Master Tavia’s expression became pale with fear as the reality of who Dink was, sank in. The room returo normal with the eerie light fading into darkness. The nterns flickered bato life, illuminating the ornate symbol of the sword until it dispersed into a red mist that reformed into a single drop of blood. Which flew to return to Dink’s brow.

  "Impossible… You're supposed to be dead!" Master Tavia shouted in horror while stumbling backward.

  "I'm sure there are many who wish that I were. I get great pleasure in denying them that satisfa. I'm not going to create any unnecessary trouble for you, I'm merely in need of your aid," Dink said, hefting the caged Myid as he walked toward Lady Estra.

  Axion had interposed himself between Lady Estra and the prince from House Hydra. The mana tattoos c the rge lion-man body flickered with uainty as Prince Chazrick advaoward them. Axion wielded a giant axe with two hands and a grim expression on his face. He didn't take the threat of the prince lightly, despite only holding the belt as a on.

  The magebane is still affeg Axion's mana tattoos, limiting him to the level of a journeyman attuhankfully Master Tavia is still suppressing the draic bloodlines or Axion would already be minced on the pavement. He won't be able to match the speed Prince Hydra moved earlier without full access to his abilities.

  "Oi, you, lizard breath. We're not do. I just so happen to be holding the key to my bloodline in my hands. Things could end very badly for you if Master Tavia's magic fails to suppress it," Dink said, h a cwed fihreateningly above the mouth of the sleeping Myid ihe cage. "What do you think about the prince’s odds of survival, Master Tavia? I know all about your people's fasation with probabilities. They call it 'Halfling luck' food reason."

  Dink gnced over his shoulder at the speechless mage, who snapped out of her shock to silently ihe cage in his hands using her mana gsses. Master Tavia raised a hand to her thoughtfully, pausing for a moment to calcute. She carefully sidered before replying.

  "The creature is still capable of produg its spores in an unscious state. My spell will be uo suppress your bloodlier an iional effort on your part to i a trated number of spores. With the disparity between your draieages, it is three-to-one odds that your bloodline will ignite first and the prince will be uo react before the spores reach him. If we factor in your identity. It will result in Prince Chazrick being uo prevent you from killing him. In clusion, it is uo provoke you at this time," Master Tavia replied.

  "I suspect that someone of your status is aware of Halfling's natural ability to process logic. I'll let you decide if you're willing to py those odds. Are you a gambling man, prince? Because I am," Dink goaded the prince as a menag grin formed on his face, drumming his fingers against the cage.

  Prince Chazrick hesitated while pting the sharpness of Dink's exposed fangs. After a brief pause, he snarled wordlessly in pt, forcibly tossing the belt in his hand on the floor. He turned on his heels with gritted teeth, quickly leaving the room through the splintered door in silence.

  Dink ughed in amusement at Prince Chazrick’s departure. He used the momentary distra to retrieve his bastard sword, sheathing it in a fluid motion. Master Tavia became noticeably agitated as her eyes fixated on the sword behind his back.

  “Rex. There’s o be so teavia. I wouldn’t have ihe right of wele if I wanted any trouble with you. The reason for my disturbance here was to get the women’s cil’s attention. I have need of your assista’s time for the Expanding Woods to end,” Dink firmly stated.

  Lady Estra stiffened after hearing his informal use of the master mage’s avia’s indifferent expression was once again disturbed. She was left momentarily speechless by Dink’s words. Her response was interrupted. A gust of wind blew operao the building, allowing the sky to be seen outside. A symbol was f in the clouds above as the interior of the House of Worldy Delight darkened.

  ***

  [??Interlewd: Dictator's Decree link at bottom of the chapter! Explicit side chapter exclusive to Patreon.]

  ***

  “Hearken to me, people of Nyre. I, Prince Chazrick of Royal House Hydra formally decre Silver-ranked House Stormbourne as an enemy of my House. All alliances and trade agreements between us have been nullified. Heh, those that offer aid to any of House Stormbourne’s members shall be regarded as their colborators. They will be met with swift retaliation from Royal House Hydra.”

  A voice appeared inside everyone’s mind. It beloo Prince Hydra. Dink gaped in surprise after hearing the ued booming annou. Lady Estra colpsed to her knees. She buried her fa her hands, a mournful cry esg her lips.

  “He really threw a tantrum and wasted a magical decree on his pride? The entire empire of Nyre would have heard that annou. Does he have no shame? A royal House has effectively decred war on a Silver-ranked House, minor nobility, just because he was rejected. The magical decree is probably more valuable than House Stormbourne’s current holdings. There’s something wrong with his head,” Dink said out loud to himself, shaking his head in bemusement.

  “What have I done? I’ve destined my House to certain doom. My aors turn away from me in shame. I ihe…” Estra said after taking trol of her wailing.

  “Do not ihat world w! I forbid it,” Dink hurriedly interrupted. He rushed to her side, g a hand over her mouth. Their tract forced Estra’s words to cut off before she could finish her sentehe swirling energy that had begun to ma in respoo her words silently dissipated. He could feel overwhelming grief from her through their bond. Even Murkuk was feeling sympathy toward her.

  ??{INTERLEWD} Dictator's Decree ?

  Annou Get the plete unsoblin's Glory Vol 1 on Amazon. Alternatively, find it in your preferred online bookstore.Read up-to-date chapters and full explicit backlog on Patreon!