Just as Evilus had begun making its comeback, the isolated, blood-soaked Kali Familia had suddenly been smuggled into Orario. The timing was simply too perfect. Just as Finn had said, it was difficult not to connect the two incidents. If Evilus was behind it, then secretly bringing people into the city wasn't impossible.
"Do we know where the Kali Familia went?" Ryoji suddenly asked. "They rushed toward the Tower of Babel after leaving Northwest Street this afternoon. Did that lead to anything?"
"According to the information we gathered from eyewitnesses, the three of them charged straight into the Dungeon," Finn shook his head. "After that, they never came back out. I've already had Raul station people at the Dungeon entrance. We'll know as soon as they emerge, but so far there hasn't been any news."
"I see..." Ryoji couldn't help feeling a little regretful. If I'd known they might be connected to Evilus, I would've stopped them back then.
"Still, there's no guarantee Evilus is behind this, right?"
"If they aren't, that's even more troublesome," Finn sighed. "Because we don't even know who smuggled them into the city, let alone what their objective is."
"Fair point."
Strictly speaking, this should have been the Guild's responsibility. The Loki Familia had voluntarily taken the burden upon themselves despite having limited manpower. It was a thankless task. But for Orario's safety, as one of the city's strongest Familias, they had no choice but to shoulder it.
"Anyway, let's finish everything related to the expedition over the next two days," Finn said, looking around at everyone present. "After that, we'll devote all our resources to searching every corner of Orario. We're going to dig out every last trace of Evilus."
"Understood!"
A sense of an approaching storm hung over all of Orario, as though an invisible hand were quietly setting everything into motion. Very few people could sense it. Most ordinary citizens were still celebrating the Loki Familia's triumphant return.
Breaking through the previously unconquered 59th Floor. Seven Level 6 adventurers. The entire city erupted into celebration. The commotion rivaled even the excitement caused by Ryoji's level-up.
Everywhere people went, they heard praise for the Loki Familia. Many had even begun calling them the true strongest Familia in Orario. Of course, outsiders had no idea just how busy the Loki Familia really was. Even Loki herself had personally joined the search for information related to Evilus.
"I get the reasoning, but why do I have to come too?" Walking through an alley off North Main Street, Ryoji rolled his eyes beneath his black cloak.
"You'd really leave a helpless little beauty like me to wander into danger all alone?"
"Heh."
"What are you laughing at?!" Loki shot him an annoyed glare.
These were extraordinary times. If the enemy targeted the chief deity, the greatest weakness of any Familia, and forced Loki back to Heaven, then the Loki Familia would effectively be finished.
Ordinary people feared divine authority and wouldn't dare lay a hand on a god, but Evilus was full of lunatics. Who knew what those fanatics might do?
After Finn repeatedly insisted, Loki finally gave in. Whenever she left the manor, she had to bring at least one executive as her bodyguard. And today, Ryoji happened to be completely free.
While every other executive was busy dealing with the aftermath of the expedition, he had absolutely nothing to do. He had even been considering heading into the Dungeon to level up. If not him, who else was Loki supposed to drag along?
Ultimately, it all came back to his spectacular lack of business sense. Finn had been so shocked by Ryoji's "talent" for losing money that he'd simply waved his hand and permanently excused him from handling any of the Familia's administrative work. For safety's sake, Loki had promptly recruited the idle Ryoji as her personal bodyguard.
"By the way, where are we going today?"
"To meet an ally."
With both hands stuffed into her pockets, Loki strolled along with a lazy swagger. She looked nothing like a goddess; if anything, she resembled a street thug wandering around town.
The two of them passed through the North District and entered East Main Street, where they stopped in front of an elegant, upscale-looking bar. Even though the sign outside clearly read Closed, Loki walked straight in without a second thought.
The inside was quiet. The décor was tasteful, understated, and luxurious. Two people were already waiting for them.
"So you finally made it, Loki. If you'd taken any longer, I'd have thought you'd stood me up." The speaker, wearing a wry smile, was a handsome man with long golden hair. His smile alone was enough to charm most women, while his glass-colored eyes carried an unfathomable depth that gave him an air of mystery.
A god. Feeling the unique divine aura surrounding him, Ryoji silently nodded to himself.
"Yo, Dionysus. Sorry for keeping you waiting." Loki grinned with very little sincerity as she pulled out a stool and sat down at the bar.
"Would you like a glass of wine? The wine here is excellent. I highly recommend it." The god named Dionysus didn't seem bothered by her perfunctory apology. He merely gave the bartender a small nod.
"Oh? Really?" Loki, whose love of alcohol was legendary, immediately took the bait.
"Of course. You know how picky I am when it comes to wine." Dionysus smiled with refined confidence, every bit the perfect gentleman.
"Pwah! This is some seriously good wine!" Loki drained the bright red liquid in one gulp. Her eyes lit up instantly, a faint blush spreading across her cheeks as she praised it enthusiastically.
"This place has exceptional brewing techniques, and they use the finest ingredients in the Lower World. There's no way it wouldn't taste amazing."
"The finest ingredients?"
"That's right. The grapes come from the Demeter Familia."
"So that's why! Then of course it's the best." Loki nodded in sudden understanding.
Ryoji nearly had a heart attack. Damn it... Why did Demeter suddenly come up?
The Goddess Demeter was the deity of agriculture. Ever since descending to the Lower World, she'd devoted herself to cultivating better crops and larger harvests, working tirelessly to eliminate famine and hardship.
Her Familia reportedly supplied more than half of Orario's vegetables, and she herself had earned the Guild's complete trust, becoming one of only three gods permitted to enter and leave Orario freely.
She carried quite a reputation. More importantly, Ryoji had once spent a night with her. Hearing her name brought up so suddenly had nearly scared him to death.
Though now that he thought about it, he did kind of miss her. Especially those... They were enormous. Even bigger than Freya's.
"Won't you introduce this young man?" Dionysus turned his attention to Ryoji, standing behind Loki. His glass-colored eyes remained perfectly calm, revealing none of what he was thinking.
"I'm sure you're already familiar with this member of my Familia," Loki waved a hand casually. "I doubt I need to introduce him."
Following Dionysus's gaze, Ryoji looked toward the person standing behind him. There, he saw a young white-haired elf girl.
Pure. That single impression appeared in Ryoji's mind the moment he laid eyes on her.
(End of Chapter)
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