Even with a reminder from her close friend Hephaestus, Ron's fastest-ever breakthrough that broke the "world record" still could not be completely concealed.
The reason was simple.
Whether it was the registration of the Familia or Ron's status as an adventurer, the Guild kept complete records. It was absolutely impossible for it to be overlooked. The only thing that could be done was to hide the specific ability values.
To prevent this pearl from shining too brilliantly in Orario!
But even after doing that much, during the day, while Hestia was working part-time at the weapon shop, she was still visited by a messenger from the great god Uranus of the Adventurers Guild.
"Lady Hestia."
"Can you confirm that this update to your Familia member's strength is… the actual situation?" As the Guild's administrator, Royman Mardeel, compared to other elves, his figure could be described as obese, yet his eyes were filled with shrewdness. When he received the report on the updated strength of the Familia member submitted by Guild staff, Royman did not ignore it.
After all, the reason the great god Uranus could trust him was mainly because his management ability was decent, and he sincerely hoped the Guild and Orario could develop even better.
He was very self-aware.
Especially after an adventurer who had "broken Sword Princess Ais Wallenstein's record" was born, Royman, through the Adventurers Guild's intelligence channels, learned that the deity of Ron's Familia was working at the Hephaestus weapon shop.
Royman then personally came to visit and confirm the truth of the matter. "It's not that I don't trust you; it's mainly that this matter is of great importance."
"If the news were to leak out, let alone causing a sensation in Orario…"
"Even the entire world would remember the name 'Ron.' I believe even the great god Uranus would pay special attention to this."
"It's just as the report said…"
"At the time, it was Eina from the Adventurers Guild who received us."
Hestia's tone was firm.
After all, Royman was asking about the breakthrough time and had not inquired about the ability values. She felt that keeping some things reserved was quite appropriate.
She was merely reporting the situation truthfully.
At the Adventurers Guild, it had already been repeatedly confirmed by the staff. Now even the Guild's administrator had come personally to visit—if the matter were to leak out?
She did not dare imagine… how many troubles would follow!
Hestia had no intention of continuing idle conversation, mainly out of concern that a slip of the tongue might leak important information. "Is there anything else?"
"Not for now. I will report the news truthfully."
Royman truly did not think… that Hestia, as a goddess, would lie about this. Whether concealing or falsely reporting information about a Familia member, both would require paying a Guild fine.
But even after receiving the answer, his heart was still filled with disbelief.
It was not only that the speed was astonishing…
Even the various ability values were on par with the level of "Sword Princess" Ais Wallenstein. If nothing unexpected happened, then in the time to come, Ron would grow to an extremely exaggerated degree?
And the better Orario developed, the more these would become the conditions he needed to consolidate his position. Before leaving, Royman took the initiative to show goodwill.
"Lady Hestia."
"Ordinarily—once a member of a Familia reaches Lv.2, the Adventurers Guild conducts a comprehensive evaluation of the Familia's strength."
"At that time, an expedition mission will be issued."
"Considering that your Familia currently has only one member, the comprehensive evaluation can be slightly delayed. If you need to post recruitment notices, you may inform my assistant."
"Mm…"
"In addition, if there are other areas where you need assistance, as long as it falls within the scope of my duties, I can give Lady Hestia a relatively satisfactory reply."
"Alright, thank you."
This was far more difficult to handle than customers.
Only now did Hestia finally come to understand what was meant by a happy trouble. After she had managed to brush off Royman, the Guild's person in charge, Hephaestus, who had been hiding in the office watching the show, finally came out. After enduring successive blows from Ron and Hestia, she did not feel angry; she merely felt that the latter was fortunate.
And the personal visit from Royman, the Guild's person in charge, had already, to some extent, demonstrated the importance of the matter!
"Make preparations."
"I estimate that right now in Orario, those powerful Familias are already considering how to win Ron over. As for the specific methods, it's not convenient to comment."
"Ron definitely won't abandon me!"
Even though she knew this was her close friend's well-intentioned reminder, when Hestia gave her answer, she still felt an inexplicable lack of confidence in her heart.
Because she understood that what she could offer… those powerful Familias with deeper foundations could offer as well, and could even, on that existing basis, provide Ron with unprecedented treatment!
"Believe in our bond…"
"I made an agreement with him—we would form a Familia for a lifetime. Even in the next life, I will definitely find Ron and continue this bond."
"But…"
"What if they choose to use a 'War Game' to forcibly take Ron away?"
"…"
Then the girl fell silent instantly.
...
"So, you really need to give me a reason for following me, don't you?"
Standing beside the Ganesha guard unit, Ron looked toward the brown-haired man in front of him, upright in posture and dressed in a black suit uniform. Even in terms of appearance, he did not lose to some elves.
He looked very familiar.
Especially the armband bearing the golden bow and sun emblem of the Familia.
Apollo Familia.
The one before him should be their Familia captain—a Lv.3 adventurer, bearing the title "Phoebus Apollo," Hyakinthos Clio.
"Lord Apollo wishes to see you."
"So he sent me to find you. Please." Although he did not understand why his god wanted to meet a rookie adventurer, since it was the will of a god, Hyakinthos would spare no effort to carry it out.
Through various information channels, he frowned as he looked at Ron standing before him—his appearance could only be described as delicate, yet the design of his equipment was extremely exaggerated.
"Do not keep Lord Apollo waiting…"
'Men like that really give me the creeps.'
Ron respected every kind of sexual orientation, but when someone tried to impose that kind of operatic fantasy onto him, all he felt was intense disgust.
Coincidentally, the Apollo Familia was entirely… difficult to evaluate!
As for why the other party had suddenly sought him out, the reason was not hard to guess. Most likely, it was the change report Hestia had submitted to the Guild.
Had the news of his breakthrough been learned by the gods of powerful Familias?
"You may be disappointed. I have no intention of changing Familias. Please convey that to your god." Ron shook his head decisively in refusal.
He was not worried that Hyakinthos would forcibly take him away.
Still, he turned to the patrolling Ganesha guard unit and asked, "If I remember correctly, restricting someone's personal freedom is illegal in Orario?"
"Of course."
"I am of the Ganesha Familia. All evil shall be brought to justice!"
Facing the muscular man in front of him—bare-chested and wearing an elephant-trunk mask—
Ron could barely bring himself to look.
After receiving a clear answer, he could sense the cold aura emanating from Hyakinthos, as well as the awkward stiffness of someone forcing himself to maintain an elegant posture.
He walked straight past him, his steps not pausing in the slightest.
"Then I'll be on my way."
Unlike that clingy guy, Ron was now busy heading home to have his ability values updated by the beautiful, petite goddess—and, while he was at it, to use the Soul Shards he had finally saved up to draw a brand-new Character Save Slot.
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