out from the smoke at the doorway, streaking across the room at lightning speed, passing through the crowd of Wizards to arrive outside the window.
Time seemed to be stretched infinitely thin at this moment.
Within the bullet time, the purple light revealed its true form—it was a sentence composed of countless strange runes!
DING—!!
The purple light erupted in the air outside the window, and a massive magic circle suddenly unfurled. Magic power enveloped the entire room in the blink of an eye.
Immediately after, time returned to normal.
The Wizard jumping out the window hit an invisible wall with a 'thud.'
[Anyone leaving the room without permission will be punished with a thousand-volt electric current]
BOOM—!!
Electricity flared up, and the violent energy instantly blasted back all the Wizards gathered by the window.
The room was immediately filled with wails of pain.
"What's going on?! What happened?!"
"It's Jutsu Shiki Magic!!"
"Was it that flash of light just now... No, Jutsu Shiki Magic shouldn't be able to be set up that fast. The enemy must have been lying in ambush outside for a long time!"
"Is our retreat completely blocked?"
"Damn it! Now that it's come to this, the only choice is to go all out!"
"Everyone, prepare for battle!!"
The Wizards in the room gritted their teeth and looked nervously at the main door.
Ten seconds had passed since the door was broken. Although the dust there hadn't completely cleared, a figure standing there could be faintly seen.
"Only one person?!"
Shock, confusion, disbelief!
At that moment, dozens more bursts of magical energy shot out from the dust!
Shoo shoo shoo—
The sound of breaking wind was sharp and brief, like blades constantly scraping the nerves inside their ears.
"What..."
"Run... no, it's too late!!"
"Nngh aaahhhh—!!!"
Splat splat...
Pop pop pop pop...
Rumble...
The bursts of magic were like a violent storm, whipping up a cold and heartless destructive disaster in the room, knocking the villains over. Some unfortunate souls were blasted into the magical barrier, suffering secondary damage from the electric current.
"Hahhhh... I'll take you down with me!!"
Seeing his partners fall one by one, the leader steeled his heart, let out a loud roar, and charged toward the figure in the dust.
But in the next second, his charging form collided with a short, powerful palm strike delivered from the top of his head.
BOOM—!
The leader of the villains was instantly slammed into the ground.
The floor cracked in response, collapsing into a large hole as a mass of stones fell through.
The pit sucked away all the remaining dust in the room, revealing Weston's figure.
His gaze swept across the room, and after confirming that not a single person had escaped, he nodded with satisfaction.
"With this level of strength, you dared to impersonate Fairy Tail Wizards?"
"You really are tired of living!"
From the moment Weston broke down the door and charged in until the last person fell, less than a minute had passed.
The battle could be said to have ended quite quickly.
Only now did his companions rush in.
"Master, this..."
Weston waved his hand and ordered: "Tie all these people up first, then contact the Council to come pick them up and also to compensate the hotel for the damages!"
"Ah... Yes!!"