Could a blunder of that magnitude really be brushed aside so easily?
Obviously not.
A mistake is a mistake—especially in a city ruled by gods.
Did anyone truly think the gods would turn a blind eye to Evilus's meddling?
Have they forgotten that, in Orario today, nothing earns the gods' hatred more than Evilus?
Perhaps the envoys had only half-understood the situation before. But after seeing the Guild's stance, they completely lost hope.
"Revoke the Grand Casino's extraterritorial status."
That single decree was enough to make the gods' attitude clear.
The Grand Casino would still be allowed to operate—but only under divine supervision.
It was no longer a lawless zone within Orario.
It would no longer be permitted to conduct excessive or illicit dealings.
Once, Orario had granted the Grand Casino the right to conduct such business. But now, because of one foolish decision, that right was being stripped away.
"I didn't think it would ever come to this."
"Who would've thought..."
Helpless resignation colored the envoys' faces. This was no longer something they could intervene in.
"How did our country end up sending such a fool to be the administrator?"
"Enough."
Everyone was in low spirits. They all wanted to complain, but no one had the energy left to do so.
"What's done is done. Complaining won't change anything."
"And it all happened inside the Grand Casino itself. Even the administrator we agreed on has defected—to Evilus and the Spirits."
"Openly supplying Evilus with resources... that's an unforgivable crime."
The speaking envoy tilted his head back, weary and defeated.
"What the hell was that idiot thinking?"
"The gods of Orario were already turning a blind eye. Why did that moron have to step on the gods' landmine anyway?"
No one could understand what was going through that man's mind.
"Wealth, women, power—he could've had it all as the Grand Casino's manager."
"If he'd only known his limits and avoided provoking the gods, that fool could've had everything he wanted. But no, he still went and did it."
"What a damn idiot!"
Their confusion and curses couldn't change the reality before them. All they could do was accept it—the Grand Casino was no longer under their control.
Of course, they couldn't comprehend why a greedy, lustful parasite from the gray market would go so far as to do something this stupid. But that, too, was natural. After all, when one's mind has been seized and reshaped, it isn't a matter of poor judgment. It simply means he was the perfect puppet.
The Grand Casino manager's betrayal was nothing more than a convenient case of waste turned to use. His position fit, his past fit—naturally, he was the ideal pawn to exploit.
As for the one who engineered this whole situation, he was now facing a deeply uncomfortable reality within his own Familia.
At that moment, the goddess Freya crossed a veil of swirling chaos, stepping into the territory of the Hestia Familia for the first time.
Gazing upon this distinct, singular space, a faint smile curved Freya's lips.
"No wonder I could never find you."
This space was truly extraordinary—completely isolated from the world itself. A place like this was hard enough to locate, let alone infiltrate.
'Clearly, it was designed specifically to counter the gods.'
'Hestia, I can't help but envy you for this.'
Freya, dressed impeccably in formal attire, bit her lip as she stepped into the only residence within this space—the Great Tree House.
At that moment, the interior of the treehouse was in complete disarray. Three goddesses sat in the main hall, their presence forming a tense, three-way standoff.
"Click!"
The outer door swung open, drawing the gaze of all three goddesses at once.
Freya entered with a confident, almost triumphant smile, walking toward them with unshakable poise.
Hmph!
All three goddesses inwardly scoffed in unison. That self-satisfied expression of hers was nothing short of irritating.
But they all knew it—Freya's mere appearance here was proof of her victory.
They had gone to great lengths to keep her out, and yet she'd still found a way in. That alone made both Hestia and Hephaestus feel deeply unsettled.
Meeting their eyes, Freya showed not the slightest trace of irritation, only a radiant smile.
"Do you really dislike seeing me so much?"
"Yes." *3
The three goddesses answered without hesitation, their tone firm and unapologetic.
Freya, however, only smiled brighter, gracefully taking a seat beside Loki.
"I don't dislike you at all," she said cheerfully. "After all, starting today, our relationship might become much closer."
'We certainly don't want that kind of closeness with you.' *3
Hestia, Hephaestus, and Loki all shared the same thought.
Though the three of them often clashed, their alliance was far preferable to involving Freya.
"Isn't that child coming out?" Freya asked casually.
"Hmm... This is between us now. I told Bell-kun not to come out," Hestia replied.
"Between us, huh..."
Seeing Hestia's reluctant expression, Freya couldn't help but laugh softly.
'Still unwilling to admit it?'
Her laughter faded into a helpless smile as she shook her head.
"Our situation is already out in the open. It's indeed ours to deal with, but we must admit one thing—none of us can monopolize that child."
"Hestia, you had your chance, but Hephaestus took it before you could."
"If you'd been more careful, that child wouldn't have lost his first time to Hephaestus."
Hestia froze, her body stiffening at the painful reminder.
"When the second goddess was drawn to him, you should've realized it—the will of a few goddesses alone can't seal him away completely. That child has a charm that unconsciously draws out the very qualities that attract us goddesses."
"Fate and mystery," Freya said with quiet certainty.
"Our very presence here is the fate we must confront."
"All of us have desired that child for ourselves."
"But our rivalry only strengthens the divine allure he exudes."
"So, when I came here, I made my decision—I gave up on trying to claim him for myself."
"However, what I want to discuss today," Freya's lips curved into a knowing smile, "is the idea of 'shared possession.'"