Chapter 344 - War Games
In a secluded corner of Orario, a luxurious yet understated private room in a tavern offered a quiet haven for conversation. The decor was
In a secluded corner of Orario, a luxurious yet understated private room in a tavern offered a quiet haven for conversation.
The decor was simple but thoughtfully arranged, reflecting care in its design, perfect for discreet discussions.
Six figures sat around a central round table: Mahiro, Hestia, Finn, Riveria, Gareth, and Loki. Nearby, Ais and the fox girl, Sanjouno Haruhime, stood silently.
"Hestia, why're you with the Loki Familia?" Mahiro asked, his tone curious as he sat beside her. Hestia and Loki were notorious rivals, their enmity dating back to the heavens. The idea of them casually meeting up was absurd.
"Just ran into them," Hestia said, pouting. "Heard from Loki's kids you were with them, so I came to check. What's going on?"
"Hey, kid, remember me?" Loki grinned, her smirk brimming with mischief as she fixed Mahiro with a taunting look.
"Your figure's hard to forget," Mahiro replied, his serious tone masking a sly jab.
Loki's eyes narrowed, nearly choking on her irritation. Her flat chest was a sore spot, unchangeable even in the lower world, and Mahiro's quip stung.
"Last time at the Guild, you got the better of me," Loki said, her grin turning vengeful. "Now, with my best kids here, it's payback time."
Mahiro gave her a pitying look.
"What's that look, punk?" Loki snapped, bristling.
"Loki, sit down and stop stirring trouble," Riveria said, her face lined with exasperation. She knew her goddess's penchant for chaos all too well.
"Sorry, Mahiro, Goddess Hestia. Our main god's causing you grief," Finn said, offering an apologetic smile.
"Your kids seem reasonable, Loki. Not like you," Hestia said, her tone dripping with deliberate provocation.
"Let's get to business," Finn said, cutting off Loki's retort. "Ais, why'd you take an Ishtar Familia member?"
Ais' lips parted, but she hesitated, unable to respond.
"Ais, I'm surprised. You're not one for rash moves," Riveria said, eyeing her skeptically.
"I think I get why Ais did it, but dwelling on that's pointless now," Mahiro said, easing the pressure on Ais. "The question is how to handle it."
"My stance hasn't changed. We return the Ishtar member," Finn said, looking at Ais. "I see you want to keep her, but I won't allow it."
As the Loki Familia's captain, Finn's sharp observation caught Ais' reluctance, but he prioritized the Familia's interests.
"There's no bad blood with Ishtar, and they're Freya's rivals," Finn continued. "Starting a fight over this is unwise, especially when they're already at odds with another of Orario's twin kings."
"Exactly. Return that courtesan fast," Loki said, sneering. "I don't want my Ais tied to her kind. Ishtar's a hassle—let her and Freya claw each other's eyes out. I'm staying out of it."
"Agreed," Riveria nodded.
Ais looked to Mahiro, her eyes pleading.
He returned a reassuring smile.
"Then the Hestia Familia will take it from here," Mahiro said calmly.
"Are you out of your mind, kid?" Loki said, staring at him like he was a lunatic.
"I don't know this fox girl's value to Ishtar, but their urgency means she's no small fry. Getting involved will drag you into their mess."
"The Ishtar Familia's a headache even for us," she added. "Your Hestia Familia's just you, a Level 2. What're you thinking?"
"We need a War Game to quiet those restless gods," Mahiro said, unfazed.
"What?" Loki gaped, as did the Loki Familia members, stunned.
They'd expected a minor skirmish with Ishtar, not a full-blown War Game—a life-or-death struggle between Familia.
---
(A/N: Hi...)