Chapter 329: No One Was Hurt, But Everything Broke
"Phantom Lord?" Mira frowned. "Is anyone hurt?"
"No injuries," Erza replied. "They attacked the guild at night while it was empty."
That was the best news they could have hoped for. Still, Rhodes couldn't help the cold anxiety creeping into his chest as he imagined what state the guild had been left in.
"Was it because of something I did?"
He remembered running into Phantom Lord members twice, once with Mira and again with Erza and Natsu. But they had only clashed with branch members, not the core.
"The exact reason is unclear," Erza said. "Our relationship with Phantom Lord has always been tense. Maybe the animosity just built up over time? I don't think this is solely your fault, so don't dwell on it."
Rhodes wasn't the only one who'd had run-ins with Phantom Lord. Most of the time, Fairy Tail came out on top, but there were a few cases where they hadn't. Those members rarely admitted it though, making it hard to say who was winning the rivalry overall.
"We'll return immediately," Mira said. "What did the Master say?"
"He said that since no one was hurt, it's not worth getting worked up over a bunch of cowards who only dare to strike when no one's around."
"That's not good enough," Mira said firmly. "If we don't respond, they'll only grow bolder."
"I know," Erza said, frustration bubbling beneath her composed expression. "But it's what the Master decided. Still, you two should return quickly. There's a lot of work to do. The guild may need to be completely rebuilt."