Chapter 132: Makarov Guards the Gate (Patreon)

In the town below the Magic Council, Hughes wandered around like an ordinary tourist, making sure plenty of people saw him.

As the setting sun swallowed the last rays of light, Hughes finally boarded a train at the station with a satisfied look. He was headed for the nearest town.

For the next three days, Hughes traveled between various towns like this, deliberately blending into crowds.

Until the evening of the third day, when Hughes finished his meal leisurely, booked a room at the largest inn in town, told the front desk not to disturb him, and wasn't seen again.

Just as dusk began to fall, a figure flashed by far away from the inn. Hughes... no, Jose Porla. He moved like a wisp of wind in the night, invisible and untouchable, only to reappear far away an instant later.

To eliminate any suspicion against himself, Hughes had deliberately traveled to this town. Not because it was special, but simply because it was far enough from the Magic Council.

After three days of careful cover, combined with the great distance and the fact that, for the remainder of the trip, he neither took another train nor used any magical vehicle, Hughes was confident no one would connect the fake Jose appearing inside the Magic Council to him.

Except for Laxus and the others who knew his true identity.

This time, Hughes was returning to the Magic Council for two reasons. First, to complete the sixth sub-mission of "Pirate Journey": destroy the East Blue Marine Base, which meant destroying the Magic Council headquarters.

Second, to kill Crawford Seam. He wanted to see if eliminating this corrupt parasite early could prevent the tragedies that stemmed from him.

Hughes didn't believe in the world's corrective force. He only knew that completing either of these goals would draw the magical world's attention to the Magic Council.

After that, it would no longer be so easy for the Council to act with impunity.

Maybe with more eyes watching, their dirty dealings would be uncovered, forcing this batch of administrators to step down early.

Since the Magic Council was so far away, Hughes, now disguised as Jose, didn't dare delay. He pushed Shave and Moonwalk to the limit. After all, he had to be back at the inn before dawn.

...

Tonight, the moon did not hang high, nor did the stars appear. Thick black clouds made the night even darker.

A fierce wind rode the darkness across towns, suburbs, mountains, rivers... until it reached the grand complex standing atop the mountain.

The fierce wind softened into a gentle breeze, slowly slipping into every place that could conceal him as it quietly infiltrated the brightly lit Magic Council.

Having toured the Magic Council a few days earlier, Hughes knew exactly how to infiltrate the opulent complex.

Combined with his Advanced Observation Haki, he easily avoided the patrol teams. Before long, he arrived at Crawford Seam's conference room.

Not only was Crawford Seam there, but Hughes also sensed Oga and the other Councilors inside. What were these old men doing together in the middle of the night?

If they planned to "cross swords," they'd better make sure they still had the stamina for it.

Still, it was better this way. With so many important figures witnessing Jose killing Crawford Seam, it would be easier to clear his name.

Just as Hughes was rubbing his hands together, eagerly preparing to surprise these old men.

"Tap."

A hand suddenly landed on Hughes's waist.

In that instant, Hughes's hair stood on end, his heart seemed to stop for an instant...

He cursed inwardly. For a moment, he thought the asylum director had come to drag him back.

He hadn't turned off his Advanced Observation Haki since stepping into the Magic Council, yet he hadn't sensed anyone behind him.

What kind of monster is this old man?

Had Crawford Seam and the others been hiding another trump card?

"The moment you stepped into the Magic Council, I sensed you. Go back." A familiar sigh came from behind Hughes.

Hughes's eyes widened in shock as he turned his head incredulously.

Oh no... damn it, what was this old man Makarov doing here?!

...

After Hughes left the Magic Council, Yajima had sent word to Makarov, summarizing everything Hughes had done inside.

After reading the letter, Makarov was so shocked he nearly tore his beard off. That boy Hughes was dancing on the edge of a blade.

Crawford Seam was no good person. Saying one thing to your face while arranging another behind your back was one of his usual methods.

Having suffered such a humiliation at Hughes's hands, Crawford Seam would definitely secretly gather strong fighters against him.

So, after reading Yajima's letter, Makarov had rushed to the Magic Council to clean up Hughes's mess.

But to Makarov's surprise, he had been at the Magic Council for an entire day without even seeing Crawford Seam.

After his injuries slightly improved, Crawford Seam had been invited by Oga and the other radical Councilors to a temporary conference room for talks. They still hadn't come out.

At that point, Yajima handed Makarov an investigation report on Hughes's recent movements and activities.

Makarov immediately saw that the kid was clearly plotting something. Hughes would rather lie bored in a guild corner flipping through gravure magazines than wander around outside.

There was only one reason for the behavior described in the report: Hughes still had something to do.

Aside from the Magic Council, Makarov couldn't think of anything else Hughes would be interested in.

To prevent Hughes from doing something stupid, Makarov had been hiding in the shadows, watching the entire Magic Council since evening.

He would keep an eye on the Magic Council until Hughes returned to the guild. If Hughes showed up at the Magic Council, he would immediately subdue the brat and drag him back to the guild.

Late at night, Makarov sensed someone infiltrating the Magic Council and secretly followed.

At first, seeing Jose Porla, Makarov was startled. Jose didn't seem like the type to sneak around like a thief.

But then he remembered Hughes telling him about disguising himself as Jose in Thunder Valley, and realized it was Hughes.

So, just as Hughes was about to make his move, Makarov stopped him.

"Stop this nonsense. Come back with me. You're underestimating the magical world. If these people die now, no matter how perfect your execution, the old monsters of the magical world will use magic to identify their murderer!"

Makarov grabbed Hughes's arm, earnestly trying to talk some sense into him.

Hughes barely registered what Makarov was saying. Instead, he reached out and patted the old man's head.

So it really was the old man. No wonder his Observation Haki hadn't sensed him.

After all, even ordinary strong fighters in the pirate world could evade Observation Haki, let alone Makarov.

Seeing Hughes standing there motionless wearing Jose's face, Makarov urged him again more anxiously.

Though the noise wasn't loud, being so close to the temporary conference room, it quickly caught the attention of those inside...