"You people really know how to give me a headache."
Inside Finn's office in the northern tower, Finn had recovered considerably after several days of treatment. Most of the weakness had left his face.
Tione, who had only recently recovered herself after using a recovery potion, was hovering around him with obvious concern, making him secretly regret not staying in the hospital for a couple more days.
"Bete, I can't defend you this time. If I do, I'll only turn the rest of the Familia against me. Right now, the last thing we need is internal resentment. It would only interfere with our next operation. I hope you understand." Finn rubbed his forehead. "For the time being, leave the Familia. When the time is right for you to return, I'll send for you."
If this wasn't handled carefully, it really could split the Familia apart. Ryoji couldn't solve it, and neither could Finn. As the captain, Finn couldn't openly side with Bete, nor could he ignore the feelings of everyone else. The only option was to let things cool down: have Bete leave for a while, then bring him back once everyone's anger had faded.
Without saying a single word, Bete turned and left the office. Not long afterward, amid Raul and the others' angry shouts, he walked out of Twilight Manor alone, carrying nothing with him.
"Isn't that a little risky?" Watching him leave, Tione looked uneasy. "If Bete completely loses faith in the Loki Familia and decides to transfer to another Familia, that won't be good for us either."
It wasn't the nicest thing to say about a teammate, but it was a real concern. After all, Bete was a Level 6 adventurer, one of the Loki Familia's strongest combatants. Losing him to another Familia would be a major blow.
"I don't think we need to worry about that," Ryoji spoke up unexpectedly. "He's the kind of person who won't change his convictions just because people turn against him. Once he says something, he sticks by it. That's the kind of man I think Bete is."
"I'm surprised to hear you speaking up for him." Riveria raised an eyebrow. Everyone in the Loki Familia knew that Ryoji and Bete didn't get along.
"I don't particularly like him," Ryoji admitted, without even the slightest smile on his face. "But I do trust his character. That said, anyone who says those kinds of things in front of Line and the others' bodies has to have something wrong with their head."
He trusted Bete's integrity, but that didn't mean he liked him.
Tiona, Ais, Tione, and the others all nodded in agreement. Being a tsundere was one thing; having such catastrophically bad timing and social skills was something else entirely.
"Putting Bete's matter aside..." Finn said with a helpless smile before his expression turned serious. "Let's talk about the artificial labyrinth, Knossos."
The moment they heard that name, everyone's expression hardened.
"We're slowing down our assault for now. Our priority will shift to gathering intelligence," Finn said, folding his hands together as his voice grew solemn. "Most importantly, we have to find the labyrinth's key. The reason we failed this time was because we underestimated our enemy. We walked straight into their trap and let them toy with us like trapped prey. The root of the problem is that they can control the labyrinth however they want. Only by obtaining the key can we seize control of the labyrinth ourselves and begin the second phase of the operation."
Everyone nodded. The labyrinth's key, a red gemstone engraved with the Type-D emblem, was possessed by only a handful of the enemy's executives. Whoever held it could freely control the labyrinth's gates. If they could seize that key, the entire situation would turn around.
From this point on, every operation would revolve around locating it.
"Finn." Just as the meeting was coming to an end, Ryoji suddenly stood up. "For the next operation... I'd like to take a leave of absence."
"Is it something important?"
"Yes."
"Very well." Finn thought for a moment before nodding without hesitation.
After all, Ryoji was only fifteen years old, even younger than Lefiya. Everything that had happened must have put tremendous pressure on him, so a break might do him some good.
---
South side of the city, District Five.
The sun had just dipped below the horizon, disappearing into the western sky as darkness gradually spread beneath the stars.
Standing before Ryoji was an enormous wall. In fact, even in a district where every inch of land was worth a fortune, it was more accurate to call it a fortress wall.
There were no guards in sight. The massive gates blocked all outsiders, yet the place radiated such overwhelming hostility that it seemed to be silently warning everyone to stay away. Not a single passerby dared come near.
'Boom! Boom! Boom!'
Ryoji stepped forward and knocked on the gates. A few moments later, with a deep rumble, the heavy doors slowly swung open.
Beyond them stretched a vast field of lush green. White, yellow, and countless other flowers swayed gently in the breeze, creating a breathtaking meadow that was almost impossible to believe existed in the middle of the city. At its center stood a small hill, and atop that hill sat a magnificent mansion grand enough to be mistaken for a palace.
Ryoji walked forward, his boots sinking lightly into the earth as the scent of fresh soil filled the air. Behind him, the gates slammed shut with a thunderous 'bang'.
'Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!'
The sound of rushing air echoed from every direction. Figures descended from above and emerged from the shadows of nearby structures, surrounding him in an instant. Every weapon was pointed straight at him; every pair of eyes burned with unmistakable hostility.
"So you actually came here on your own."
The one at the front was a Beastman. Wrapped in black-and-silver fur, he was short in stature, yet his presence was overwhelming.
"If we kill you right here as a dangerous intruder trying to start a top-class War Game without permission... even Freya-sama wouldn't have much to complain about." He glared at Ryoji from the center of the encirclement, his savage killing intent completely undisguised.
"That's right!"
"You damn brat!"
"How dare you monopolize Lady Freya's affection!"
"You deserve to die!"
Four Pallums, so alike they looked almost like quadruplets, brandished a sword, hammer, spear, and axe respectively, glaring at him with naked jealousy.
Nearby, two equally formidable elves stood ready. One held a black magic sword while the other gripped a white staff. As their expressions darkened, the violent aura surrounding them intensified, as though they were only moments away from unleashing their magic.
"If you think you can..." Ryoji licked his dry lips, "...then I'd be more than happy to see you try."
In the past, he would have simply invoked Freya's name and forced them to back down. But now... his fighting spirit was surging. What he wanted more than anything was a battle where he could fight with everything he had.
"Bastard!" The young Cat Person felt thoroughly insulted.
Not just him, every elite warrior surrounding Ryoji let their killing intent spill out unchecked, their grips tightening around their weapons.
The tension in the meadow reached its breaking point.
(End of Chapter)
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