Chapter 354: Drinking Tea
Although it sounded a bit far-fetched, it was Makarov who said it, so Lahar had no choice but to have someone record the statement.
The core idea was simple: everything was Phantom Lord's fault, and Fairy Tail had acted purely in self-defense.
Once all the subjective language was stripped away, the general sequence of events could be confirmed by the testimony of other guild members.
Either way, it was clear that Phantom Lord initiated the attack. While some of Fairy Tail's retaliation seemed excessive at first, once Makarov was ambushed and collapsed, their counterattack became fully justified.
Given the terrifying war machines Phantom Lord brought to the battle, combined with the pressure of facing one of the Ten Wizard Saints, striking back with full force was entirely understandable.
After Makarov finished his dramatic account, it was Erza and Mira's turn.
They didn't need Rhodes to step in or explain anything for them. They each spoke for themselves.
Their words focused on the heartbreak and fury of returning home only to find their beloved guild in ruins, and the crushing despair of being threatened by a Wizard Saint.
Next came Lucy's statement. Lahar brought up her father hiring Phantom Lord to retrieve her.
Lucy firmly stated that she was already an adult. If she chose to leave home and join Fairy Tail, that was her decision and hers alone.
Trying to force her back against her will was wrong. Therefore, Phantom Lord's mission was essentially a criminal act, kidnapping plain and simple.