"I'll go report this immediately!" Eina's expression sharpened, and she hurried toward the deeper part of the Guild to deliver the intelligence.
-----------------------
After the news reached spread inside the Guild, all the big figures were instantly shocked and doubtful.
The grudge between Ishtar and Freya (Ishtar's one-sided jealousy of Freya, while Freya treated Ishtar's various actions as nothing more than a child's mischief) was never really a secret among the higher-ups and gods. But the situation had never escalated to the point of a Familia War.
This was not only due to the balance between familias and gods but also because of the mediation from the Guild Headquarters.
In the dungeon city Orario, even the movements of high-level adventurers, the top combat power, were strictly monitored and controlled, let alone a war between powerful familias.
Both the Ishtar Familia and the Freya Familia were large factions, standing at the very top within Orario.
No matter who won or lost in a war between them, the city would suffer heavy losses in top-tier fighting power, something the Guild absolutely could not afford.
Thus, even though everyone knew about the grudges between the two goddesses of beauty, they had always tried to maintain a delicate balance between them.
But no one could have expected that a Familia War would suddenly break out like this, especially since there had been no signs beforehand.
The news from the Guild Headquarters spread immediately, and the gods of each Familia, upon reading the information, were all utterly dumbfounded.
...
North District, "Twilight Manor."
"Hahahahaha, I can't stop laughing! That idiot Ishtar always jumping up and down, now she's finally dumbfounded, that gaudy slut, hmph."
"And Freya, that lovestruck fool, hehehe. To openly start a Familia War inside the city, the punishment from the Guild afterward won't just be about fines, tsk tsk tsk…"
Late at night, Loki, after drinking herself full and just about to go to sleep, received this letter, and immediately burst into laughter.
What's the fun in laughing alone? She quickly called Finn, Riveria, and Gareth to join in.
"Since that whole series of events when we ran into trouble on the 50th floor during the 'Expedition,' this city has gotten noisy again."
"I thought after the incident five years ago, things would calm down for at least ten years, but here we are, just a few years later, Creatures, a corrupted spirit, spirit clones, remnants of the 'Evilus', all popping up one after another."
Finn rubbed his forehead, sighing at the endless mess of incidents. Even as wise as he was, he couldn't help but feel exhausted.
Riveria sat sternly on the sofa, one hand holding a saucer, the other a teacup. Her posture was straight, exuding the aura of both a noble lady. Even a stranger would instantly recognize her air of dignity.
"As for the remnants of the 'Evilus,' whether cannon fodder or veterans, we already know them well. But the current problem is far more serious than 15 years ago or even 5 years ago."
Gareth slapped the armrest with his thick hand.
"Hmph, the man-made dungeon Knossos. A history tied to this city for thousands of years, truths hidden in darkness… The fact that neither the Guild nor the major familias knew about it? Now with all these monsters and chaos erupting together, you expect me to believe there isn't some enemy scheming behind this? I don't buy it."
Finn bit his thumb and looked toward Loki.
"Loki, the relationships between you gods aren't something we as familias should pry into. But what do you think… that goddess's true purpose was in attacking the Pleasure District?"
He didn't name her out of respect, but everyone in the room knew which goddess Finn was referring to.
Loki slowly opened her sly eyes, leaning back on the sofa with her feet on the table, arms draped lazily along the backrest.
"Heh, what else could it be? Ishtar must have provoked Freya again. This isn't the first or second time. Usually it's just small squabbles, and Freya ignores it. But this time, even we gods didn't expect things to escalate so much, tsk tsk…"
"What kind of hatred would drive Freya to disregard punishment and attack Ishtar outright? Hehehe… If you ask me, I bet Freya's little sweetheart got snatched away by Ishtar."
Loki's expression was one of eager anticipation, thrilled at the unfolding drama.
This was the kind of grand show she absolutely wouldn't miss, especially when it involved the feud between Ishtar and Freya.
"Hahahaha, I bet those bored, moldy old gods are going insane right now."
Hearing Loki's guess, Riveria and Finn exchanged a glance, both faintly guessing at something.
"…If I remember correctly, wasn't there some reaction from Fron before? That goddess's chariot, Allen Fromel, the cat man, he might have had contact with him. Could it be because of…"
Finn's emerald eyes flashed with sharp insight.
"Bell Cranel, that boy!" Loki's smile faded slightly as she turned her head to look at them.
"Oh? Bell Cranel? The 'Rabbit'? That kid everyone's been fussing over?"
Riveria set down her teacup, stood up, and walked to the window. Gazing at Orario's dazzling nightscape, she spoke quietly with her back to the others.
"Ais told me after returning from shopping today. She and the others went out with Fron, and at noon they ran into members of the Hestia Familia at the Hostess of Fertility. Apparently… their captain, that boy, went missing, and they were hoping for Fron's help."
"Missing? Heh… doesn't that connect all the clues together?"
Scene after scene flashed through their memories. With Riveria's additional information, Finn immediately pieced together the truth hidden in the fog.
"During the 59th-floor expedition, Ottar's abnormal behavior… that boy slaying the Minotaur… Allen's warning… his sudden growth during the War Game thanks to someone secretly training him and giving him that necklace blocking an attack… and now, after this disappearance, the Guild and Freya Familia's pressure on Apollo Familia…"
After listening, Loki suddenly leapt up.
"I get it now! Freya said she found a child she liked, turns out it was him all along! Heh, I knew it! The fact that she even convinced the Guild to speak on the kid's behalf, there had to be a hidden scheme! She's got her eye on that little runt!"
"So that's it. Now everything makes sense. But still… that woman really does have a death wish, doesn't she?"