Chapter 555: Partners and Countermeasures
While a group of guild members were busy worrying about how to deal with Rhodes as an opponent, Rhodes himself was preoccupied registering Max and Warren for their mission.
"You two are teaming up again? And at this time of year?" Rhodes raised an eyebrow. "This feels like déjà vu."
Warren quickly cut him off. "Don’t say another word. You’re just bringing back painful memories from last year."
"Sorry, sorry," Max said, bowing his head with guilt. "It was my fault for dragging you down last time. But next time, next time, I swear I’ll..."
"Let it go," Warren sighed. "I feel like I should just go sit with Macao and the others and watch the younger ones grow."
After seeing this year’s S-Class candidates, twenty-three-year-old Warren was seriously considering retiring early into the ranks of the "wise old uncles" like Macao and Wakaba, who were both in their thirties and full of opinions.
"Let’s not go that far," Max chuckled but fell silent, remembering his good friend’s peculiar inner world.
Whenever Warren spotted a beautiful woman with a nice figure, he would get this subtle, complicated smile on his face, and sometimes even unconsciously use his Telepathy Magic to broadcast suspicious numbers into his companions’ heads.
Honestly, fitting in with Macao and Wakaba’s crowd wouldn’t be hard at all for someone like him.
"Alright, take care out there," Rhodes said with a wave.
Max accepted the mission sheet. "Thanks. Good luck with your exam."
Warren added, "Just don’t overdo it."
Rhodes smiled casually. "A title doesn’t increase your magic power. I’m not that much stronger than the rest of you."
"Yeah right," Warren muttered as the two waved and headed off.
As they left, Rhodes happened to catch sight of Bisca and Alzack quietly sneaking away for a walk. He didn’t say anything, just smiled.
Next, he registered a mission for Vijeeter and Reedus.
When he looked back, the group of S-Class candidates, who had just finished a small strategy meeting, had already scattered.
Gray and Loke went out for some special training and to work out countermeasures. The two of them were strong, and occasionally liked to use their brains.
Since Rhodes was too difficult to deal with, they figured they’d target Wendy instead. Of course, they made sure not to mention that plan in front of her.
Lisanna dragged Juvia away somewhere, while Elfman stood frozen like the sky had just collapsed on him. He slowly turned his head to meet Evergreen’s gaze.
It looked like Freed had picked Bickslow as his partner, leaving Evergreen on her own, and she didn’t have many close friends to talk to.
Gajeel exchanged a few words with Levy, then the two left together, leaving Jet and Droy completely stunned in place.
As for Cana, she was by far the most relaxed of them all. Not in any rush to find a partner, she casually cracked open a barrel and decided a few drinks were more important than strategizing.
Seeing his drinking buddy like that, Macao even started to wonder if Cana had already given up. For a moment, he even considered jumping in himself to compete with the younger generation.
As the crowd dispersed, Wendy and Carla walked over to the front desk to talk to Rhodes.
This, however, made Lucy feel like a total fool.
Her own partner had been missing from the very beginning, and she had no idea where to even start looking.
After sitting around in a daze for a while, Lucy casually leaned on the front desk, pretending to relax while actually eavesdropping for insider info.
Rhodes acted like he hadn’t seen her at all and continued his conversation. "What if the opponent is Lucy?"
Lucy immediately perked up her ears. She really wanted to know what strategy Rhodes had prepared to deal with her.
"The simplest tactic would be to steal her keys. Without those, she can’t use Celestial Spirit Magic."
"But isn’t that kind of difficult?" Wendy asked earnestly. She hadn’t noticed Lucy at all. "Ms. Lucy always keeps her key ring on her waist."
Rhodes waved it off. "That makes it even easier. Lucy is so careless. Honestly, even if she wore them on her forehead, she’d still find a way to lose them."
He genuinely wished Lucy would come up with a way to not lose her keys so easily. For a mage who depends on tools, she really had no concept of keeping them safe.
Lucy slammed her palm down on the counter and jumped up. "That’s not true!"
"Eh?" Wendy turned, surprised. "Ms. Lucy?"
Rhodes said calmly, "See? Told you she’s careless. Can’t even eavesdrop properly."
Lucy’s cheeks flushed bright red. She puffed up and snapped, "I wasn’t eavesdropping! I just...just came here to order a drink, that’s all!"
"Sure, sure," Rhodes replied with mock thoughtfulness, taking her fake order like a real bartender. "Lucy, that’ll be 2000J. Wendy and Carla, your drinks are on me."
"Discrimination! Why is one drink 2000J?! Even if I were buying for all three of us, there should still be change!" Lucy protested, nearly choking.
"Oops, my bad," Rhodes said with a completely innocent look. "Must’ve read the price wrong."
Lucy puffed her cheeks in frustration, clearly not buying it.
Wendy and Carla couldn’t help but laugh. After a few chuckles, Rhodes didn’t actually take Lucy’s money, acting, at least for now, like a decent person.
It was a shame Mira wasn’t around to see this. With her there, it would’ve been even more amusing.
"Oh, right." Rhodes reached out, and with a flick of Re-equip Magic, a pair of plain glasses appeared in his palm.
He handed them to Wendy. "Try these on."
Wendy obediently put them on, but they kept slipping down her nose.
Still, the way she tried to adjust them looked very cute.
"You should find time to buy a real pair," Rhodes said. "Plain glasses are fine. Sunglasses will work too."
"Why?" Wendy asked, tilting her head.
Rhodes said, "Evergreen’s and Bickslow’s Eyes are quite troublesome. You need to prepare glasses in advance to guard against them."
Against that kind of magic, Rhodes truly had no better solution than basic prevention, wearing glasses.
If someone did get hit, he wasn’t even sure whether Wendy’s Deus Corona or Deus Eques, her enchantments that boosted resistance and removed abnormal conditions, would be effective.
Next, Rhodes gave a quick rundown of the other S-Class candidates and their strengths. Wendy jotted notes with focus, while Lucy, trying to act casual, secretly scribbled in her notebook as well.
Rhodes didn’t mind. Even if Lucy passed the info to Mest, it was wasted effort. Mest had no intention of winning.
In fact, the guy would probably erase his own memory after the exam just to maintain cover, meaning he wouldn’t even bring back anything useful.
Rhodes almost felt tired on the Master’s behalf. Managing a wildcard like that must be exhausting.
"What are you all talking about?" Mira and Erza finally returned from their meeting with the Master to discuss the final exam site.
"The exam, of course," Rhodes replied. "Want to leak us a few questions?"
"Absolutely not," Erza said firmly. "No matter who asks, we won’t reveal a single thing."
"Same here," Mira added with a sweet smile. Then she looked around and noticed someone missing. "Did Elfman and Lisanna go off to train?"
"They did, but they’re not partnered up," Rhodes said, filling Mira in on all the confirmed team pairings so far.
"This year’s lineup looks strong," Erza said, nodding in approval. "The guild is getting stronger by the day."
But Mira wasn’t focused on the guild’s growth.
"Elfman and Evergreen?" Mira covered her mouth in surprise. She had known Lisanna was close with Juvia, but Elfman with Evergreen...
Mira’s eyes began to sparkle. Her curiosity was piqued, and she suddenly had the urge to skip work just to spy on her brother.
Rhodes saw right through her and grinned. "Let them get used to each other first. We’ll watch when they let their guard down in a few days."
Mira said with difficulty, "It’s just that in a few days, a few of us will have to leave first."
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