Tsuna had steeled his resolve to fight the Loki Familia.
Meanwhile, over at Daedalus Street, a temporary command camp had been established to orchestrate the subjugation of the armed monsters. Orders flew rapidly through the air, and the camp was a whirlwind of frantic activity as adventurers rushed in and out.
"Absolutely won't lose... huh."
Finn muttered to himself after hearing the report from Lefiya's group. Just as Tsuna had deduced, Finn had already seen through the fact that Lyd and the others possessed human reasoning. Consequently, Tsuna standing in their way was entirely within his calculations. Even so, hearing a direct declaration of war from Tsuna made Finn rub his temples in distress. Incidentally, Lefiya, who had abandoned her post to storm Hearth Manor, had been immediately removed from surveillance duty.
"It seems Sawada Tsunayoshi has figured out that we know the truth about those armed monsters..."
"To think what you said before the expedition would actually come true..."
Inside a private room at the temporary camp, Riveria and Gareth shared Finn's headache after hearing Lefiya's report. Because it would severely damage overall morale, Finn had kept the true nature of the armed monsters a secret from the general ranks. However, he had confided the truth to his two oldest friends and trusted comrades.
"That Black Minotaur is a terrifying threat on its own... and now we have to face an entity that surpasses even Alfia..." Gareth groaned.
"And we have to deal with Evilus at the same time... What's the plan, Finn?" Riveria asked.
"There are no changes to the plan. Or rather, we can't change them," Finn replied firmly. "We cannot simply ignore those monsters, nor can we leave Evilus unchecked. If Sawada Tsunayoshi intends to get in our way, fighting him is our only option. That being said, I have no intention of facing him in a straightforward battle."
Clashing with Tsuna head-on would only needlessly exhaust their forces. Finn judged that their best strategy was to scatter their troops and focus entirely on hunting down the monsters.
"No matter how incredible Sawada Tsunayoshi's mobility is, Daedalus Street is a sprawling, chaotic labyrinth. Even he won't be able to cover the entire area alone. Though, I suppose that's just a small comfort."
No matter how fast Tsuna was, navigating the unknown, twisting layout of Daedalus Street would cost him precious time. They had to use that tiny window of opportunity to eliminate the armed monsters. It was a strategy with an abysmally low success rate, but it was far better than trying to crush him through brute force.
"What about that baby, Reborn?" Gareth pressed. "He's a monster who far surpasses Alfia, you know."
During their recent defense against the Rakia invasion, the sheer bloodlust Reborn directed at Alfia proved he was leagues above her. Tsuna alone was a monumental threat; if Reborn joined the fray, their chances of winning would plummet to absolute zero. Gareth needed to know how they were going to handle him.
"...I think we'll be fine," Finn said thoughtfully. "Despite having the strength to easily defeat Alfia, he deliberately maneuvered things so that Sawada Tsunayoshi would be the one to defeat her. He didn't even show the slightest intention of stepping in to help. Just as he claimed, he is merely fulfilling his duty to raise Sawada Tsunayoshi. Therefore, I highly doubt he'll join this battle. Of course, we won't drop our guard."
Even when the entire city was in peril, Reborn had refused to interfere, choosing instead to quietly watch Tsuna fight. Based on his intuition, Finn strongly felt that the chances of Reborn participating this time were virtually non-existent. Because of that, Finn was far more wary of Tsuna.
"We also can't neglect our caution regarding Bell Cranel. He's an unprecedented adventurer in his own right."
Having refined his vessel and leveled up at a speed that eclipsed even the legendary Zeus and Hera Familias, Finn was certain Bell would pull off something far beyond their expectations. Even though Bell was only Level 3, Finn refused to underestimate him.
This throbbing in my thumb is meant for Bell Cranel and Sawada Tsunayoshi... But is that really all it is?
Finn desperately wanted to believe his intuition was only warning him about those two. Yet, deep down, he couldn't shake the feeling that something much darker was looming on the horizon.
. . . . .
Hearth Manor
"I see..."
Several hours had passed since Tsuna's training began. Taking a brief break, Tsuna used an Oculus to contact Ouranos, formally relaying his decision to save Lyd and the others.
"I ordered the Loki Familia to withdraw from Daedalus Street, but they refused. To be perfectly honest, besides Fels, you are the only ones I can rely on... I am deeply sorry for my own incompetence..."
Having fought side-by-side with the Loki Familia during the expedition, Ouranos felt immense guilt for forcing Tsuna into a position where he had to fight them. He solemnly offered his apologies. However, knowing that Ouranos was trying his absolute best, Tsuna silently accepted the apology without resentment.
"Reborn-kun, Tsunayoshi-kun."
Hestia entered the training room, her expression deadly serious as she clutched a piece of parchment.
"A secret missive just arrived from Fels-kun."
"What does it say?"
"Tomorrow night. We head to Daedalus Street."
"Got it."
Tsuna didn't even flinch at the contents of the letter. He replied instantly, as if he had already known this was exactly how things would play out.
"Also, Bell-kun and the others have firmly decided to help save the Xenos."
"...Are they going to be okay?"
"Yeah."
"I see..."
Knowing that his friends—who had been so profoundly depressed—had finally steeled their resolve brought a wave of relief over Tsuna, though he couldn't entirely hide his lingering anxiety.
"While you guys were training, Bell-kun said he wanted to get some air and went outside."
"What!? Was he okay!?"
"Just as we expected, everyone treated him like an absolute villain. But when he used the excuse that he did it all to pay off my 200 million valis debt, they at least kept their hands off him."
"I never thought your massive 200 million valis debt would actually save his life in a situation like this," Reborn remarked, a complicated, almost exasperated look crossing his face. The fact that the Hestia Familia was drowning in 200 million valis of debt was famously known throughout Orario. It was the exact reason they had zero new recruits. Yet, ironically, that very debt had become Bell's shield.
"While he was out, he coincidentally ran into Loki. He told her about the Xenos and begged her to pull her Familia back, but as expected, it was a no-go."
"What exactly did Loki say?" Ouranos asked through the crystal.
"She said she'd pretend she never heard any of it."
"Are you certain?"
"Yeah."
Ouranos found it incredibly hard to believe that the deity of the Familia spearheading the Xenos subjugation would deliberately turn a blind eye. But hearing the absolute certainty in Hestia's voice, he realized she was telling the truth.
"Just as you predicted, Tsunayoshi-kun. That Braver-kun knows the true nature of the Xenos, yet he's still fully prepared to slaughter them. It must be agonizing for you, but we need you to handle the Loki Familia. And realistically, your involvement will be exposed to the public. Are you truly prepared for this?"
"I know. I made my resolve a long time ago."
I'm so sorry... Tsunayoshi-kun.
Even knowing he was prepared, Hestia felt a sharp pang of guilt for forcing such a cruel, heartbreaking mission onto his shoulders. She apologized silently in her heart, not wanting to say it aloud and weaken his resolve.
"Even so, the tactical situation is a total nightmare," Reborn interjected. "Just because Tsuna is here doesn't mean the Loki Familia is going to line up for a fair, head-on fight. Furthermore, trying to protect the Xenos while navigating the massive, complex labyrinth of Daedalus Street with only six people is going to be absurdly difficult."
"Hermes has offered us his cooperation," Ouranos revealed. "I've already briefed him on the Xenos. However, considering both their combat strength and their public standing, they won't be able to engage in flashy, open combat. Also, the Freya Familia will continue to focus on city defense. As long as we don't actively provoke them, they shouldn't make a move."
"So it really comes down to just us, huh," Hestia sighed.
The gap in raw combat power was staggering. Right now, the Hestia Familia was the most despised faction in all of Orario. No sane person would voluntarily ally with them, making it impossible to recruit external reinforcements. Hestia concluded that they had no choice but to fight with the meager forces they had.
I can't even think of a way to outsmart the Loki Familia in the first place... Tsuna thought grimly.
The lack of manpower was a massive issue, but beyond that, Tsuna simply couldn't imagine a scenario where they could outwit Finn's genius intellect. Even if they managed to catch him off guard, Finn would instantly deduce the optimal countermeasure and shut them down. Furthermore, they were outclassed in every other aspect: coordination, experience, and leadership. It wasn't that he didn't believe in Bell and the others, but Tsuna honestly couldn't see a clear path to victory.
Finn isn't like Byakuran... He would never hold back just for fun...
Of all the battles Tsuna had fought, this situation felt eerily similar to their desperate war against the Millefiore Famiglia. Back then, the Millefiore possessed an overwhelming number of troops and could have crushed the Vongola through sheer numbers at any moment. The only reason they survived was because Byakuran treated the war like a twisted game. He knew Shoichi was a spy but deliberately let him swim. He purposefully restricted the final clash to a small-scale skirmish between the Bosses and Guardians under the strict rules of the Choice game.
Finn, however, lacked even a shred of that playful arrogance. He would have no hesitation, no carelessness, and no hubris. He would utilize his forces to their maximum potential and crush them with flawless, ruthless efficiency. There were simply no openings to exploit.
"And then there are the adventurers looking for the bounty," Reborn pointed out. "Realistically, you six are making the entire city your enemy. On top of that, you can bet there are guys out there holding a grudge against Bell, or scumbags who will use the chaos of the battle as a smokescreen to get back at him."
Bell had become a pariah. Taking advantage of the Hestia Familia's plummeting reputation, Reborn predicted that many adventurers—especially those who were secretly jealous of Bell's unnatural leveling speed—would use this opportunity to viciously interfere.
...Byakuran... grudges...
The moment Reborn mentioned the word "grudges," something clicked violently in Tsuna's mind.
Ghk!?
A spark of realization flashed through his brain. At the same time, his face contorted in an expression of sheer, unadulterated pain.
"What's wrong, Tsuna?"
"Are you okay, Tsunayoshi-kun? Is fighting the Loki Familia really taking that much of a toll on you...?"
Noticing his sudden look of anguish, Reborn and Hestia voiced their concerns. Tsuna tightly gripped the Oculus.
"—Ouranos-sama. I have a request."
"What is it?"
"—"
Tsuna proceeded to outline the desperate, risky plan he had just conceived. Hearing his strategy, the three of them were completely paralyzed with shock.
"Do you have any idea what you're saying, Tsunayoshi-kun!?" Hestia suddenly exploded, furiously voicing her absolute opposition.
"...Are you serious, Tsuna?"
"Honestly, this is the only way I can think of to beat Finn..."
"I won't let you do something like that! No, as your Goddess, I absolutely forbid it!!"
"It's not like I want to do this either... But if we don't go this far, we can't win... No, even with this, there's no absolute guarantee of victory. And... I'm the only one who can pull this off... You know that too, don't you, Hestia?"
"Even so...!!"
"I agree with Hestia. Rather than force you to shoulder such a burden, I will publicly confess to harboring the Xenos. The root cause of this disaster was my inability to monitor my own dependents, and my hubris in dragging you all into my divine will. As the Founding God, I must take responsibility."
Not just Hestia, but Ouranos himself firmly opposed Tsuna's plan. If Ouranos had kept a closer eye on Daedalus, he could have prevented the construction of the Knossos labyrinth. The Xenos wouldn't have been captured and sold as commodities, and the Hestia Familia wouldn't have become the city's greatest villains.
"I'm not saying I agree with Tsuna's plan," Reborn interjected coldly. "But if the city finds out you were protecting the Xenos, you will undoubtedly be ousted. And when that happens, Orario will completely collapse."
Even Ouranos, the Founding God, would be stripped of his authority if the masses learned he was harboring humanity's mortal enemies. Over the past 2,000 years, Orario had faced countless apocalyptic crises, yet it remained standing solely because Ouranos ruled from the shadows. Even among the all-knowing deities, no one else had the power and presence to stabilize Orario.
If Ouranos fell, the city would collapse, sending shockwaves not just through Orario, but across the entire lower world. It was an established fact that only the adventurers of Orario stood a chance against the One-Eyed Black Dragon. If Orario fell, the world would end. Ouranos's downfall carried consequences of catastrophic proportions.
"Please, Ouranos-sama. Let me do this."
Despite Hestia and Ouranos repeatedly begging him to reconsider, Tsuna's ironclad resolve refused to yield.
----
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