Façade | Jerza

18 | The Endeavour of Jellal

Jellal thought of countless scenarios about why he would be summoned at the Magic Council. The range of possibilities went from decent to horrible for Fairy Tail. They had destroyed one of the most ancient and popular historical sights in Fiore, and that would definitely not go unpunished. And to think it was done by none other than himself.

He arrived in Era and noticed unfamiliar faces around the Magic Council. The Custody Enforcement Unit graciously guided him to one of the meeting rooms, this one having a table with nine seats.

He studied the marble of the table, cold against him as he took a seat on the carefully carved chairs. The design of the meeting room was more precise and attentive to detail compared to the bland halls of Era.

The grand doors opened to reveal Org, Belno, Michello, Yajima file inside the room. They shuffled into the seats, surprised by the lack of people for today's meeting.

"Where are the others?" asked Jellal.

Org did not reply until everyone was seated. Only then he slid an envelope in Jellal's direction, sealed with a red stamp with the Fiore symbol.

"Our circumstances have been compromised," he started.

Jellal read the letter. It was from Toma, and he hadn't expected this letter so soon. He would imagine the royal family would defect Crawford from the council, but not so soon. "This is..."

"Jellal, you have been chosen as the next Chairman of the Magic Council. It's an honour bestowed upon you by King Toma E. Fiore himself. But having such a position would mean you would have to dedicate more hours in the Magic Council as a fully pledged member."

Multiple thoughts raced across Jellal's mind. His plans, the trial with Jose, him bailing out Chairman Crawford. Just what happened during the Harvest Festival?

"What happened with Chairman Crawford? Why is he not here?"

Org replied, "Well, there was talk between Crawford and Toma about him resigning, but I think it had to do with more than just that. His misuse of the law during Fairy Tail and Phantom Lord's war is what got him excommunicated."

"How exactly did he misuse his power?" Jellal was hoping that they had known what he had done in regards to his relation with Jose.

"It wasn't anything that would've landed him in jail. But he did not schedule hearings for all the participants of the war. By immediately declaring Jose as guilty without hearing him out, and forcing a powerful guild to disband, it cost the kingdom a guild. There's not many guild leagues in Fiore, as you know."

It made sense, disbanding a guild came at great costs should the kingdom go into war with another country, or perhaps another continent. Diplomatic relations between the continent in the west with Ishgar had been very strained. There was nothing friendly about it, which risked conflict.

"Hence why Jose's sentence was halved."

Luck had not been on his side today, at all. Jellal had practically conditioned Jose to agree to his terms because of the five year sentence.

And now it was being used against him. "Councilman Org...why was I not informed of this earlier?"

"You were not involved with Jose Porla's case, which is why this wasn't exactly necessary to inform you. But now that you're the next chairman, I suppose it makes sense that you keep tabs on everything."

The more pressing matter was Crawford leaving without punishment. Jellal had the chance to put him behind the bars, where he belonged.

He knew, Jellal thought. He was certain I had knowledge about his affiliation with Zeref, Jose, and other dark guilds.