"Calling us troublemakers is a little harsh, don't you think? The only ones who caused that huge mess were Izayoi and Yuto. Since arriving in the South District, we haven't even had the chance to enjoy a proper stroll."
The moment the doors were pushed open, members of both No Name and Ghost Travel stepped inside.
Asuka had clearly caught Gabriella's earlier remark. The instant she entered, she crossed her arms and refused to take the blame. In her view, the culprits were Izayoi and Yuto—no one else.
Beside her, Black Rabbit had been trembling ever since she'd been summoned by the Dragon Horned Gryphon. Now she was repeatedly bowing so hard she practically slammed Izayoi's and Yuto's heads down with her own hands in frantic apology.
It wasn't that Black Rabbit feared the South District's overlords.
She was terrified they'd demand compensation.
She had seen the destroyed street herself. It had been a main thoroughfare—and the level of devastation…
If they were forced to pay for the damages, No Name's current financial state wouldn't even cover a fraction of it.
Ghost Travel wasn't as destitute as No Name, but Black Rabbit had originally intended to borrow money from Leticia. Unfortunately, she had learned from Leticia that Ghost Travel was also operating at a deficit.
"Hahaha! I never imagined the 'Little Garden Nobility' had such an expressive side," Sara laughed, her voice ringing warmly through the hall.
"But there is no need to worry, Lady Black Rabbit. We did not summon you here to assign blame.
"On the contrary, the Dragon Horned Gryphon wishes to entrust No Name and Ghost Travel with a request. If you agree to assist us, not only will the previous incident be forgiven entirely, but we will also offer compensation that I assure you will be… more than satisfactory."
After some negotiation, Yuto and the others learned the details of the crisis unfolding in the South District.
When Sara finished explaining the situation, Izayoi didn't hesitate in the slightest. He accepted the commission on behalf of No Name almost immediately.
No Name's current guiding principle was to build their reputation by defeating Demon Lords. An opportunity that offered both fame and generous payment? There was no reason to refuse.
As for Yuto and his group, they had originally intended to stay out of it. Their objective was "Absolute Evil," not some unrelated Demon Lord.
However, considering that "His Highness's" grand design was closely tied to Absolute Evil, Yuto ultimately decided to lend a hand after some deliberation.
Besides, given his and Leticia's ties to No Name, if No Name were ever truly endangered, they would intervene anyway.
If that was inevitable, they might as well profit from it from the start.
The matter of compensation was ultimately negotiated by Leticia herself.
And the price she proposed made several of the Dragon Horned Gryphon's leaders visibly uneasy.
No Name's fee was reasonable. Expensive, yes—but acceptable, given that they had previously defeated a Demon Lord and possessed someone like Black Rabbit among their ranks.
However, when Leticia calmly declared that hiring Ghost Travel in full would require triple No Name's compensation—
Griffith nearly staggered where he stood.
"You're nothing more than a recently famous community from the North District! How dare you demand such an outrageous sum? Do you even understand what that figure represents?!"
This time, Sara did not immediately rebuke Griffith's outburst. She rose from her seat, gesturing for him to calm down before turning to Leticia.
"Miss Leticia, the price you've proposed is… highly unusual. It inevitably gives the impression that you are taking advantage of our predicament.
"That amount is roughly equivalent to the total monthly operating capital of the entire Dragon Horned Gryphon alliance."
Sara had heard from Lady Sandora about Ghost Travel's prowess, but hearsay and reality were different matters. Hiring a single community for such a staggering price seemed excessive.
Leticia, however, showed not the slightest hint of concession.
In truth, aside from when she dealt with members of No Name or Ghost Travel, Leticia's demeanor toward others was always proud—borderline arrogant.
"If Leader Sara finds the terms unsuitable, you are free to decline," she replied coolly. "However, I assure you, this is already a preferential rate.
"The Dragon Horned Gryphon may be powerful and numerous… but if you were to clash with our community directly, the outcome would not necessarily favor you."
The instant those words left her lips, every member of the Dragon Horned Gryphon—including Sara herself—felt a surge of anger.
In Little Garden, a community's honor could outweigh life itself.
Though Leticia had spoken a factual possibility, to their ears it sounded like blatant humiliation.
They were the Dragon Horned Gryphon—overlords of the South District for countless years.
Inferior to a newly risen Northern community?
Before anyone could erupt—
The air in the chamber suddenly grew heavy.
Oppressive.
A crushing, invisible force descended upon everyone present.
Whether they were fire dragons, swift-winged gryphonkin, or other exalted fantasy species, each felt the same suffocating pressure pressing down on their very being.
This was no ordinary intimidation.
This was absolute suppression from a higher lifeform.
And it did not take long for Sara and the others to identify the source.
The pressure emanated from none other than Ghost Travel's leader—the man who had remained silent since entering the room.
Yuto.
"Yuto-sama, that's enough. And… perhaps this is going a bit too far," Leticia said softly.
As her voice fell, the suffocating pressure receded like a withdrawing tide.
Air rushed back into lungs.
Hearts steadied.
Yet when they looked again at the bright, almost cheerful smile on Yuto's face, every trace of prior disdain vanished.
This man was no ordinary individual.
In that moment, within Sara's mind, Yuto had ascended to the same monstrous tier as Lady Shiroyasha.
The invisible force had been Yuto's long-unused ability: "Demon Lord's Pressure."
It exerted an overwhelming aura upon those weaker than him. The greater the disparity in strength, the more unbearable the suppression.
And since nearly every member of the Dragon Horned Gryphon was non-human, their sensitivity to such spiritual dominance was far sharper.
"As you have witnessed, this is but a fraction of our leader's power," Leticia continued smoothly. "And to give you a clearer understanding of our community's capabilities, allow me to introduce our other companions…"
She then began calmly presenting the rest of Ghost Travel's members—Alger, Pest, and the others.
With each introduction, the astonishment on Sara's face deepened.
Among this group were current Demon Lords.
Former Demon Lords.
Even the weakest among them possessed divine authority comparable to five-digit-level beings.
This was no mere upstart Northern community.
This was a gathering of monsters.