#ch172

One of the few parallels that let us see how Lucy has grown stronger over the course of the story after her development in the first few arcs! 

Back in Chapter 1, she panics after being restrained. But in Chapter 172, she is annoyed, but calm.

And satisfyingly enough, this time she actually has her hands on her keys because she’s prepared, unlike in Chapter 1. And thankfully, Lucy no longer needs Natsu to fall in from the air and save her. 

In Chapter 1, she feels utterly hopeless against these guys. But in Chapter 172, she is prepared, and confident, because she now knows she can handle these opponents easily. 

Thank god for that, honestly. If nothing changed after 172 chapters I wouldn't be reading this. (Cries about everything post Tartaros)

I was looking back at some other chapters to answer a new ask, and one of my ereader apps opened on ch149. Specifically on the page with these panels:

At the end of this chapter, Othello sends a white dove with a message to -- presumably -- the reaper HQ.

SO! Now I'm thinking that Ronald was sent to investigate Athena Sanatorium specifically because of this new mission to "destroy the Silver Fox and his minions".

Not only does he warn Baldo, albeit cryptically, of an upcoming attempt on his life and suggest he could survive it (ch172), but he has since interrupted Lau's attempt to kill Baldo, too (ch186). With Layla's undeniable attempt to kill Baldo (ch187), I'm half expecting ch188 to give us Ada saving Baldo with her expertise... and Ronald actively taking Baldo's (and Lau's) side in destroying the blood collection operation there. Perhaps Ronald was watching Ada only to determine whether she needed to die, as part of the mission to "destroy... minions". We could even get a full fight between Ronald and Layla within the next couple chapters.

Kija: hak will probably kill us

Jaeha: getting a violent beating from hak, huh?(*˘︶˘*) not a bad way to go imho✧*。