"Bingo!" Raizel snapped his fingers, confirming Makarov's assessment was spot on.
Jose Porla was always obsessing over being the number one guild in the Kingdom of Fiore, clinging to grudges from over a hundred years ago, which was truly unbecoming of a Guild Master and one of the Ten Wizard Saints of Ishgar.
"My impression of Jose Porla is the same," Raizel nodded. "He thinks he's clever, but in reality, he's narrow-minded, vengeful, and petty."
"So then?" Makarov hadn't expected Raizel's opinion of Jose to be so low, realizing he might have spoken too hastily earlier.
"So what we need to do is provoke him and make him attack us first," Raizel explained. "That way, we're just defending ourselves, so no matter what the Council says, we'll have a justification."
Mirajane quickly understood the plan, lightly tapping her chin with her finger.
"You let Gajeel go because you plan for Gajeel to anger him? But aren't you afraid he won't keep his promise?"
"That Gajeel is also a rebellious punk, the type who won't submit without a fight, so he'll definitely come attacking again. And to be honest, I didn't sense any real sense of belonging to Phantom Lord from him."
Regarding this point, Raizel had a Plan B : if Gajeel didn't do as Raizel said, or if Jose still held back even after he did, then Raizel planned to take Natsu and attack their various branches in disguise, as hitting a few of them would surely make Jose angry.
Raizel could quickly learn some attack magic on the spot, for with his level of Magic power, learning enough to deal with some small fries would be easy and enjoyable.
Mirajane still felt it wasn't a very reliable plan and pressed further, "So what exactly did you tell that Gajeel to go back and say?"
Raizel pondered for a moment before speaking. "Nothing more than some words belittling Phantom Lord and Jose while boasting about Fairy Tail and Gramps. I won't repeat the exact words, but I had him recite them."
"I know everyone is very angry, but let's wait a bit longer," Raizel addressed the room. "For the next few days, everyone should still gather and move together as much as possible, so don't go off alone."
"And Levy, Jet, and Droy, you need to act a bit," Raizel added, looking at Team Shadow Gear. "Wrap yourselves up in a lot of bandages and make it look like you're seriously injured to sell the story."
...
Oak Town, Phantom Lord Guild.
In the old, historic city of Oak Town, located in the northeastern part of the Fiore Kingdom, the gloomy castle at the city's center housed the headquarters of the Magic Guild Phantom Lord.
Gajeel was silently eating his meal inside the guild hall.
Just like how Natsu's food was fire, as the Iron Dragon Slayer, Gajeel's diet consisted of iron.
"You actually went and attacked Fairy Tail members? Nice one!" a nameless lackey in a black cloak flattered Gajeel.
"I bet those guys are probably scared out of their wits right now? Serves them right! Hahaha!"
Gajeel put down the iron bar in his hand, his left arm transforming into an Iron Dragon's Club, and with one swing, he sent the lackey flying into the wall with a loud crash.
"Haven't I told you repeatedly not to talk to me while I'm eating?" Gajeel growled, furious that not only was his meal interrupted, but this lackey was arrogantly rubbing salt in his wounds!
'I was the one who got taught a proper lesson!' Gajeel thought bitterly.
After being thoroughly beaten by Raizel, he had fled back in disgrace without even contacting his informants in Magnolia.
However, he didn't reveal the actual situation to his guildmates, he merely followed Raizel's instructions and claimed he had successfully attacked the Guild and members of Fairy Tail.
"Well done, Gajeel."
Jose Porla slowly emerged from the shadows, appearing on the second floor balcony.
Jose wore a tall hat and a purple-black magic robe, sporting a thin mustache that gave him a detestable, arrogant appearance.
"You're too naive, Master," Gajeel scoffed, playing his part. "After I taught a few Mages from Fairy Tail a lesson, they still had the audacity to speak disrespectfully about you and Phantom Lord."
"Oh?" Jose narrowed his eyes, intrigued.
"One of them said you're petty and vindictive, that you provoke Makarov every time only to get beaten up, and that Phantom Lord will always be trampled under Fairy Tail's feet," Gajeel shouted, ensuring the whole hall could hear.
"No, he said Phantom Lord isn't even fit to polish Fairy Tail's shoes!"
Raizel had instructed Gajeel not to mention his name, instead spreading the word that it was said by an insignificant nobody from Fairy Tail—one whom Gajeel had allegedly beaten.
Gajeel carried out Raizel's request to the letter, standing in the Guild hall and loudly proclaiming it.
The members of Phantom Lord were stunned for a moment before erupting in fury, slamming tables and smashing glasses.
"Damn those Fairy Tail bastards!"
"I'll make sure to kick their asses hard with my leather shoes!"
"How dare they!"
"Very well," Jose Porla lowered his voice, suppressing his rage.
This was a direct insult to Phantom Lord and his own reputation.
Especially since Gajeel had proclaimed it in front of all the Guild members, if he didn't respond, he would undoubtedly become a laughingstock!
Without stopping the commotion among the Guild members on the first floor, Jose returned to his room with a grim expression, slamming the table hard and sweeping the teapot and cups off it in one furious motion.
"Makarov... Fairy Tail... very well," Jose hissed. "Even insignificant trash like that dares to judge me, Jose Porla and Phantom Lord?!"
Jose had always been someone who refused to suffer losses, especially when it came to that old fool Makarov, as the grudges of his ancestor from a century ago and the humiliation from six years ago were still fresh in his mind.
After venting his anger, Jose ordered someone to summon Gajeel to his room.
As soon as Gajeel entered, he could tell Jose was furious, for the shattered porcelain and the damaged wooden table were proof enough.
Jose forced himself to remain calm and asked, "Gajeel, who did you fight?"
Gajeel felt like laughing at the deception but held back. "I don't know their names, just three weaklings."
"What did you do to them?"
"Beat them up," Gajeel lied smoothly. "I originally planned to brand them with Phantom Lord's emblem and hang them from a tree to send a message."
"Then why didn't you do it?"
"They were rescued," Gajeel admitted, this time telling a half-truth. "The person who saved them claimed to be Raizel from Fairy Tail."
"Oh? Did you fight him?" Jose raised an eyebrow, surprised that Raizel had intervened.
"I couldn't beat him."
Gajeel told the truth, knowing Jose had some understanding of Raizel's strength and probably wouldn't have believed him even if he claimed to have won.
Jose's impression of Raizel's abilities was still from a few years ago, but he had to admit that he had been weaker than Raizel at that age.
Therefore, Jose had always been jealous of Makarov—why did he get to have geniuses like Gildarts, Raizel, and Erza? Even Makarov's grandson Laxus and the mysterious Mystogan were prodigies.
Fortunately, Jose knew Gildarts had been away on a mission for three years and wont be returning any time soon.
During these years, Jose had continuously recruited some talented individuals himself—Gajeel the Iron Dragon Slayer, Aria of the Heavens, Juvia of the Deep, Sol of the Earth, and Totomaru of the Fire—all of whom gave him the confidence to wage war against Fairy Tail.
Of course, another reason for his confidence was the intelligence that many of Fairy Tail's S-Class Mages were currently absent from the guild or scattered.
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