Chapter 106
The Regional Guild Masters’ League served as an intermediary organization between the Magic Council and the local Mage guilds.
Its purpose was to coordinate communication among guilds operating in the same region and mediate any disputes that arose between them.
The League held regular meetings where Guild Masters could exchange information, resolve local issues, and hear the Magic Council’s latest decisions.
In Marshall’s opinion, those meetings were little more than an excuse for a group of old men and women to sit around drinking tea, bragging, and gossiping.
Whether he attended made little difference.
This time, however, officials from the Magic Council would be present, and the agenda supposedly included the promotion of magical communication terminals.
Since Marshall wanted his product to spread as widely as possible, he decided that attending might be worthwhile.
This wasn’t actually his first time joining one of these gatherings.
Back when Marshall first began producing notable research, the Magic Council had invited him to present his achievements.
Makarov had carried him around like a priceless treasure and proudly displayed him to everyone, while a crowd of elderly Guild Masters surrounded Marshall as though he were some rare animal at a zoo.
Marshall hated the experience so much that he refused to attend again.
But now?
This was merely another opportunity to make a grand entrance in public.
That was one field in which he possessed plenty of experience!
Under normal circumstances, Marshall still wouldn’t have bothered.
With the magical communication terminal nearing its official release, however, attending to advertise the product wouldn’t hurt.
Wasn’t a Guild Masters’ meeting the perfect place to hold a product launch?
...
The following day, inside a small castle on the outskirts of Clover Town, the regional Guild Masters’ meeting was about to begin.
Bob, the Guild Master of Blue Pegasus, was chatting with Goldmine, the Guild Master of Quatro Cerberus.
"Fairy Tail’s younger generation has become increasingly active lately~"
Bob rested his cheek against one hand.
"Their achievements might eventually surpass even those of our generation. I’m almost jealous of Makarov~♡"
"Hahaha! I heard another youngster was recently promoted to S-Class."
Goldmine stroked his beard.
"Knowing the old man, he’ll probably bring the brat here to show off."
"Perhaps he’ll suddenly pop out in front of us at any moment."
"That certainly sounds like him."
Bob’s smile faded slightly.
"Still, those two guilds should show some restraint. If this continues, a serious conflict between them may become unavoidable."
The two guilds in question were naturally Fairy Tail and Phantom Lord.
Bob and Goldmine remained relatively neutral and hadn’t reached the point of choosing sides, but the hostility between Fairy Tail and Phantom Lord had persisted for years without showing any sign of ending.
Jokingly calling both Blue Pegasus and Quatro Cerberus branch guilds of Fairy Tail wasn’t entirely inaccurate either.
"Still, the meeting is about to begin."
Goldmine looked toward the entrance.
"Where is Makarov? Don’t tell me he plans to miss this one."
"That shouldn’t be the case. He sent me a letter a few days ago saying he would attend."
Bob glanced around.
"Perhaps something delayed him."
The moment he finished speaking, a brilliant beam of light pierced the castle’s domed ceiling from an unknown source.
Where the light gathered, the air fractured like broken glass.
A hand suddenly reached through the spatial crack and every Guild Master in the chamber became alert.
"What an extraordinary control over space! Whoever that is remains completely unaffected by the spatial turbulence."
"When did Fiore gain a Spatial Mage this powerful?"
"Who is it? An enemy?"
"How dare someone force their way into the meeting hall!"
"Wait! Look at the eyes inside that crack. That appears to be an elderly man!"
A tiny old man struggled his way out of the spatial fissure.
It was Makarov.
"Ah, sorry, sorry."
A youthful voice came from the other side.
"This old man crawls far too slowly and got himself stuck halfway through. That’s why we’re late~"
"..." × Everyone
"Makarov, you bastard..."
"My, my. I truly apologize."
Makarov brushed off his clothes with an unbearably smug expression.
"I nearly forgot today was the regular meeting."
"There wasn’t enough time to travel by carriage, so I had no choice but to ask Fairy Tail’s newly promoted S-Class Mage to open a little shortcut through space."
He turned toward the crack.
"Marshall! Come out and greet the Guild Masters."
"This gentleman is Bob of Blue Pegasus, and over there is—"
"Oh dear, look at my memory!"
Makarov slapped his forehead theatrically.
"Age truly is catching up with me. I nearly forgot to introduce Fairy Tail’s newest S-Class Mage!"
"This is Marshall."
"He’s twelve years old and specializes in Spatial Magic."
"Old friends, please remember to look after Fairy Tail’s newest rising star from now on!"
"Oh, right!"
Makarov continued before anyone could respond.
"Our Marshall isn’t merely powerful. His understanding of magical theory is among the finest in the kingdom, and he possesses an exceptional talent for earning money!"
"You all remember Fairy Tail’s Naruto theme park, don’t you?"
"That was Marshall’s idea!"
An unnatural silence descended upon the hall.
’This fucking bastard.’
’This insufferable old bastard!’
The other Guild Masters’ mouths twitched.
They had all encountered talented Mages before.
Most guilds would consider themselves blessed if they found even one prodigy capable of becoming their future pillar.
Fairy Tail seemed to produce a new one every year!
This was outrageous!
There should be limits to how thoroughly one guild was allowed to humiliate the others!
Marshall floated down beside Makarov and greeted everyone with a polite smile.
He behaved like a perfectly well-mannered child and barely spoke.
There was no need for him to praise himself when Makarov was already doing such an enthusiastic job.
Besides, Marshall respected his elders.
It was perfectly natural for an old man to want to boast about his outstanding junior.
Marshall understood completely!
He wasn’t particularly vain, of course.
But as a good child, he would unconditionally support his Guild Master’s harmless desire to show off.
After making a full round of introductions, Marshall finally began his real operation.
"Master Bob, Master Goldmine, these are Fairy Tail’s newest creations—the magical communication terminals."
He produced two sleek devices.
"They’re the same products mentioned in our magazine."
"This is my first time formally meeting both of you, and I didn’t prepare any proper gifts, so please accept these as a small token of respect."
Bob accepted one and examined it curiously.
"This is..."
Goldmine pressed one of the buttons.
"Hm?"
"It’s a magical communication terminal."
Marshall patiently explained.
"You can think of it as a portable communication Lacrima."
"It allows you to speak remotely with another user at almost any time and from almost anywhere."
He turned toward another Guild Master who had approached to watch.
"If you’re interested, I would be happy to offer you one as well."
"Ooooh!"
The man’s eyes immediately lit up.
"What a wonderful device! This design is nothing short of genius!"
The commotion soon attracted more Guild Masters.
Marshall showed no stinginess and handed a free terminal to every one of them.
Seeing him distribute such valuable magical devices so generously, Bob and Goldmine could only accept their own gifts with delighted smiles.
The regional Guild Masters’ meeting soon transformed completely into Marshall’s product launch.
He openly demonstrated the terminals, taught everyone how to operate them, and advertised every useful feature without the slightest shame.
The terminals received unanimous praise.
Several Guild Masters even promised that once the devices officially went on sale, they would encourage the younger members of their guilds to visit Fairy Tail and purchase plenty of them.
That was exactly what Marshall had been waiting to hear!
With endorsements from so many Guild Masters, the initial launch would almost certainly be successful.
Fairy Tail’s newest money-printing machine was about to reveal its claws.
The guild was one step closer to becoming the world’s first cyber-magical corporate giant!