Is it wrong to try to meet someone in a dungeon?

"You mean something's fishy?"

"It was a bit unnatural. He brought up a topic that didn't actually bother him, trying to shift my attention from the carnivorous plant to the Kali Familia."

Loki fully believes Riveria's suspicions about Rupert.

Finn's mind and "intuition" are trustworthy, but Riveria's insight is also sharp. Her eyes can see through the subtle changes in people's hearts, and even Ais, who has a mother-daughter relationship with her, cannot match this ability.

"Have you heard anything about Alicia and the others going to talk to the mayor about that?"

"They said the other party suspected them of having ties to the guild, and they were coldly rejected. That person seemed very firm. From what they said, it seemed like the other party wouldn't listen to anything they had to say."

"Hmm... Although we have some connection with the guild, we're from out of town..."

Loki brought the beer glass to his lips, a slightly puzzled expression on his face.

She ate thin slices of fish drizzled with pale green oil and sauce as a snack with her drinks, lost in thought. Riveria asked her a question after a while:

"Didn't you find anything? You went to see Njord, didn't you?"

Loki fell silent upon hearing this question.

She paused, her hand holding the fork stopping, and glanced briefly at Riveria's face.

"Hey Rivera... do you think Njord is a criminal?"

Upon hearing this statement, Rivera's emerald eyes widened in shock.

"Are you doubting him? Doubting Njord?"

"A little bit..."

"How could that be? I don't believe it. Although we only had a brief interaction, Njord took such good care of us before we entered Orario. He is a god of high divine character."

Riveria believed she had seen it with her own eyes; Loki scratched his crimson hair at the royal tone.

Having known Njord since her time in Celestial Realm, she was well aware of this. However, there was one scene during their conversation that Loki could not ignore.

"Unlike when facing children, even with the eyes of a god, one often cannot see through the lies of fellow gods. ... However, Njord is relatively good at lying, in my opinion."

She recalled the profile of her crush, his back to her, seemingly unwilling to make eye contact.

Unfortunately, Loki already knew what was going on.

"Njord is hiding something from us."

"...You mean it's related to the carnivorous plant?"

"I don't know, but... I'm sure he's done something wrong."

Upon hearing the Supreme God's assertion, Riveria shook her head and said, "I can't believe it..."

Facing his family members with furrowed brows, Loki felt an atmosphere he had never experienced before in Melron.

The port city appears peaceful, yet the shadow of carnivorous plants occasionally looms large. This feeling isn't one of danger, but rather a sense of contradiction and disharmony regarding certain issues, much like Ais and the others. The most apt description is "puzzling."

Loki was puzzled.

"Things have gotten a bit big... no, they've gotten a bit complicated."

There are several suspicious entities. If we only consider the people and the divine objects, there are three.

The Guild branch's Rupert, Mayor Borg, and the chief deity of the [Nyod Familia].

One of them could very well be the mastermind Loki was referring to.

"...What are your thoughts on the [Kali Familia]?"

Rivera, troubled by Njord's situation, slowly began to ask.

Loki remained silent for a moment.

"Do you think choosing this time is unrelated to this matter?"

"I'm worried about Tione and the others, but I think Kali and the others are innocent. But to say they're completely unrelated... it seems..."

Loki gave a vague answer, paused for a moment, and then put his intuition into words:

"I always feel like there's a 'thread' wrapped around these people and things. A very thin thread, so thin that you can't see it unless you look very closely... a very meaningless 'thread'."

Loki opened his eyes a slit and told her this as if in a monologue.

Rivera also rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought.

The noise of the other customers reached their ears during a lull in their conversation. Loki seemed to be using the beer as lubricant for his thought processes, indulging in the cheap liquor, but eventually it would all run out. The goddess clicked her tongue, waving her empty beer mug, and shouted, "Uncle—, another one—!"

"You have such a high tolerance, goddess. What happened?"

"Hmm, something's come up. Like my adorable child and stuff, so many things are giving me trouble. I really want to just drink it all away—"

The raccoon shopkeeper took the empty beer mug from the table and replaced it with a new, cheap beer. He looked at Rivera, who said, "If you have any Orb water, I'll have a glass," and ordered a drink.

"Hey, sir, has anything strange happened lately? Even something small, if you've noticed anything, could you tell me?"

Loki finished half of the wine that was brought to him in the blink of an eye and asked in a relaxed tone.

"Well...right, I remember now." The elderly orc seemed to recall something and said this.

"I seem to see Amazonians in town quite often lately..."

"Amazons...?"

"Yes, it was before that goddess's [familia] arrived."

Rivera reacted, and the shop owner continued.

"Merlen walked into the backstreet, and there were plenty of brothels. But the women there didn't seem to be from town; I'd never seen them before... This is the main gate of Orario, with people and things coming and going every day, so maybe I'm just imagining things, but..."

The shop owner seemed to be bothered by something, and kept tilting his head.

Upon hearing this, Loki and Riveria exchanged glances.

✿

In the room, where the light from the magic stone lamps was dimmed, velvet curtains hung everywhere.

From the carpets and china pots to the sofas, everything in the room was crimson. Some rooms resembled brothels, even possessing a decadent atmosphere. There wasn't a single window. This was a large hall located in the basement.

Inside was a large group of Amazons. These warriors, clad in battle robes, were the Kali Familia.

Led by Algana, the members of her retinue relaxed and rested in different positions. Among them, Kari, who was lying on the sofa, seemed to have nothing to do. "Hoo ah~" she opened her small mouth and yawned.

"..."

Suddenly, Bajie, who had been standing alone in silence, turned her gaze toward the entrance to the room.

As if in response to her, the only door in the room opened.

"—You've all arrived."

The newcomer was a goddess with brown skin.

Headbands, earrings, jewelry, bracelets, and anklets made of gold and silver. Aside from these ornaments, the only things that could be called clothing were the belt and loincloth, and the sash covering her breasts. Full breasts, supple limbs, and a slender waist—every part of this goddess (woman) could arouse a man's desire. Most importantly, her beauty surpassed everything. Clothes would only hinder her "beauty," hence her revealing attire.

The moment the goddess appeared, the Amazons of the fighting kingdom (Tir Scylla) were mesmerized.

They instinctively understood that even if the "beauty that could topple kingdoms" they had only heard of truly existed, they would pale in comparison to this goddess. Although they were the same sex as the goddess, they stared at her with their mouths half-open, their cheeks flushed, completely lost in the moment. Algana stared at the goddess with great interest, while Bajie frowned as if enduring something, then immediately turned her face away.

The room was filled with a fierce charm that even the gods would find hard to resist, bewitching both men and women.

The goddess twirled the pipe she held in one hand, her eyes narrowing seductively.

"You've finally arrived... I've been waiting for ages."

Only Kali, who rose from the sofa, gave her a bold smile, just as usual.

After the goddess entered the room, her retinue followed in single file. They were also Amazons.

There was a giantess who boasted a height exceeding two meters and resembled a monster, and a strikingly beautiful, long-legged shrew. These female warriors, whose costumes emphasized cleavage or exposed waists, were all—with one exception—seductively alluring. At the same time, their flawless physical movements clearly indicated that they were fighters.

The alluring goddess sat down on the long sofa in front of Kali.

Algana and the others moved behind the main god, and the Amazons on the other side followed suit.

With the table placed right in the center of the room as the dividing line, the goddess and her retinue faced off against each other.

"It might be too late to say this now, but let's confirm anyway. Are you Ishtar?"

"That's me."

In response to Kali's question, the goddess Ishtar, who was facing her, admitted it with a smile.

【Ishtar Familia】.

Even in the labyrinthine city, they are still considered a major faction with outstanding combat power.

These people control the "Red-light District" in the southeast of the city, and their vast territory is arguably the largest in Orario. The Amazons, who are combatants, are known as "barbela," and their strength is feared even by high-ranking adventurers.

The faction's leader is Ishtar, the "Goddess of Beauty".

She is the embodiment of alluring beauty, a bewitching goddess who has captured the hearts of millions.

Facing a powerful force that dominated the brothel district, Kali fearlessly told her:

"You've actually gone mad to make a 'commission' specifically to your concubines who are stationed at the border."

"I have written about this several times already. I will use anything that can be used."

The reason why Kali and the others came to the port city (Melon) was because of Ishtar, who was standing in front of them.

One day, a letter of authorization in the name of the goddess of beauty was written and sent to Kali.

"It's all for the sake of defeating that goddess (woman) – Freya."

Ishtar's amethyst-like eyes held a dim firelight.

Freya, the chief deity of the largest faction in the labyrinth city alongside the Loki Familia, and a "goddess of beauty" like herself, is seen as a thorn in Ishtar's side.

That goddess of beauty not only had status and fame, but she also disregarded herself, enjoying the praise of being the most beautiful being in the world, which made Ishtar more envious than anyone else.

Never underestimate the "jealousy of the goddesses." Before the gods descended, people said that their jealousy could cause people's fates to spiral out of control, repeatedly bringing chaos to the mortal realm.

Ishtar vowed to defeat Freya.

Kali and the others were entrusted by her to assist her in completing her plan.

"When I received your first secret letter, I truly had no idea what was going on."

Ishtar started sending letters to Tirskula about a year ago.

The Freya Familia's combat strength is undoubtedly the strongest in the city (Orario). Ishtar also knows that her own faction alone cannot defeat them. Therefore, she looks at the Kali Familia, a rare world-class force in the lower realm, whose strength is close to that of Orario's first-class adventurers, and thinks it's perfect to use them. In addition to writing letters, she also sent her Familia members (Amazons) as messengers several times to inquire about this matter with Kali.

At first, Kali and the others suspected that the letter of commission might be fake. However, after the messenger or the first-class armed force that was supposed to be the tribute arrived several times, they gradually came to believe it and began to seriously consider Ishtar's request.

"Hmph, you say that, but you agree very readily."

"Because this is a rare opportunity... to actually fight against the renowned Freya Familia. Didn't you choose us because you felt there was a chance of success? You know our nature very well."

The Kali Familia would rather travel abroad to accept the request from Ishtar and the others, not for any other reason than their desire to fight against the strong. They are willing to fight against Orario, who is hailed as the strongest in the world, and who sits at the pinnacle of that power, the Freya Familia.

For the Kali and Amazons, who thirsted for battle, nothing could make them so excited. The interests of the two goddesses thus beautifully aligned.

Exchanging a cold laugh with the young goddess, Ishtar crossed her slender, brown legs. Her every move captivated the gazes of Kali's Amazonian subordinates. Ishtar glanced at them sideways and took out her pipe.

"I'll tell you the procedure for starting a war first. Otherwise, if you act rashly without authorization, I won't tolerate it."

"What, you don't trust your concubine at all?"

"How dare you say such a thing? You bunch of beasts!"

Ishtar exhaled smoke at Kali, who was feigning ignorance.

Shifting their gaze, they saw Algana and the others behind Kali, their expressions warlike and provocative. Those expressions were directed at Ishtar's familiars. Ishtar's female giants and the others returned the glare. Despite the impending alliance, an atmosphere of imminent conflict hung heavy in the air.

As if to sever the ominous atmosphere, "Samira," Ishtar called out the name of her familiar.

A gray-haired Amazon stepped forward and unfurled a scroll on a short-legged table between the two goddesses.

It is a map of the city (Orario).

"Our territory is here, in the Fengyue Street in the southeast. In contrast, Freya and the others' headquarters are in the heart of the southern bustling area. As for our current location, the port city (Melen), it is located in the southwest from Orario's perspective."

"Hmm... I see. Judging from our positions, we've already surrounded the enemy's (Freya's) position, right?"

Ishtar's slender fingers moved across the map, and Kali, who was leaning out, nodded repeatedly.

"So, they're going to attack from both sides?"

"That's right."