The Mage smiled as he looked at Kagura and Erza, quietly awaiting their response.
He had ordered the crystal ball's connection to be cut immediately after showing the captives.
Confirming that Simon was still alive was enough bait for them; allowing Simon to speak too much might actually persuade the two to leave for their own safety, and that would ruin the show.
"Allow me to introduce myself properly," the mage said with a theatrical bow. "I am Vidaldus Taka."
"Speak. What do you need us to do?"
After waiting for Kagura's emotions to settle slightly, Erza frowned and looked at the man before them with steely eyes.
Vidaldus smiled faintly and snapped his fingers, and a subordinate walked towards Kagura and Erza holding a tray with both hands.
On the tray sat two pairs of heavy, rune-inscribed handcuffs.
"Magic Restraint Cuffs? What does this mean?"
Magic Restraint Cuffs, or shackles, restrict the use of Magic Power completely.
Once worn, a Mage cannot access their Ethernano container, becoming no different from an ordinary person.
No, perhaps even worse than an ordinary person.
After all, the shackles prepared for the two were the connected type, binding their wrists together.
Wearing them would be almost like cutting off one's own arms; swordsmanship and hand-to-hand combat skills would naturally become unusable as well.
Vidaldus described it vividly, "Of course, we have heard of the renowned 'Titania' Erza and the Kingdom's Swordswoman Kagura. To ensure cooperation, we must ask both of you to wear them."
After exchanging a glance and nodding at each other, Erza and Kagura put on the shackles themselves, the locks clicking shut with a heavy sound.
'As expected, I can't use magic,' Erza thought.
After putting them on, she tried to focus her energy for a moment, but felt nothing.
This was the first time she had felt this kind of powerlessness since learning magic.
...
Sitting on his high seat, Jellal watched the projection as the two women put on the Magic Shackles.
"You've handled this well," Jellal muttered. "As expected, the strong excel at everything."
"Indeed," a deep voice replied.
A man wearing an orange tight-fitting shirt beneath heavy green shoulder armor emerged from the shadows nearby.
He had also been watching the entire process, including capturing Simon and the others, the diversionary attack on Akane Beach, and the luring of Erza and Kagura.
Jellal glanced at him coldly and did not respond further.
This man was named Azuma, a member of Grimoire Heart, one of the three strongest Dark Guilds in the Balam Alliance.
He was one of the core members of Grimoire Heart, known as the Seven Kin of Purgatory.
He was trained in the Lost Magic known as the Great Tree Arc, taught personally by Master Hades.
This magic allowed him to manipulate the magical power of the earth, condensing it into explosive fruits or merging his body with trees to dominate the battlefield.
Jellal was also technically considered one of the Seven Kin of Purgatory, and even the leader among them in terms of potential.
Azuma had once challenged him and ended in defeat, so Azuma, who admired strength above all else, respected Jellal.
He hadn't really wanted to come to this remote tower, but Hades had sent him to monitor Jellal's every move.
Surveillance—this was the order of Hades, the Master of Grimoire Heart.
Although Hades had taught Jellal magic, he never fully trusted him, always feeling that Jellal harbored his own hidden agenda.
Thus, he assigned this R-System experiment to Jellal to observe his actions and loyalty.
Sending Azuma was nominally for assistance, but in reality, it was to ensure Jellal didn't betray them.
Jellal knew this, but he didn't care.
Back then, he had been rescued by the Council, but having no family, he was sent to an orphanage.
However, Brain (Zero), the leader of the Oración Seis—another guild within the Balam Alliance—had long recognized the immense magical potential of Jellal and several other children.
He secretly located and quietly kidnapped them from the orphanage.
Although a few children went missing, it did not cause much of a stir.
The orphanage conducted a limited search, and since no further disappearances occurred, the matter was hastily concluded as runaways.
Brain originally intended to train Jellal himself, but upon seeing Jellal's exceptional talent, he sent him to Hades to be personally trained by the master of Grimoire Heart.
To prevent Jellal from being recognized, Hades decided that Jellal should adopt the alias Siegrain to infiltrate the Magic Council, claiming to have a twin brother named Jellal who had been separated from him since childhood.
And Jellal lived up to Hades' expectations, becoming both a Council member and one of the Ten Wizard Saints through his own ability and talent.
...
"How despicable! I want to kick that smug face!" Lucy clenched her fists, glaring furiously at Vidaldus through the holographic screen Raizel had conjured.
"Isn't this too dangerous? Let's go rescue them now!" Wendy looked anxiously at Raizel.
Ultear placed a hand on Wendy's shoulder to calm her. "Not yet. They should be safe for the time being."
Natsu and Gray appeared to be arguing by the door, but in reality, they were both eavesdropping intently on the conversation.
"That's right," Raizel nodded. "Activating the R-System requires an enormous amount of Magical Power. It's still inactive at the moment. Besides, we need to find out who the mastermind is first."
Raizel and Ultear had anticipated that Erza and Kagura would have their Magic Power restricted, if they were in the enemy's position, they would have demanded the same precaution.
Now, Raizel and Ultear were waiting to see where Erza and Kagura would be taken inside the structure.
The two women were escorted by guards to the damp, dark location where Simon and the others were being held.
Somewhat to Raizel's surprise as he watched the feed, Simon finally encountered Erza and Kagura in the cells.
"They weren't taken to see the mastermind after all," Raizel muttered, frowning.
Raizel had assumed they would be brought directly to Jellal.
After all, the reason for capturing Simon in such an elaborate manner was to lure Erza and Kagura.
Once captured, it made sense for them to meet the host.
Raizel had attempted to use Archive Magic to probe the layout of the entire island, but unfortunately, his efforts were blocked by a dense surge of Magical Power, preventing any detailed exploration.
Raizel suspected it was likely the Dark Magic inherent to the R-System itself that was causing the interference, given that the island was still shrouded in unnatural dark clouds.
The only reason Raizel could see what Erza and Kagura were seeing was that he had previously placed microscopic magical tracking devices on them, essentially functioning as cameras.
As a precaution, Raizel had both of them wear the devices, though he was only projecting one feed at the moment to save energy.
Of course, it was also possible that the mastermind's own formidable power was blocking the investigation.
Erza and Kagura were imprisoned in the cell directly opposite Simon's.
Erza frowned and questioned Vidaldus through the bars.
"What exactly are you planning?"
Vidaldus stood with his hands behind his back, looking completely composed.
"As much as I'd like to tell you, the time hasn't come yet. Please be patient."
Erza pressed further, "What time?"
She had been instructed by Ultear to gather as much information as possible before the rescue team made their move.
Vidaldus did not hesitate to reply, his eyes gleaming with fanaticism. "It's been eight years... We've waited eight years. The ceremony will take place tonight. Until then, please stay here quietly."
"You've been chosen as the sacrifices. Two Mages of your caliber and reputation are the perfect offerings."
"Hahahahahahaha"
Vidaldus threw his head back and laughed. "After tomorrow night, we shall step forward into the paradise ahead! When Lord Jellal resurrects 'That Great One', the world will be reborn!"
"We shall become the rulers!"
"To the remnants who took away our freedom! And to the foolish masses who live in blissful ignorance! To the incompetents in the Council!"
Vidaldus's face lost all traces of elegance, twisting into an expression of pure ferocity.
"We will make everyone taste terror and sorrow!"
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