Chapter 242

Despite having heard of him long before, this was in fact Makarov's first time meeting Ace face to face.

He had also long wanted to meet the one who had stepped forward to save Fairy Tail when he himself had fallen, and to thank him in person.

It was only a shame that Ace's two previous appearances had either coincided with Makarov being injured by an underhanded attack and recuperating, or with him happening to be away, so it had dragged on until now.

"No, no, no, Guild Master Makarov, you're too kind."

"I was merely passing by, and I happened to want to commission Fairy Tail to find someone, so I lent a hand — you needn't mind it too much."

Ace waved his hand at once, saying with a casual expression.

"Besides, I sensed the Monu Sect's aura on that Joseph back then — no matter the reason, I would have made a move."

"Come to think of it, I'm still rather worried my identity might cause you trouble."

"No matter what, you will always be a friend of our Fairy Tail."

Makarov said with a solemn expression.

Although Ace's identity was extremely awkward, compared to those rules, they valued friendship and bonds far more.

The grace of having, in a moment of crisis, braved danger to save their children and protect their guild — such a debt of kindness could not simply be brushed aside with a single sentence.

Moreover, compared with the previous visitors from another world, although Ace's identity was that of a pirate, whether in his conduct or his bearing, he gave people a warm, spring-breeze-like feeling.

"Right, by the way, Ace, you came from the Grand Line, so regarding news of the World Government's Admiral Akainu, you should be clear on it too, I suppose."

At that moment, Lucy, who had been silent all along, suddenly leaned in and said.

And as Lucy's words fell, the surrounding crowd all gathered over.

Although nothing was said outright, from their eyes one could clearly see they were extremely curious about Akainu's identity.

"Akainu?"

Hearing this, Ace was also slightly taken aback.

Clearly also quite surprised by this news, he then spoke up as if suddenly understanding.

"Could it be that the one who attacked your Fapingyi Society earlier was Akainu, one of the World Government's three Admirals?"

"Mm!"

Makarov nodded and said, then lifted his clothes as he spoke, revealing the scars on his body.

"I won't hide it from you — I was also present at that battle. In that fight, I was wounded by that man called Akainu."

"Akainu, you say?"

Hearing Makarov's words, Ace also furrowed his brow.

"I didn't expect even they have descended into this world."

"Akainu, as far as I know, has an extremely violent temperament and upholds 'absolute justice'!"

To achieve his goals, his methods are cruel and leave no room for sentiment; to complete a mission, he can, without the slightest scruple, treat even colleagues and ordinary civilians as targets to be annihilated."

The moment the words fell, the entire hall was shocked.

"He kills even the most innocent civilians?" Lucy covered her mouth, saying with a face full of shock, her eyes brimming with astonishment.

"How could that be — how can such a person still be fit to be an Admiral!"

"Doesn't the World Government's higher-ups do anything about it?"

"It's no use."

Ace shook his head slightly and said in a low voice. "Although the World Government in some sense proclaims itself the bearer of justice, in reality it obeys the Five Elder Stars."

"To become an Admiral, one must first join their direct forces. Akainu, to curry favor with them, will not blink at any mission — even one that calls for slaughtering an entire island."

……

As if struck by a bolt from clear sky, everyone froze on the spot.

Although they had made some guesses from Akainu's earlier actions, they had not expected that a force claiming to be righteous could be so rotten within.

Slaughtering an entire island — that is no longer justice, it is evil!

No wonder even such a kind person as Ace is wanted — the World Government is, at its core, an evil force!

How terrifying… Ace himself must have been forced into piracy by the World Government.

For a moment, everyone's hearts were filled with a swirl of feelings; looking at Ace again, their eyes held not a trace of wariness, and even a touch of gratitude.

Yet to all this, Ace merely looked utterly indifferent.

"You don't have to be like that. In truth, not every Marine is a villain, and not every pirate is a good person."

Although at first his goodwill had stemmed from Ace stepping in to save Fairy Tail, it had to be said that after this exchange, Makarov had come to fully accept Ace.

If Ace had not already joined the Whitebeard Pirates, Makarov would have insisted on pulling him into his own guild no matter what.

"Alright, enough of that — since Ace is here, let's hold a grand banquet together!"

Amid the clamor, with Ace's joining, Fairy Tail once again plunged into revelry.

……

The gathering went on for a long time, only ending when dawn was nearly breaking.

In Fairy Tail guild's exclusive great hall, all the Fairy Tail members lay sprawled haphazardly in random corners.

After a night of revelry, everyone had by now fallen fast asleep.

Daddadada……

Amid their slumber, a sudden flurry of urgent footsteps rang out from outside the great hall.

"What's going on — are you going to let people sleep or not?"

Natsu, whose foot was resting on Gray's head, covered his ears and grumbled as he turned over.

However……

The very next instant his words fell, a violent crash jolted everyone present awake!

"What's going on?"

"What's happening!"

……