While the general public might not be familiar with the Reborn Oracion Seis, anyone paying attention remembered the original Oracion Seis. They were the infamous, terrifying Dark Guild from seven years ago that nearly unleashed Nirvana—a calamitous weapon capable of reversing light and darkness.
If Finn had to describe it, it was essentially an absolute mind-manipulation weapon. It twisted a person's core morality, morphing good into bad, and bad into good. It was a power that could easily plunge the entire world into depraved chaos or complete destruction.
Fortunately, thanks to the Fairy Tail coalition, that disaster had been averted. The event had even brought Wendy, the adorable and deeply beloved Sky Dragon Slayer, into Fairy Tail's ranks.
But Finn's focus right now was absolutely not on Wendy. His gaze was fixed squarely on the remnants of the Oracion Seis. Specifically, the ones who had managed to escape, slip into the shadows, and establish a brand new Dark Guild. Unlike their previous iteration, where they bided their time and stayed low-key, this reborn group was actively hunting for a new source of chaotic power.
So, as the esteemed head of the Fiore Branch of the Magic Council, was Finn going to heroically swoop in and stop them to save the world?
Well... not exactly.
If he were truly interested in playing the selfless savior, he would make a massive public spectacle out of it, ensuring the entire world knew his name and worshipped the ground he walked on. Some purists argued that true heroes should remain low-key and never demand a reward for their good deeds. But was it really so wrong to demand a little compensation? If you did something incredible, shouldn't you take what you were owed?
Finn certainly thought so. However, his goal wasn't the secret weapon the Reborn Oracion Seis was currently hunting. He knew perfectly well that the so-called "Infinite Clock" was nothing more than a broken, useless artifact—a mere filler episode of the world.
Instead of claiming a useless clock, Finn's desires were aimed at the people. He wanted the raw power, the bodies, and the absolute loyalty of the Dark Guild's strongest members. He was going to dominate them and forge them into his own elite, personal strike force.
While Finn was already soaring through the sky on his dark hunt, back in the city, Jude Heartfilia was desperately warning Lucy and her friends about the exact man they owed their lives—and their wallets—to.
Jude recounted his past to the guild members, explaining how Finn had found him at his absolute lowest and utilized his past experience as a corporate titan to aggressively expand the Councilman's private businesses. Yes, Jude had gone bankrupt. He had failed spectacularly. But his mind for managing massive organizations was exactly the tool Finn had craved.
"I don't know how on earth you all managed to get involved with him, but please, do not get any closer to that man," Jude pleaded, looking directly at his daughter. He was utterly speechless that Lucy's guild was deeply entangled with the White Devil. "If you become his enemy, you won't just disappear. They won't even find a corpse. I don't want to see you ruined... or worse."
While Finn was undeniably a genius and a highly effective boss, Jude knew firsthand that he was not a good man. He had witnessed the cold, cruel, and utterly ruthless methods Finn used behind closed doors. The clueless public might look up to Finn with starry eyes, but those at the top knew the truth. They had seen how effortlessly Finn crushed, threatened, and eliminated anyone who dared to stand in his way.
Jude knew that despite his current respectable position, the moment he became useless or showed even a hint of betrayal, Finn would dispose of him without a second thought. But putting his own life aside, his primary concern was the beautiful, naive daughter sitting across from him.
"Don't worry, Dad," Lucy said softly, trying to calm the terrifying tension in the air. "I know you're worried. I admit he's... intense. And maybe he isn't a 'good' guy, but he is fair."
"Yes, he is absolutely fair. I won't deny that," Jude agreed, his tone heavy. "But how did you even end up in his grasp?"
"Well..." Lucy suddenly squirmed in her seat. A deep, hot flush spread across her cheeks, and she instinctively crossed her arms beneath her heavy, voluptuous breasts, inadvertently pushing them up into a highly distracting display. "Our guild... kind of owes him a massive debt, so..."
"Oh?" Jude blinked, surprised. "How much?"
"Around... 30 million Jewels..." Lucy mumbled, her face burning so hot she felt like she might melt into a puddle. It was incredibly embarrassing for a woman of her pride to admit she was practically owned by a man like Finn.
Jude didn't even flinch. He simply nodded. "Should I pay it off for you?"
"..."
Lucy was stunned into silence. But she wasn't the only one. Gray, Wendy, Erza, Carla, and even Happy stared at Jude with wide, completely dumbfounded eyes.
"Uncle, are you seriously sure you want to pay off our debt?!" Happy gasped.
"Thirty million Jewels really isn't that much money anymore, you know. I can clear it out immediately if you want me to," Jude offered smoothly. "And don't worry about the optics. Finn-sama doesn't care where the money comes from, as long as he gets what he is owed."
As they had discussed, Finn was brutally fair. Jude knew that if he funneled the money to Fairy Tail to settle the account, Finn wouldn't bat an eye.
"...Is that really okay, Dad?" Lucy asked, her heart fluttering with sudden, desperate hope.
"Yes," Jude smiled warmly. "Let me just arrange the transfer—"
BANG!
The entire table violently shook as a fist slammed into the wood. The loud, echoing crack drew the attention of the entire restaurant to the pink-haired young man glaring fiercely.
"Huh? Natsu?!" Lucy jumped, her generous chest bouncing with the sudden startle.
"Uncle, you don't have to do that!" Natsu roared, his eyes burning with fiery determination. "This is Fairy Tail's problem! We are going to solve our own mess! We're gonna win the Grand Magic Games and pay off our debt with our own hands! You don't have to worry about us!"
"Natsu..." Lucy murmured, slightly moved by his passionate defense of their guild's honor.
Jude, however, was completely speechless.
Carla immediately smacked her forehead, violently scolding the Dragon Slayer. "Are you stupid?!"
He really is an idiot! Carla thought frantically. A wealthy benefactor was literally offering to wipe away the suffocating financial collar Finn had wrapped around their necks, and this moron was rejecting it out of sheer pride?! What exactly was wrong with his brain?!
"He is right," Erza interjected, stepping forward. The heavy metal of her breastplate shifted snugly against her own impressive curves as she crossed her arms, her tone commanding and absolute. "We will win the Grand Magic Games and secure the prize money to pay off our debt. We are deeply thankful for your generous offer, Uncle, but we will shoulder this burden on our own."
"Is that so?" Jude looked at Erza, recognizing the unbreakable aura of a true leader in her eyes. He nodded respectfully. "But my offer remains on the table. You are all my daughter's precious friends, and you protected her when I couldn't. If you ever find yourselves backed into a corner, just tell me."
"We will. But please, don't do anything dangerous on our behalf," Erza warned, her mind flashing back to the terrifying, suffocating pressure Finn had emitted in his office. "Your life is more important than anything, especially to your daughter. Now... let's begin our training."
"OOOOHHHH!"
With a roaring battle cry, the Fairy Tail mages marched out of the restaurant, their bellies full and their spirits burning fiercely. They were ready to plunge into hellish training. Lucy, now officially standing beside her true family, hurried to follow them.
"Dad, thank you so much for everything," Lucy smiled softly, lingering for just a moment. "I'll come visit you again when I have the time."
"Don't worry about me, Lucy. I might be your father, but I know you have a new family now," Jude said, returning her smile. "Train hard. I genuinely hope you win. But..."
Jude leaned in, dropping his voice to a hushed, conspiratorial whisper. "...If you ever realize you need the money, just give me a signal. I'll keep thirty million Jewels in a secure briefcase, ready to go."
"O-Okay...!" Lucy giggled, her cheeks flushing pink again.
"LUCY, LET'S GO!" Natsu shouted from down the street.
"Coming! I'm coming!"
Lucy sighed helplessly, but the heavy, dark cloud that had been hovering over her since she returned had completely vanished. With a light heart and a swaying, confident stride, she ran to catch up with her guildmates. The three-month countdown to the Grand Magic Games had officially begun.
Meanwhile, high above the clouds, Finn's massive falcon wings cut through the icy air.
He had finally pinpointed the exact coordinates of the Reborn Oracion Seis. The wind whipped violently against his body as a ruthless expression spread across his face. He wasn't wasting another second.
He was coming to claim his preys.