Chapter 189
“Alright, enough with all the drama. Why have you both invited me and Astraea? I don’t believe that our familias are at your levels yet..” Bahamut asked, skeptical of Loki and Freya's intentions.
She couldn't believe they would summon them just for tea.
“Relax, Bahamut. We're just here to gossip,” Loki replied, her mischievous grin not easing Bahamut's suspicion.
Bahamut narrowed her eyes, unconvinced.
“Ugh, I doubt that. You both have something else in mind.”
Loki sighed in response to Bahamut's skepticism.
“Fine, we know both your familias have been maintaining patrols. We thought that we could gain insight on a few things we slackers may have missed.” Loki replied.
“What Loki says is true. We’re quite interested in your affairs, particularly your followers. They’re excellent. If they weren’t already taken, I’d love to have them all to myself,” Freya added with a mysterious smile.
“Seriously, Freya! You’ve got to learn to reel it in. If you keep up this obsession with owning everything, you're going to bite off more than you can chew one day” Loki scolded.
She wanted this to be a peaceful meeting and didn’t wish to clash with either Bahamut or Astraea currently.
“If there’s one thing I can appreciate about you, it’s your honesty. I don’t dislike that,” Bahamut admitted to Freya.
“Fufufu, what she means is that we’ll take that as the compliment you surely intended it to be, Freya,” Astraea interjected, trying to diffuse the tension.
“Anyway, since you invited us for information, why not invite Ganesha too? His familia is just as committed to maintaining order,” Astraea suggested.
Loki and Freya exchanged glances, then replied in unison, “Because he is annoying.”
Bahamut nodded in agreement, and even Astraea muttered, “Oh my...” realizing she felt the same way about him.
Ganesha wasn’t a bad person, just exceedingly annoying.
When asked why he always screamed his own name, he would simply respond, “I am Ganeshaaaaaa,” leaving no explanation.
Just imagining his presence made Freya cringe.
“Ugh, Loki, let’s begin,” she said, shaking Ganesha from her mind.
“Did you give Hermes his task?” Freya asked.
“Yes, I did. When I say ‘I’, I mean my familia. Perseus dropped by to give her report before I came here,” Loki replied.
“So what information have you gathered?” Bahamut inquired.
“It’s about what the Evilus are doing outside the city. Just as Finn guessed, they are recruiting an army of followers, but no god is granting them the blessing of Falna. Basically, they are non-combat worshipers,” Loki revealed.
Astraea’s expression paled at the implication. “That means the ones stirring up trouble in the city are…”
“Yep, these non-combat worshipers. Violence, extortion, threats—you name it. Anything to expand their influence,” Loki added.
‘Using violence to spread faith? How sinister yet effective. Feels like something she might use, or is it him? Hopefully, I’m wrong, but…’ Bahamut’s thoughts trailed off as she refocused on the discussion.
“Do you know where they are located?” Freya asked.
“Yes, it’s to the far south of Orario, in a place called Dedyne,” Loki replied.
“Dedyne? That name brings back memories—memories I would sooner forget,” Freya mused.
“From what Hermes's kids gathered, they’ve been keeping their business low-key for now, but they are definitely up to something. There’s been some unusual activities” Loki continued.
The four around the table absorbed the unsettling news, each lost in their own thoughts.
“Any guesses as to their motives? Ignition pieces, holy branches from the elves, and now something in Dedyne?” Bahamut asked.
“I have no idea about that, but I wonder who could be supplying the Evilus? All the funding for their rising activities must come from somewhere,” Astraea pondered.
“That’s an easy question. It’s coming from all the merchants doing business in Orario,” Freya replied.
“What!” Bahamut and Astraea exclaimed in shock.
“Why?” Astraea asked.
“It’s rather simple,” Loki said, twirling her glass of wine.
“You two haven’t been in Orario long enough to know. Many would love to see the guild collapse.” Loki said.
“Is it because the free trade of magic stones is prohibited?” Astraea quickly realized.
“So that’s why! While everyone can haggle over drop items, magic stones are entirely managed by the guild,” Bahamut said.
“Exactly. The guild has a monopoly on all dungeon-related business. For many merchants in that trade, the guild is a significant obstacle,” Loki explained.
“So they believe that by overthrowing the guild, all those profits will be theirs,” Freya concluded.
Orario’s magic stone industry was what made it the economic center of the world, fueled by the limitless supply of dungeon goods and magic stones that the city controlled.
Could any merchant resist the lure of profit, imagining the riches that could be gained from such a golden goose?
The answer was no.
In this world, many merchants saw profit in war, putting a price on life and death itself.
“There’s not much I can say except… it’s really sad and short-sighted,” Bahamut said.
“They’re so blinded by greed that they’re willing to plunge the world into chaos,” Astraea added.
“Damn right. They are fools who can’t see the bigger picture,” Loki said, frustration evident in her tone.
Opening her usually half-closed scarlet eyes, Loki posed a question.
“If the guild falls, who will manage the dungeon? If adventurers die out, who will defeat the Black Dragon? Who will save the mortal world then?” she asked.
“My children, perhaps,” Bahamut joked, trying to lighten the mood.
Instead, she earned scalding glares from the other three goddesses.
“So blinded by their own desires that they would bring about the destruction of the very world they inhabit…what a fitting way for mortals to meet their demise,” Freya said.
“But there’s something odd,” Bahamut continued, her expression serious.
“What?” Astraea asked.
“Why are the merchants only supporting the Evilus now?” Bahamut questioned.
“You make a fair point,” Loki admitted.
“There should have been numerous chances to take down Orario in the past, like eight years ago when the Zeus and Hera familias fell,” Bahamut stated.
Loki and Freya turned away, shame washing over them.
After the fall of the Zeus and Hera familias, they had been the ones who chased the surviving members out.
“Ahem, let’s not dwell on old wounds. Make your point,” Loki urged.
“This is just my guess, but what if the merchants have a means to replace the strength of adventurers?” Bahamut suggested.
“What! That can’t be possible!” Loki exclaimed.
“Calm down; it’s just a guess,” Astraea said, forcing Loki to sit back down.
“Remember the factory incident with the Adamantite wall?” Bahamut inquired.
“Yeah, those bastards humiliated my children,” Freya said, anger creeping into her tone.
“The Evilus seem to have recruited at least two individuals capable of breaking through pure adamantite walls,” Bahamut revealed.
Gasp!
Astraea’s eyes widened as she quickly connected the dots.
“The reason the merchants chose now is that they’ve recruited powerful individuals capable of ruling the city in the absence of the guild.”
“Could such people really exist?” Freya asked.
“Somehow, it all makes a lot of sense. But there’s more, isn’t there?” Loki said, noticing the conflicted look on Bahamut’s face.
“It’s just a needless worry, but I was wondering if any dragon gods are involved, you know, like Falazure or Tiamat,” Bahamut said.
The room fell silent as they contemplated the implications.
“Didn’t you tell me that Io and Aasterinian are keeping Tiamat in check?” Astraea asked.
“They are, at least that’s what Chronepsis told me. But does anyone know if Falazure has descended?” Bahamut replied.
“Ugh, I need a drink,” Loki said, downing the remaining contents of her wine bottle.
“I haven’t heard anything, but even if he descended, can’t you handle him?” Freya asked, now pouring herself wine instead of tea.
While she wasn’t particularly close to many dragon gods, she was familiar with Falazure, one of the gods she detested along with Ishtar.
“Well, I can, but there will be a lot of destruction. My poor kids can’t handle the bill,” Bahamut replied.
“You…” Loki’s words trailed off in annoyance as she opened another wine bottle.
“Now, everyone calm down. This is all just speculation in the end. It’s not beyond something we can handle,” Astraea interjected.
“You think I don’t know that? But when you think about it, the Evilus should be aware of Bahamut. Wouldn’t it make sense to recruit someone of equal or greater strength to deal with her, so she doesn’t interfere with their plans?” Loki argued.
“Oh, now that you mention it, it seems plausible,” Astraea muttered.
“Sigh. Everything seems too interconnected. This is definitely beyond the capabilities of a mortal…” Freya surmised.
“There are definitely some gods behind this,” the four goddesses said in unison.