Beneath the Guild, in the Prayer Chamber.
The heavy air seemed to have solidified, making it hard to breathe.
This was the deepest part of all Orario, and an absolute forbidden area of this Labyrinth City.
In this vast space where only the crackling of torches could be heard.
After finishing the discussion regarding Ouranos's promise, Heimer stretched lazily, his joints letting out a crisp popping sound.
"It's a deal."
"I promise you, as long as the Guild doesn't look for trouble with me or set those boring rules and regulations for me."
"I won't bother shaking the foundations of your city either."
"After all, I quite like this place—it's lively, there's wine, and there are these cute children."
Having said that, Heimer paused, his gaze sweeping over Ouranos on his high throne.
"However, in addition to the conveniences you just mentioned."
"I want to add one more condition."
Ouranos's half-closed eyes opened slightly into a slit.
"Speak, Heimer."
"Since I've promised you so many things, one more won't hurt."
"Information."
Heimer held up a finger.
"I want the highest level of information access within the Guild."
"Especially regarding the Deep Floors of the Dungeon, and..."
"Records of those anomalous incidents that aren't in the official logs."
As soon as those words were spoken...
Chairman Royman, who had been shrinking back like a quail, felt his flabby flesh shudder violently, a flash of terror crossing his beady eyes.
Anomalous incidents?
What does this guy mean?
The Xenos? The Knossos? Or those dark histories strictly sealed by the Guild?
That's top-secret Guild information!
How could they just give it to a god who only recently descended to the Lower World?
Royman instinctively wanted to speak up in opposition; his professional instinct urged him to protect the Guild's interests.
"This... this is against the rules..."
However...
Before he could finish his sentence...
Ouranos's voice already rang out.
"I accept."
"Eh?!"
The words at the tip of Royman's tongue were forced back down his throat, and he let out a comical, startled cry.
He looked at his primary god in disbelief.
He agreed?
Just like that?!
That was a privilege even high-ranking gods like Loki and Freya hadn't obtained!
"Royman."
Ouranos didn't even spare him a glance, simply calling his name indifferently.
"From now on, any information Heimer requires will be handled directly by you."
"Even if it involves news at 'that' level, there is no need to consult me."
"This is a divine oracle."
"Royman obeys your divine oracle!"
At those words, Royman immediately knelt on the ground, his forehead pressed firmly against the stone floor with a dull thud.
Though he was greedy, snobbish, and sometimes even pulled small stunts behind Ouranos's back...
Royman knew very well in his heart...
Today, the reason he had everything—the reason he could sit in a position above thousands and act with such arrogance—was entirely because he was Ouranos's Proxy.
Without Ouranos's support, he would be picked clean by those hungry wolves in a single night.
Therefore, since Ouranos had spoken, he could only comply, even if he had ten thousand doubts in his heart.
And...
Royman stole a glance at Heimer, who stood to the side with a calm expression.
For even Ouranos to compromise to such an extent...
Just what was this guy's background?
What on earth did he do in the Heavens?
Could a mere look make the great god who has suppressed the Dungeon for a thousand years so wary?
"Very well."
The goal had been achieved.
Heimer nodded with satisfaction.
It wasn't that he was truly bored and wanted to look at Guild gossip.
But as a transmigrator, Heimer knew very well how deep the waters of Orario ran.
On the surface, it was a duopoly between the Loki Familia and the Freya Familia, maintaining a fragile balance.
But in the shadows...
Undercurrents were still surging.
Since he was going to play the game in the Lower World, controlling the information gap meant holding the initiative.
With the backing of the Guild's official information channels, many things would be much more convenient to do.
"Since we're finished talking, I won't disturb you and your chatting with the Dungeon anymore."
Heimer waved his hand and turned to leave without the slightest hesitation.
"Let's go, Chairman Royman."
"Stop playing dead on the floor; I'll need you to lead the way."
"Ah? Yes! Yes! Right away! Right away!"
Royman felt as if he'd been granted a great amnesty, scrambling up from the floor on all fours.
His movements were so agile he didn't look like a fat man at all; he didn't even bother to brush the dust off his knees as he trotted after Heimer.
...
Meanwhile...
The Guild, second-floor VIP room.
Tap, tap, tap...
Hestia was like a cat trapped in a cage, her hands behind her back.
She paced back and forth in the luxuriously decorated room.
Her twin tails, tied with blue ribbons, swung with her movements, reflecting her extremely unsettled heart.
"Too slow..."
"Why hasn't he come out yet..."
"What did that old geezer call Heimer in there for? It couldn't be 'that', could it? Or maybe 'that'?"
Hestia bit her nails, muttering incomprehensible words under her breath.
The expression on her face shifted between conflict and terror, as if the sky might fall at any second.
Sitting on the sofa nearby, Eina watched the goddess's restless state.
"Goddess Hestia..."
Eina couldn't help but give a bitter smile. She put down the document she hadn't finished reading, pushed up her glasses, and tried to soothe her with a gentle tone.
"You don't need to worry too much."
"Although Lord Ouranos rarely sees people, he is, after all, the primary god of the Guild and the maintainer of order in Orario."
"Lord Heimer... although his Familia's performance this time was indeed quite startling, he hasn't broken any rules."
"I imagine Lord Ouranos just wants to conduct a routine inquiry or perhaps offer some rewards; there won't be any punishment."
In Eina's view...
Hestia's behavior was clearly out of concern that her Familia's god would be punished by the stern Ouranos for being too high-profile.
After all, it was Heimer.
A god who had created so much big news just after descending.
However...
Hearing this...
Hestia stopped abruptly, turned her head, and looked at Eina with a strange gaze.
Hestia widened her blue eyes in total disbelief.
"Punishment?"
"Who's worried about him being punished?"
"I'm worried about Ouranos!"
"Eh?"
"Lord Ouranos?"
Eina was stunned, her quill pen nearly slipping from her hand.
"Yeah!"
Hestia plopped onto the sofa next to Eina, even bouncing twice on the elastic cushion because of the force.
She leaned in close to Eina and lowered her voice, looking very mysterious.
"Eina, you don't understand."
"That guy Heimer... when he was in the Heavens, his temper was famously... ahem, anyway, he has a very strong personality."
"He usually seems easy to talk to, all smiles and polite to everyone."
"But!"
"Heimer and Ouranos have a grudge!"
"..."
The room fell into a deathly silence.
The smile on Eina's face froze.
Fortunately...
Click.
The heavy mahogany door of the VIP room was pushed open from the outside.
Hestia and Eina almost simultaneously bounced off the sofa, looking toward the door in unison.
The first thing that came into view was Heimer, looking relaxed.
"Yo."
"Sorry for the wait."
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