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Chapter 110: Hermes's Invitation
Only after soothing their goddess did Robin turn to Aiden. Her emerald eyes had returned to their calm and serious state. "So, Captain, how should we respond?"
Aiden's gaze remained focused on the Fire Spirit Sword in his lap, using the maintenance cloth to meticulously wipe every inch of the blade. The steel reflected the soft glow of the magic stone lamps, highlighting his perfectly serene profile.
"We'll meet whatever they throw at us."
He spoke coolly, his voice utterly devoid of ripples. "Let's prepare for a War Game."
War Game.
In Orario, the Guild strictly prohibited private brawls between Familias. To prevent unauthorized combat from causing mass casualties, any irreconcilable dispute between factions was ultimately settled by a "War Game."
The winner took all, and the loser bit the dust.
Apollo only had two ways to get his hands on Aiden: either employ a barrage of despicable tactics to force him into a dead end, making him willingly leave the Focalors Familia and join Apollo's, or initiate a War Game and take him by absolute force.
According to Robin's intelligence—assuming the Apollo Familia wasn't hiding their true strength—their highest public fighting force was their Level 3 Captain, Hyakinthos Clio, also known as "Phoebus Apollo."
Beyond that, they had over five Level 2 adventurers, and their total Familia headcount exceeded one hundred and twenty. Their Familia Rank in the Guild was D. They were undeniably a core pillar of Orario's strength.
And what about the Focalors Familia? They had been in Orario for barely a month, and their total combat personnel numbered exactly four.
Because the Denatus had yet to be held, Aiden hadn't even received an official alias. Although his strength and level-up had long been registered with the Guild, the outside world knew next to nothing about it. Throw in Robin, who had literally just leveled up and hadn't yet updated her status at the Guild either.
To any outsider looking in, no matter what angle they approached it from, it was absolutely impossible for the newborn Focalors Familia to resist the Apollo Familia.
Yet, there was not a single shred of anxiety on Robin, Tifa, or Hyacine's faces.
So what if he was a Level 3? Even if adventurers of the same level were vastly stronger than monsters due to their superior equipment, magic swords, spells, and skills, could he possibly be a match for Aiden?
"Can we win?" Furina tilted her head, looking at Aiden with just the right amount of faux-worry in her mismatched eyes. "The Apollo Familia is really strong, you know."
"I'm the strongest."
Playing along perfectly, Aiden stopped what he was doing and flashed her a thumbs-up, his face radiating absolute confidence.
Watching these two drama queens put on their little skit with deadpan seriousness, Robin, Tifa, and Hyacine couldn't help but smile with exasperated affection.
The next morning, sunlight filtered through the windows, casting dappled shadows across the wooden floor. After finishing a breakfast meticulously prepared by Tifa, the Familia briefly split up.
"Aiden, we'll be heading to the Dungeon first, then," Robin said elegantly, adjusting the lace on her cuffs.
"Be careful on the way," Aiden replied.
Having just reached Level 2, Robin desperately needed live combat to familiarize herself with her newly surged power and to realign her mind and body. Back then, Aiden had also only fully adapted to his new state through relentless battles.
Besides, given the current strength of Robin, Tifa, and Hyacine, as long as they stayed in the upper floors, they could easily retreat unscathed even if they triggered a Monster Party or a Monster Feast. They were all incredibly outstanding adventurers. They weren't useless vases who would fall apart the moment they were separated from their Captain.
After watching the three girls vanish down the street toward the Dungeon, Aiden turned and walked in the opposite direction.
As for Furina, she had likely stayed up late reading novels again. Right now, she was probably still snoring away in dreamland. But Aiden had already left breakfast out for her. She could eat whenever she finally woke up. She wasn't a child, after all.
Today, Aiden had been invited by someone else, which was why he hadn't joined Robin and the others.
He navigated through the crowds and arrived at a famous adventurer tavern located on the Fifth District Main Street—the Flame Peak Pavilion.
The moment he pushed the door open, a rugged blast of alcohol, sweat, and roasting meat assaulted his senses. Aiden's gaze swept over the rowdy hall, quickly locking onto a corner by the window.
A blonde-haired god wearing a traveler's hat sat there. Standing quietly behind him was a blue-haired, blue-eyed girl with glasses, radiating a calm and highly capable aura.
It was Hermes, and his Familia's Captain—officially registered as Level 2 with the Guild, but secretly a Level 4 "Versatile"—Asfi.
Spotting Aiden, Hermes's eyes lit up, and he immediately began waving at him with overt enthusiasm.
Aiden walked over completely expressionless, unapologetically pulling out the chair opposite Hermes and sitting down. Asfi immediately poured him a glass of clear fruit wine.
"Thanks," Aiden said, accepting the glass. He then looked straight into Hermes's eyes. "Lord Hermes, what do you want with me?"
"Oh my, how cold, little Aiden."
Hermes feigned displeasure, resting his chin on his hand. "You're the one who bumped into me, and we agreed you'd buy me a drink. I've been waiting ages, but you never came looking for me."
"I don't recall ever saying anything like that."
Aiden replied flatly. "Also, you threw yourself at me, I didn't bump into you. And my intuition tells me that getting involved with you guarantees absolutely nothing good."
Hearing this, a flash of approval gleamed in Asfi's eyes. She deeply admired Aiden's intuition. It was absolutely correct—getting involved with her patron deity meant nothing but trouble. She could swear on her heavy eye bags on that.
Hermes's smile didn't waver. He leaned in slightly, his tone becoming intensely meaningful. "Your intuition is sharp. But sometimes, trouble also brings opportunity, doesn't it?"
Aiden's grip on his glass tightened slightly, though his face remained a mask of indifference. "Is that so? I don't think so."
"Fair enough. But I think you'll find what I have to say next quite interesting."
Hermes's smile grew even brighter. "A little over a month ago, you arrived in Orario with the Artemis Familia. Immediately after, the Dungeon began spawning all sorts of unheard-of, brand-new monsters. Tell me, do you really think there are that many coincidences in this world?"
The air seemed to freeze for a moment.
Aiden slowly lowered his glass, looking at him with glacial eyes. "Lord Hermes, if you only came here to spew boring conjectures, then I'll be taking my leave."
"Now, don't be in such a rush to leave."
Hermes threw his hands up, finally casting his true bait. "I'm merely curious about the unknown. Don't you want to know exactly what happened during the Great Feud six years ago? I am, after all, a firsthand witness."
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