CRASH—!!
"Standby?! Ye've got to be jokin' with me! Stop messin' around!"
"...."
"Why in the world do we need to leave it to those Ganesha bastards!"
Twilight Manor, the headquarters of the Loki Familia.
Inside the strategy room, the Familia's executives were gathered, debating the current state of affairs.
"The sudden mission change, among other things... there are too many anomalies," Finn noted.
"Well, whatever the case may be, it won't end like this," Gareth added.
Sss—
"Another hunch from yer thumb?" Loki asked.
"Something like that."
Akumo sat quietly, watching the executives voice their deep suspicions about the current crisis. He swallowed his internal unease, preferring to remain in the background and hoping Bell could resolve the matter on his own.
"Hmph! It burns me up that they're sidelinin' other Familias just 'cause it suits 'em, but I'm with Finn on this one," Loki declared.
"We'll follow the standby order for now, but...."
"Even if they have to turn Orario upside down, this'll keep goin', won't it?"
"When that happens, we'll have to move as well."
Contrary to Akumo's wishes, Finn and Loki seemed to have no intention of ignoring a threat that could potentially endanger them.
Sss—
"It seems Ouranos is up to something fishy as well?"
"He seems quite desperate to keep us at a distance."
In the upper reaches of Babel, sitting aloofly upon her throne, Freya also read the mission brief sent by the Guild and realized there was a hidden layer to the current situation.
"Did ye slip up, Dix!"
Grin—!
"Kekek...! This has turned into something truly interestin', hasn't it, oi!!!!!!!!!!"
Standing atop a building, Ikelos shouted with a voice laced with madness, looking down over Orario. He couldn't contain his delight, finding the unfolding chaos far too entertaining.
".....And Akumo-kun?"
"He was spotted returning to the Loki Familia with the Sword Princess."
"Sigh.... So Ouranos positioned Bell-kun in the Dungeon and Akumo-kun on the surface."
"It's likely because the scale would become far too large if Akumo-san were to move," Asfi replied.
Sitting in his home, Hermes carefully read the mission brief alongside a letter sent by Ouranos, letting out a heavy sigh as he rubbed his forehead.
"Between your sudden whim and this, things have become quite troublesome, Ouranos."
'If Ikelos's children have touched the Xenos, this won't end with a simple subjugation force.'
"It's surprising. I thought you'd push Bell Cranel and Akumo-san into it, calling it a 'trial' as you always do."
Tap—!
"The situation is different now. This is an emergency where they could become traitors instead of heroes."
'The ones Falga and the others last spotted were fleeing....'
Hermes synthesized the facts: the whereabouts of Dix's gang who hadn't returned to the surface, the facility needed to imprison kidnapped Xenos and monsters, and the reason the Xenos group remained on the 18th Floor. He reached a single conclusion.
'Is it Knossos....'
"Asfi, act independently from Ganesha's group and investigate the 18th Floor."
"And you, Hermes-sama?"
"I have somewhere else to go. I'm worried about Bell-kun as well."
Sss—
"Call Aisha. And if possible, Ryu as well."
"Astraea-sama, this is...!"
Flutter—!
"It's a mission from the Guild and a request for support from Hermes."
"....Is it related to the current mission?"
"Yes."
At the Astraea Familia's home, Ryu and Alise faced the Goddess of Justice, Astraea. Their faces hardened as they received the documents she held.
"Even though I suspended your peacekeeping activities for your safety, I must shamelessly ask this of you."
""....""
"The Ikelos Familia. According to information from Hermes and Akumo, they are a Dark Familia deeply connected to Evilus."
Sss—
"Ryu, head to the Dungeon. Alise, remain on the surface. Assist Bell Cranel and Akumo-kun respectively."
Astraea bowed her head slightly as she made the request, but Ryu and Alise instead knelt before her, smiling at the prospect of their first deployment in a long time.
"We are the dependents of Astraea, the Goddess of Justice."
"As a super-duper beautiful girl, I could never refuse such a request!"
"Alise, you really are....."
As Ryu looked at Alise with her usual exasperated eyes, Alise spoke nonchalantly.
"Are you jealous because I'm assigned to the surface where Akumo is?"
"W-What are you talking about!?"
Seeing them cheerfully accept her request, Astraea gave them a truly warm smile, expressing her sincere gratitude and praying for their safe return.
Sss—
"Then we're off, Astraea-sama!"
"We shall return."
"...Yes."
'Everyone.... please return safely.'
Meanwhile, the Ganesha Familia subjugation force was heading toward the 18th Floor.
Someone approached Bell among their ranks. It was Ardee Varma, a woman with striking silver hair wearing blue attire.
"It's been a while, [Little Rookie]!"
"Ardee-san!?"
Bell was surprised by the appearance of the woman he had first met during the Divine Moon Festival, but he felt slightly relieved knowing she was close with Akumo.
"It's our first time meeting since the festival, isn't it?"
"Yes.... but did you also join the subjugation force, Ardee-san?"
"That's right. The mission came directly from the Guild, after all."
"..."
'Ardee-san probably doesn't know about the Xenos either...'
Just as
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