"Of course I'm willing to believe you, but the enemy might not." Rhode didn't try to persuade him, he just laid out the key point.
"Their goal is to kill all the Evaluators, and the former chairman who's already sided with Gate of the Underworld has every bit of intel on you."
"What should I do?" Mikhailo's body was trembling a little. He didn't want to die; he just wanted to live a peaceful life with his granddaughter.
Rhode said, "Mr. Yajima and Lady Beluno are currently visiting our Guild. Why don't you talk with them first, and decide after you've had a chat?"
"...Alright."
To be honest, Mikhailo didn't necessarily get along that well with Yajima and Beluno.
But they were colleagues who'd worked together for many years, and now they were in the same situation. Their choices were still very good reference material.
Erza lent Mikhailo the Communication Magic Crystal, then started asking about Gray and that enemy.
Lucy, Natsu, and Hapi listened curiously.
"That guy—he's the one who froze Sun Village. His true identity is… Gray's deceased father."
"Oh…" Everyone nodded together.
A few seconds later, Rhode cleverly covered his ears.
"WHAT?!!"
The explosive shout of shock was loud enough that the whole house seemed to shudder.
Mikhailo was so startled he almost dropped the Magic Crystal, and Mikaelia nearly smashed her teacup.
Rhode calmed the two of them down, then began explaining what he knew.
"Anyway, their father–son stuff is something they have to work out themselves."
Lucy sighed. "That's ridiculously bizarre."
Natsu looked seriously annoyed. He'd finally run into the culprit who froze Giant-uncle and Flame Dragon-uncle, and he couldn't even have a fight.
Still, your dad who's been gone for years suddenly appearing in front of you… Natsu felt he could sort of understand Gray's feelings.
Even if the two of them weren't in exactly the same situation.
So he just sat there sulking and didn't go out to interrupt.
Erza nodded to show she understood the situation on that front, then looked at Rhode and asked, "So why did you suddenly come here?"
"I originally came to pick Lucy up. The Guild's got two prisoners who need Gemini's help with interrogation." Rhode glanced out the window. "But it looks like we won't need that anymore."
With Uncle Shilba around, those two back at the Guild could safely become Mira's little snacks.
-----------------
Mikhailo talked with his two former colleagues for a long time, and in the end still decided to take his granddaughter to Fairy Tail to lie low.
In his view, staying home with just one squad protecting them couldn't compare to being under the protection of the entire Guild.
Rhode, on the other hand, suddenly felt that a bunch of former Evaluators clustering in the Guild wasn't exactly a great idea. In stories, this kind of move usually just gives the enemy a chance to take everyone out in one go.
But right now, there really wasn't anywhere safer than Fairy Tail.
Rhode drew a Magic Array on the spot, sent the grandfather and granddaughter back to the Guild first, then came back through Flying Gate.
After exchanging intel with Erza for a bit, Gray knocked on the door.
When the door opened, he stared straight at Rhode. "He… has something to tell you."
"Alright." Rhode nodded, feeling that there was something off about Gray's current state—his whole vibe was a bit cold and dark.
Lucy said worriedly, "Gray, your hand…"
Gray was still bare-chested. From his right wrist up past his elbow, several distinct black markings had appeared, looking like some abstract sketch of a Demon's head.
That area seemed to be emitting a chilling, sinister Magic Power.
"I'm fine." Gray didn't want to say more.
He looked at Rhode. "The next objective is to take down the Netherworld, right? I'm going."
"Of course you're going," Rhode said. "This is a war that belongs to everyone in the Guild, and it concerns everyone across the continent."
Gray frowned. "What I mean is…"
"I know. Let me ask about the Netherworld's situation first, then we'll get into the details."
Rhode kind of regretted leaving just the father and son to talk it out earlier. He had no idea what Shilba had said; the guy had practically turned his kid into Sasuke.
He half-expected Gray to jump out with something like, "I live only for revenge. I must kill that man," or whatever.
Shilba was waiting for Rhode not far outside. When he saw him, he immediately said, "You're here for intel on Gate of the Underworld, right?"
Rhode looked at him. "Yeah, but right now I'm more curious about what's going on with Gray."
Shilba laughed. "I gave him my Power. He's now an Ice Demon Slayer Mage. Pretty great Power, right?"
Rhode shook his head. "It's not about Power. I believe that even without Demon Destruction Magic, Gray could've climbed to the peak of Ice Magic."
"Oh? Sounds like you trust him more than I do as his father."
"Because he's my comrade." Rogue gave a very Fairy Tail-style answer—also because Gray's part of the main cast.
"That's not really the point. It might sound strange coming from me, but Fairy Tail genuinely isn't a Guild that exists to chase raw Power. What matters more is the heart.
So what I want to know is what's going on with him in that regard."
"I see…" Shilba said, a bit sheepishly. "I'm not a qualified father. I've been dead for more than ten years, yet I still showed up on my own, and now I'm going to disappear on my own.
I didn't leave my son happy memories or long-term guidance, only hatred and Power for revenge.
And even that Power comes with risks…"
Demon Destruction Magic and Dragon Slayer Magic carry similar risks: if overused, they can cause the user's own body to undergo Demonization.
"Standing from the position of a husband and a father, I can understand your hatred and regret," Rhode said.
"I have no right to stop a child from avenging his parents. On the contrary, I'll help him, and I'll keep an eye on his state. I won't let his heart end up with only revenge left in it."
"Haha… Then that's fine." Shilba's laughter sounded a bit more hearty.
"I was a little worried earlier. If Gray couldn't control that Power, then after I reached that world, how would I even face Mika—Gray's mother?
Now I'm much more at ease. Even without us, he still has many comrades—the best comrades in the world.
I need to thank you all, and thank you on Mika's behalf as well, for taking care of him."
Rhode… was kind of panicking.
Not because of what Shilba was saying, but because of Shilba's condition.
A ghastly green light was starting to shine from his body; it looked like he wouldn't last much longer, like he could collapse at any moment.
"This isn't right. It should at least last until nightfall…" Rhode once again realized that Magic wasn't absolute, even Magic he himself had cast.
"Maybe it's because I've already decided I want to leave," Shilba said calmly, glancing at his own hand. "Don't worry. This is my release.
So I'll just hurry and talk about Gate of the Underworld.
First, the method for finding Netherworld Island's location…
Next is the Nine Ghosts Sect's Curse Power and the secret of Hell's Core…
As for Gate of the Underworld's President, END, I've never met him and don't know his identity. Sorry.
The current acting President is definitely a powerful Demon. If you compare his Curse Power to Magic Power, it's undoubtedly at, or even beyond, Ten Wizard Saints level…"
Shilba looked at Rhode. "But compared to you, I'm not sure… Was what you showed at the Great Demon Fighting Martial Arts your full strength?"
"Mm…" Rhode smiled. "If you mean the strength I showed that last night, then it's not too~ far off, probably."