"That... Mr. Jude, you must have heard of Fairy Tail's reputation, right?" Marco's expression was rather peculiar, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated. Still, his conscience compelled him to give Jude a heads-up. "Of course! How could I not have heard of Fairy Tail's renowned name? You're the number one Mage guild in the Fiore Kingdom—even the King has to show respect to Master Makarov! That's precisely why I sought to collaborate with you." Jude spoke frankly, admitting that he had set his sights on Fairy Tail's prestigious reputation for this partnership. In truth, Marco's own rising fame had also served as a reminder, allowing Jude to witness the immense influence Mages could wield. Marco pressed his lips together and said nothing more. He wasn't sure whether Jude genuinely hadn't heard about Fairy Tail's destructive tendencies or simply didn't care—after all, once the railway was built, the Heartfilia Conglomerate would profit regardless. "So, what do you think? Care to consider it? I'm very sincere—I can offer thirty percent of the profits as Fairy Tail's share. Once the railway is complete, you won't have to lift a finger and will keep receiving dividends indefinitely." Jude looked at Marco with great anticipation. Marco's fame was one thing, but his 'Dreyar' surname was the real key. In Jude's eyes, discussions with Marco could influence Fairy Tail's decisions—especially after witnessing Marco's uniqueness. He was now convinced that this young man must hold an extraordinary position within Fairy Tail. "This is indeed a good opportunity, and personally, I'm willing to advocate for you. However, Mr. Jude, you must consider this carefully. While collaborating with Fairy Tail offers many advantages, it also comes with constraints. If you engage in any misconduct during our partnership, we won't go easy on you." Marco spoke slowly, preferring to lay all cards on the table from the start. If Jude thought he could exploit Fairy Tail's name to act recklessly, Marco would make sure he understood why Fairy Tail—despite its notorious reputation—remained unshaken. They never oppressed the weak, never acted unjustly, and upheld a strong sense of righteousness. "Rest assured, the Heartfilia Conglomerate has always operated with integrity. Honesty is our foundation—we would never engage in deceitful practices or tarnish Fairy Tail's reputation." Jude's expression turned serious as he immediately made his pledge. "Good. I'll discuss this with the others when I return and contact you once we've reached a decision. It won't take too long." Marco nodded. For now, this attitude was sufficient. As for the future, it would depend on the Heartfilia Conglomerate's actions—words alone meant nothing without tangible results. "Wonderful! Then I'll await your good news!" Jude clapped his hands in delight. Though the cost was significant, gaining access to the southern market made it all worthwhile. Without these efforts, he doubted they could break into that market within the next decade. The discussion was nearly concluded, and Jude had grown even more enthusiastic toward Marco. What he didn't know, however, was that Marco was secretly calculating how to push the profit-sharing ratio even higher. After all, without him, Jude's project would surely fail—there was clearly still room for negotiation. After the two had exchanged words for a while, Master Valtava finally arrived, fashionably late. He was a very "mage-like" old man—what did "mage-like" mean? Picture the classic image of an elderly Mage: long white beard, flowing robes, and a pointed hat—the kind that resembled Gandalf or Dumbledore. "Master Valtava, greetings." Both Marco and Jude stood up to bow and greet the old man. Regardless of status, his age alone commanded respect. "So, you are Marco Dreyar?" Valtava looked Marco up and down, then shook his head with a chuckle—though it was unclear what he found amusing. Marco nodded, wondering what the old man was getting at. Why was his attitude so odd? They had never met before, had they? "Ahem. Actually, I'm also a Mage." Noticing Marco's puzzled expression, Valtava cleared his throat and spoke with a smile. Marco had already sensed it—the old man carried a faint magical aura. Though not particularly strong, he was indeed a Mage. "Don't tell me…" Marco's expression turned peculiar. "Indeed. I am a Celestial Spirit Mage too." Valtava grinned, and suddenly everything made sense. His earlier scrutiny of Marco was because Marco was also a 'Celestial Spirit Mage'. "Ahem. So you're my senior." Now it was Marco's turn to cough awkwardly. He understood why Valtava had acted strangely—the old man had likely heard of his magic and knew it bore no resemblance to traditional Celestial Spirit Magic. "Marco, you've certainly brought quite the reputation to us Celestial Spirit Mages. Though your version of Celestial Spirit Magic is… rather unusual." Just as expected, Valtava spoke with amusement, his tone more teasing than anything else. There was no hint of trying to defend the orthodox Celestial Spirit Magic—just lighthearted banter. "What's the harm? It's just a name." Marco smiled. The old man's attitude was quite friendly. "By making Celestial Spirit Magic so well-known, I've also made people think twice before messing with other Celestial Spirit Mages. Who knows? Maybe I've even spared them some trouble." Marco's words were earnest, causing Valtava to pause in surprise. "So we should thank you, is that it?" Valtava looked exasperated. The way Marco put it, he might as well be some kind of savior for Celestial Spirit Mages. "No need for thanks. I'm just that helpful." Marco waved a hand dismissively. While he didn't actually see himself as a benefactor, he still believed his reasoning held some merit. To those unaware of the truth, encountering a Celestial Spirit Mage would surely make them think twice. Valtava pointed at Marco, shaking his head with a laugh. "So, you want me to teach you the lyre?" Before arriving, Valtava had clearly been briefed on the reason for his summons. "That's right, Master Valtava. I wish to learn the lyre." Marco nodded earnestly, finding Old Man Valtava quite interesting. Learning from him wouldn't be uncomfortable at all. If Valtava had been an unpleasant fellow, Marco might have considered establishing a purely monetary relationship instead. "No need to learn from me. I'll find you a better teacher—a true lyre master. I learned the lyre from her myself." Valtava paused for a moment, looking at Marco before suddenly breaking into a smile. There was an inexplicable joy in his voice that made Marco frown slightly, sensing something amiss. "I, the one who connects the path to the Celestial Spirit World, answer my call and pass through the gate. Open, the gate of Lyra—Lila!" Under Marco's watchful gaze, Valtava directly took out a key and summoned a Celestial Spirit—none other than the spirit of Lyra! As the Celestial Spirit gate opened, a young girl with curly brown hair appeared, a lyre resting beside her. "Valtava, why did you call me out so suddenly? Did you compose a new piece? Play it for me right away!" Lila, the Lyra Celestial Spirit, was lively and chatty the moment she appeared. It was clear she and Valtava had a close relationship. Given that Valtava claimed to have learned how to play lyre from her, it wasn't impossible—after all, Lyra was a true lyre master, and the lyre was her livelihood. "No, no, Lila. I called you out to teach this child the lyre. He really wants to learn." Valtava waved his hand and explained with a smile. Lila followed his gaze to Marco, who wore a peculiar expression. "You want to learn the lyre?" Lila widened her eyes and asked curiously. "...Yes." Marco nodded. Though Valtava summoning the Lyra Celestial Spirit to teach him did seem like a deliberate show, he had to admit this teacher was undeniably professional! "Great! I'd be happy to help~" Confirming Marco's interest, Lila replied cheerfully. The spirit's face was always bright with a smile, her voice pleasant and lively. She wasn't a combat-oriented spirit but one meant for entertainment—playing the lyre, singing, and such. "So, Marco, is learning the lyre from Lila alright with you?" Valtava grinned as he asked Marco. The old man was indeed quite amusing—he clearly wanted Marco, the fake 'Celestial Spirit Mage', to learn from a real Celestial Spirit. "Of course, why wouldn't it be?" Marco replied with a resigned smile. If the old man wanted to restore some pride for Celestial Spirit Mages, so be it. It wasn't a big deal. Besides, learning directly from the Lyra Celestial Spirit might even help him establish a connection with her. "Then it's settled. I'll go with you to Magnolia. You can come for lessons any day except Mondays and Tuesdays. My contract with Lila only restricts summoning on those two days." Valtava cheerfully finalized the arrangement, straightforward and decisive, without even mentioning compensation. Lyra (リラ Rira), "The Lyre" (琴座 Koto za) is one of the Silver Key Celestial Spirits that is currently owned by Lucy Heartfilia.[1] -------------------------------- Read 40 chapters ahead and support me on . (.)com/Newbietranslator