"What's wrong, Stinger?" The small red cat, Rekete, rubbed his eyes as he walked out. When he saw the scene in the guild, he froze, "What happened? Is that Oroga?"
Since half of the body was embedded in the ground, Rekete could only recognize people by their legs—he felt it should be Oroga.
Rogue and Frosh also came over, silently standing by Stinger's side, observing the current situation.
Rekete thought calmly, "Could it be that person defeated Oroga?"
Frosh said in a babyish voice, "Fro thinks so too."
"Speaking of which, isn't that person the Ten Wizard Saints' Rhode?"
"Fro thinks so too."
"Stinger, Rogue, you're here, that's great!" Everyone immediately felt like they had a backbone.
The president and the young lady had gone out on business, leaving the strongest in the guild to be the Twin Dragons. They gathered around, talking in a jumble to explain what had happened.
Rhode tapped his toe on the ground, enlarging the crack beside Oroga, allowing him to lie down without suffocating.
That kid didn't keep his promise. He said he would tell him Yukino's whereabouts if he won, but now he says nothing?
Stinger seemed to have finished listening to his companions, waved his hand to quiet them down, and walked towards Rhode through the crowd.
He heard everyone say it was Oroga who had picked the fight first...
He glanced at Oroga lying in the ground's crevice; although he was rolling his eyes, he was still breathing normally, so there should be no serious problem.
Stinger was slightly relieved and, without mentioning Oroga, directly told Rhode what he wanted to know:
"Yukino left the guild two months ago because she defied the president's orders, refusing to sever ties with her sister, who is a criminal."
Rhode frowned, "What does 'sever ties with a criminal' mean? Why should sisters sever ties?"
Mira also said, "Sisterhood is destined from birth, how could it possibly be severed?"
Stinger felt something wasn't right about this, but also felt the president's approach wasn't wrong. He spread his hands:
"Isn't this understandable? As a legitimate guild and the first in Fiore, how can we be associated with criminals? Can you tolerate guild members contacting criminals?"
Rhode confidently replied, "Why not?"
The first president of Fairy Tail was closely connected to a Black Mage, the second president was once Demon Heart's president, and the third president's son is in prison...
Even without mentioning these unreliable presidents, Gajeel and Jubia have criminal records, Li Li was strictly speaking an invader, Gray's senior or adoptive sister is still a wanted criminal, and Ruome was pleading for a fugitive just the other day...
Yukino just wanted to visit her criminal sister, so what's the big deal?
Stinger was shocked; he didn't expect Rhode to refute so confidently.
Others were also surprised that someone from Fairy Tail could say such things, and he's even one of the Ten Wizard Saints. Can he tolerate his guild having such a stain?
Mira wanted to say more than Rhode: "What does Kono's crime have to do with Yukino? Sisterly affection is predestined from birth, how can it be severed just like that?
"How heartless is your president to justifiably order her not to acknowledge her sister? Have you considered Yukino's feelings at all?"
The Sabertooth members erupted: "Don't badmouth the president!"
"Because that woman isn't in your guild, you can afford to speak nicely here!"
"You two are too conceited! This is Sabertooth's turf!"
"..." Rhode now seemed to understand a bit why Yukino always had an awkward expression when mentioning Sabertooth.
He gently patted Mira on the back and smiled, "No need to get angry with them. It's a good thing Yukino resigned from such a childish and trashy guild. We can go look for her; such an excellent mage is someone they don't appreciate, but we would love to have."
Mira nodded, "You're right, let's go find Yukino."
Just as the two turned to leave, Stinger called out to them: "About Oroga, he picked a fight but was outmatched, I can pretend it never happened.
"But if you don't take back the slander against President Jerman and Sabertooth, I can't let you leave just like that."
Rhode chuckled, "Can the truth be called slander?"
The crowd shouted angrily, "Darn it!"
"Such arrogance!"
"Teach him a lesson!"
Probably because of their numbers, they believed they had the advantage, and arrogantly marched forward, seemingly intending to block the exit.
Except for the one who had just knelt, that person cleverly carried Oroga and smoothly slipped to the back medical room.
"Perfect timing, I also want to know if you deserve the title of the Ten Wizard Saints." Stinger's fist glowed white, charging straight at Rhode.
And just like the previous scene, Rhode raised his hand like a knife and struck Stinger at the back of the head.
Stinger fell to the ground like Oroga, but fared a bit better, neither passing out nor being embedded in the floor, instead lying flat, making a human-shaped crater.
The rumbling sound of the cracked ground echoed inside the Sabertooth guild, sending shockwaves through the onlookers' hearts.
Another one-hit defeat.
Stinger, like Oroga, couldn't even touch the opponent's hem before being taken down in one move.
"Stinger..." Rekete looked as if doubting its existence, "How, how could Stinger..."
"So strong, and he wasn't even serious. Is that the power of the Ten Wizard Saints?" Just from that instant's aura, Rogue gauged that even if Stinger went all out, Rhode wouldn't be his match.
But they can't let him slander Sabertooth.
If that's the case, better to fight together.
He sank his body, fully merging into his own shadow.
Then, that shadow turned into a long spear, stabbing straight towards Rhode.
"Hmm? Shadow magic?" Mira was instantly intrigued, transforming into Demon Shadou, lifting her dark leg to kick the shadow.
"Ugh..." Rogue groaned, being kicked out of the shadow, clutching his stomach as he flew, crashing through a wall and disappearing from sight.
"Rogue~" Frosh cried out worriedly, awkwardly running towards that large hole, spreading its wings to fly out.
"How is this possible, even Rogue..."
"Rogue got kicked out from within the shadow!"
"It's not just the Ten Wizard Saints' Rhode; even that woman is terrifyingly strong!"
"Demon... Demon Couple!"
Everyone could hardly believe their eyes, the strongest duo of Sabertooth couldn't even match them!