After the Hephaestus Familia's auction, they quickly became the center of attention among Orario's gods.
Unfortunately for them, Hephaestus Familia was a production-based Familia. Most of its craftsmen spent long hours inside their workshops, and those "eyes" sent by other gods could not penetrate the walls of the compound.
As for the spies that had been uncovered inside the Familia, Hephaestus wasted no time in expelling them right after the auction.
The entire Familia became as solid and impenetrable as a sheet of steel.
Hephaestus made no effort to conceal the reason for their removal from her children either.
Betrayal.
They were spies for other Familia.
That simple and direct explanation filled every Adventurer with disgust.
Traitors were despised no matter where they appeared—especially when those traitors turned out to be informants for rival Familia.
The smiths of the Hephaestus Familia had absolute faith in their goddess's judgment. After all, with Hephaestus's personality, she would never expel someone on such a serious charge unless it were true.
And a god's power to discern lies made the truth impossible to hide from her.
For a deity, uncovering deceit was far easier than for any mortal.
Thus, when Hephaestus branded those expelled craftsmen as Betrayers, everyone else quickly chose to forget them.
After all, those "traitors" were merely expelled, not executed. They would simply return to their former Familia. Why bother thinking about them further?
"At last, things have settled down," Hephaestus exhaled, exhaustion showing in her tone. Stabilizing her Familia after such unrest had been draining.
"As expected, making such a commotion has drawn far too many gods' attention."
There had been a high-profile auction, the introduction of a new forging technique, and even talk of the talented "special child" she had recently taken in.
It was no wonder that so many gods had turned their eyes toward her.
"You've worked hard, Lady Hephaestus."
Tsuna appeared behind her chair, smiling pleasantly. He placed his hands gently on her shoulders and began to knead the stiffness from them.
"Ahh… I'm truly worn out this time."
Hephaestus let out a soft groan, her words half a complaint.
"Expelling spies from the Familia was one thing—but I also had to calm the children afterward. Without an explanation, they'd think I was some tyrant who threw people out on a whim."
If such matters weren't handled properly, doubt and whispers could easily spread through the Familia.
Thankfully, this time the situation was managed perfectly.
After explaining the reason behind the expulsions, and with Tsuna's beast constructs helping to soothe emotions, the Familia's unrest gradually subsided.
Within three days, peace had returned.
Under his hands, Hephaestus's shoulders slowly loosened.
"With your character and integrity, Lady Hephaestus, no one in your Familia would ever suspect otherwise," Tsuna said calmly.
He wasn't worried about the internal stability of the Hephaestus Familia.
"Betrayal is the gravest of sins, no matter where it occurs."
"A Familia cannot be stable if it harbors those who play both sides. Once someone is branded a Betrayer, no one within will offer them sympathy."
Hephaestus understood that as well as anyone.
"Those children who were sent away… they won't cause trouble, will they?"
They were, after all, the biggest concern in this entire matter.
"No problem," Tsuna replied confidently. "I used the Memory Worm to read their memories and identified the erased sections. Then, I reinforced the gaps—so they'd realize on their own that something was missing. They'll understand why they were branded as Betrayers."
"When that awareness sets in, they won't dare make a scene. You've already expelled them—an unmistakable message that you know what they did."
"Once that realization exists within their minds, any attempt to deny it becomes a lie—and every god will instantly perceive that lie as proof of their guilt."
Tsuna had already accounted for every possible outcome.
Just in case any of them tried to cause trouble with the Guild after being expelled, he had implanted the perfect safeguard into their memories.
There was no need for invasive modification like the gods who had originally planted them. It was enough for them to believe that their memories contained inconsistencies—and to recognize that they had indeed been spies.
As long as they held that belief, raising a commotion would only dig their own graves.
Because once that awareness took root, any word that contradicted it in front of a god would immediately reveal itself as a lie.
It was the cleanest, most effective way to silence those expelled craftsmen.
"Well done."
Hephaestus closed her eyes briefly. She knew she couldn't have done it herself—Tsuna's method was far kinder than anything she could've devised.
After all, those children had been traitors. This was the most merciful outcome she could offer them.
Her aching shoulders finally eased, and she leaned back into the chair with a long sigh.
"The other gods have their eyes on me now, but it's not a big problem."
"I'm a craftsman. I don't influence Orario's power balance. Still, those obsessed with the unknown will never miss an opportunity to pry."
That, too, was something Tsuna had already anticipated. He'd seen the same behavior before with the Seimei Familia.
"Gods' curiosity fades with time. As long as we keep a low profile, their attention will move elsewhere soon enough."
"All we need to do now is remain quiet."
Tsuna understood the nature of gods all too well.
After finishing his words, he continued massaging her neck and shoulders.
"And now, I'll have to trouble you a little more, Lady Hephaestus."