Gar couldn't help but rub his forehead.
He didn't expect Gildarts' news to appear here.
He guessed it was this guy's bad taste again, probably caught along with someone when he was being set up.
With this guy's strength, running away would definitely not be a problem.
He definitely planned to have some fun.
After all, Gildarts had such a free-spirited nature.
But it also let Gar know where to find him.
It was written at the bottom corner of the newspaper.
This batch of Magic Criminals were all held nearby in the Magician Prison [Black Vox].
As long as he went to [Black Vox], he could get Gildarts out.
However....
Looking at the back view on this newspaper, Gar's lips curled slightly.
Perhaps few people knew Gildarts in this far North Land.
But if this newspaper were casually thrown in front of a Fairy Tail Guild member, they would recognize that this was Gildarts.
Gar put away the newspaper and suddenly wanted to see what would happen after Gildarts returned.
When he took out this newspaper for people to read.
Hmm....
It would be best after he finished recognizing Cana as his daughter.
He remembered that the original Gildarts, after recognizing his daughter, became a complete doting father.
Just became a doting father, and then....
Cana saw this newspaper.
Ignoring that guy.
Gildarts' expression would definitely be very interesting, right?
Gar's lips curled even higher.
Gray, sitting opposite, looked at Gar's expression, which was a smile.
But Gray inexplicably felt a chill.
Wh... What's going on?
Did my clothes fall off?
Gray quickly lowered his head to check his clothes.
No.
Why is it so cold?
--
Afternoon.
Gar and Gray got back on the train.
However, since their target had changed, they had originally planned to go towards Mo Nei Town to subjugate the giant monster 'Unicorn'.
But now, because they had discovered Gildarts' whereabouts.
Gar, bringing Gray along, bought new tickets and prepared to head towards the location of the Magician Prison [Black Vox].
On the train.
Gray already knew the news that Gildarts had been imprisoned.
But seeing Gar's completely unconcerned appearance, he didn't ask.
However, as time passed, Gray still couldn't help but speak up:
"Gar."
"Isn't Gildarts the strongest Magician in the West?"
"How could he still be captured?"
Gar, holding a few newspapers in his hand, sat in his seat, flipping through them and laughing as he said:
"He's probably hiding from someone, or got into some trouble."
Gray was a bit surprised:
"Is there anything the strongest Magician can't solve?"
Gar nodded, saying leisurely:
"Of course."
"For example.... paying compensation."
Gray scratched his head, not understanding:
"Paying compensation?"
Gar smiled and pulled a newspaper from the table, handing it to Gray.
Gray took it, looked at the headline Gar was pointing at, and read:
"Kouha City Suffers Monster and Magician Attack, Town Largely Destroyed, Hereby Wanted...."
Below were some characteristics of the wanted Magician.
Since the face couldn't be seen clearly, only a few appearance details were known, such as a full beard, strong magic power, etc.
Although the Magician who destroyed the town ran away, the monster was killed by an unknown strong individual, and its body was left there, which could be considered recovering some losses.
Gray inexplicably thought of something and looked at Gar:
"No way?"
"Could this person be.... Gildarts?"
Gar shrugged his shoulders:
"Obviously."
"It's this guy's style."
"He's probably scared of paying compensation now."
No choice.
Gildarts' brain doesn't think about things.
Unless he's being particularly serious.
Normal battles are without thinking; he just fights however feels good.
Inside Fairy Tail, quite a few people were led astray like this.
As for the places Gildarts destroyed, the bounty he got from the S-Class missions he took could cover it.
Adding to that, currently in Fairy Tail, there aren't many powerful Magicians, so the damage caused is limited, and the Guild's reputation relies entirely on those few top ones holding the fort.
But wait until over ten years later, when Fairy Tail's younger generation has grown up.
When the mission bounties aren't enough for compensation....
That's when Makarov will have a headache, and complaints will flood in.
Gray's lips twitched slightly.
No wonder he found it strange when Ur mentioned it, why Gildarts carried a bag full of mission bounties.
So it was because it wasn't enough to pay compensation....
In Gray's mind, destroying a few houses or a mountain was already quite something.
The result was destroying half a city like this.
Looking at it this way.
Gar is still stronger.
Gildarts could only run away after destroying things, while Gar could restore two-thirds of the original appearance of the town that Deliola had turned into ruins.
Gray thought this.
Gar spoke up:
"Don't learn from Gildarts."
"Lest later, when you do missions, the bounty you get isn't enough for compensation."
"Although money is external to one's body."
"But you haven't reached the point where you don't need those things."
"Wanting a quiet place to train, wanting powerful magic tools, wanting to give gifts to someone you fancy."
"All these require money."
Gar wasn't being alarmist about this.
The most typical examples are Natsu and Gray, these two guys; it's better to warn them in advance.
Why did Erza, who joined later, keep changing powerful magic re-equip armor, outfit after outfit?
While Gray and Natsu, these two guys, were still living in shared dorms.
It's because they only cared about fighting and nothing else; when the fight got heated, the aftermath left a mess of destruction, and the bounty from each mission might not even be enough to pay the fines.
If Erza was the pay-to-win type, then these two guys were the pure grinding type.
From beginning to end, they didn't use any tools, relying entirely on their own strength to burst power and tough it out.
It's just that these two guys had high talent and grew very quickly later; if their talent were a bit lower, they wouldn't have survived until the end of the story.
Gray swallowed, listening to Gar's serious tone, and nodded gravely:
"I understand, Gar."
Even if he wanted to, he didn't have that kind of strength.
Moreover....
Gray looked at the city that was largely destroyed in the newspaper.
If he had this kind of strength, he should be able to defeat Ur, and Lyon would be even easier.
He had motivation again.
Gildarts and Gar are both so strong, then how powerful must the Guild Master, who is one of the Ten Wizard Saints, be?
As they left the far North Land, they got closer and closer to the West.
Not only did the weather gradually warm up, but Gray's heart also became restless.
Five days later.
The two who had turned around and headed towards the Magician Prison [Black Vox] finally got off the train.
They arrived at a town not far from the Magician Prison [Black Vox].
Upon arriving here.
They could only proceed on foot or hire a carriage.
This is because the Magician Prison [Black Vox] is located deep in the mountains in an area devoid of any vegetation, which greatly prevents prison breaks; even if one occurs, the inmate's tracks will be found quickly.
Gar and Gray hired a carriage in the town to go there.
As they were about to arrive, the coachman was still talking to the two with pride:
"This prison."
"It will definitely open your eyes."
"You would absolutely never imagine what a prison specifically for Magicians looks like."
"It floats in the air."
"And for these past few decades, not a single criminal has successfully escaped."
Gar looked up at the distance, pondered for a moment, and said:
"Are you sure?"
Gray was a bit confused, looking at the thick smoke in the distance.
The coachman said proudly:
"Of course, my father participated in the construction of the prison."
"There...."
Saying this, he pointed towards the distance, and suddenly his eyes widened:
"What?!!!"
"How could such a big fire start?!"
"Could someone have escaped?!"
They saw that the location of the prison, which was supposed to be memorable, was currently engulfed in towering flames and thick smoke.
Even several miles away, they could see the thick pillar of smoke.
One could imagine how big that fire must be....
-------------------------
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