The Magic Merchant in Fairy Tail

In the hidden cave, the remaining three demons of the Sea Demon Resurrection Plan—Ace, Ferg, and Sinuoyi—held a tense meeting.

"Ace, Klaue…"

"Yes, I know," Ace replied coldly. "She's been captured by those wizards."

"Then we should rescue her!" Ferg's voice carried a rare hint of desperation, betraying his concern for their youngest comrade.

"No," Ace said flatly, his tone unyielding. "If those humans managed to defeat Klaue, it means they have the ability to counter our unique magics. If we act rashly, it might jeopardize everything. The priority now is to avoid their attacks and wait for our Master's resurrection."

Ferg slammed his fist against the stone table, his frustration palpable. "Ace, we've already lost Watt because of your so-called plans! Now you want to abandon Klaue too? She's just a child—our future!"

Ace's face twisted with a fanatical gleam. "The future of our clan lies not with her but with the Sea Demon King! Once the Master is revived, we'll have the power to create countless hybrids like her. Klaue is expendable!"

Ferg recoiled in shock. "You've lost your mind," he muttered, his voice trembling with a mix of anger and disbelief. Turning on his heel, he stormed out of the room, leaving Sinuoyi to exchange a wary glance with Ace.

"You brought her into this," Sinuoyi said quietly. "Is it really right to throw her away like this?"

"In the face of a greater goal, all sacrifices are justified," Ace replied, his voice devoid of any emotion.

"She's not a necessary sacrifice," Sinuoyi countered.

"But she's a potential liability," Ace snapped. "Don't worry. Klaue's loyalty runs deep. Even under interrogation, she won't betray us. That child will endure for the sake of our dream."

…

The Next Day

The morning sunlight reflected off the snow, blinding in its intensity. After a night of rest, Kira and his team prepared to attack the demons' stronghold and eliminate the threat of the Frozen Sea Demon King once and for all.

"Why do I feel like we're the villains here?" Kira said, half-joking. "They spent decades planning this whole thing, and we're swooping in to ruin it all for the sake of a mission…"

"Don't even joke about that," Erza said sternly. "Their goal is to resurrect a dangerous tyrant who could bring disaster to the entire continent. Even if it wasn't a mission, it would be our duty to stop them!"

Kira chuckled. "You're taking this way too seriously. But fine, you're right, as always."

Gray and Natsu approached, yawning and rubbing their eyes after a wild night of revelry. If not for Erza knocking them unconscious, the two might have charged into battle headfirst the night before.

"How are we splitting up the fight?" Natsu asked, his fists already igniting in excitement.

Kira gestured for everyone to gather around. "Based on the information we have, there are three demons left and the Sea Demon King, who might be resurrected at any time. The main attack team will consist of Erza, Gray, Natsu, and myself."

Pointing at the others, Kira continued, "Cana, Lucy, Rocky, and Elfman will stay here to guard the prisoner. I have a hunch the remaining demons might attempt a rescue."

"But we want to fight too!" Cana protested. "Four of us should be able to handle one demon, right?"

"Perhaps," Kira said with a smirk. "But don't get cocky. If you encounter trouble, send up a signal, and we'll come running. No heroics."

Though Cana, Rocky, and Elfman grumbled about being left behind, Lucy was visibly relieved not to be part of the frontlines.

As the group made their final preparations, Kira approached Lucy, pulling a small ornate box from his space equipment.

"Here," he said, handing it to her. "I brought this along in case of emergencies, and it seems like the perfect time to use it. Consider it a loan for this mission."

Lucy gasped when she saw the box. "Is this… a Star Spirit Key?"

"Yep. I expect it back once the mission's over," Kira said, smiling.

Her eyes sparkled as she cradled the box like a precious treasure. "Can I really borrow it? Thank you so much, Kira!"

Before he could reply, Lucy threw her arms around him in a grateful hug. It was a quick, friendly gesture, but Kira still took a step back, coughing awkwardly.

"Okay, okay. You've thanked me enough. Just make sure you return it."

"Of course!" Lucy said, beaming. She was too caught up in her excitement to notice Kira's mild embarrassment.

After a brief discussion of strategy, the attack team set off for the demons' base, guided by Kira's recollection of Klaue's memories.

When they arrived at the entrance of the cave, Erza, Gray, and Natsu were struck by the opulence of the interior. The walls were adorned with intricate carvings and sparkling gemstones, illuminated by the soft glow of magical torches.

"This place is incredible…" Erza said, her voice filled with wonder.

"It looks like it's been here for centuries," Gray remarked, running his hand along one of the carvings.

"Whoa, they're rich!" Happy exclaimed, darting around the cave like an excitable child.

Kira, however, was preoccupied with another thought. "The demons don't need all this treasure… If we're going to destroy their base anyway, why not redistribute it?"

He could already picture the other guild members' reactions when he returned with a haul of priceless gems. "One for each of you," he muttered under his breath. "The rest… mine."

"Let's stay focused," Erza said, snapping him out of his daydreams.

With a nod, Kira led the way deeper into the cave, ready to face whatever lay ahead.

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