Everyone turned to look at Makarov and Ur.
"Ehhhhhh!!!" Many members wore shocked expressions at their sudden appearance.
"Welcome back, Master, Ur," Mirajane greeted them with her usual warm smile, polishing a glass.
"Ah..."
Everyone else was dumbfounded by Mirajane's calm reaction compared to their own shock.
"What about the regular meeting?"
"That's not the point, is it?" Lucy noted, feeling that the atmosphere was too heavy for a simple return greeting.
"Master, what exactly is going on?"
Makarov sighed gravely. "At the recent regular meeting, for some reason, the activities of the Oración Seis were put on the agenda. Since we can't ignore this, a guild needs to deal with them."
"You drew the short straw again, old man," Gray said helplessly.
"Is Fairy Tail taking on this job?" Juvia, who had fought subordinate members of the Oración Seis several times in the past, couldn't help but feel apprehensive.
If their subordinates were that strong, the Oración Seis themselves definitely weren't to be trifled with.
"No." Makarov and Ur descended the steps from the second floor. "The enemy this time is too powerful. If we face them alone, only our guild will bear the brunt of attacks from the entire Balam Alliance afterward."
"So... we've decided to form an Alliance!" Makarov declared with a sweeping gesture.
"An Alliance?" the guild members asked in unison.
"Fairy Tail, Blue Pegasus, and Lamia Scale—these three guilds will each select members to join forces and defeat them."
"We're more than enough on our own, right? No, I alone am more than enough!" Natsu clenched his fist confidently.
"Fool! The Master is considering what comes after," Gray scolded.
"Wait, speaking of which, there are only six of them, right? Just who are they?"
Ur stepped forward to explain. "We only have limited information now, but the Guild Master, 'Brain', was formerly the Director of the Magic Development Bureau. That was ten years ago. It's safe to say he already possessed strength comparable to the Ten Wizard Saints back then. If he hadn't fallen into darkness, he'd definitely have a place among the current Saints."
"Magic Development Bureau?"
Ultear unconsciously clenched her fist tightly upon hearing the name.
Her days there could only be described as living in complete darkness!
"I have to go!"
Ur and Ultear said simultaneously.
Everyone's attention was drawn to Ur and Ultear's synchronized outburst, all wearing expressions of curiosity.
Ur sighed and explained to the guild. "When Ultear was a child, she suffered from constant fevers due to excessive Magical Power. In desperation, I heard the Magic Development Bureau had a treatment method, so I entrusted Ultear to the then-Director of the Bureau—the current Oración Seis Guild Master, Brain—for treatment."
"What I didn't know was that he had already fallen into darkness by then. The Magic Development Bureau was his facility for scouting talents and conducting human experiments... I caused Ultear to suffer greatly there..."
Although more than ten years had passed, Ur still felt a pang in her heart whenever she recalled those events.
While it might sound simple to say, she knew that Ultear had been suffering every single moment back then because of her decision.
"How could..." Lucy bit her lip as she looked at Ultear.
She had always thought her childhood was dull, forced by her father to study constantly, but now she realized she should consider herself quite fortunate.
"It's all in the past, Mother. Besides, the Magic Development Bureau did help treat my excessive Magical Power."
In contrast, Ultear was more accepting.
After all, Ur had been utterly desperate back then, and she completely understood her mother's intentions.
However, being accepting didn't mean she could forgive Brain.
Not only had he deceived Ur by claiming she was dead, causing Ur immense grief, but more importantly, he had abducted children, tearing many families apart—an unforgivable act.
Brain had vanished many years ago and hadn't been seen since Raizel destroyed the Magic Development Bureau.
The Council had been hunting Brain for years without any leads, and Ur had long given up hope of finding him until now.
"Juvia might not be able to participate. I just accepted an Extermination Quest with Mr. Gajeel and we're about to depart."
Gajeel wasn't at the guild, so Juvia was responsible for picking up quests for them.
Makarov smiled and nodded. "That's fine, go ahead. Previously, we might have been short-handed if Raizel and Ultear hadn't returned, but now it's not an issue."
"Master, I want to go," Ur quickly interjected again.
"Ur, let me go instead," Ultear shook her head at Ur. "I have my own grudge against Brain. It doesn't matter which of us seeks revenge."
"But..." Ur wanted to say that Brain was undoubtedly powerful.
When she had met him at the Magic Development Bureau, she could faintly sense immense Magical Power emanating from him.
"Don't worry, Ur. I'll go too. I'll bring Ultear and everyone back safely," Raizel assured Ur, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Well... alright." Ur felt somewhat relieved.
With Raizel there, she wouldn't worry about everyone's safety.
Makarov coughed nearby to assert his presence. "My plan is to send seven people. With Raizel and Ultear, that's two already."
Makarov's intention was that Raizel would definitely go as their ace, and Ultear, given her history with Brain, couldn't possibly stay behind.
Erza and Kagura quickly raised their hands. "I'll go too."
"And me, Gramps!" Natsu also raised his hand eagerly.
"Approved."
Makarov wasn't surprised that Erza and Kagura wanted to go.
Not only did they often team up with Raizel, but the mention of child abduction was something they absolutely couldn't tolerate—both having lost their parents young and knowing the hardships of growing up without them.
Aside from Erza, Kagura, and Natsu, no one else volunteered immediately.
Elfman wanted to go, but he had accepted a quest with Lisanna and couldn't break his promise.
Makarov scanned the crowd. "Then the last two spots... Lucy and Gray what about you two?"
"Huh? Why me?" Lucy protested, feeling she was just a bystander in this high-level talk.
"Okay, Gramps!" Gray responded, though he looked at Natsu with a competitive glint.
"Um... Gramps, I want to go too."
Wendy timidly raised her hand from the crowd.
"This kind of thing is dangerous, Wendy," Carla tugged at the corner of Wendy's skirt from the side, worried.
"Oh? Can you tell me why?" Makarov squinted his eyes and smiled gently in response.
Wendy's face flushed slightly. "I know Healing Magic... If I go, I should be able to help everyone, and also help alleviate Natsu-san's motion sickness from transportation."
Makarov nodded, quite satisfied with Wendy's answer.
It wouldn't be good to always spoil Wendy by keeping her sheltered—he was referring to Raizel's tendency to protect her.
"Alright, then Wendy will come along too."