Shakti and Levi did not converse for too long.
The former still had the work of transporting monsters to attend to, while the latter had to take Hestia and Hephaestus to the restaurant.
However, before leaving, Shakti called Bell to her side again.
"Let me introduce you. This is the 'Hero King' Levi Bright, whom you have heard of frequently since coming to Orario, the Captain of the Hestia Familia."
"And this is my bratty kid, Bell Cranel. Speaking of which, the reason he joined the Ganesha Familia actually has something to do with you, Lord Levi."
"Oh?" The blond youth, sandwiched between two goddesses, showed a timely expression of surprise. "If you don't mind, could you tell me about it?"
Shakti did not hide anything: "Didn't you heal quite a few disabled adventurers from the Ganesha Familia before? One of them encountered Bell while on patrol. According to that senior, it seems he had some history with this guy's elders, so he extended an invitation when he heard Bell was looking for a Familia to join."
"However, how does that saying from the Eastern Continent go again—'An elder in the house is like a treasure'?"
"This child's talent is indeed not bad. He has even awakened a skill called 'Guardian Heart' that can accelerate growth. If everything goes smoothly, he can try to start accumulating Feats next month."
"Oh, of course, he cannot compare to you, Lord Levi, but he can be considered the backbone of the Ganesha Familia's next generation."
Inside the restaurant's private box, seeing that Levi had fallen into deep thought after bidding farewell to Shakti and only returned to normal after the waiter brought the dishes, Hestia could not suppress the curiosity in her heart and asked, "You seem to care a lot about that child named Bell Cranel?"
Although Hephaestus did not speak, she cast a similar gaze his way.
Being watched by the two goddesses, Levi did not intend to lie. Hearing the question, he nodded his head. "Bell Cranel is the remnant of the Zeus Familia and the Hera Familia. His biological aunt is the one known as the 'Incarnation of Talent,' 'Silence' Alfia."
As soon as these words came out, Hestia did not have much of a reaction. After all, she had only been in the Lower World for a few months and had not experienced that era where vessels of heroes appeared in large numbers and the stars shone brightly.
But Hephaestus... she had been stationed in the Lower World's Orario for nearly a hundred years.
She immediately revealed a stunned expression.
However, after just a few seconds, the red-haired goddess, who chose to keep the right half of her face covered even while outside, regained her calm.
Her tone carried a hint of languidness as she said, "'Silence' was indeed very powerful back then. But when discussing talent and aptitude, even three of her put together might not compare to you."
This was not Hephaestus casually flattering her lover.
'Silence' was strong; she grew to Lv.7 at the age of seventeen, and even easily one-shot the 'Ruler of the Seas,' Leviathan, using her awakened skills and magic.
In every aspect, she could shoulder the honorific of a 'monster of talent.'
However, the congenital disease that had existed since her parents' generation and was passed down to transform into a [Skill] also meant that Alfia could only stop at Lv.7.
Furthermore, after the Zeus Familia and Hera Familia failed to subjugate the Black Dragon, she joined the Evils seven years ago. Although according to the subsequent speculations of the gods, she intended to use her own death to catalyze the birth of a new vessel of a hero, the massive casualties she caused among civilians and adventurers during that period were enough to nail her to the pillar of shame in history.
In contrast, Levi had not even been in Orario for half a year, yet he had already grown to a level not much inferior to 'Silence.'
The sparkling wine sold externally could even mass-produce High-Class Adventurers.
The most critical point was that the [Unknown Entity] that Levi awakened did not become a burden to him like the disease of 'Silence' but instead turned into a catalyst in the truest sense.
Hephaestus had no doubt that given a bit more time, her lover could truly become the first existence in the Lower World to ascend to godhood!
"My situation is different."
Levi had a very clear understanding of himself.
If not for the pay-to-win system he possessed, no matter how hard he worked, he would probably only grow to Lv.3 or Lv.4 in this lifetime.
Let alone spying on immortality or achieving godhood, he likely wouldn't even be able to pass the hurdle of becoming a First-Class Adventurer.
At this moment, Hestia suddenly opened her mouth. "Stop beating around the bush. Tell us your true intentions."
She had known Levi longer, so she naturally knew her lover's 'twisted' personality, which lay somewhere between 'unprofitable, won't get up early' and 'saying no but meaning yes.'
Having his thoughts exposed by The Blue Ribbon, Levi did not deny it. After slightly organizing his thoughts, he said, "I intend to summon 'Silence.'"
"..." x2
This answer did not exceed Hestia's expectations.
However, it made Hephaestus somewhat surprised. "You shouldn't be lacking helpers right now, correct?"
"If it's for farming gold to make money, with the Spirit Clones and Alise's group, plus the sales of the sparkling wine, it is indeed enough." As Levi spoke, he glanced at his inventory.
It had been less than half a month since returning to Orario, yet relying on the monster drops in the Colosseum on the 37th Floor, he had farmed his Valis Vouchers back up to nearly 10 billion.
—And this was the result with a large pile of materials still stacked in the inventory, unexchanged.
"But..."
"You both also know that once the stronghold transformation is complete, I will begin attempting to obtain [Materialization of the Soul]."
"This magic from another world might make me become very close to a god in essence."
"At that time, I might not be able to go down into the Labyrinth."
According to the data recorded within the Einzbern Magecraft Crest, the so-called 'Materialization of the Soul' did not mean turning the soul into a tangible substance.
Rather, it allowed the soul to break free from the shackles of the flesh's natural aging.
This was very close, in some aspects, to the gods of the DanMachi world.
"Of course, with my current speed of making money, whether I go to the Labyrinth or not actually doesn't matter."
"But don't forget, there is still a Black Dragon in the Dragon's Valley to the north waiting to be subjugated."
"That guy is the same as the divine assassins like Scorpio and the Pitch-black Goliath; they are all immune to Divine Power attacks."
"In other words..."
Hephaestus picked up the conversation from her lover and continued, "If we want to ensure the Lower World continues to exist after the Black Dragon unseals, the Hestia Familia had better raise a few more adventurers capable of fighting it?"
Levi nodded. "Moreover, I heard that 'Silence' participated in the Black Dragon subjugation battle back then. She might possess a portion of the relevant data. Plus, her strength is not weak; she can help Alise, Gojouno, and the others continue to get stronger, and she herself can participate in the final decisive battle."
"One could say that summoning her is a profitable venture no matter how you calculate it."
Levi actually had one more reason he didn't say.
Although he relied on 'first come, first served,' he had, after all, snatched away quite a few of Bell Cranel's opportunities.
In the past, when he was weak, he only had to look out for himself. Now that his strength was sufficient, he could provide some compensation to the other party.
—Once Alfia was summoned, she would one hundred percent go find Bell and then give him special training.
As for what benefit he could get from doing this?
Hmm, perhaps it was just self-satisfaction.
____
New Story: Bleach: Dominating Soul Society in One Sting
🔥We're handing out that '30% bonus' that makes your wallet smile. 😄
✅ Jump 40 chapters ahead of the public release!
✅ Get access to special perks and news!
Help smash these goals:
🎯 100 Powerstones = +1 Bonus Chapter (for everyone)
🚀 140 MEMBERS = +5 extra chapters (for all stories)!
👻 P - Walnutchan