Rhodes gently guided Wendy and Carla back to the witness stand at the frog official's prompting. Happy tried to approach Carla again, only to be promptly rebuffed.
Natsu and Erza quickly checked on Wendy, concerned whether she'd been treated poorly by the Council officials. Before they could fully catch up, a sharp rap from the Speaker's gavel demanded silence.
"This inquiry session will now begin!"
"On the evening of March 15th, the demon Carniber emerged near a valley on Fiore's northern coast and was subsequently defeated by wizards on the same night. According to our investigation, the involved individuals were: Erza Scarlet, Natsu Dragneel, Wendy Marvell, and Rhodes..."
At the mention of Rhodes' name, everyone instinctively glanced his way, noticing he only had a first name with no known surname.
Usually, even orphans found surnames through institutions or self-selection. Having only a single name like Rhodes was rare and unusual. Erza, who deeply valued her surname 'Scarlet,' was particularly aware of this. It was a painful reminder of her complicated past and the person who had given her that name—Jellal.
Unable to suppress her curiosity, Erza whispered discreetly, "Rhodes, do you truly have no surname?"
"Actually, I don't really have a surname," Rhodes clarified casually.
"Huh? So you're just... Rhodes?" Happy tilted his head.
"Yeah, just Rhodes. I never had a family name," he explained lightly. "Some people used to call me by different nicknames though."
"Like what?" Natsu asked curiously.
"Things like Rho, R, even 'Rhodesy' depending on the mood. Honestly, call me whatever you like," Rhodes said with a playful grin.
Happy couldn't help but giggle. "Hehe, Rhodesy sounds kinda funny."
"Don't laugh," Rhodes said with mock seriousness. "It's actually got a nice ring to it once you get used to it."
Their casual banter irritated several councilors, who wore increasingly stern expressions.
"Silence! Since Master Makarov is present, please clarify the events that transpired that night."
"Zzz..." Makarov nodded drowsily, repeatedly.
"Master, it's your turn," Erza prompted gently, nudging him.
Jolting awake, Makarov instinctively blurted, "Yes, Rhodes is right, that's exactly what I meant!"
Rhodes rubbed his forehead in embarrassment, realizing he'd spoiled the master after attending just a couple of meetings.
The Council members looked increasingly irritated, this was supposed to be a solemn tribunal! Were they not taking this seriously at all?
A dark-haired, elegant councilor covered her mouth, barely suppressing laughter. Even Siegrain had difficulty maintaining a straight face.
Mr. Yajima, struggling to keep his composure, tried his hardest to maintain the Council's dignity for Fairy Tail's sake. But Makarov and his unruly children were making that exceedingly challenging.
"Makarov, please treat this seriously. If you can't clearly explain what happened, Fairy Tail will be held accountable for unauthorized release of the demon!"
"Ahem... apologies," Makarov adjusted himself. "Allow me to clarify..."
The Council listened carefully, trusting Makarov's integrity. At worst, they thought, he might be slightly biased toward his guild members or misinformed by them.
After finishing, the Speaker asked, "Does anyone else have further details to add?"
Wendy stayed quiet, unaware of the full circumstances. Natsu, restrained by Erza's warning, kept silent. Erza and Rhodes supplemented some details, with Rhodes notably critiquing the Council's inefficient handling.
The Council members took notes:
"Carniber is an earth demon..."
"Not all mountain destruction was Fairy Tail's doing..."
"The demon's premature awakening was likely due to the Council's oversight..."
Councilor Org, clearly displeased, challenged sharply, "Are you shifting all blame onto the Council?"
"Certainly not," Rhodes calmly replied, "But sealing responsibilities clearly weren't ours. Determining its reliability isn't our role either."
"What about unauthorized entry into a restricted area?" Org pressed.
"You're confusing cause and effect," Rhodes countered smoothly. "We investigated after noticing anomalies. Besides, what kind of seal breaks just by looking at it?"
"Sophistry! We can't determine if your intrusion caused the seal's failure!"
Tired of craning upwards, Rhodes grew impatient. "Isn't maintaining seals your duty? How is it our fault if you neglected such critical oversight?"
"The Council oversees the entire Ishgar continent; we can't spare guards for every remote seal!" Org retorted defensively. "You should've reported it immediately instead of acting independently!"
"And wait for bureaucracy while two towns perish?" Rhodes snapped.
"In the grand scheme, two remote towns—"
"Org!" Yajima interjected sternly. "Maintain decorum. Our personal opinions mustn't cloud official proceedings."
Org quieted reluctantly. Sacrificing a few for broader stability was indeed standard practice, yet vocalizing it publicly was inappropriate.
"Rhodes, everyone seated here has significantly contributed to our magical world. Please express your grievances respectfully," Yajima urged calmly. "I promise the Council will handle this matter impartially."
Makarov signaled Rhodes gently, suggesting he follow Yajima's guidance without further confrontation.