Beauty Pageant

Just as the interview controversy subsided, Jiang Bai was preparing to put his arm around one of them and go out to enjoy the pleasure of having two women on either side when Mirajane gently tugged at his sleeve.

"By the way, Lucy,"

Mirajane suddenly remembered something, and she looked at the blonde girl not far away.

Are you still short of money to pay rent?

"Yes, of course we're short!"

Upon hearing the words "money" and "rent," Lucy immediately jumped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

The money I won at the casino in Akane Beach was gone after paying two months' rent.

She's worried about how she'll make ends meet in two months.

Mirajane covered her mouth and chuckled, then offered a suggestion. "Next week is the town's annual 'Harvest Festival,' and as is customary, our guild will be hosting the 'Miss Fairy Tail' beauty pageant."

"Lucy, you should give it a try! The prize money for first place is really generous."

After saying that, she winked playfully at Lucy, then pulled Jiang Bai and Erza away.

"Harvest Festival?" Lucy's face was full of doubt.

"Hey!" Happy flew onto her shoulder and dutifully began to explain.

"It's the annual harvest festival held in Magnolia Town! Our Fairy Tail has a grand parade of floats every year, and lots and lots of people come to watch!"

The next day, the latest issue of Weekly Sorcerer was quickly released.

"Fairy Tail," already riding high due to its rebuild and the addition of new members, has now completely dominated the entire special section.

Among them, the most eye-catching is undoubtedly Jiang Bai, the newly promoted one of the Ten Wizard Saints.

In the magazine, he wore a black suit and sunglasses, and his casual pose leaning against the guild entrance ignited the hearts of all the girls in the entire Kingdom of Fiore.

"Sister, look! It's Lord Jiang Bai! How can he be so handsome!"

"Not only are they handsome, but according to the reports, their abilities are unfathomable! They're practically the perfect dream couple!"

In no time, the streets and alleys were filled with praise for Jiang Bai and infatuated screams.

But even under the light, there is always a shadow.

In a tavern filled with all sorts of people, several mages who looked menacing were gathered around a table, looking at magazines and scoffing disdainfully.

"Ha! It's 'Fairy Tail' again. Haven't these guys been causing a bit too much trouble lately?"

"What's the point of making a scene? If you ask me, apart from Jiang Bai, the rest of the 'Fairy Tail' guild are just a bunch of nobodies!"

"Well said! Otherwise, how could our guild have been destroyed by 'Phantom Lord'?"

A man, his face flushed from drinking, turned his attention to Jiang Bai: "And Jiang Bai's so-called 100-Year Quest might just be a load of bull!"

"Look at his Xiao Bai, does he look like the kind of person who can do that kind of mission? I bet he got there by relying on women!"

"Ha ha!"

Vulgar language echoed unrestrainedly in the tavern.

Just then, a figure sitting in the shadows in the corner slowly put down the wine glass in his hand.

Beneath the short, golden hair was an unattractive face.

A dangerous glint flashed in Laxus Dreyar's eyes.

He didn't even bother to utter another word. Blinding lightning erupted from his body, transforming into countless electric snakes that precisely electrocuted all those loose-lipped guys until they foamed at the mouth and passed out.

The tavern fell silent instantly.

Amidst the horrified gazes of the crowd, Laxus stood up, tossed a gold coin onto the table, and walked straight out.

Walking the streets of Magnolia, Laxus felt worse than ever.

The discussions about "Fairy Tail" on the street were mixed. He found the praise grating, while the slander and defamation felt like steel needles piercing his anger.

He knew his guild like the best.

There are strong people, like Jiang Bai, like myself, like that old man.

But equally, there are countless vulnerable people.

In his view, it was the existence of these weaklings that made the guild a laughing stock in the eyes of others!

He couldn't tolerate that a guild with combat power at his and Jiang Bai's level would be looked down upon by those third- or fourth-rate guilds!

What angered him even more was that his grandfather and Jiang Bai didn't care at all about these rumors!

They allowed the guild's reputation to be trampled on, and they even felt at ease treating that group of weak and shameless good-for-nothings who stayed in the guild as their family!

"I've had enough!"

Laxus abruptly stopped, looked up in the direction of the guild, his eyes filled with disgust and resolute determination.

"This is not the guild I want! 'Fairy Tail'... It needs a complete purge!"

A week later, the Harvest Festival arrived as scheduled.

The entire town of Magnolia was immersed in the festive revelry, and the Fairy Tail guild, as the center of the celebration, was surrounded by a huge crowd.

A magnificent stage was temporarily set up inside the guild, Marcus, dressed in a sparkly host outfit, stood in the center of the stage with a microphone in hand.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the annual 'Fairy Tail' beauty pageant!"

"I am the host of this competition, Marcus Sand Magic!"

Amidst enthusiastic cheers from the audience, Marcus raised his voice. "Without further ado, let's begin this visual feast! First, let me introduce the judges for this beauty pageant!"

"The first one is our Fairy Tail's guild master, Ten Wizard Saints... Makarov!"

As the spotlight shone down, Makarov stood up from the judges' panel and waved.

A polite round of applause rang out from the audience.

Marcus continued, "And then there's our guild's strongest, the newly Ten Wizard Saints, the dream lover of countless girls... 'Infinity' Jiang Bai!"

As soon as he finished speaking, another spotlight shone on Jiang Bai.

Jiang Bai also stood up from the judges' panel and casually waved his hand.

"Ahhh--! Lord Jiang Bai is looking at me!"

"Lord Jiang Bai is so handsome--!"

A deafening roar of screams erupted from the audience, the volume of which nearly lifted the roof off the guild.

This stands in stark contrast to the desolate scene when Makarov appeared earlier.

Makarov looked enviously at the cocky young man beside him, surrounded by thousands of girls, and muttered sourly, "Tch, what's so great about him... He's just a little bit more handsome than I was when I was young."

"Alright! Now, let's welcome our first contestant!"

Marcus shouted passionately,

"She is—the beautiful woman with exotic charm, Cana Arupelona! What kind of amazing performance will she bring us?"