Skills in Dungeon or Familia are related to the obtainer's experiences.
Hestia, of course, knew this, but when she saw the skill's effect, the girl's originally smiling face froze.
Plunder: Plunders the target unit's overall ability value.
Can break through the S-rank ability value limit, reaching SS-SSS rank.
"?"
The latter is easy to understand.
Most Adventurers find it extremely difficult to break through the S-rank in their ability values, but Keare can achieve this level with his skill.
This is something to be very happy about.
To truly reach SS-SSS rank, to some extent, it's comparable to the potential of ancient great heroes!
But...
One must look at things from all angles.
"Plunder the target unit's overall ability value."
No matter how Hestia looked at the primary function of this skill... she felt that its effect was extremely, or rather, nine-tenths, amiss!
Adventurers want to improve their ability values.
The method is very simple and crude: high-intensity training in the Dungeon and tempering one's body.
Yet, Keare can directly use skill means to bypass the normal steps and directly Plunder other Adventurers' ability values; just thinking about this...
Hestia's mood became particularly complex.
When she came to the lower world and stayed at her best friend Hephaestus's house, she inevitably came into contact with information about the Dark Faction during casual chats.
But those guys couldn't even achieve what Keare could!
"Keare."
"This skill of yours..." The girl looked up, her eyes full of complexity, and she hesitated, "Can you tell me the specific situation?"
"Of course."
After acquiring the 'Plunder' skill, Keare had anticipated this situation.
After all, Hestia's divine stance is righteous; she would absolutely not allow there to be Adventurers in her Familia who were... comparable to the Dark Faction.
Facing the girl's complex gaze.
He said frankly, "This skill is a derivative ability I obtained while developing 'Recovery' magic. As for its effect..."
"It was indeed a bit unexpected."
Keare's initial thought was to continuously gain ability values using the 'Plunder' skill, but he hadn't expected it to be similar to the white-haired, red-eyed rabbit's BUG-like skill effect.
It can break through the limit of ability values.
As for Hestia's concerns, he gradually became serious:
"Lady Hestia, regarding this skill... what I can guarantee is that I will not use it on Familia members or on unfamiliar Adventurers with whom I have no connection."
This is an elimination method.
Hestia, of course, understood. Excluding Familia companions and strangers, it quickly became obvious which groups remained in Orario.
Enemies!
"Orario has the Ganesha Familia maintaining stability, but the rules of the Dungeon are still the survival of the fittest."
Recalling today's encounter, Keare shook his head slightly, as if the enemy not using nuclear weapons meant his side would absolutely not deploy the God of War, Yan Shuangying.
His stance was also like this.
But the explanation he gave Hestia was phrased differently: "As long as they are not Adventurers who bear malice towards me and act upon it."
"I will not use the 'Plunder' skill."
"Hmm..."
Gods cannot go to the Dungeon.
Moreover, when Hestia was in Heaven, she was just a shut-in, not stupid. She knew that human nature was complex, and Adventurers exploring the Dungeon alone...
The most likely thing they might encounter is fellow Adventurers with ill intentions.
"Actually, in my hometown, there's another saying that's very apt."
"To repay resentment with kindness, how then do you repay kindness?"
"When an Adventurer stands against me, his identity transforms into an enemy, and the best way to deal with an enemy is to nip them in the bud!"
Keare's attitude was relaxed as he shrugged: "Since I'm going to nip them in the bud anyway."
"Lady Hestia, if I Plunder from them as the spoils of this victory, actually... isn't this also a reasonable thing?"
"That's right."
Facing Keare's sincere and open-hearted attitude.
Hestia smiled and nodded, able to discern the truth in his words. After confirming that his personality hadn't changed due to his Dungeon exploration.
It seemed she really didn't need to dwell on these issues.
Connecting it to Keare's increased ability values, the girl raised an eyebrow: "So..."
"Today in the Dungeon, you encountered... threats from other Adventurers?"
"That's right."
Once the Soma Familia problem was resolved, Keare intended to bring Lili into the Familia, and this incident today was also a way to give Hestia a heads-up.
He didn't deliberately conceal anything, using his foresight of the plot to briefly explain Lili's experiences in the Soma Familia, omitting the transaction part.
He simply added some artistic embellishment.
And the result did not surprise Keare.
Hestia's view of Familia members was more like 'family'. She widened her eyes, filled with indignation at Lili's plight.
"How can there be such a Familia?!"
"Indulging Adventurers in exploiting lower-level supporters, not even bothering to hide their bullying!"
"Then..."
Of course, the matters of other Familia members were not as important as her own. The girl turned her head and pressed, "Keare, did you act out of a sense of justice?"
"Not entirely..."
"Mainly, they didn't intend to let me go. If it was just paying protection fees, that would be one thing, but the crucial part was that they wanted me to leave the gift Lady Hestia prepared for me!"
When he mentioned this.
Keare's tone was firm: "So, in this matter, I absolutely cannot back down."
"...That."
"Your own safety is still paramount!" These words truly made it easy for people to misunderstand, at least the girl's flushed cheeks already explained everything.
Looking into Keare's clear brown eyes.
They could clearly be used to see the world better, but now they were full of herself!
Hestia quickly changed the subject: "It's just... regarding the 'Plunder' skill, if it's used against enemies, it should be fine."
"And!"
"You absolutely cannot let other Adventurers know. I'm not worried about affecting the Familia, but rather your situation in Orario, Keare, which will become extremely difficult!"
"Of course."
Keare agreed with this view. Unless his strength was great enough to suppress all opposing voices, but in that situation...
He couldn't do that yet.
And the increase in ability values brought by Plunder indeed exceeded his imagination.
Even if there were no unexpected gains from Soma Familia trackers in the next few days, by relying on his own efforts, he could still break through to an average C-rank in all ability values before exploring the Dungeon in a party.
Although he couldn't reach the threshold of a mid-level Lv2 Adventurer, at least when encountering powerful monsters, he should still be able to fight with the help of 'Optimization'.
There was still plenty of time now.
Keare planned to make full use of it. While being close to Hestia was certainly pleasant, his current priority was still the issue of strength.
He looked at the girl beside him, whose eyes curved into crescent moons, flowing with tenderness.
"Lady Hestia, for the rest of tonight, I plan to make good use of it. I'm going to find Lord Takemikazuchi to hone my martial arts."
"I'll be home late!"