The harbor at Asroba was alive with the sounds of creaking ropes, splashing waves, and the rhythmic thud of crates being loaded onto deck.
A small merchant vessel sat anchored near the dock, its hull weathered from countless voyages across the sea. Deckhands moved efficiently, stacking boxes of Asroba's local goods salted fish, dried herbs, and rare coastal minerals into neat rows across the ship's wide deck.
Now and then, the workers would steal curious glances at the nearby rest platform, where a conversation had drawn their attention.
There stood Ches, freshly returned from the abandoned lighthouse, speaking with a burly man dressed in a navy-blue captain's coat. The man's round belly strained against his buttons, and his thick beard bristled in the sea breeze.
His name was Captain Lambert, and he was the commander of the merchant ship preparing to depart for the western continent.
"So… you're the wizard Marshall sent," Lambert said at last, holding up a folded letter with the port authority's seal.
He studied Ches for a moment longer, squinting skeptically.
"Well, I suppose we can always use protection from a proper guild. We welcome Fairy Tail aboard, but…"
He hesitated, then lowered the letter.
"To be honest with you, things have gotten rough out there. Pirates have been popping up like sea lice. If we weren't in desperate need of the profits from this trip, I wouldn't be risking my men's necks on the open sea."
Lambert crossed his arms, voice dropping a notch.
"So if something happens out there something big I can't promise we'll be able to protect you. Everyone on this ship pulls their own weight, wizard or not."
Ches smiled faintly, not offended in the slightest.
"I don't need protection," he replied. "I'm not here to be guarded. I'm here to find the people who've been terrorizing your routes and stop them."
Lambert blinked, then let out a deep, hearty laugh.
"Well said! I like that attitude."
He clapped Ches on the back with enough force to rattle a lesser man.
"Alright then, welcome aboard. We sail with the tide, just before sunset. If you've got anything left to prepare, do it now."
Ches gave a short nod, eyes drifting toward the horizon.
The real hunt was about to begin.
This guy's got a proper beer belly and looks like the type of old merchant who dreams in coin but to Ches's surprise, Captain Lambert was actually pretty straightforward.
Didn't expect him to be this honest, Ches thought, mildly impressed.
Still, he just gave a casual wave and flashed a relaxed smile.
"Don't worry about my safety," Ches said. "If we really run into pirates, they'll be the ones in trouble."
That kind of confidence wasn't bravado. It was earned.
Lambert studied him for a moment longer, then gave up on further warnings. No use arguing with someone who clearly knew what he was doing.
"Well then, we'll be setting sail in about half an hour," the captain said, stroking his beard. "Please look after us until we reach the other shore."
Of course, the old merchant's easy agreement wasn't purely goodwill.
Asroba wasn't a big town. Everyone knew about Marshall's vendetta and the price he was willing to pay to see it through. So a wizard capable of accepting that commission had to be strong.
In Lambert's eyes, having someone like Ches onboard was like hiring a bodyguard without paying the fee.
Why wouldn't he agree?
"Same here," Ches replied simply, shaking Lambert's hand.
Just as the captain turned to shout an order to his crew, he paused and glanced back.
"Oh, right almost forgot to mention. We also hired a couple wizards from the Black Pheasant's Foot guild to escort us on this trip. Do you know them, by any chance?"
Ches's relaxed expression shifted slightly.
"Black Pheasant's Foot?" he echoed, brows furrowing.
That name rang a bell but not in a good way.
When I was riding back to the guild on the shoulder of that Rock Giant Soldier, Ches recalled, some loudmouth from a black guild tried to block my way. Said he was the strongest wizard from Black Pheasant's Foot.
He nearly laughed out loud at the memory.
Why is it that every shady corner of the kingdom has one of these little black guilds puffing up their chests like they matter?
Captain Lambert noticed his pause and tilted his head. "Oh? You don't know them?"
"I've heard the name," Ches replied, smiling politely. "But our guild doesn't really associate with them."
"Hmm, is that so? That's too bad," Lambert said, stroking his beard. "Black Pheasant's Foot is actually quite well known around here."
Ches raised a brow and looked around pointedly at the sleepy port town and its crumbling lighthouse in the distance.
"Asroba really is a bit behind, huh?"
"What was that?" Lambert asked, frowning.
"Nothing, nothing," Ches said quickly, waving his hand with a chuckle. "Just talking to myself."
He took a moment to sip from his canteen, hiding the amused smirk tugging at his lips.
The so-called 'strongest' member of Black Pheasant's Foot probably couldn't even beat Makao back home, and he mostly spends his days babysitting Romeo.
How does a guild like that get famous anywhere?
Still chuckling to himself, Ches turned to watch the ship's crew finish loading the last crates. The sky was beginning to turn orange with the setting sun. Departure was near and with it, the start of his hunt.
For a moment, Ches wasn't sure if Asroba was just incredibly remote or if Fairy Tail had grown too powerful for smaller guilds to even register on his radar anymore.
Maybe both… he thought, scratching his head.
Before he could dwell on it, the rhythmic clack of leather boots echoed across the wooden dock.
Lambert glanced over and nodded. "Ah, they're back."
Following the direction of his finger, Ches turned to see three wizards approaching from the far side of the port. All three wore matching dark uniforms that tried a little too hard to look official like a factory team that thought they were royalty.
Their setup was familiar. Two young men and one woman. A standard formation. The male wizard on the left was hunched under the weight of multiple overstuffed bags, while the woman walked ahead, hands completely free and posture confident.
Those who understood… understood.
Ah. She's the leader. The classic type who lets the others carry everything, Ches noted, half amused.
Still, he couldn't help but stare at their flashy uniforms.
Why are you dressed like you're about to drop a fashion catalogue instead of protect a merchant ship? The strong sense of déjà vu made Ches sigh inside. They even look like Lane Engine's old team from back in the day. Wonder what he's up to now…
The three finally arrived, and the woman at the front spoke up without bothering to greet anyone.
"Mr. Lambert, is the cargo loaded? Can we set sail now?"
She had short red hair and an average face, but carried herself with a confidence that suggested she thought she owned the dock. Her voice was clear and commanding almost like she was used to giving orders rather than receiving them.
Lambert gave a courteous smile.
"We're almost ready. Just finishing the last rope checks."
He turned to introduce Ches, but paused perhaps sensing tension already starting to brew between the two wizard teams.
Ches offered a mild nod and said nothing.
For now, he simply observed.
"Wait a moment," Lambert replied with his usual merchant's smile. "It'll be ready soon."
The short-haired female wizard finally took notice of the man standing calmly beside him.
"And who's this?"
"He's a wizard as well. He'll be joining us for the voyage," Lambert explained casually.
The man on her left clearly her yes-man stepped forward with a frown. "You don't trust us, the Black Pheasant's Foot? So now you're hiring help from other guilds?"
Lambert quickly raised both hands in defense. "No, no! Mr. Ches was introduced by… an old friend. It's not a matter of trust."
"Ches?" the red-haired woman repeated, rolling the name on her tongue. "That sounds… familiar."
She tilted her head, resting her chin on one hand and eyeing Ches closely. Her expression was one of forced scrutiny like she was trying to act more important than she was.
After a few seconds, she gave up on remembering and just pointed at him.
"Alright, which guild are you from?"
At that, Lambert's ears practically perked up. Even the workers on deck seemed to pause for a second.
Everyone in Asroba had heard about Marshall's tragedy. And everyone also knew that the commission had sat untouched for weeks until now. The wizard who finally took it on had to be something special.
And if the rumors were true… well, there weren't many S-Class mages who once sat at the top of Magic Weekly's "King of Destruction" list.
Lambert, still holding a rope in one hand, leaned forward slightly.
Ches gave a small, amused sigh.
It's always the same question, he thought. Mira asked it too, the same way, with that same curious look.
He glanced at the sky. The sun was dropping fast. Almost time to board.
Then he looked back at the woman, smiled faintly, and replied
It had been over a year since Ches last returned to Fiore.
In that time, the spotlight had shifted. New faces were rising fierce mages like Nazgre, clawing their way up the Magic Weekly charts and snatching headlines that once belonged to him.
Yeah… guess I've faded out of the public eye, he thought.
He scratched his head, wearing a troubled expression as he let out a deep sigh.
"Ah… let's not talk about our little rundown guild," he said with mock defeat. "Compared to your Black Pheasant's Foot, it's really nothing special."
He played the part well shrinking back just enough to look harmless, disheartened, maybe even a little lost.
But it wasn't humility.
No, Ches wasn't the kind of man who stayed quiet out of modesty.
When you're out in the world, he mused, your reputation is what you make it. If I give away everything now, what am I supposed to use to show off later?
He was planning ahead.
There was no doubt in his mind that pirates would appear during this voyage. He could feel it like the sea itself was warning him.
And when they did, he'd be ready.
Let the Black Pheasant Foot team take the lead. I'll play dumb in the back, collect some intel, and when the time comes…
He hid a smirk.
The female wizard, apparently mistaking his downcast act for the real thing, softened visibly. She stepped forward and gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
"It's not easy for small guilds like yours," she said kindly. "You may not be the one who got the commission, but we're all part of the same magical community. We've got your back if anything goes wrong."
Her tone was warm, almost heroic.
Ches looked up at her, blinking innocently.
"Ah… thank you. That means a lot."
He bowed his head slightly in thanks, but inside, he was holding back laughter.
Protect me? Sure. Let's see who ends up protecting who.
Looking at the girl's radiant and gentle smile, Ches felt a slight pang of guilt.
She's too kind for her own good.
"Thank you," he said again, this time with a guilty conscience bubbling beneath his usual calm.
But to the second wizard of Black Pheasant's Foot Wizard No. 2 his humble demeanor was mistaken for something else entirely.
"Don't worry about a thing!" the young man said, puffing up his chest. "With our Invincible Middle-Division Team, you've got nothing to fear!"
Ches's smile twitched.
What kind of ridiculous team name is that? Sounds like something a kid came up with in a school club…
"Ha… ha ha…" he laughed dryly, scratching his head to hide the secondhand embarrassment.
Still, after a few awkward exchanges, the atmosphere grew more relaxed. The tension from earlier gave way to casual chatter, and the two guilds however mismatched settled into a temporary alliance.
At Captain Lambert's call, they gathered their belongings and boarded the merchant vessel together.
The sea breeze blew steadily, and the sun was dipping low on the horizon as the anchor was raised.
Just as the ship creaked and lurched forward into the waves, Ches turned toward Lambert, his voice light but curious.
"By the way, Captain… this ship of yours it's sturdy enough, right?"
Lambert grinned, puffing out his chest with pride.
"Sturdy? Don't worry! No wind or wave out there can knock this beauty over! I've sailed her through storms nastier than a drunk sea serpent!"
He thumped his chest twice for emphasis.
Nearby, one of the Black Pheasant's Foot wizards shook his head and gave Ches a look dripping with pity. In his eyes, this was just another example of a small-guild rookie getting cold feet.
Afraid of a little seawater. Typical.
They weren't wrong not entirely.
Because Ches was, in fact, a little worried.
Not for himself… but for Lambert.
The old merchant was a decent guy, which made him the perfect target for misfortune.
And if Ches wasn't careful
This man's going to lose his boat.
Or his life.
Just as that thought crossed his mind
Buzz!
A strange vibration passed through the wood beneath their feet.
Barely noticeable. Just for a second.
But Ches felt it.
His smile slowly faded.
Here we go.
As the wind caught the white sails, they shimmered faintly with the glow of a power magic circle etched into the mast. Arcane runes flickered along the edges, gently pulsing with energy.
The merchant ship began to glide forward, leaving Asroba's dock behind.
The coastline gradually faded into a blur of rock and mist. Before long, the city was gone entirely swallowed by the horizon, replaced by nothing but the endless swell of open sea.
For the first half of the journey, everything was unusually smooth.
The waves were gentle. The wind was steady. Even the region that, according to local reports, was crawling with pirates... passed without incident.
Lambert, who had been gripping the railing with white knuckles since they left port, finally allowed himself to relax.
"Hah! Maybe our luck turned for once!" he laughed, rummaging below deck.
Moments later, he returned with a dusty bottle of champagne and a handful of mismatched glasses.
"Well then! Mr. Ches, friends from Black Pheasant's Foot how about a toast to a safe and profitable voyage!"
He uncorked the bottle with a loud pop just as the ship rolled gently over another wave.
But the celebration was cut short.
Woo woo woo!
A shrill alarm blared across the deck, fast and urgent.
Footsteps thundered up the ladder from the crow's nest, and the lookout's voice cracked in panic.
"No no good! Pirates! There's a pirate ship coming in fast bearing down on us from five o'clock!"
The crew froze.
Lambert dropped the bottle, the champagne spilling over the deckboards like fizzing seawater.
Ches turned without a word, eyes narrowing as he stepped to the ship's edge and stared across the waves.
There, emerging from the haze, was a ship with dark sails and a twisted black flag a devil's claw, just as Marshall had described.
And it was coming straight for them.