'The Evilus?'
Once all other possibilities were ruled out, the woman's identity became obvious—she could only be from Evilus.
But the realization made Bell frown. While Evilus seemed like the clear answer, what puzzled him was why a high-ranking member of Evilus would show up here, now of all times.
Right now, Orario was at a point where Evilus was a common enemy. Even the slightest sign of affiliation would get someone reported to the Guild. And if the accused didn't immediately submit to an investigation, they were as good as confirmed Evilus.
This was the worst possible climate for them.
Bell could imagine Evilus preparing in secret, plotting revenge against Orario—but making a move in the open? That didn't make sense. So, he decided to observe and listen in.
The woman below retracted her gaze. She clearly understood the purpose of her visit and how dangerous the area was.
And now, she faced a serious question.
'Should I make a move?'
A few days ago, word from the lower ranks had reached the ears of Evilus—a shocking piece of intelligence:
In three days, the goddess Freya was scheduled to meet a man at the Hostess of Fertility.
For Evilus, still reeling from multiple setbacks, this was incredibly valuable news.
Even though Loki Familia now had their 'Braver,' 'Nine Hell,' and 'Elgarm' promoted to Lv. 7, their power and presence still couldn't compare to the 'King.'
Orario had once again demonstrated overwhelming strength, threatening to completely crush Evilus. The organization, already worn down by repeated blows, was on the verge of collapse. If not for the shadowy figure Enyo still holding the strings, the pressure would've been unbearable.
But now, a golden opportunity had emerged. Freya—out in the open, going to a tavern to meet a man. It was major. Especially since the intel had a direct connection to Freya herself.
Freya Familia was unquestionably the strongest in Orario. Even with Loki Familia rising to match them at Lv. 7, the difference between a newly promoted adventurer and one at the peak was massive. The 'King' was known for being the most complete adventurer in existence—flawless and unmatched. Not even Loki Familia could compare.
And beyond the King, Freya Familia still had plenty of troublesome members.
With such a fearsome Familia—and Loki Familia gaining ground—Evilus was boxed in. Four Lv. 7s wasn't something they could overcome by brute force.
But this... this was a chance. A real one.
Freya Familia's core wasn't its members—it was Freya herself. So the best way to destroy them was to force Freya's return to Tenkai.
Which made Freya's outing to the tavern a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Evilus.
'But will that bitch really show up on her own?'
The woman still doubted whether Freya would actually come, just as the intelligence had said.
'And even if that bitch does show up, there's no way she'll be without guards. Those guys will never let her be taken out so easily.'
Still, there was no denying it. This was a rare opening.
If that bitch did come, then it would absolutely be the best chance they'd had. And according to prior intel, she often left her Familia behind when she traveled. If that was the case again, then this was their moment.
Today was the final day to decide. Tomorrow would be the third day—the day mentioned in the report.
If they were going to act, the decision had to be made now.
The woman remained silent for a long time, unable to come to a conclusion.
"Haven't made a decision yet?"
The voice behind her made the woman's face twist with irritation beneath her hood.
"Nonsense. That bitch is definitely not easy to deal with, and I don't believe she'd just walk straight into a trap."
"Exactly what I was thinking."
"So, about tomorrow's plan..."
The woman had no interest in half-baked strategies. Though people on the outside called her the 'Arachnia,' she wasn't an idiot. She wasn't about to throw her life away. No matter how confident she was in her strength, she didn't think she could take on multiple Lv.6s and a man at the peak of Lv.7.
"No. To be precise—the plan proceeds tomorrow."
"!?"
The woman frowned and turned to look at the figure behind her, wearing a red-and-black mask. If this guy wasn't an ally, she'd have punched him already. After a moment of silence, she spoke.
"Give me one good reason."
The masked man gave a slight nod and began to explain.
"According to the intel we just received, Freya plans to secretly meet with a man tomorrow—and he's someone she's especially fond of."
"That matches what I've heard. But even if that bitch doesn't say anything, do you really think her Familia would let her go alone?"
"They will."
The masked man's calm "they will" left her stunned. Then he continued:
"From what we know, Freya came down to Genkai in search of her destined encounter. If she gives a direct order for her Familia not to interfere, then we'll have at least one minute to act."
"If we add your barrier to the mix, we might buy even more time."
The woman went silent for a moment, then gave her best estimate.
"Thirty seconds. That's the max I can manage. The barrier spell won't last much longer than that—thirty seconds is the limit."
"Then, do you have the confidence to finish it within thirty seconds?"
Faced with that question, the woman smiled with absolute confidence.
"As long as it's not someone on my level, thirty seconds is plenty."
The masked man didn't seem surprised—that was the answer he had already expected.
"So, we're going through with the plan tomorrow?"
This time, it was his turn to ask. And the woman's lips curled into a smile.
"Of course we are!"