Hearing the old Mayor mention the Western Continent, Ankh's expression immediately darkened.
He nodded and said, "Of course I know. Two years ago, they launched a massive invasion of Ishgar—a group of incredibly powerful and ruthless individuals."
Laxus seemed to recall something at this point, saying, "Now I remember. Back then, the Western Continent suddenly started a war, wiping out several countries along the continental border. Eventually, dozens of nations sought help from the Fiore Kingdom, specifically requesting Ankh's assistance."
The Western Continent, officially named Alakitasia, stood separated from the eastern continent of Ishgar—where Ankh and the others resided—by a vast ocean.
Even taking the fastest magic ship from the closest departure point would require at least ten days of travel.
Transportation between the two continents was quite challenging.
Normally, there was virtually no diplomacy between them, with no exchange of information, books, or correspondence.
Occasionally, however, people from the Western Continent would immigrate to Ishgar to settle down.
For example, Alzack and Bisca in the guild were fellow countrymen originally from the West.
Although magic flourished there as well—indeed, the average level of magical cultivation in the Western Continent actually surpassed that of the Eastern Continent—most magic there was strictly used for combat and warfare.
The oppressive atmosphere made it incredibly difficult for Mages with gentle dispositions or inadequate strength to make a living.
This situation was primarily due to the Alvarez Empire, the most powerful magical nation in the Western Continent.
This superpower, composed of over 700 guilds, monopolized the magical industry across the entire continent, dedicated to developing military strength and influencing the whole landmass.
To put this in perspective, the entire Ishgar continent only had about 500 guilds total...
However, in terms of magic's application to civilian life, Ishgar had developed much better, far surpassing the Western Continent in integrating magic to improve people's everyday livelihoods.
Ankh frowned and asked, "Could it be that the Western Continent is planning to invade again?"
Two years ago, Ankh had received an urgent mission from the Fiore Kingdom to support the border nations being invaded by magical forces from the West.
It was during that specific campaign that Ankh single-handedly crushed the entire invading alliance, inflicting heavy casualties on the Western Continent's forces and truly earning him the continent-wide reputation as the "Fairy Grim Reaper."
The Council subsequently used weapons of nuclear-level power—like the Etherion Cannon—as a deterrence, which finally extinguished the Western Continent's invasion ambitions completely.
After the war, Ankh investigated and found that the Alvarez Empire might have actually been behind the invasion.
But this remained pure speculation, since the attackers were technically an alliance of several independent guilds from the Western Continent that didn't officially belong to Alvarez, representing various different countries.
Later, the Western Continent quieted down, with the Alvarez Empire maintaining silence as if nothing had ever happened.
When Makarov heard the mention of the Western Continent, his aged face immediately darkened, his mouth tightening as chaotic thoughts swirled in his mind.
The old Mayor, not noticing Makarov's concerned expression, spoke to Ankh with a laugh.
"How could that be? The Council might be incompetent at actual work, but they are quite skilled at wielding their arsenal to intimidate others."
This was the kind of statement the old Mayor only dared to make within the walls of Fairy Tail.
If word got out, those petty old men and women in the Council would undoubtedly make trouble for his city.
Lowering his voice mysteriously, the old Mayor told them:
"I have an old colleague working in the administration at Hargeon. The people sent by the Council have sealed off the coastline for investigation. He secretly told me that the Western Continent seems to be drifting toward us!"
"It drifted over?! You mean the entire continent?!"
Everyone present gasped in unison.
The old Mayor quickly gestured for them to lower their voices, glancing discreetly at the reporters who had been isolated outside by Natsu and the others, before whispering in a hushed tone.
"Keep your voices down! I've heard the Western Continent is drifting toward our Eastern Continent at an entirely unreasonable speed."
"Continental drift can happen like that? Are they going to collide?" Ankh drew a sharp breath and spoke with confusion.
The old Mayor shook his head and continued:
"It's unclear, but probably not to that extent. Otherwise, the Western Continent would have been in chaos already from the earthquakes. Still, in just over a decade, people from both continents might literally be able to see each other across the sea from their ports with the naked eye..."
A dozen years—quite a long time for ordinary people.
But if it only takes a dozen years for two immeasurably vast continents to approach each other, that speed is anything but slow. From a geographical standpoint, it is terrifyingly fast.
Ankh and Makarov exchanged glances, both sensing the extreme severity of the situation.
Even if the two continents didn't fully merge, given their history of intense conflicts and completely different cultural customs and magical focuses, there would likely be massive riots and political challenges emerging.
"No wonder the Council is too preoccupied to deal with us."
For the first time, Ankh didn't mock the Council, instead feeling genuine sympathy for them.
This was simple pity for what amounted to a corporate workforce—one that was about to face a massive storm of overtime...
The old Mayor took a sip of tea to moisten his throat and said without much concern.
"Anyway, I probably won't live to see the day when the Western Continent becomes our direct neighbor. You youngsters will have your hands full in the future."
Makarov quickly laughed and joked with his good friend, saying things like "may you live a thousand years"...
But the old Mayor was right about one thing—if that day really comes, Fairy Tail would likely be the busiest guild of all.
As the strongest guild in all of Fiore, and arguably the entire continent, they would bear the most frequent and most dangerous missions.
"And I've heard the Northern Continent, Guiltina, has also drifted slightly toward us. They might become our neighbors too."
The expressions of those present grew even more solemn.
Humans naturally fear the unknown—even the strongest instinctively remain vigilant.
Moreover, this situation clearly presented more disadvantages than advantages.
While distant future continental connections might foster exchange and create a golden age...
From the contemporary perspective, such abrupt changes would be incredibly hard to accept.
After talking for a long while, the old Mayor finally left his old friend's guild satisfied, keeping his head down and remaining silent as he ducked through the crowd of reporters outside.
Inside the guild, several pillars of the organization gathered around the counter, the atmosphere heavy.
Discreet members deliberately kept their distance from the area.
Three continents becoming neighbors in ten years—compared to the Northern Continent of Guiltina, with its unknown magical development, poorer industrial infrastructure, and absence of prior conflicts, the Western Continent posed far greater, immediate dangers.
After a moment of silence, Ankh spoke first.
"Now we will have to wait and see how things develop over the next ten years. This might well turn into another era of chaos."
Makarov nodded silently, unable to voice his hidden concerns.
Fairy Tail's first Guild Master, Mavis, had led the guild through wartime, the second Guild Master, Precht, had stabilized it postwar and now he himself, the third, had developed it during peacetime.
Just when he was about to retire, was a continental war going to start all over again?
Makarov looked up at Ankh, who was frowning in thought, then at the silent Laxus and finally at the mature Gildarts, sighing inwardly.
Although Ankh is now fully capable of succeeding as the Fourth Guild Master, the pressure he would face after taking over would likely be no less than what the First Guild Master had endured.
But his reliable aides are only Laxus and Gildarts, with Mirajane and Erza barely counting as additional support.
As for the younger generation like Natsu, they still need time to grow and Mystogan is unfortunately no longer in Earthland.
With the world's situation on the verge of massive change, Makarov felt intensely anxious.
He urgently wanted to pave the way for the next Guild Master, lest he himself might not wake up one day...
Makarov raised his head and spoke with a solemn expression.
"Speaking of which, it is about time for the S-Class Exam to begin!"