Gray Fullbuster—Ice-Make mage, core member of Fairy Tail, battle maniac, and habitual shirt-shedder.
Lock absorbed every fragment of Gray's experience: molding cold into form, sculpting ice into weapons, barriers, and living constructs.
But what struck him most was the overwhelming flood of technique and instinct shoved into his mind all at once.
It was enough to make his head feel like it might burst.
He had no idea how long the download took—like falling asleep for a moment and waking from a vivid dream—but when he resurfaced, only an instant had passed in the outside world.
Lock exhaled.
His breath crystallized instantly.
He pressed his hands together, channeling magic precisely as Gray did, and focused.
Create.
A swirl of frost formed between his palms, swirling, condensing—flowing like liquid marble—and in seconds, an elegant three-dimensional Fairy Tail guild emblem stood fully carved from transparent ice.
Both hands, always.
Molding magic demanded balance.
Lock admired the work—sharp, clean, perfect.
From across the office, Mt. Lady shivered and rubbed her arms.
"Why does it suddenly feel freezing in here?"
"Same here…" Kamui Woods murmured.
All eyes turned toward Lock.
And the icy Fairy Tail crest was glowing in his hands.
Everyone paused.
Mt. Lady leaned forward. "Director Lock, you can't be slacking off on the job already!"
Lock stepped away and handed the ice emblem to Virgo.
"Not slacking. Designing our agency emblem."
That earned him honest stares—and impressed nods.
"Well," Mt. Lady stretched, "it's not like we have any actual work. Kinda boring."
And she was right.
A Hero agency was normally busy—commissions all day, patrols, villain cases, rescue work.
But they were new. Famous, yes, but new. And for a moment, no requests came.
Lock smiled.
"Relax. Bread will come. Milk will come."
Right on cue—
Riiiing!
The receptionist's phone lit up.
"This is the Fairy Tail Agency, how may we assist—?"
A few seconds later, the receptionist's face lit with joy.
A confirmed commission meant a commission bonus.
"A local open-air shopping mall just requested a two-Hero patrol detail!"
Lock blinked.
The same mall where he saved Jiro Kyoka.
A little karmic return.
He turned toward his Heroes.
"Who wants it?"
"ME! I DO!" Mt. Lady shot up like a firework.
The others didn't even try to compete.
Death Arms took the second slot by default.
"Make a good impression," Lock reminded them. "If they like your work, they'll keep sending jobs our way."
Then, with a pointed squint:
"And Mt. Lady—no snacking, no slacking, no fishing."
She puffed her chest proudly.
"Of course! I'm a pro Hero now—I'll be perfect!"
The moment the two left, the receptionist's phone rang again.
"Boss, it's for you."
Lock answered.
"Hello, Kōgūyami-sensei? Everything alright?"
"Lock," his teacher said calmly, "your agency is open now, yes?"
"Mm."
"Good. I have a Hero commission that requires three Pros. Can your office take it?"
Lock immediately straightened in his chair.
"Absolutely."
Kōgūyami continued:
The commission was villain-related.
Combat type.
Lock's heart jumped.
Battle commissions paid far more than routine patrols.
Defeating Flamingo had given a small reward, listed as bravery.
But Iron Shark?
That was a full Hero assignment and earned him a handsome deposit from the Commission.
"Understood," Lock said after hearing the details.
He hung up—already energized.
He called over Kamui Woods and Sirius.
"You two are coming with me. Reception—send our ID files to the police for verification."
"Yes, Director!"
Lock folded his arms, smiling.
"Well then… looks like Fairy Tail's opening week won't be peaceful at all."
The office buzzed with excitement.
Work had begun.
And their new agency was officially alive.
---
A/N: Advanced Chapters Have Been Uploaded On My Patreon
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