Fairy Tale: With Sin Of Pride

"Hello! We've kidnapped your husband. If you want him back, bring one million gold coins to us. Otherwise, don't blame us for being ruthless!"

Ken Taili, seated in his room reading through Rhodes' manual, froze at the words. Did he hear that right? He turned toward the young man behind him, his expression a mix of disbelief and curiosity.

"Did they really just say they've kidnapped Rhodes and want us to pay a ransom for his release?"

The young man nodded, equally baffled. "That's what they said, sir. It sounded serious, too."

The messenger who had delivered the news chimed in nervously, "Yes, sir. They even showed me an image of Mr. Rhodes. He seemed unharmed but... he's being held with two blades to his neck."

Ken Taili's brows furrowed as he quickly picked up the photo stone and infused it with magic power. He could hardly believe such a thing was possible. Rhodes? Kidnapped? Preposterous.

When the image came into focus, it showed Rhodes sitting calmly on a chair. Despite the two swords poised at his throat, his expression was disturbingly relaxed.

As Ken Taili observed Rhodes' lips moving in the image, realization dawned upon him.

"Could it be... he wants us to rescue him just to test our abilities? Is this some sort of drill?"

The room fell into silence as everyone processed the possibility. One of them hesitantly raised a hand. "Um... boss, if this is a test, when exactly did Mr. Rhodes even get captured? None of us noticed anything."

---

Meanwhile, Rhodes sat nonchalantly in his chair, observing the uneasy expressions of his captors. The absurdity of the situation led him to make an educated guess.

"Is this your first time doing something like this?"

The room fell silent, confirming his suspicion. It was their first attempt at kidnapping.

They had chosen Rhodes, thinking he would resist and give them some experience, but his unexpected cooperation had thrown off their entire plan.

"Well then," Rhodes continued, "your execution seems remarkably professional for amateurs. Are you sure this isn't something you've done before?"

The leader couldn't help but defend himself. "Nonsense! I studied kidnapping guides extensively. I've memorized every step and anticipated every scenario. Of course, I know what I'm doing!"

Rhodes smirked. He was about to delve further into their inexperience when a loud explosion echoed from outside.

Boom!

The walls trembled as figures emerged from the shadows. Sparks danced across the ground, and flames erupted in waves. Rhodes remained perfectly still, unfazed by the chaos unfolding around him.

"Who gave away our location?" the leader roared, panic evident in his voice. He glanced around, accusing his subordinates with frantic eyes.

But it was no use. Their amateurish scheme had been doomed from the start. A group of trained combatants surrounded the building, their weapons gleaming under the flickering light of the flames.

One of the kidnappers immediately raised his hands. "I surrender! This was my first time doing anything like this. Please, let us go!"

Resistance was clearly not an option. Facing seasoned fighters with years of experience and rigorous training, the kidnappers had no chance of escape.

---

Ken Taili approached Rhodes, relief washing over him as he saw that Rhodes was unharmed. "Sir, you're alright. Thank goodness!"

Rhodes shook his head as he stood from the chair, brushing off imaginary dust. His calm demeanor remained unshaken as he turned to the leader of the kidnappers.

"What's your name?" Rhodes asked, his voice steady.

The leader hesitated, then replied meekly, "My name is Ma Xiao. Please, sir, this really was our first time. We won't do it again—just let us go!"

Rhodes studied him for a moment before placing a hand on his shoulder. "Relax. I'm not here to punish you." His tone was calm, but there was an unmistakable weight behind his words. "I want to ask you something. How do you think they found you so quickly?"

Ma Xiao shook his head, confusion clouding his face.

Rhodes explained, "Magic. They traced the magical residue you left on the image stone. It led them straight here."

Understanding dawned on Ma Xiao, and with it came the realization of just how outmatched they were.

"Do you want to learn magic like them?" Rhodes asked suddenly.

Ma Xiao instinctively nodded, then quickly shook his head, unsure if it was a trick question.

Rhodes smirked. "Don't worry. I'm serious. If you agree to a proposition of mine, I'll arrange for someone to teach you magic."

Ma Xiao swallowed nervously. "What... what do you need from me?"

"It's simple," Rhodes said. "I want you to establish an intelligence network here. Keep it discreet, for now. This organization must be loyal and trustworthy. For your efforts, everyone involved will receive a monthly stipend of two gold coins. Of course, your reward will depend on your performance."

Rhodes' gaze bore into Ma Xiao, waiting for his answer. Though it was clear Ma Xiao had no real choice, his eventual nod of agreement was still significant.

"Good," Rhodes said with a satisfied smile. Slowly, he conjured a flickering blue flame in his palm, its light casting eerie shadows in the dim room.

"This is the Flame of the Sun," Rhodes continued. "I've planted it within you. If you ever harbor any treacherous thoughts, I can end you in an instant."

His voice was calm, yet chilling. The weight of the sun's fire settled within Ma Xiao, binding him to Rhodes' will.

"Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir," Ma Xiao replied, trembling slightly but resolute.

Rhodes clapped him on the shoulder once more. "Good. Welcome to your new purpose."

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