Chapter 556: If You Want to Say That, I'd Rather Say It Myself When the Time Comes, Alright?
Seeing Mavis pause to collect her thoughts, Ultear and the girls realized they were about to get the actual story. They immediately turned to Noah and Makarov.
"Alright, boys, the rest of this conversation is strictly girl talk. Give us some space," Ultear shooed them away, waving her hand dismissively.
Noah and Makarov couldn't help but chuckle at their sudden assertiveness. They respectfully stepped back and walked to the other side of the room.
The moment they were out of earshot, Ultear and the girls eagerly huddled around Mavis, ready to hear the tragic, century-old romance of the Black Wizard and the Fairy Tactician.
"So, how are you planning to get to the Western Continent?" Makarov asked, his tone shifting back to serious business. "Alvarez has completely severed diplomatic ties with Ishgar. There are no official maritime routes. Are you planning to hire a smuggler?"
"No. I'm not relying on black-market ships," Noah shook his head.
While the two continents had officially severed ties, there was always a thriving grey market of smugglers willing to make the crossing for the right price. However, trusting a smuggler was a massive operational risk. Noah had no way of verifying their loyalties; for all he knew, they could be informants for the Alvarez military. He wasn't going to risk his stealth mission before it even began.
"I'm going to travel to Caracol Island first. It's a neutral tourist hub situated in the ocean between the two continents. I'll gather some preliminary intelligence there, and then I'll use my Spatial Magic to cross the remaining distance alone."
"Infiltrating solo from Caracol? Yes, that's much safer," Makarov nodded approvingly. "Minimizing contact with the criminal underworld drastically reduces the risk of exposure. Smugglers attract attention; a lone mage who can teleport across the ocean does not."
"Before you leave, you need to recall all of your Thought Projections," Makarov added, his expression stern. "I know you constantly leave clones scattered around to conduct your research, which means your maximum mana capacity is never actually at 100%. If you are infiltrating Zeref's empire, you absolutely must be at your absolute peak."
"I know, Grandpa," Noah nodded.
During the confrontation with Acnologia, Noah had forcefully recalled every single clone (except the one studying celestial magic in the Spirit Realm) to maximize his combat output. Going into hostile territory required the same level of absolute preparation.
Makarov and Noah continued refining the infiltration logistics for a few more minutes. Eventually, Ultear and the girls finished their "girl talk" and walked over.
Noticing that all four girls looked incredibly flushed and slightly emotional, Noah raised an eyebrow. "So, what did you guys talk about?"
"None of your business! It's a girl's secret!" Sorano declared, crossing her arms to form an 'X' in the air, trying to look stern despite her red cheeks.
"Exactly. You aren't allowed to pry into a maiden's secrets, Noah," Mirajane teased softly, her usual smile returning.
Seeing that they had completely closed ranks, Noah just laughed and threw his hands up in surrender.
"So, did you figure out the logistics?" Ultear asked, steering the conversation back to the mission.
"Yeah. Let me run you through the plan. If you notice any blind spots, let me know," Noah said, quickly outlining his strategy for Caracol Island and his solo infiltration.
Ultear, Erza, Mirajane, and Sorano listened intently, their minds racing as they tried to find any flaws in the operation.
Noah and Makarov had practically bulletproofed the plan, so the girls couldn't find any immediate issues. However, Mavis, utilizing her unparalleled tactical intellect, quickly provided several brilliant, highly specific contingencies for potential military encounters.
With the operational blueprint finalized, everyone scattered to complete their designated preparations.
Ultear, Erza, Mirajane, and Sorano immediately headed into Magnolia's commercial district to bulk-buy specialized survival supplies. Even though they knew Noah's spatial pocket was basically an infinite warehouse of provisions, they wanted to ensure he was absolutely prepared for the worst-case scenario.
Makarov and Mavis headed into the guild's subterranean archives, frantically compiling every single scrap of historical, geographical, and political intelligence they had on the Western Continent and the surrounding islands. They digitized the data and prepared it for Noah's Archive.
Meanwhile, Noah returned to his laboratory.
He systematically cataloged and froze his ongoing experiments. Pausing his standard alchemical research was easy, but securing the Dragon Bone and Acnologia flesh samples required an incredibly delicate, multi-layered stasis ward. He spent several hours ensuring the apocalyptic biological materials wouldn't degrade or cause a catastrophe while he was gone.
Once his labs in Magnolia, Crocus, and Tenrou Island were secure, he severed his connection to the Thought Projections stationed there.
As the clones dissipated, massive, dense waves of pure Ethernano rushed back into his core. Noah closed his eyes, exhaling slowly as he felt his magical capacity expand to its absolute, unhindered peak.
His months of grueling, hyper-gravity training had paid off immensely. His raw power and magical control had skyrocketed to a terrifying new level. The sheer volume of Ethernano circulating through his veins provided a profound sense of security.
I wonder... how wide is the gap between me and Zeref now? Noah thought to himself, clenching his fist.
It took Ultear and the girls two full days to finish compiling the survival supplies.
When they finally presented the massive, mountain-sized pile of provisions to Noah, he could only stare in absolute bewilderment.
"Girls... I really don't think I need this much stuff," Noah said, gesturing to the literal crates of rations, medical supplies, and enchanted camping gear. "I'm not going to an uninhabited wasteland. Alvarez is a highly developed, militarized empire. There will be cities and supply lines."
"You're infiltrating alone to minimize contact with the locals, aren't you?" Ultear countered, crossing her arms and fixing him with a stern glare. "If you buy supplies in their cities, you risk exposure. This stockpile ensures you can survive in the wilderness for months without ever needing to enter an enemy town."
Hearing her completely flawless, terrifyingly pragmatic logic, Noah had absolutely no counter-argument. He sighed in defeat, activating his Spatial Magic and absorbing the massive mountain of supplies into his pocket dimension.
Seeing him accept the supplies, the girls collectively exhaled a quiet sigh of relief. They knew he was already prepared, but if an emergency happened and he got trapped in hostile territory, this extra stockpile could save his life.
After Noah packed the supplies, Mavis synced her Archive with his, instantly transferring all the compiled intelligence on the Alvarez Empire directly into his mind.
Noah rapidly reviewed the data, ensuring everything was perfectly cataloged. Satisfied, he turned to Makarov and Mavis.
"Grandpa, First Master. I'm heading out."
"Please be careful, Noah," Mavis said softly, her spectral eyes filled with worry.
"Your life is the absolute highest priority. If you encounter a situation you cannot handle, or an enemy you cannot defeat, you retreat immediately. Do you understand me?" Makarov ordered sternly.
"I understand," Noah nodded firmly.
He then turned to the four girls standing nearby.
"You have to promise us you'll be careful, Noah," Ultear said, her voice trembling slightly as she stepped closer to him. Suddenly, her face flushed a brilliant, vivid red.
She hesitated for a second, her hands clenching into fists, before she looked up into his eyes.
"When you come back safely... we'll..."
Before she could finish the sentence, Noah instantly stepped forward and clamped his hand firmly over her mouth.
"Do not finish that sentence," Noah said, his tone entirely serious despite the gentle smile on his face. "Saying something like that before a dangerous mission is basically begging the universe to trigger a tragic plotline.
"I know talking about the future gives us the strength to survive. But... if you want to say that, I'd rather say it myself when the time comes, alright?"
Ultear's eyes widened slightly in surprise, but she quickly understood his reasoning. She nodded against his hand, indicating she wouldn't say the cursed 'death-flag' phrase.
Noah smiled and gently lowered his hand.
Ultear's face was still incredibly flushed, but she steadied her breathing and looked at him with absolute conviction.
"Since you already know what I was going to say... you better promise you'll come back safe. We will be waiting for you. And when you get back, you have to say it."
"Of course. I absolutely promise I will return safely," Noah said softly.
He looked at Erza, Mirajane, and Sorano. They clearly knew exactly what Ultear had been trying to say, as their faces were equally flushed. Seeing Noah looking at them, their blushes only deepened, but their eyes reflected the same unwavering love and conviction.
"I'll see you all soon," Noah smiled.
Having said his goodbyes, Noah didn't linger. He turned around, his body flashing with golden light, and instantly vanished from the guildhall.
The moment he disappeared, the girls' brave facades crumbled. The shy embarrassment vanished, replaced entirely by profound, aching anxiety. They stared at the empty space where he had just stood, their hearts heavy.
"Do not worry, girls," Makarov said softly, placing a comforting hand on Ultear's shoulder. "Trust in Noah. He is stronger than anyone. He will return to us."
The girls nodded silently. They trusted him with their lives, but it didn't make the waiting any easier.
Knowing they needed time to process their emotions, Makarov and Mavis quietly left the room, returning to the main hall.
The four girls stood in silence for a few minutes.
"Alright. Standing around worrying isn't going to help him," Ultear finally spoke, taking a deep breath to steady herself.
"I'm going to the training grounds," Erza declared, her eyes hardening with determination. "The gap in strength between us and Noah is far too vast. If we were stronger, we could have gone with him. I refuse to be a burden."
"I completely agree," Mirajane nodded, her expression equally resolute. "My current power is insufficient. I need to push my Satan Soul further."
"Then let's go. We have to train until we drop. We need to be strong enough to stand beside him," Sorano said, her fists clenched tightly.
"Let's go," Ultear agreed.
The four of them marched out of the guildhall and headed straight for the mountain training facility, determined to bridge the gap between themselves and the man they loved.
When Noah reappeared, he was standing on the desolate, rocky cliffs of Fiore's northwestern coastline.
From this point onward, there was nothing but the vast, open ocean separating him from the Western Continent.
However, there was one major stepping stone: Caracol Island.
After a quick consultation with a local fisherman to pinpoint the exact navigational coordinates of the island, Noah activated his Spatial Magic and vanished once more.
Because the distance was immense, he couldn't teleport the entire way in a single bound without a preset spatial anchor. He teleported in massive, sequential jumps, materializing in the sky above the ocean, recalibrating his trajectory, and instantly teleporting again before he could fall into the water.
After three massive spatial leaps, Noah materialized on the sun-drenched shores of Caracol Island.
Caracol was an independent, politically neutral island situated roughly halfway between Ishgar and Alvarez. Thanks to its incredibly warm, tropical climate, it was a world-renowned tourist destination. The locals and tourists alike dressed in light, vibrant summer clothing.
Before making his final jump, Noah had used his Transformation Magic to completely alter his appearance.
He had changed the color of his hair and eyes. He deepened his skin tone to a healthy, sun-baked bronze. He subtly altered his facial structure—broadening his jaw and adjusting his nose—ensuring he looked completely unrecognizable. Finally, he added a faint dusting of dark circles under his eyes, giving himself the exhausted, slightly haggard look of a thirty-something manual laborer.
Ultear and Mirajane had personally designed the disguise, ensuring it was perfectly mundane and utterly forgettable.
Noah casually strolled into the bustling tourist hub. Instead of immediately seeking out intelligence brokers, he played the part of a standard tourist. He wandered the markets, bought souvenirs, and even visited a highly recommended local dessert shop to buy a dozen boxes of the island's famous Star-Mango parfaits, carefully storing them in his spatial pocket for the girls back home.
While he played the tourist, his hyper-attuned senses were actively sweeping the crowds, effortlessly eavesdropping on hundreds of conversations simultaneously.
Because diplomatic ties were severed, Caracol Island was the absolute furthest point citizens of either continent could travel legally. Therefore, the island was packed with merchants, tourists, and military personnel from the Alvarez Empire.
By filtering their conversations, Noah quickly gathered the intelligence he needed.
Despite severing ties with Ishgar, the Alvarez Empire hadn't slowed its military expansion. In fact, they were aggressively and continuously waging war against the smaller, independent nations on the Western Continent. Whenever Alvarez won—which was apparently always—they ruthlessly absorbed the conquered nation into their empire.
However, because the empire was so overwhelmingly dominant, the Alvarez citizens didn't speak of war with fear or anxiety. They spoke of it with a fanatical, almost religious fervor. They were profoundly proud of their military supremacy.
Noah also confirmed the existence of Zeref's elite personal guard: The Spriggan 12.
The citizens spoke of these twelve mages with absolute, terrifying reverence, describing them as invincible, god-like beings who single-handedly crushed entire nations.
However, as Noah listened to the names being casually dropped by the Alvarez tourists, he noticed a discrepancy. A few of the names they mentioned didn't align with his memories of the canonical timeline.
Ah, right, Noah realized. The canonical war doesn't happen for another six years. The roster of the Spriggan 12 probably changes over time due to casualties or political shifts.
Satisfied that the core intelligence remained accurate, Noah shifted his focus to gathering logistical data regarding the empire's eastern naval ports.
After wandering the markets for another hour, he successfully mapped out the patrol routes and security protocols of the major coastal cities based on the grumbling of off-duty Alvarez sailors.
Noah found a secluded alleyway. He pulled out a detailed topographical map of Alvarez he had purchased from a local vendor and digitized it into his Archive. He cross-referenced the map with the intercepted naval intelligence, quickly isolating a specific, lightly guarded port on the empire's eastern seaboard.
He mentally marked his infiltration point.
However, that port wasn't his primary destination.
He accessed the classified intelligence Layla Heartfilia had given him months ago—the exact residential address of Grammi, the mother of Brandish.
I'll infiltrate the port, establish a foothold, and then head straight to Grammi's location, Noah decided.
He was incredibly curious to see how the mother and daughter were doing, and more importantly, how their magical training was progressing under the guidelines he had left them.
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