"The Goddesses!" Loki, for a rare occasion, had dressed up, sporting an elegant hairstyle and a purple dress. Unfortunately, the dress's enh
"The Goddesses!"
Loki, for a rare occasion, had dressed up, sporting an elegant hairstyle and a purple dress.
Unfortunately, the dress's enhancement of her feminine charm couldn't compare to a certain impoverished goddess's naturally voluptuous figure.
This was likely the reason for their constant conflict.
"Tch, why are you here?" Hestia launched the first attack.
Loki scoffed. "Why? If that little bean sprout can attend, why can't I?"
Their heads bumped together; sparks seemed to fly from their clashing gazes.
"My, my! You two are still so close!"
Drake turned and saw a goddess in a white dress approaching.
Drake felt momentarily speechless; he couldn't find words to describe her; "beautiful" was sufficient.
Freya, the goddess of beauty; seeing her, Drake finally understood the allure that captivated Orario.
Even Drake was momentarily captivated, but he quickly recovered. His strong mental fortitude provided some resistance to her charm.
He also sensed danger! As Freya looked at Drake, he felt a sudden chill.
It wasn't malice but Drake's long-cultivated instinct for danger.
'This unfathomable woman has plans for me!' This thought immediately crossed his mind.
Drake hadn't forgotten that Freya's fragment had been present when he'd disciplined Bete.
However, Freya only smiled at Drake before conversing with the other goddesses.
"Hestia, long time no see! And Loki, you look different today; how long has it been since you wore a dress?"
Freya's words temporarily separated the bickering pair.
Hestia, startled by Loki's sudden departure, fell to the ground but secretly scoffed. She'd disliked interacting with Freya since their time in the heavens.
While Freya had many flaws, she was a high-ranking goddess, possessing keen perception.
Loki and Freya were closer, saying, "Nothing, just heard that a certain little bean sprout was coming, so I wanted to mock the poor goddess who can't even afford a dress."
Loki never missed an opportunity to mock Hestia, but Hestia wasn't one to back down.
"Humph! That's funny; you came to mock me, unaware you're the subject of mockery! What's wrong with your pitiful… chest… chest… chest…?!"
Loki was struck; each repetition felt like a knife to her heart.
"Ahahahaha!"
Hestia stood up, laughing triumphantly, while Loki knelt, her pained expression unbefitting a leader of Orario's strongest Familia.
Loki, enraged, grabbed Hestia's face and lifted her.
The observing gods added fuel to the fire, betting that Loki would lose.
Loki threw Hestia to the ground. "I'll let you off this time!"
But as she turned, tears streamed down her face.
Hestia added insult to injury. "Next time, don't let me see that barren wasteland again!"
"Shut up, idiot!"
Hephaestus rubbed her forehead; this pair was unbearable; she'd forgotten the purpose of attending this feast.
Remembering her purpose, Hephaestus said, "Loki, do you have anything to say to me?"
Loki, realizing her oversight in focusing on Hestia, approached Hephaestus with a fawning demeanor.
"Hephaestus, you're too cruel; you only raised the price of our equipment!
And several of my followers complained about not receiving their orders."
Hephaestus pushed away the fawning Loki. "You know why."
Loki's expression froze; she'd witnessed the events and had no excuse.
Freya raised her goblet. "What happened? But Loki's always reckless; Hephaestus, you should be more tolerant!"
Everyone except Hestia glanced at the feigning-ignorance Freya; it was impossible she didn't know what happened.
Hephaestus took the opportunity to state her position. "It's fine between just us, but it's not that simple when it involves Familia members.
You understand, Loki; if your followers were harmed, what would you do? Depending on your response, it might even lead to war between our Familias."
Loki sighed, understanding the severity. If anyone harmed her followers, especially those she valued, even unintentionally, she would destroy them.
Loki knew that mishandling this could trigger war between the Loki and Hephaestus Familias.
She'd hoped to resolve the conflict using her relationship with Hephaestus, but that was no longer possible.
Loki sighed. "This is troublesome, but I'll take responsibility for my follower's actions. Hephaestus, tell me; how can we make amends?"
Hephaestus glanced at Drake, who nodded, leaving the decision to her.
Drake didn't need anything from the Loki Familia; he always obtained what he wanted himself. He left it to Hephaestus; she was the most trustworthy.
Hephaestus said, "Since you caused the trouble, you'll handle the consequences."
Loki nodded; this was only fair. Considering the gods' reactions to Drake's sprite pact, trouble was inevitable.
Loki straightened up, scanning the surrounding gods. Though she squinted, her sharp gaze made the gods back off.
"You all heard that! If anyone causes trouble, we won't be merciful!"
The Loki and Hephaestus Familias together could deter many troublemakers.
Hephaestus cleared her throat. "Don't think this is over! Loki, I want 50% of your expedition's spoils."
Loki cried out. "No way! My children risked their lives for those spoils! They need it for their next expedition!"
"50%!" Hephaestus's tone was firm.
"20%, that's more than enough!"
"50%!"
"30%, that's my limit."
"50%!" Hephaestus didn't budge.
…
Finally, Loki had to accept Hephaestus's terms, giving 40% of the expedition's spoils to the Hephaestus Familia—to Drake.
Loki regretted attending the feast; mocked by Hestia and then fleeced by Hephaestus. She must have forgotten to check her luck before leaving home!
After settling the compensation, Hephaestus turned to Hestia. "Now, you said you needed to talk to me; what is it?"
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