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Chapter 128: Zero-Risk Focalors
With the War Game officially confirmed, both male and female deities in the crowd erupted into thunderous cheers. The scene was far more chaotic and festive than any holiday celebration.
"Hurry! Go submit the War Game application to the Guild! Right now, this instant!"
"We need to hold an emergency Denatus! Drag all the gods who didn't show up out of their homes. If they miss this show, they'll regret it for the rest of their lives!"
"I'm getting so fired up!!"
"Woohoo! A grand carnival at last! I've already got my snacks ready!"
Starved for entertainment, the gods demonstrated terrifying efficiency. Their overlapping voices whipped the venue into a festival-like frenzy in the blink of an eye, and even Loki's cackling laughter could be heard mixed in the din. These deities were already taking the initiative to prep the upcoming War Game, acting as enthusiastically as if they were the ones hosting it.
"You heard them," Apollo said, a triumphant, gloating smile surfacing on his face amid the crowd's uproar. "The specific details of the match will be decided at the Denatus three days from now. Enjoy your final days of freedom, Focalors."
Having said his piece, he turned and strutted away triumphantly, his Extortion Squad in tow. Since his goal was achieved, there was no reason to remain at the banquet.
In the corner, Freya, the Goddess of Beauty who had remained silent the entire time, took a small sip of red wine. Her silver eyes, capable of peering directly into souls, watched Apollo's retreating back as if observing an unevolved monkey performing a slapstick comedy routine in a tree.
"Heh. Idiot."
Focalors was no fool. Even though she had been somewhat forced into it, didn't Apollo find it suspicious that she agreed to the War Game so readily?
No, Apollo had considered it. But he was blinded by his own arrogance and common sense. In his eyes, the Focalors Familia consisted of a mere four members, with their strongest Captain, Aiden, only at Level 2.
Meanwhile, his Apollo Familia boasted a Level 3 Captain, several Level 2 elites, and over a hundred Level 1 adventurers. What did that mean? It was the equivalent of holding all the trump cards and a royal flush to boot. There was absolutely zero way he could lose.
No matter how you looked at it, this was a guaranteed victory. All he had to do was set the rules at the Denatus to ensure the Focalors Familia couldn't hire powerful outside help. As long as he did that, his victory was secured one hundred percent.
"Focalors, why did you agree?! That was far too reckless!" As soon as Apollo left, Takemikazuchi rushed over, his face heavy with concern.
"She didn't exactly have a choice, did she?" Hephaestus shook her head in exasperation. "With how relentlessly stubborn that guy is, if she didn't agree today, he'd be bringing his people to blockade her front door tomorrow. That would be even more troublesome. You're on your own now; may the odds be in your favor."
"Ais-tan, no can do." On the other side, noticing that Ais wanted to step forward, Loki immediately grabbed her and whispered in her ear, "This is an inter-faction dispute. We cannot just casually interfere. It's a matter of our political stance."
As one of the largest factions in Orario, every move the Loki Familia made was heavily scrutinized. They were a lawful Familia dedicated to maintaining the city's balance; they couldn't act on mere whim, especially not during times like this.
Though Ais was worried, she could only stop in her tracks, a faint trace of hidden anxiety flickering in her golden eyes.
.....
The War Game between the Focalors Familia and the Apollo Familia received official Guild approval at an unprecedented speed. The moment the date was set, the atmosphere in Orario came alive, and everyone plunged into a frenzy of busywork.
Among them, the most unfortunate victims were undoubtedly the Guild staff. To ensure that an inter-faction proxy war didn't cause collateral damage to Orario, they had to frantically mobilize supplies, assign personnel, run city-wide public awareness campaigns, select and prepare a suitable battlefield, and even notify the surrounding regions to stay vigilant. The Guild employees were run so ragged that their livers ached in protest.
To make matters worse, the gods' capricious demands for the event to be "more entertaining" and "more flashy" only added fuel to an already blazing fire.
Whether among adventurers or regular citizens, the upcoming War Game became the hottest topic in the city. In the taverns, adventurers fiercely debated the betting odds, while out on the streets, commoners eagerly discussed the unfolding drama as if keeping up with a serialized play.
Under the watchful eyes of the entire city, preparations for the War Game steadily progressed. Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
At the center of Orario, on the 30th Floor of Babel Tower.
Inside a massive assembly hall where rows of colossal pillars supported a towering ceiling, a single, gigantic round table sat in the center. At this moment, nearly every deity in Orario was gathered around it.
The rules and format of the War Game would be finalized during this temporary Denatus. To create the ultimate entertainment spectacle, decisions would be made by the two opposing deities while taking the input of the other gods into consideration.
Focalors and Apollo, the two warring factions, arrived right on time. For the gods, a War Game was a rare, premium source of entertainment that would keep them buzzing for a very long time.
First, under the supervision of the surrounding deities, Focalors and Apollo signed the necessary documents and completed the official procedures.
"If my side wins, I want Aiden," Apollo declared, his tone brooking no argument. He couldn't even be bothered to ask what Focalors wanted in return. "...I'm making this absolutely clear right now so you don't try to annoy me with pathetic excuses later. If Focalors emerges as the victor, I will accept any demand you make."
Having absolutely no doubt about his impending victory, Apollo solely emphasized his claim over Aiden—including a seamless and immediate Familia Conversion.
When Focalors remained silent, Apollo had the recording deity document the stipulation in writing. However, he failed to notice the faint, almost imperceptible smirk curving Focalors's lips beneath her lowered gaze.
She wasn't worried about this War Game in the slightest. Because win or lose, Apollo would never get what he wanted.
Putting aside the fact that Aiden hadn't even been in the Focalors Familia for a full year and thus legally couldn't undergo a Conversion to change his Falna... More importantly, in this entire world, there was not a single god other than Focalors who could bestow a Falna upon him.
Therefore, this War Game was a zero-risk, guaranteed-profit scenario for her.
Conversely, if Apollo lost, he would lose absolutely everything. And honestly, she didn't think Aiden could lose. The strength of the Apollo Familia was out in the open for all to see, but the true strength of the Focalors Familia was heavily concealed.
Robin's party-wide buff magic was their ultimate trump card. Of course, whether they would actually need to use it remained to be seen.
.....
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