Chapter 54

Perhaps only then could he engage Hades in a true battle to the death.

However, if Lin Cheng wanted to withdraw unscathed, he would probably still need to add Aces, who was likewise A-rank two-star, to the mix.

Still, Lin Cheng was only thinking about it; for now, there was no need for him to provoke an existence on his own level.

Hades was almost the first BOSS in Fairy Tail set up as impossible to defeat.

Even if Lin Cheng played every last trump card he had, he wasn't certain he could completely steamroll all of Grimoire Heart.

One had to remember that, apart from the powerful Seven Kin of Purgatory, Grimoire Heart also had a vice president who could stand against the strongest mage in Fairy Tail, Gildarts.

Lin Cheng could try to wipe out Grimoire Heart, but there was simply no need.

That would set him back to square one overnight, and the losses would far outweigh the gains.

Originally, Lin Cheng's initial goal had merely been to have Konan, who possessed long-duration flight capability, make a routine search for the location of the Tower of Heaven, so he could head over and reasonably use the Akatsuki organization's setting to play it cool and show off his presence a bit.

Having now shown off his presence right here at Grimoire Heart's place, Lin Cheng was already extremely satisfied.

In that brief exchange with Grimoire Heart just now, Lin Cheng had harvested nearly two million emotion points.

One could say it was quite a decent haul.

'Well then, next, after saying a few pleasantries, I can leave.'

'Grimoire Heart — this wave of the mine can be harvested for another round of emotion points when we get to the Tenrou Island arc.'

"So then, what is your purpose?"

"I imagine you didn't suddenly board this old man's ship just to fight me."

Hades looked at Pain, and his eyes narrowed just slightly.

The battleground was rather awkward, and the strength of his opponent had likewise exceeded Hades's expectations.

Hades had never imagined that within an organization he had never even heard of, there would actually appear a fellow with such terrifying power.

Such strength had probably already far surpassed the scope of an ordinary-classed Saint Ten Wizard.

Even though Hades was fully confident in his own strength and was far from having unleashed his full power, he had not failed to notice the state of Ultear, Azuma, and Rustyrose around him.

Just that tentative exchange from earlier had already drained their magic power to nothing.

The magical airship was very important to Hades.

Or rather, aboard the magical airship there was something very important to Hades.

That was the key to guaranteeing Hades's longevity and power — 'Grimoire Heart' itself; that thing absolutely could not be carelessly destroyed, as it would greatly affect Hades's condition.

"Discovering your esteemed guild's magical airship was indeed somewhat unexpected."

At this moment, Konan, who had not spoken all this while, opened her mouth.

After all, Pain's setting was as coolly aloof as it could possibly be — ruthless and a man of few words.

For this sort of negotiation and explanation, it was still more fitting to leave it to the Akatsuki organization's class beauty, Konan, to handle.

"As for clashing with your esteemed guild, that likewise isn't something we need to do."

Looking at the crowd wearing expressions as though they had seen a ghost, Konan said blandly, "I imagine Hades, who has something aboard that cannot be destroyed, has no reason to keep fighting either."

Hades glanced at Pain, who stood not far off in silent silence, and laughed. "What an amusing way to put it."

"So then, what is your purpose?"

"Board this old man's ship, cause a great commotion aboard this old man's ship, and then what are you planning to do?"

As his words fell, Hades's gaze grew sharp and fierce.

It was plain to see that, if a reasonable explanation could not be given, Hades truly was about to unleash a hundred percent of his combat power and utterly keep Pain and Konan here for good.

"Only by experiencing pain can one come to know the preciousness of peace."

"The goal of our Akatsuki organization is to make the entire world peaceful, with no more disputes of any kind."

Watching Hades, who seemed ready to resume fighting, Konan said calmly, "Next, there may be an opportunity for us to cooperate, though I expect it will take some time yet."

"When that time comes, I think Guild Master Hades will be a little more patient."

As her words fell, Pain and Konan vanished directly from Hades's and everyone else's line of sight.