"Are you okay, Milady?"
When Minerva returned to the Sabertooth lodgings the following morning, the remaining guild members anxiously gathered around her.
"I am perfectly fine," Minerva replied, waving them off with a calm, authoritative grace. "Just focus on today's events, understood?"
"Yes, Milady."
The guild was confused. Their entire world had been turned upside down, yet practically speaking... nothing had actually changed. Finn hadn't issued any orders. He simply told them to fight as usual and try to win.
Instead of feeling oppressed, a strange, collective sense of relief washed over Sabertooth. Under Jiemma's tyrannical rule, the guild had existed in a constant, suffocating state of anxiety, terrified of making a single mistake and facing his wrath. Finn, on the other hand, expected practically nothing from them and even casually encouraged them to try and defeat his own team. It left them feeling completely at a loss, yet undeniably lighter.
"...I will defeat him someday," Sting muttered quietly, clenching his fists.
Rogue stared at him for a moment before giving a slow nod. They refused to remain weak. They knew they currently lacked the power to even scratch Finn, but they would train until they did. But frankly, deep down, they both had to admit that working under the masked dictator was already infinitely more comfortable than serving Jiemma.
Out in the Domus Flau stadium, the audience and rival guilds immediately noticed the shift.
"Is something different about Sabertooth today?"
"Are they...?"
"Yeah... they seem a lot calmer."
The oppressive, arrogant swagger that usually defined Sabertooth was completely gone. In its place was a quiet, disciplined focus. Many assumed it was simply because the terrifying Jiemma wasn't sitting in the balcony today.
"Anyway, it is time to kick off the third day of the Grand Magic Games!" Chapati Lola's voice boomed across the stadium, instantly igniting the crowd.
"WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"
"SO EXCITING!"
"LET'S GOOOO!"
"Before we begin, let me introduce our returning commentator, Mr. Yajima, and today's special guest!" Lola gestured to the booth. "From the Magic Council's Rune Knights, Captain Lahar!"
"It is a pleasure to be here." Lahar adjusted his glasses professionally.
"With you keeping a watchful eye on the arena, we can all rest assured the games will be completely fair and free of injustice!" Lola praised.
"Ah, no, no. I can't take the credit for that," Lahar replied smoothly, leaning into his microphone. "If there is peace and order in Fiore today, it is entirely thanks to the Chief of the Fiore Branch of the Magic Council, Finn Hoen. His tireless leadership and absolute dedication ensure that everyone can enjoy these games in safety."
Lahar was laying it on thick. He knew perfectly well that he was currently slacking off, enjoying the VIP treatment provided by Finn's seemingly endless budget. Worse, he was actively ignoring glaring evidence that a wanted fugitive (Jellal) was hiding in the Fairy Tail roster. If Finn decided to audit him, Lahar knew his career would be over. Sucking up on live television was entirely out of character for the strict captain, but given Finn's notoriously ruthless reputation, Lahar felt he had no other choice.
Beside him, Mest Gryder quietly lowered his head, desperately hoping Finn wasn't watching the broadcast and judging them for sitting in the commentator's booth instead of working. Technically, keeping an eye on Fairy Tail is working, Mest rationalized to himself.
Down in the Heavenly Blue dugout, Meredy smirked, violently nudging Finn in the ribs.
"Listen to that. Your little follower is kissing up to you on live broadcasting," she teased.
"What do you expect me to do about it?" Finn sighed, rolling his eyes beneath his mask. He had zero interest in Lahar's blatant flattery. More importantly, Lahar was a man. What use did Finn have for him?
Over in the Fairy Tail A dugout, Natsu scowled. "Why did that guy suddenly bring up the Council Chief?"
"That greedy, extortionist young man is actually beloved by his subordinates?" Makarov muttered, genuinely shocked. Still, Makarov had to admit that compared to the bloated, useless Council of seven years ago, the Fiore Branch under Finn Hoen was terrifyingly efficient and capable.
"Whatever! We just have to keep winning! Otherwise, we're going to be drowning in debt!" Makarov yelled, quickly shifting his focus back to the prize money.
"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Fairy Tail roared in agreement. Even if they had suffered crushing defeats yesterday, their fiery spirit—and their desperation to avoid bankruptcy—remained absolute!
Meanwhile, in the Fairy Tail Team B dugout, Cana Alberona took a massive swig from her barrel of booze.
"What are you looking so smug about?" Cana asked, wiping her mouth as she stared at Lisanna.
"What? Am I?" Lisanna blinked, though a soft, undeniably satisfied smile lingered on her lips.
"Well, whatever," Cana grunted, turning her attention to the older Strauss sibling. "And what are you being so gloomy for, Mira?"
"Oh, it's nothing~. Just mind your own business, Cana~," Mirajane replied, flashing a sweet, closed-eye smile that radiated absolute, terrifying demonic pressure.
"....."
Gulp. Gulp. Gulp.
Cana wisely decided to mind her own business and practically inhaled the rest of her alcohol.
Following Jellal's near-exposure the day before, he had been quietly pulled from the roster. Cana had stepped up to replace him on Team B.
"The competition for the morning of the third day is... PANDEMONIUM!" Lola announced to the roaring crowd. "One member from each guild will step forward to participate!"
"I will go," Erza volunteered instantly, stepping out of the dugout.
"Go get 'em, Erza!"
"Beat everyone!"
"Don't lose!"
As Team A cheered for Erza, Cana stepped forward for Team B.
"I'm going too," Cana declared, cracking her knuckles.
"Alright, be careful out there."
"Don't drink too much before you fight."
"If you bomb this event, we're confiscating all your booze!" her guildmates yelled.
"Hic..." Cana smirked confidently. "Don't worry about me. I've got a secret weapon~!"
Natsu, Gray, and Erza weren't the only ones who had grown stronger over the last few months. Cana had undergone grueling, highly secretive private training sessions directly under Finn. She was vastly more powerful than anyone realized.
Then again... he really isn't around much right now, is he? Cana thought, feeling a slight, irritating twinge of neglect. Finn hadn't approached her or spoken to her once since the games began.
I'll just have to put on a show and make you regret ignoring me, Cana thought, offering a fiery grin as she strutted out onto the field alongside Erza.
Naturally, the other guilds quickly finalized their representatives. Millianna stepped up for Mermaid Heel, Hibiki Lates for Blue Pegasus, and the Wizard Saint Jura Neekis for Lamia Scale.
"Who's going for us?" Sting asked nervously in the Sabertooth dugout.
Minerva glanced at the roster, then pointed casually. "Orga. You go."
"O-Oh..."
Orga swallowed hard. He wanted to refuse, but as his guildmates excitedly shoved him toward the exit, he had no choice but to step forward.
"Go get 'em, Orga!"
"Do your best!"
"Show them Sabertooth's power!"
Sting, Rogue, and Rufus offered deeply insincere smiles of encouragement. In reality, their eyes were darting nervously toward the Heavenly Blue dugout. The moment Orga stepped onto the field, the three elites let out massive, synchronized sighs of relief that they hadn't been chosen.
"Oh, God..."
Standing in the center of the arena, Orga's face drained of all color, turning a sickly, ash-white.
Why was the aggressive Lightning God Slayer suddenly trembling in absolute terror?
Because the masked man representing Heavenly Blue for the Pandemonium event had just stepped out onto the field.
It was Finn.