### Chapter 73: Trial
"?!"
All the Fairy Tail members' expressions changed dramatically.
"You're joking!!"
"Phantom Lord clearly attacked first! Are you blind?! Didn't you see what happened to our guild?!"
The captain of the Rune Knights said indifferently: "Those matters aren't my concern. I only follow the Magic Council's orders to bring Makarov back for investigation!"
"We won't let you take the Master!"
"That's right! Phantom Lord attacked us, but you're not arresting them! Instead you're arresting our Master! What is the Magic Council even for?!"
All Fairy Tail members took battle-ready stances.
"Are you going to resist?!"
Swish—!
All the Rune Knights' weapons pointed at the Fairy Tail members.
"Resist? Of course we'll resist! If the Magic Council is this unjust, then I'll rebel against it!"
Natsu's hands burst into flames, preparing to knock down all these Rune Knights. Gray's hands also emanated cold air. Every Fairy Tail member was ready to use magic.
Suddenly!
Makarov's voice rang out: "Stop—!!"
The Fairy Tail members turned to look behind them and saw Makarov walking out in formal attire.
"Master!!"
"Gramps!!"
The Rune Knights also became vigilant seeing Makarov. After all, Makarov was one of the Ten Wizard Saints—if he truly resisted, even with superior numbers, they might not be his match.
"Alright, everyone go back. I'll go with them."
The Rune Knights breathed a slight sigh of relief hearing Makarov's words.
"Why?! Gramps! It's clearly not our fault! Why do you have to go with them?!"
Natsu shouted in confusion.
"It's not a question of right or wrong! This matter ultimately needs to be resolved. Having the Magic Council step in is fine."
Regardless of whether Phantom Lord destroyed Fairy Tail's guild or Riku destroyed Phantom Lord's branches, with such a huge incident, the Magic Council would definitely intervene.
So when Riku took action, Makarov was already prepared for the Magic Council to come knocking at any time.
"Then why are they arresting Gramps?! If they're going to arrest anyone, it should be those Phantom Lord bastards!"
"That's right! Master!"
Makarov shook his head, then looked at Mirajane: "Mirajane, that guy Jose definitely has some ulterior motive. Warn Riku to be careful."
After speaking, Makarov stepped in front of the Rune Knights and raised both hands.
The Rune Knights immediately clasped magic-sealing handcuffs on Makarov's wrists. These magic handcuffs were developed by the Magic Council—once a mage was bound by them, no matter how strong they were, with their magic sealed, they had no power to resist.
"Take him away!!"
The Rune Knights left with Makarov.
"Master!!"
The Fairy Tail members shouted unwillingly.
Natsu yelled in confusion: "Why didn't Gramps resist?! With Gramps' strength, these Rune Knights are no match at all!"
Mirajane explained: "It's not a question of whether to resist or not. The opponent is the Rune Knights, the Magic Council. We cannot resist them."
"..."
Everyone in the guild fell silent. Indeed, the Magic Council was the governing body over mage guilds—they were all subordinates and couldn't disobey orders from above.
But everyone was unwilling to accept this. Clearly Phantom Lord had ambushed their guild, and they had only retaliated.
Yet Phantom Lord wasn't dealt with, while Fairy Tail was being hassled instead.
"The only thing to blame is that Phantom Lord is too despicable! We can only stay here obediently and wait for the result."
"Damn it!!"
Natsu smashed the ground with one punch.
With the Master taken away, all the Fairy Tail members felt extremely unwilling, but as Mirajane said, they couldn't oppose the Magic Council—they could only wait here for the outcome.
Magic Council Fiore Branch.
Makarov stood at the witness stand. Above him sat nine Magic Council members, with the Chairman at the very top.
In the plaintiff's seat, Phantom Lord Guild Master Jose Porla sat with his legs crossed, looking at Makarov with a sinister, mocking expression.
"Jose..."
Makarov's expression darkened seeing Jose.
"The accused, Makarov Dreyar—Phantom Lord Guild Master Jose Porla accuses you of ordering your guild member Riku to attack Phantom Lord's guild, causing severe destruction with extremely bad influence."
"According to victims and on-site witnesses, the evidence of Riku attacking Phantom Lord is irrefutable. Is there anything you need to say?"
Makarov said in a heavy voice: "I have nothing to dispute, but my Fairy Tail guild was attacked by Phantom Lord. I hope the Magic Council investigates this clearly."
"So you don't deny ordering Riku to attack Phantom Lord?"
Makarov said: "I ordered Riku to do it. Riku only followed my orders. This matter has nothing to do with Riku."
Hearing Makarov's words, Jose Porla's lips curved slightly. After fighting with Makarov for so many years, he knew Makarov's weakness very well.
Regardless of whether Riku was truly ordered by Makarov, Makarov would definitely take responsibility for the children's sake.
"Jose Porla, do you have anything to add to your accusation of Makarov?"
Jose spread his hands, putting on an innocent look: "I have no idea what Big Brother Makarov is talking about. My guild is full of kind children—how could they do such things? It must be that Fairy Tail has been too high-profile lately and attracted some dark guild's displeasure, which is why Big Brother Makarov's guild was destroyed."
"Big Brother Makarov, I know you have some issues with me, your little brother, but Big Brother, you can't wrongly accuse me!"
"If Big Brother suspects I sent people to do it, then please have the Magic Council uphold justice! You can't let your guild members destroy my guild!"
"A full thirteen branches! All thirteen of my Phantom Lord branches were completely destroyed! So many of my guild members are now lying in hospitals!"
"Just because of a suspicion, to do something so excessive—don't you think that's going too far, Big Brother Makarov?"
"Jose!!"
Makarov glared furiously at Jose. Though he had long known Jose was a despicable person, such vile behavior was truly infuriating.
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