Time flew by.
On the evening of the third day after leaving Hargeon, the group finally caught sight of Magnolia on the road ahead.
"Look, that town up ahead is Magnolia."
"If we pick up the pace, we'll reach it tonight."
On a small hill, the setting sun painted the dusk.
From their vantage point the group followed Weston's finger and gazed several kilometers ahead at the town bathed in golden light.
"We're finally here?"
"Do we just start fighting once we arrive?"
Mavis stood in front of everyone, a flush of anticipation on her cheeks. "I… I want to see Cardia Cathedral."
"Cardia Cathedral is one of the three great churches of the Fiore Kingdom; in the past the archangel Saint Michaeldi…"
"All right, enough with the lecture."
Weston nudged Precht with his elbow, cutting the impromptu lesson short, then looked at Mavis. "Sorry, but I'm afraid you'll be disappointed this time."
"Huh? Why?"
"Because the current headquarters of Blue Skull is Cardia Cathedral!"
"What?!"
Mavis gasped, her eyes widening.
Weston spread his hands helplessly. "If you think about it, it's only logical."
Blue Skull is a Dark Guild, domineering in everything they do. When choosing a base, of course they'd pick the best spot in Magnolia, and the only place worthy of the word 'magnificent' is Cardia Cathedral."
Hearing this, Warrod and the others nodded. "Now that you mention it… that makes sense. If I were Blue Skull, I'd choose it too!"
"I see…"
Mavis hung her head dejectedly, disappointment gleaming in her eyes.
The group walked a bit farther, and Yuri at the front suddenly stopped.
"What's wrong? Why'd you stop?"
"Th-that… look ahead, quick!!"
Cold sweat trickled down Yuri's forehead; his pupils quivered from sheer shock.
Although they hadn't yet entered Magnolia's territory, from here they could see the whole town clearly.
Houses were broken, streets chaotic.
Flags of all sizes, piles of rubble, snapped boards, and blood-stained tatters lay strewn in every corner.
Suddenly a murder of crows flew overhead.
The crows cawed raucously, as though mourning this dead town.
It didn't look like a place where people lived; it felt like a city ravaged by war.
Stunned expressions spread across everyone's faces.
And then that shock turned into fury.
"It's worse than we imagined. Blue Skull really has poisoned this place."
"Damn them—I won't let them off!"
Blue Skull had occupied Magnolia for more than ten years.
A decade is long enough to change a whole generation, let alone a single town.
Who knew what kind of miserable lives the residents had endured.
Yet even more shocking than the ruined streets was the sight of Blue Skull's headquarters—Magnolia's landmark, the legendary Cardia Cathedral—
—now crouched upon by a colossal azure skeletal dragon.
"Is that… a dragon skeleton?"
In this day and age, a dragon bone that intact still exists?"
"Wait—why is there a dragon skeleton on Blue Skull's HQ?!"
Yuri yelled, frightened by the scene.
"Relax, no way their guild master killed it."
"He had trouble handling even us; a dragon would be way out of his league."
Weston grabbed the hopping Yuri and calmly said, "I figure Blue Skull stole this 'treasure' from somewhere, just like when they raided Tenrou Island seven years ago and took the tenrou jade."
"Putting that skeleton there slowly crushes the townsfolk's will to resist and scares off outsiders, making them think twice about opposing Blue Skull."
"I see… Tch, how cunning! Who'd be scared by that thing?"
Yuri wiped the cold sweat and tried to look unfazed.
Everyone rolled their eyes: You were clearly terrified… "Attack now?"
Warrod clenched one fist into his palm.
"I can't wait to beat those guys to a pulp!"
A youth full of justice, he wanted to barge straight into Blue Skull's base and whip those wicked Mages the moment he saw Magnolia's state.
"If we're striking, I think a Night Raid would work best,"
Precht said in a low voice: "People's guard and reflexes drop at night."
"After years of tyranny, the townsfolk are too scared to resist. They'd never expect a night assault."
"Sounds reasonable—but no."
Weston shook his head, rejecting the plan.
"We've marched all day and used up plenty of stamina; a hasty attack isn't wise."
"They've ruled Magnolia for years and know the terrain far better. Acting rashly will only alert them. If Jofre escapes, tracking him again will be tough."
"Stick to the plan: rest tonight, recover our strength, prepare thoroughly, and launch the full assault tomorrow."
"Mm… that works."
Night fell.
Under Mavis's Illusion Magic, the group entered Magnolia openly.
After seven years of training, her magic could now cloak their bodies as well as create illusions, effectively rendering them invisible.
It might not fool the guild master, but it was more than enough to deceive his underlings.
And because Blue Skull had ruled Magnolia so long, their night patrols were lax, making movement even easier.
Centering on Cardia Cathedral, they surveyed the surrounding terrain and set traps.
Weston used Super Ancient Text to draw a map, marking every trap's location and details, then packaged it for everyone to avoid friendly "mines" tomorrow.
After finishing, they slipped into an abandoned house near the cathedral to rest and wait for dawn.