"Open up! Open up!"
Loki pounded on the Guild's main entrance so hard that the closed, sleeping building snapped awake all at once, lights flaring to life across every floor.
There were always night-shift staff at the Guild.
"Lady Loki? You still have business at this hour?"
Tonight's receptionist was an elf.
"Go. Fetch Royman. I'm seeing Ouranos now. If he doesn't come, I'll tear this Guild down!"
Loki's face was like ice, giving the staffer no room to haggle. Behind her, Anqi already looked ready to force a way through if needed.
Hearing Loki say it that bluntly, the elf went pale on the spot and bowed low.
"Please, calm down, Lady Loki. I'll get the chairman right away."
She ran inside.
As for Loki, the freezing mask melted back into her usual smiling squint. She even teased the woman at her back.
"See? Sometimes you have to act a little crazy before people listen. Otherwise they think you're easy to push around."
Anqi agreed with the principle—mostly. But she couldn't help correcting the premise.
"Lady Loki… is it possible you really were ready to smash the Guild, and the staff could feel it?"
"How could that be? I was just joking."
Lady Loki, you did not look like you were joking, Anqi grumbled inwardly. Say it out loud and she'd get to see Loki's terrifying side in the next breath.
The Guild's famed "efficiency" went into overdrive; in under five minutes, Royman hurried into the front hall.
The first thing he met was Loki's frigid stare. He flinched, steeled himself, and stepped forward.
"Lady Loki, you wish to meet Lord Ouranos this late?"
"…"
Loki didn't answer—only looked him over once, cold as winter. Then a smile rose on that cold face, but the curve glittered with ice.
"Royman, I believe I already said this. I'm meeting Ouranos tonight. If not, I'll dismantle this Guild."
What a temper! Royman swore inwardly. He had no idea who had provoked Loki tonight to leave the goddess this volatile.
He was about to speak when his patron's voice murmured in his ear. Relief loosened his shoulders; he stepped aside.
"Lady Loki, Lord Ouranos grants you entry. Please… temper your anger for the moment."
"Heh."
Loki snorted. Exactly as she'd said—sometimes you flip the table to get what you want. You didn't always win by playing nice.
She didn't bother dwelling on the logic of it; results were enough.
The moment Loki left, the strength drained from Royman's legs; he sagged to the floor and wiped at the cold sweat dripping down his brow. He had just received a vivid reminder of how frightening gods could be.
Anqi wasn't surprised in the least. She'd seen this coming.
They descended into the Guild's underground sanctum. Hands in her pockets, Loki strolled to the front of the ritual hall and looked up at the god seated upon the dais.
"Sorry for the intrusion, Ouranos."
Her face had shed the earlier frost and settled into rare, measured calm.
"You know why I'm here."
"The dungeon's irregularities."
"Hah. So you did know. And knowing, you still arranged a forced expedition for my children? You think I'm as easy to bully as Zeus and Hera?"
The last scraps of calm blew away. The ribbon binding her ponytail snapped under flaring divinity; her hair rose and streamed like a banshee's, a storm of killing intent that could make even gods wary.
Ouranos did not move, only sighed.
"What do you want?"
"Keep your hands off my child. You know who I mean."
Loki didn't bother with euphemism. Other deities might be in the dark, but as the sky-god, this old relic knew more than most. Tonight's mess had his fingerprints on it.
"I don't care about the schemes and little games between you, Zeus, and Hera. But you will respect my line in the sand. Cross it, and I'll burn your 'future hope' to the ground."
"Don't joke with me. I will do it."
Ouranos showed no agitation, but his tone gentled.
"Loki, I have not targeted you."
"I know. If you had, I wouldn't be standing here speaking so politely."
The "forced expedition" had been the Guild's decision six months ago, when the dungeon was still behaving. The Loki Familia had prepared nearly half a year. There was no way Ouranos could have foreseen this "anomaly" so far in advance.
Because she understood that, Loki hadn't actually flipped the board. If not for that, she'd already have dragged Ouranos into the blast radius.
"You know about the anomalies, which means you have eyes in the dungeon."
"Ganesha's investigation."
"That loudmouth…"
Loki ground her teeth. She knew he wasn't kidding: Ganesha and Astraea both helped maintain the city's order. It was natural for Ouranos to send Ganesha to look into things.
"I'll skip the rest. The Guild will cover our expedition losses this time. If you send my kids into the thunder, you pay the price."
"And strike the 'forced expedition' order from my children. You know my kids are eager to explore the unknown below. They'll go without any prodding."
Ouranos fell silent a moment, then nodded.
"Reasonable."
Tch. The old man could be decisive when he wanted.
Having secured what her children were owed, Loki let the heat drain from her. The windless halo of hair slowly settled.
"Send the money to my home tomorrow. We'll let this one go."
She had said what needed saying. Loki didn't linger in the sanctum.
After tonight, she believed Ouranos understood at least one thing: don't toy with her children lightly.
(End of Chapter)
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