#ch186

While I’m always sad Gajeel always gets the short end of the stick on Dragon Slayer inclusions, (him being the last to get motion sick, other than wendy, him being last to get an Exceed, him being the only physical element that makes him feel like the odd one out, etc) I do like this specific one a lot. Because Gajeel’s constant alienation and ‘falling behind’ of the other slayers is one of the things that continue to build upon in his character. 

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.