Fron had to admit that when it came to major decisions and the bigger picture, Finn was always able to remain rational and level-headed, strictly adhering to a principle of putting the objective above all else.
He would never be bound by sentiment, emotion, ethics, or morality.
As the leader, with Orario facing a crisis of annihilation, the ultimate result after the chain reaction would be the world returning to chaos.
Surely, in his heart there was a scale.
And it was obvious, under the current circumstances, the lives of Orario's residents simply did not weigh as heavily as the fate of the entire world.
His choice, therefore, was clear.
He grumbled inwardly, yet his expression remained calm and unruffled.
From Fron's standpoint, he stood on the same side as Finn, the Loki Familia, and Orario. His silence proved that, even though the decision was cruel, he still chose to agree to the proposal.
Fron wasn't the only one surprised by Finn's suggestion; the other representatives also stiffened.
Especially Shakti of the Ganesha Familia and Tsubaki of the Hephaestus Familia.
The half-dwarf smith narrowed her eyes quietly.
"You mean… to end it without anyone knowing?"
"..."
Seeing the dangerous expression on Tsubaki's face, Fron knew exactly what she was thinking.
"Ah, yes. Just as you imagine." Finn accepted her gaze without flinching.
"If we fail, all innocent civilians will lose their lives. You understand the consequences, don't you?"
The two confronted each other head-on. Shakti weighed her words, then slowly spoke.
"Finn, just as you said, if we suffer defeat in this war, it means the 'Great Hole' suppressed by the Orario will resurface. When that happens, not just this city, but the entire world will face destruction."
"In that case… even those who manage to escape in those hypothetical scenarios will eventually die in the ensuing calamities. So… in the end, this matter is meaningless from the start."
If they won, all would return to peace in Orario.
If they lost, even if they escaped temporarily, they would eventually follow the same path, destruction.
Thus, on the surface Finn's orders seemed cold and logical, but in reality… they were the most suitable instructions for the current situation.
From the perspective of the citizens being abandoned, they would surely feel anger. But clearly… from the broader viewpoint, this was the most rational choice.
After hearing Shakti's analysis, Tsubaki also came to understand.
Her voice was filled with her own conviction, casting everything aside except determination.
Fron watched silently from the side.
This wasn't a problem that could be resolved just because someone said a few words. Rather, it was a clash of stubbornness and reason. They needed to work through it themselves, he couldn't help them get over that internal hurdle.
Clearly, Tsubaki had reached her final decision.
"Victory, that's everything, huh? Fine~!"
"Since that's the case, I'll respect your opinions."
Seeing the representatives of the three strongest familias reach an agreement, Fron finally spoke.
"Shakti is right. The only thing we can do now is eliminate as many unstable factors as possible, concentrate our combat power, and annihilate the enemies in the Knossos."
"If we back down here, not only Orario, but the entire world will face ruin… which is exactly what Enyo wishes for."
Fron's words drew the attention of Fels and the others.
Tsubaki, suddenly showed a mischievous and wicked grin.
"Hahaha, then it's settled! Let us save the world from the shadows, unnoticed. For adventurers like us, something like this is just right."
Hearing this, smiles appeared on everyone's faces.
Yes, what could compare to the achievement they were about to accomplish? Even if they would remain nameless heroes, it was enough.
And so, the war meeting, gathering over half of Orario's top fighting power, came to a smooth close.
"Fron, I'll leave the rest to you." Seeing Finn rise, Fron knew where he was going.
Naturally, it was to fulfill the promise he made, to compensate the ones who held the last pieces of the puzzle for victory.
"Are you sure you can handle it alone? That person isn't someone you can reason with so easily."
Finn flashed a big grin.
"Ah, before, it might've been difficult. But now we have you on our side. I think that person won't trouble me too much for your sake. Besides, she also has something to protect, doesn't she? We're all grasshoppers tied to the same rope."
Hearing that, Fron understood.
Finn had been prepared for this from the start… He gave a small smile and nodded lightly.
...
The adventurers had completed the final mobilization.
As for the gods heading each familia, they were also taking action.
"It seems Finn has already finalized the battle plan."
In a small alleyway in Orario, Hermes pressed down on his travel hat and spoke softly to Asfi standing beside him.
"If I remember correctly, tonight is the time for the full-scale assault, right?"
"Exactly."
"Heh, of course it is. Otherwise there'd be no way to pull this off. After all, if those 'Fallen Spirits' aren't defeated within this limited window, forget the hero the gods have been waiting for, everything will end."
Before them was the dim, narrow alleyway. After hearing Asfi's report, Hermes showed a strange smile.
"Also, regarding the matter you assigned us to investigate, we've located their hidden base."
"Oh? The Demeter Familia's hideout has been found?"
Hearing this, Hermes narrowed his eyes habitually and gestured for her to continue.
"It's a very remote place. Even for us, it took a long time following faint clues to find it. The location is to the west of Orario, within the Beor Mountains. There are three structures hidden within the mountains."
"Oh? There? I think I've heard that Demeter had a 'food storage warehouse' prepared as a safeguard against famine. It's probably that place."
Although she didn't understand her god's intention behind the order, Asfi still completed the assignment with diligence.
But during the investigation, she discovered something odd.
Just like their god Demeter was nowhere to be found, members of the Demeter Familia had also vanished. If that place was a large warehouse, then it was very possible that the members were hiding there…