"Go back home? Return to that foolish family of yours, just to become a tool for forging the so-called Crozzo Magic Sword? To toil away endlessly in that lightless forge so that you all can indulge in your lavish lifestyle?"
"Or do you want me to become nothing more than an executioner? With the kingdom's upper class, and that god's nature, once the Crozzo Magic Sword is completed, war will surely break out. No… it's certain they'll start a war. Don't you find that tiresome?"
"..."
The red-haired man pulled down his hood, revealing a face bearing a sixty-percent resemblance to Welf Crozzo.
"Do you even realize what you're saying? As a member of the Crozzo family, as an adult, you ought to understand the consequences."
Yet Welf only sneered mockingly.
"Old man, don't get the wrong idea. As expected of the head of the family, you sure carry yourself with authority. But this isn't the capital of Rakia, nor is it the Crozzo estate. Don't forget where you are, this is Orario!!"
Silence.
Welf's uncle fell quiet for a moment, his expression dark as he stared at his defiant nephew. At last, all of it melted into a heavy sigh.
"If you refuse to surrender willingly, then as the head of the Crozzo family and as a representative of the kingdom, I have no choice but to use force and take you in."
With that, the man slowly unwrapped the black bundle on his back, revealing what lay within.
A flicker of deep crimson light flashed across the blade's surface, something only a trained smith's eyes could catch.
Welf's pupils shrank sharply, his face tightening.
"The Crozzo Magic Sword!? The family still had one of those hidden away!?"
"Heh. As nobles with a long lineage of smithing, isn't it only natural to keep a few trump cards? Relax, this is one of the few left. To exchange a single magic sword for a blacksmith capable of forging Crozzo's Magic Swords, no matter how you look at it, it's a profitable trade."
Clap,
But his smirk lasted less than three seconds before blinding searchlights suddenly flared from all directions, forcing him to squint in pain.
"Who's there!?"
The sound of metal clashing and boots striking the ground rang from every side. Once his eyes adjusted, he realized he was surrounded.
Adventurers!
Gazing at the figures clad in varied but uniformly elite equipment, the seasoned smith Crozzo instantly understood, this was not a force he could overcome.
"Who are you people!? This is an internal matter of the Crozzo family, a family affair! Outsiders have no right to interfere!"
He barked harshly, though his voice carried an undertone of unease.
"Sorry, but I think I do have the right to involve myself in this matter. Don't you agree, Welf?"
The overwhelming presence cut through the air like a blade, impossible to refute. In an instant, every gaze turned to the beautiful red-haired goddess who had appeared.
"Lady Hephaestus!? Why are you here!?" Welf stared in shock at the stunning woman stepping forth, his mind a complete blank.
The goddess' lips curved into a smile. She cast a glance at the elder Crozzo and said coolly:
"Loki and Freya are in charge of external affairs. Ganesha's children are tied down with city patrols. Which leaves the internal tasks to me. After all… spies from another kingdom appearing within Orario is hardly good news."
"..." The moment the word spies left her lips, the elder Crozzo's face turned ashen.
How could he not realize it now, his nephew had merely been bait, dangled by Orario to lure them in. Welf himself probably had no idea.
As for breaking through the encirclement and escaping Orario? Don't make me laugh. Surrounded by adventurers ranked Level 2, Level 3, even Level 4… escape was all but impossible.
That night in the city, the disturbance vanished without a trace.
The timing, the place, the people involved, all aligned. With the enemy recognizing resistance was futile, no uproar was caused. The whole affair ended as quietly as it began.
Thus, the shadow struggle between Orario and the Rakia Kingdom drew to a silent close.
Or rather, it hadn't been a fair contest at all. This had merely been Ares' last act of willfulness. Or, as Loki would put it: kids in their rebellious phase always need a good beating to set them straight.
When Fron later heard the report from Miss Alicia, even he was stunned.
"There was such a thing? Welf's uncle sure had guts. But that's not the main point. The real issue is..."
He and Anakitty exchanged sharp glances.
Anakitty's frosty face lifted slightly as she continued solemnly:
"What comes next… is full retaliation. Without the enemy's shadow meddling, Rakia alone cannot possibly withstand Orario head-on."
...
Anakitty was right, confirming what Fron and the others suspected.
Not giving the enemy even a moment to relay intelligence, the very next morning the goddess Freya launched a full-scale assault without hesitation.
In an instant, the battlefield thundered with explosions, screams, clashes of steel, curses, and cries.
Of course, the sweeping counterattack also skyrocketed the number of captives, making business boom for Fron and the commercial Familia members. Within days, profits overflowed like a flood.
He ate and drank to his fill, while others shared in the spoils. Every face brimmed with smiles and laughter, starkly contrasting the grief-stricken, despairing prisoners.
"Well then, not only did we recover the 80 million valis investment, we even earned a hefty sum. I have to say… money really does come easy this way." Fron packed his bag, unable to hold back a sigh.
What brutality. Whether potions brewed by alchemists, weapons forged by smiths, or mysterious magic items crafted by item-makers, once the craftsmanship reached a higher level, the profit margin was staggering. Utterly violent.
And yet, it was precisely this pyramid structure that kept the cost of adventurers' gear sky-high.
"My beautiful ladies, it's time to go home. After more than a week out here, I'm sure you're all impatient to return."
"Phew, battlefields are so bad."
"..." Anakitty and Alicia glanced at Lefiya in silence, just days ago, this very girl had been excited beyond measure.
Fron narrowed his eyes toward the city in the distance, his thoughts wandering.
Those guys… must have already begun to act. And the Dungeon, too. With the wisdom of Finn, Riveria and Gareth, the entrances above the 18th floor must all be sealed off by now.
Next… comes the true counterattack.