"Store all collected Rune Stones separately. Don't let the 'Tail' catch wind of them."
The other two nodded, fully understanding what to do.
With everything said, the small barrier around them dissipated.
The three moved as if they were complete strangers. The dwarf shopkeeper slipped through the back door of the Freelancer Tavern, while the other two exited through the side alley, blending seamlessly into the flow of people in the night market.
Once all three had left, Bell's figure appeared.
Leaning against the wall, his face carried an expression that said, 'I knew it.' One hand rested wearily against his forehead.
'I knew it—anyone running a tavern next to Freya's Familia isn't someone ordinary.'
The "Hostess of Fertility" stood at the intersection of two busy streets, with the Dungeon entrance not far ahead. The area was a prime, bustling commercial zone.
Orario had always been a chaotic city. Anyone without background or connections who tried opening a tavern here would inevitably attract trouble from nosy adventurers. The rule was simple: "You can claim a good spot, but let's see if you can keep it."
Even the best location couldn't withstand a few reckless adventurers looking for trouble.
Taverns without strength or backing would soon collapse, replaced by those strong enough to defend their turf.
The "Hostess of Fertility" was a clear example. Its manager, Mia Grande, was a former Level 6 and the semi-retired ex-captain of the Freya Familia. With the immense power of Freya's Familia behind her, who would dare provoke her? Unless they had a death wish.
That was precisely why the "Freelancer" tavern struck Bell as odd.
It had almost no visible backing whatsoever. Yet despite that, not a single adventurer had ever caused trouble there. That fact alone was deeply suspicious.
While the Freelancer's location wasn't as prime as the Hostess of Fertility's, it was still in a lively part of town, drawing dense crowds every night.
Could such a place really escape the attention of merchants?
Obviously not. That was impossible.
Yet, strangely enough, no merchant had set their sights on this spot. Not even one adventurer had stirred up trouble in the area.
What did that mean? It meant the merchants knew exactly who controlled this location. It meant even the rowdy adventurers lurking in Orario knew whose territory this was.
But the Guild—the one organization that should know—remained completely unaware. And that was the most alarming part.
"The internal corruption in Orario runs deep."
Merchants valued profit over loyalty. Choosing between Evilus and the Guild was an easy calculation for them. To thrive in business, they needed to play both sides. Those who could profit from both wouldn't settle for just one. It was normal for merchants to be opportunists.
But adventurers were different—especially now that the Guild had placed bounties on Evilus. Those delinquent adventurers turning a blind eye to Evilus's actions, or refusing to report them, were committing outright betrayal.
Of course, Bell didn't find it hard to understand. Adventurers who would fight over rare materials and Magic Stones from the Dungeon had already revealed their moral limits. Their choices came as no surprise.
Still, Bell was certain of one thing—those fence-sitters wouldn't have an easy time in the future.
'Well then, looks like it's time to ask that person for help.'
With tensions between the Guild and Evilus growing sharper by the day, the deities of Orario had become far more cautious when venturing out. The carefree days were over; at the very least, each now traveled with a guard at their side.
Of course, once night fell, even the gods rarely appeared in the bustling markets.
The Guild and Evilus hadn't officially gone to war yet, but both sides were clearly preparing for it.
…
"Ah, couldn't get out today either."
Hermes seemed to have become a permanent fixture within his own Familia.
Lately, he hadn't managed to slip out even once, though he knew perfectly well that gathering intelligence outside had become impossible. The situation in Orario was already so chaotic that no one could tell who stood behind the people he used to trade information with.
Asfi was tinkering with one of her inventions. Recently, she had shifted her focus to developing other tools, mostly of the auxiliary type.
"Asfi~"
The sing-song tone of her Familia God immediately made Asfi feel her blood pressure spike.
Still, mindful of their difference in status, she forced herself to remain composed. Unlike her carefree god, she couldn't afford to act without restraint.
"No!"
"Have you even considered the current tension between the Guild and Evilus? Going out now? You'd just be offering yourself up as a target for them!"
Indeed, the one preventing Hermes from leaving was Asfi herself.
As someone who often went undercover using the "Hades Helmet" to collect intelligence, she understood the situation outside far too well. In short, it wasn't just Hermes who needed to be cautious—all the gods of Orario did.
"Ha…"
Hermes let out a long sigh. He knew his captain meant well, but for someone used to constantly being out and about, being trapped at home was pure torture.
Still, at the moment, he truly had no plans to venture outside.
For one, his divine identity was far too obvious—he'd be an easy mark for Evilus.
And for another, those who used to exchange intelligence with him weren't showing themselves these days, especially under the current circumstances.
"The situation is changing too quickly. Evilus has already begun gathering strength, yet the information we've managed to obtain ends here."
At that, Hermes couldn't help but feel a wave of frustration.
For the so-called intelligence broker of Orario to be left in the dark—it was the greatest insult imaginable.
"Hermes-sama, even so, we simply can't acquire any more information," Asfi replied, a trace of rare exhaustion crossing her face—the fatigue left from their last failed intelligence mission.
"Evilus has reinforced their defenses. Stealth alone isn't enough anymore to infiltrate their trap-ridden secret bases."
"They've clearly prepared for this. One careless move, and we could lose our lives in the process of gathering intel."
"So please, Hermes-sama, don't even think about pulling any reckless stunts for the time being."
Hermes hadn't expected Asfi to speak so seriously. All he could do was raise his hands in surrender.
"I understand..."
Though his tone when saying it sounded rather weak and reluctant.
...
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