Chapter 256: What's the situation, did Jose chicken out?

[Being stared at fixedly by Jose’s oppressive eyes.]

[Gajeel couldn't help but lower his head.]

[He nodded silently.]

["That guy really said that."]

["Also said..."]

[Speaking to this point, Gajeel couldn't help but pause.]

["Also said, if you don't appear... he won't stop the pursuit and killing of all Phantom members."]

["It’s all of them!"]

[Gajeel’s words made Jose’s expression even more twisted.]

[His palm gripped the corner of the table tightly.]

[Accompanied by a crisp cracking sound.]

[The alloy table corner shattered directly.]

[Jose’s expression was also terrifying to the extreme at this moment!]

["That bastard from Fairy Tail! How dare he!!!"]

[Gajeel remained silent and didn't speak.]

[Instead, a burly man with bandages wrapped around his eyes to the side let out a sound like weeping.]

["Sadness... it is truly too sad!"]

["I seem to see the moment when this extremely arrogant son of the dragon is about to fall!"]

["Master, let me go!"]

[The angry Jose turned his head to look at the weeping man.]

[He narrowed his eyes slightly: "Even Mr. Gajeel was defeated, Aria, are you really sure?"]

[The leader of the Element 4, Aria of the Sky, still maintained a sobbing tone,]

[Even tears permeated the bandages wrapped around his eyes and slid down his cheeks.]

[But his tone seemed extremely excited.]

["The stronger the Black Mage, the more severe the pain when their magic power is drained; this is an extremely sad thing."]

["Master, I only need one chance!"]

[Hearing this, Jose calmed his mood and sat on the chair.]

[His index finger tapped the armrest of the chair rhythmically.]

[After pondering for a moment, he couldn't help but speak.]

["That damn guy cannot be allowed to continue making a scene."]

["Aria, Gajeel, plus Mr. Sol... right, and Totomaru too, you all go and surround and kill that guy."]

["Me again??"]

[Gajeel pointed at himself in disbelief.]

["This time I have dispatched all of the Element 4 except Juvia to cooperate with you, Mr. Gajeel."]

[Jose’s gaze stared straight at Gajeel.]

["But... you guys don't know at all how terrifying that guy is!"]

[Gajeel shook his head like a rattle.]

["Relax, relax, isn't there me?" Totomaru laughed to the side.]

["You have to know, what I specifically counter is the fire Black Mage."]

["Not only that, there is also Mr. Aria lurking in the dark; as long as the plan is proper, we can directly drain that fire dragon’s magic power and then kill him."]

[Sol also echoed.]

[It seemed that the lineup really countered Black Natsu, so the suspicious Gajeel finally didn't say anything.]

[However, seeming to have remembered something, he added.]

["Anyway, I’ll put my words here first; if the situation is not right, I will definitely be the first to run! Definitely!"]

[Watching Gajeel at this moment, Jose couldn't help but shake his head.]

["Is this... still the Gajeel from before?"]

[He didn't say these words out loud.]

[Instead, he turned the topic elsewhere.]

["Since that Black Natsu is making such a scene, we cannot drag this out anymore; the operation against Fairy Tail must be launched as soon as possible."]

["But... most of our powerful mages have gone to surround and suppress the fire dragon; do we still have the strength to deal with Fairy Tail?"]

[Sol of the Earth couldn't help but ask.]

["No problem."] [Jose smiled confidently.]

["That fire dragon bringing things to this point has just given me a reason."]

[Jose’s expression carried a smile.]

["A reason that can lure Makarov away."]

["Next, I will use my identity as the Phantom Master to request the Council to intervene and invite me and that old guy Makarov to the Council to make peace."]

["Of course, this 'me' is not my true body."]

["Thought Projection?"] [Gajeel looked at Jose.]

["Smart."] [Jose smiled.]

["Once Makarov is transferred to the Council, that is when we strike at Fairy Tail."]

[Seeming to have fantasized about something, Jose’s face twisted accordingly.]

["This time! I will take action personally; by the time that old guy Makarov reacts, I guess the entire Fairy Tail will have been wiped out by me, right?"]

["As for the main target of this mission..."]

[Jose turned his gaze to the expressionless woman at the very end of the conference room.]

["Juvia, when we start the operation, Lucy will have to be brought back by you."]

["Me?"]

[Juvia, who was called by name, slowly raised her head.]

[Then she nodded gently.]

["No problem... drip, drop..."]

["Alright, everyone, time is tight, let’s start the operation now, especially that son of the dragon."]

["This time... I want you to bring his head to see me!"]

["Don't worry, Master!"] [Sol performed a gentleman’s salute elegantly.]

[...]

[At the same time.]

[Black Mage Guild, Fairy Tail.]

[The sound of a cup falling to the ground and shattering followed.]

["What?!!"]

[Makarov’s scream spread throughout the entire underground guild!]

[In the messy basement.]

[Makarov looked at the newspaper in front of him in horror.]

[The top was marked with a few words in bold font.]

[EXTRA! LARGE! EVENT!]

[Lisanna leaned over, her gaze looking at the text on the newspaper.]

["Emergency news: Last night, the Phantom headquarters in Oak Town suffered a terrorist attack by an unknown force."]

["Currently, it has caused the deaths of hundreds of Phantom members, and more than one-fifth of the town has been destroyed."]

["The Council states that the evidence is currently incomplete and they are fully investigating the matter."]

[Below the text were pictures of the tragic scene, the most striking one...]

[Was that figure enveloped in flames amidst the endless ruins.]

["This..."]

[The moment she saw that figure, Lisanna’s pupils also trembled.]

[It was just... this figure was too familiar.]

[Although completely enveloped by flames, that build, those golden eyes that seemed never to extinguish...]

[All of this... was too familiar.]

["Phantom... flames..."]

["This... could this be Natsu?"]

[Seeming to feel that this speculation was too shocking even for herself.]

[Lisanna couldn't help but cover her mouth..0]

["This is no longer a question of 'should', but... a question of 'definitely'!"]

[Makarov’s face was ugly.]

[His gaze looked at Lisanna.]

["By the way, where was that guy Natsu last night?"]

["He... he didn't come back."]

[Lisanna’s voice was intermittent.]

[But the words spoken almost made Makarov’s heart stop.]

["That guy... actually really went?!"]

[Mirajane took the newspaper from Lisanna’s hand, just one glance.]

[Her brows furrowed tightly.]

["This guy..."]

[Her hand gripped the newspaper tightly.]

["Why didn't you call me for something like this!! That bastard."]

["Mira, don't join the fun at a time like this, okay? If this matter is not handled well, it will bring extremely serious consequences."] [Erza crossed her arms and spoke in a deep voice.]

["So, he really went to wipe out Phantom??"] [Gray’s expression was also full of astonishment.]

["Hey... something like this... is really too shocking."] [Cana seemed to have forgotten about drinking.]

[Staring fixedly at Makarov, Cana asked: "So, Master, what should we do next?"]

["What to do..."]

[Makarov furrowed his brows tightly.]

["What exactly is that guy thinking? He doesn't look like the kind of person who would act without regard for anything..."]

[The more he thought, the more grave Makarov’s expression became.]