Loki and Hephaestus formally met in the center of the square, with the leaders of their respective Familias standing beside them.
"Loki, most of the craftsmen I'm sending this time are skilled, Lv.2 or higher. Make sure my children come back in one piece."
"Ah, my kids are top-class—you can count on them to bring yours back safe."
It sounded like polite small talk, but Hephaestus had full confidence in the capability of Loki's children.
After all, blacksmiths weren't front-line fighters. Their job was to stay behind the lines, making sure Loki Familia's weapons held out through the fighting, and then repair them afterward.
In terms of roles, blacksmiths didn't face much direct combat pressure.
"So... the real issue is that."
"Yeah, that's definitely the issue."
Both Hephaestus and Loki sighed from the depths of their souls.
"Finn, you'll need to be extra careful this time. You already know the dangers of the Dungeon—and this time, there'll be more eyes watching you."
"I understand."
Finn knew exactly what she meant: the third-party faction in the Dungeon—the corrupted spirit-fetus forces. Last time on the 19th floor, those acid-spitting bugs and man-eating Violas had already shown they were acting independently. This time wouldn't be any different—if anything, it would be worse.
"If you're looking for safety measures, talk to that kid. I asked him yesterday—he's already come up with something that'll help ensure your lives."
As a god, Loki took her role seriously. She kept a tight watch on anything that involved her children's safety. That's why she had grilled Bell the day before.
She knew whatever he made was probably absurdly expensive—but when lives were on the line, there was no such thing as too expensive. Every member of Loki Familia was irreplaceable.
Naturally, Loki would do anything within her power to keep them safe.
Then she slung an arm over Finn's neck and spoke in a low voice only the two of them could hear:
"If things get dicey, talk to that kid and offer some money. As long as it's within a reasonable range, whatever solution he gives you won't disappoint."
"Also, keep a close eye on Cassandra's mental state. That girl's ability lets her glimpse incomprehensible futures. If she starts showing serious symptoms, that's a definite sign something bad is coming."
Loki's special instructions didn't fall on deaf ears.
Finn already knew about Bell-kun and Cassandra's dreams. Keeping those things in mind would help them avoid a lot of problems on this expedition.
"Finn, remember to use Haruhime's power wisely. Only by activating it at the right moment can you overcome the crisis ahead."
Finn's brow furrowed slightly. Loki's words carried a weight that unsettled him.
Expeditions were, by nature, journeys into the unknown. Risks were to be expected—just like with the old conflicts involving the Zeus and Hera Familias.
He was prepared to face danger, but the tone in Loki's voice hinted at something beyond the usual.
It felt as if she already knew what kind of trouble awaited them.
Still, Finn didn't question her directly.
Just as Loki had trusted him enough to give these warnings, he trusted that she wouldn't lead them astray.
This was just one of the many problems they'd have to face during the expedition.
...
Meanwhile, Hestia was seeing Bell off.
"Bell-kun, be especially careful this time."
"I know. You've said that more than enough already."
Bell would, of course, take care of himself. His safety wasn't something that needed constant worry.
"Hestia, make sure to keep a close watch on everything at home."
"Mm."
Knowing what Bell-kun was planning for this expedition, Hestia would naturally keep an eye on things from home.
"As for everything else, don't worry. Everything's going to proceed just as planned. At the very least, this expedition shouldn't face any major setbacks."
With the Corrupted Spirit's Fetus confirmed, the key point of this expedition was now the 59th floor.
According to the intel Bell had gathered, there had recently been signs of a suspected guardian from the Corrupted Spirit's Fetus near the food storage on the 24th floor—but it had retreated after being scared off by Freya Familia.
There had been a deviation from expectations—Freya Familia had gotten involved. But even with that, this expedition shouldn't be seriously affected by their presence.
It was highly likely that something similar would occur again on the 59th floor.
So the real turning point would happen during the operation on that floor.
However, the guardian on the 24th floor had fled, and it was still unclear whether the fetus had absorbed enough energy. If it hadn't, that could pose a serious problem.
Still, they'd have to wait and assess the situation directly on the 59th floor. There was time to adjust their plans accordingly.
"Make sure to stick with Hephaestus."
"Relax. I always do—you know that."
She really did know.
Bell had already come to his own conclusion on that. Across many days and nights, it had always been the case.
Although the reasons behind that arrangement weren't easy to put into words, the truth was evident.
He glanced over his shoulder and spotted a gray-haired girl standing at the edge of the central plaza.
'Freya-sama.'
He didn't need to double-check. The curiosity in her gaze alone confirmed it.
'So she came to watch too, huh?'
'Looks like her involvement in the 24th floor incident wasn't just by chance.'
It was only a hunch, but Bell had a strong feeling he was right. That intuition kept growing stronger by the second.
Still, there was no immediate danger.
As long as Freya didn't confirm her suspicions, her curiosity wouldn't spill over into action—at least not to the point of openly trying to steal someone away.
The sense of urgency remained, but with his strength improving so rapidly, it was gradually receding.
At the very least, he now had the power to protect himself. And once this expedition was complete, the overwhelming dominance of Orario would finally begin to shift. The power gap between Freya Familia and Loki Familia would no longer be so one-sided.
This expedition would change everything.
'Everything rides on this expedition!'