Fairy Tale: With Sin Of Pride

"Hello! The young earl of the Flame Kingdom is here! Why hasn't your city lord come to kneel before me yet?!"

The man's voice boomed across the gates. The soldiers standing atop the city wall exchanged unimpressed glances, dismissing the arrogance of the boy below. To them, his words were empty bluster.

Undeterred, the young earl grew angrier. Pointing dramatically at the gates, he shouted, "How dare a group of commoners ignore me? Do they want to become my slaves?!"

Before he could finish his tirade, a chill crept through the air. The atmosphere turned icy, and frost seemed to seep into his very bones.

"If you dare spout any more nonsense, I'll turn your mouth into a block of ice!" a voice cut through the air.

An elderly man with a staff emerged from the crowd. His face was calm, but the frost emanating from his body told a different story. Ice spread around him, creeping over the ground.

As the old man approached, another figure stepped out of the shadows, moving swiftly to stand before the young earl. The sharpness in his eyes was unsettling, but the earl smirked.

"Haha! Freeze me? I'd like to see you try!" the young earl sneered, confident in the presence of his guards.

Arrogance was second nature to him, a boy raised in privilege who had never known real fear. But he failed to notice the beads of sweat forming on his guard's brow and the trembling in his legs.

"What are you shaking for?!" the earl barked. "What are you afraid of?"

The old man, named Deitele, moved closer, his voice cold. As he passed the guard, he tapped his staff lightly against the ground. Frost enveloped the guard instantly, and within moments, his body was encased in ice, shattering as it fell.

"Do you still think I lack the power to kill you?" Deitele asked, his tone laced with quiet menace.

The young earl froze in terror but refused to beg for mercy. He was a noble, after all, and his pride wouldn't allow it.

"Say it. Tell me you don't believe me," Deitele taunted.

He slammed his staff into the ground, and waves of frost spread outward in a ten-meter radius. The sheer force of his magic power, even without activating a spell circle, was overwhelming.

"N-No! I believe you! I didn't mean anything by it!" the earl stammered, his voice cracking.

A foul smell filled the air, and droplets of liquid fell from his trousers. Deitele smirked in disdain.

"What a pity. I thought you might put up a fight. Remember this: slaves will never exist in our Confederation!"

The earl's eyes widened in realization. His careless words had offended someone far beyond his comprehension.

---

"Well, can we enter now? We're just here to find someone," one of the earl's entourage pleaded, their arrogance drained.

Deitele waved them off. "As long as you prove your identity, you may enter. But heed this warning: cause trouble, and you'll answer to me."

---

Meanwhile, Rhodes sat in his office, poring over financial reports. The monotonous details bored him, and he felt ill-suited for administrative work.

"Is there anyone chosen for the clerk position?" he asked the Dwarf King standing nearby.

"Yes, we've selected someone," the Dwarf King replied.

"Good. From now on, you and the clerk will handle minor administrative matters. Only bring major issues to me."

"Understood!"

The Dwarf King hesitated, then continued, "By the way, the candidates for the delegation to Decker City are ready. They include Claire, the winner of the last exchange competition."

Rhodes nodded. "Excellent. I'll join the trip as well. Though this recent conflict delayed us, it'll serve as an opportunity to showcase the power of the Confederation and gather more faith."

The Dwarf King added, "Construction on the academy has begun. We'd like you to choose a name for it."

Rhodes glanced at the magical tome in his hand, then at the sword the Dwarf King carried. A smile crossed his face.

"Let's call it Sword and Magic Academy. The emblem will feature a crossed sword and staff."

---

Later, a man entered Rhodes's office. He was none other than He Ze, a former diplomat who now served as the new clerk.

"Sir, my name is He Ze Willy," he introduced himself, placing a hand over his heart in a respectful gesture. "I hope to contribute to the Confederation with my full abilities."

Rhodes nodded approvingly. "Remember, there are no slaves or nobles here. The only way to rise is through your abilities. Prove yourself."

"Yes, sir!"

He Ze felt a sense of pride and belonging. In a land where equality was upheld, he had been chosen for his skills over countless others, including dwarves and former nobles.

But his final test lay before him.

"Now, for your last task," Rhodes said, his tone serious. "Tell me, which force should we target next?"

The room fell silent, the weight of the question palpable. He Ze hesitated but eventually pointed to a nearby forest and the stone outcrop next to it.

"Our most urgent threats lie here," he said. "One is a dragon that poses a significant danger to our people, though its location remains unknown. The other... is the Intelligence Bird Mercenary Group."

The name hung in the air.

"Yes," He Ze continued. "They specialize in intelligence gathering and trading. But their activities go beyond that—they run adventurer missions, deal in mercenaries, and control trade routes.

"We need an intelligence network of our own. Only then can we stay ahead of external threats and avoid being blind to the movements of others."

Rhodes nodded, a spark of approval in his eyes. "Then it's decided. Our next target is the Intelligence Bird Mercenary Group."

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