"So when Laxus was young, his health was very poor, even I was helpless. At that time, someone approached us and said the Magic Development Bureau might have a solution.
"But Laxus's condition wasn't severe enough to be sent away immediately. I wanted to ask Porlyusica for help and investigate a bit.
"However, my foolish son at that time... I guess was in his rebellious phase, wanted to prove he was stronger than me, so he secretly transplanted a Dragon-Slaying Magic Crystal into Laxus."
Afterwards, there was a series of things my son used as excuses, saying he was getting older and should hand over the guild's secrets to him. Makarov didn't want to elaborate.
He skipped this part and continued, "But during that time, I also discovered some clues. It seems the Magic Development Bureau was conducting some illegal experiments.
"They would take in children with special constitutions and then deceive their parents by saying the children had died of strange illnesses. Then they claimed, to prevent infection or excessive grief, they wouldn't let them see the bodies..."
Upon hearing this, Ultear couldn't help but understand Makarov's meaning.
She feared her mother might have sent her for treatment, and both mother and daughter were deceived, never to see each other again.
And her powerful magic power might not have originated from the experiments but was innate, inherited from her mother...
If... that day she hadn't hidden but had run out shouting 'Mom', then now...
Ultear collapsed softly to the ground, covering her face with her hands, unable to stop crying.
-----------------
"It's such a pity."
All the way until leaving the camp with Rhoda, Mira was still sighing.
The situation with Ultear and her mother is truly heartbreaking.
"That Magic Development Bureau... getting rid of Wu that easily was really letting him off cheap."
Indeed, the president of Oracion Seis, also called Wu who is the mastermind, was the head of the Magic Development Bureau.
Makarov mentioned that later the Magic Development Bureau was destroyed by some unknown person, and the Council intervened in the investigation, but only found some inhumane experiment records without records of where the 'subjects' originated from.
In any case, this institution was completely abolished, but the head's whereabouts remained unknown, and afterward, he managed Oracion Seis under the identity of the mastermind.
Until Oracion Seis was dealt with a few months ago, the culprit of the Magic Development Bureau was eventually dealt with by the Purgatory Sub-Dragon released by Rhoda.
But just as Mira said, it was too cheap for him.
Rhoda said, "I wonder what will happen to her in the future."
"I feel deep down Ultear must be very kind, but..." Mira didn't know how to put it because she indeed did many things that couldn't be forgiven.
But tracing it back, she was deceived and is both a perpetrator and a victim.
Speaking of which, Jellal's situation is also somewhat similar, being deceived, also both a perpetrator and a victim.
Mira could only angrily say, "It's all Wu's fault, along with those Black Magic Sect and Dark Guilds."
Rhoda said, "Next, it's up to them to choose."
Fairy Tail is not a judge, and it's not a law enforcement team. The president has already decided to let them go, and no one else will say much.
Emotionally speaking, with the First Generation's influence, everyone believes the second generation will mend their ways.
Similarly, with Gray's influence, everyone is willing to believe Ultear is kind.
"By the way, I almost forgot something." Mira ran ahead of Rhoda, looking at him with her hands behind her back, "Congratulations on your promotion to S-Class!"
"Thank you." Rhoda smiled, "But in a few days, you'll have to congratulate me twice more."
"Twice?" Mira thought for a moment, then said, "Once for the Ten Wizard Saints, and the other is..."
She punched Rhoda's chest, blushing as she said, "For this kind of thing, ask me to congratulate you as well?"
"Seems so." Rhoda chuckled foolishly, where has a bride congratulated the groom.
Talking about these happy things, the previously melancholic atmosphere was finally eased, and the two laughed, gradually arriving at the First Generation's grave.
Talking and laughing while visiting a grave in the evening might sound a bit weird.
But if the grave's occupant can converse with you, then... well, it's not strange, but rather intriguing.
But this is a world of magic; Mages living for over hundreds of years, or like Zeref living over 400 years, or leaving a soul behind after death to live for hundreds of years, all are possible.
Therefore, visiting Mebius' grave doesn't need to be as mournful as an ordinary graveside visit.
The two sat before the grave opening the lunch boxes, placing the dishes one by one.
"President Mebius, sorry to disturb you again." Rhoda said, "I've reported everything you wanted me to say to President Precht.
The old man—well, our current president, the Third Generation, he said he believes in your judgment, and afterwards, the guild will develop well, and then..."
Rhoda suddenly felt his arm being embraced, and that familiar soft feeling was naturally Mira.
She pointed behind him, motioning Rhoda to look back.
Rhoda turned his head and saw a little loli staring intently at the plates of food in front of the tombstone, even with a bit of drool at the corner of her mouth.
The girl was wearing a pink dress, barefoot, with long wavy blonde hair like a cloak draped behind her, almost reaching the ground.
The ears had white wing-like decorations—it should be decorations, Rhoda thought at first glance, but it seemed like they were actually her ears.
"First Generation? President Mebius?"
Rhoda had seen her photo.
Unlike Precht, where the real person and photo looked vastly different, Mebius looked exactly like her photo.
If a ghost's appearance reflects their lifetime image, there are only two possibilities: either Mebius never aged, or she died when she was very young.
The guild's records seem to indicate the latter.
Mira seemed not to have cared much about these before, upon hearing Rhoda's address, she was surprised and covered her mouth: "You are the First Generation, President Mebius?"
Mebius maintained her eager gaze at the enticing food, nodded casually.
She looked a bit cute, and a bit silly.
Mira suddenly became saddened, as if feeling sorry for Mebius: "So the First Generation died so young? How pitiful."
This time Mebius felt sad, she struggled to shift her gaze from the tempting food, pretending to speak like an adult: "Although it looks... no, this form has its reasons, but when I died, I was already an adult."
She seemed quite sensitive about appearing like a child.
"Sorry." Mira apologized decisively, but felt even sorrier for the First Generation.
Pitiful like Wendy.
The considerate Rhoda made room, pointing at the dishes, changing the topic: "Would you like to try one?"
Mebius' attention was easily diverted: "Looks delicious."
"We made it especially for you." Mira said, "I have quite some confidence in my cooking, just unsure if it'll suit your taste."
Mebius put her index finger on her lips, the corner of her mouth again had subtle drool: "I want to eat."
Rhoda and Mira warmly said: "Please, help yourself."
Mebius' expression turned anguished: "But ghosts can't eat."
Rhoda and Mira were frozen.
Mebius added: "This afternoon, Makarov and that cat Carla were grilling here, seemed so tasty."
Her tone grew increasingly sorrowful, lips slowly pouting.
"Boo hoo... I really want to eat something delicious..."
Mebius started to cry, looking aggrieved.
Rhoda and Mira were in a panic, feeling utterly guilty.