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Chapter 21: Meeting
Still reeling from the shock of learning about the Freya Familia's sudden assault, the three adventurers listened in stunned silence. Now, it was finally time to introduce him to the rest of the Familia.
Almost all the members of the Loki Familia were gathered inside the grand dining hall of Twilight Manor.
"What do you think this important announcement is about, Ais?"
An elf girl turned to Ais. She had long, golden-yellow hair tied back in a ponytail that reached past her waist. Her name was Lefiya Viridis. An adventurer who possessed the alias Thousand Elf, she was currently Level 3. As a rear-guard mage, her sheer firepower with attack magic was already evaluated to be on par with a Level 5. She harbored an intense admiration for Ais—one so strong that it often bordered on obsession, causing those around her to back away. Incidentally, she was well aware of the secret training sessions between Ais and Bell. Despite being in a different faction, she harbored a fierce, burning jealousy toward the boy who monopolized Ais's time.
"I wonder. I have no idea," Ais replied, playing dumb. She already knew exactly what was about to happen, but it wasn't her place to spoil the surprise.
"Wait, don't tell me Finn finally got a girlfriend and this is his big announcement!?"
"Huh!?"
A dark-skinned girl with short black hair blurted out a wild guess. The moment the words left her mouth, another dark-skinned girl—this one with long hair—contorted her face into a terrifying scowl, letting out a low, menacing growl.
The short-haired Amazoness was Tiona Hiryute, a Level 5 adventurer known as the Juggernaut (Amazon). Possessing a bright, innocent personality, she was kind to everyone she met, though she was also undeniably the biggest airhead in the Familia.
Her older twin sister, Tione Hiryute, had long hair and was a Level 5 adventurer known as Jormungand. While she usually played the part of a gentle, well-mannered woman, her true nature was that of a short-tempered berserker. Once she snapped, her ferocity was so uncontrollable that even her own allies couldn't stop her. Tione was madly in love with Finn and had a tendency to choose whatever means necessary to make him hers. If another woman dared to approach him, she would instantly drop her polite facade and use pure, unadulterated violence to eliminate the competition.
Both sisters belonged to the Amazoness race—an all-female warrior tribe known for their dark skin, exceptional hand-to-hand combat skills, fierce competitive spirits, and a biological instinct to be drawn to strong men.
"If that's the case, I'll slaughter her right here and now...!!" Tione hissed, her eyes dark with murderous intent.
"Like hell it is. Stupid broads..."
Hearing Tione's psychotic muttering, a man with gray fur, wolf ears, a tail, and a fang-like tattoo on his left cheek scoffed in utter disinterest. His name was Bete Loga. A Level 5 adventurer who carried the alias Vanargand, his temper was just as short and aggressive as his namesake. A strict meritocrat, he had a habit of looking down on the weak and hurling harsh insults at anyone who didn't measure up. Only a select few truly understood that his harsh words were simply his own twisted form of kindness.
Suddenly, the heavy doors to the dining hall swung open. Finn, Riveria, and Gareth walked in, commanding the room's attention.
"Sorry for the sudden summons," Finn began, his voice carrying easily over the crowd. "There's something important I need to share with all of you. We're adding a new, last-minute member to tomorrow's expedition."
A heavy silence blanketed the room as the Familia absorbed the news. Nobody seemed particularly distressed; they simply waited for him to elaborate.
"Before I introduce him, there are a few things you need to know. I was the one who personally asked him to lend us his strength for this expedition. In exchange for his cooperation, he laid out two conditions. First, if he proves to be dead weight, we reserve the right to send him back immediately. Second, and most importantly: no one is to pry into his background, his secrets, or anything concerning him. I agreed to these terms. Therefore, I expect all of you to respect them as well."
A low murmur rippled through the crowd. The first condition made sense, but the strict ban on prying immediately sparked unease.
"I know it's hard not to feel anxious when I tell you to blindly trust someone you've never met," Finn continued, reading the room perfectly. "But let me assure you, he is not a bad person. He's a member of a proper Familia. From what I've seen, his character is solid. The fact that he requested this condition simply means he has things he'd rather keep hidden. We all have secrets we don't want others to know, don't we?"
His calm, rational explanation managed to soothe the rising tension, softening the sharp edge of their anxiety.
"For now, I just want you all to meet him. You can come in."
At Finn's cue, the dining hall doors creaked open once more. Tsuna timidly stepped into the room, his shoulders hunched as he shrank under the intense, scrutinizing gazes of the entire Loki Familia.
The members blinked in confusion. They had expected an imposing veteran or someone with a dangerous, battle-hardened aura. Instead, the boy standing before them looked completely and utterly average.
"Allow me to introduce him. His name is Sawada Tsunayoshi. He's an adventurer who recently arrived in Orario."
"What are you thinking, Captain!?"
"Are you serious!?"
"You're just sending him to his death!"
The moment Finn finished his introduction, the hall erupted. It was a perfectly reasonable reaction—taking a brand-new rookie down into the deepest, most treacherous floors of the Dungeon sounded like pure insanity.
"Captain. May I ask a question?"
"What is it, Aki?"
Amidst the uproar, a single hand was raised quietly. It belonged to Anakitty Autumn, a Level 4 Catperson who held the alias Alshar. As a core pillar of the second string that supported the Alchat, she boasted top-tier combat prowess both physically and mentally. Her comrades affectionately called her Aki.
"I am well aware that you never do anything without a good reason, Captain," Aki said, her voice steady and clear. "Even so, bringing an adventurer who just arrived in the city on a deep-floor expedition seems reckless at best. If you're still determined to bring him along, there must be a very compelling reason, correct?"
Aki voiced the exact question burning in everyone's mind. She deeply respected Finn and was fiercely loyal, but she was also pragmatic. If something didn't make sense, she would demand answers, regardless of authority. If she found the logic flawed, she wouldn't hesitate to voice her dissent—or, in the worst-case scenario, coldly cut her losses.
"Of course," Finn answered honestly. "To be entirely frank, I consider him a talent so exceptionally rare that I desperately want him for myself. He has no intention of leaving his current faction, but if he ever wanted to join our Familia, I would welcome him with open arms and zero hesitation."
A shocked silence fell over the room. For Finn, the legendary Braver, to offer such sky-high praise was unprecedented. The murmurs swelled back up, louder than before.
Give me a break! You're raising the hurdle way too high! Tsuna panicked internally. Finn was only stating his honest feelings, but for Tsuna, this was nothing short of a nightmare.
"I know words alone won't convince you," Finn added, a confident smile playing on his lips. "That's why he and I are going to have a one-on-one duel right now. I want you to judge his strength with your own eyes."
.....
Exactly as Finn had orchestrated, the stage was set for their duel. The entire Familia filed out into the expansive courtyard of Twilight Manor.
"I can't believe he's actually going to fight the Captain..."
"And the Captain was the one who suggested it... If he's going out of his way to fight him, this kid must be a real monster."
Raul Nord and Alicia Forestlight muttered to themselves as they watched Tsuna and Finn face off.
Raul, a human Level 4 known as the High Novice, was the glue holding the second string together. Often acting as a weary middle manager fielding the gripes of the lower-ranked members, he was exceptionally reliable despite his humble demeanor. Alicia, a Level 4 Elf known as Elreif, was the older sister figure of the Familia. Endlessly compassionate, she had journeyed to Orario specifically to serve Riveria, whom she practically worshipped.
"What's all the ruckus about?"
A woman with short, crimson hair, perpetually squinted eyes, and a thick, drawling accent strolled onto the scene.
It was Loki, the Goddess and head of the Loki Familia. Though she usually acted like an aloof, easygoing clown, she possessed terrifyingly sharp instincts when it came to schemes, conspiracies, and hidden truths. Her only real flaw was her rampant perversion; she constantly tried to grope the female members of her Familia, only to be violently swatted away.
"It's about the new addition to tomorrow's expedition," Riveria explained. "He's a fresh arrival to Orario, but Finn personally asked for his help."
"Hah!? What the hell is Finn thinkin'!?"
"I have no idea. But Finn described him as a talent he desperately wants. Knowing words wouldn't be enough to convince the others, they decided to prove his strength with a duel."
"A duel...? We already know how that's gonna end. There ain't no way he can beat Finn..." Loki muttered, utterly bewildered by her captain's logic.
Out on the courtyard, Finn readied his golden spear. Tsuna pulled on his specialized mittens, the number '27' emblazoned across the fabric.
"As I said earlier," Finn called out, his voice sharp. "If you don't prove your worth right here and now, you aren't coming on the expedition."
"I know."
"Don't hold back. Give it everything you have. That's the only way to make them understand."
"Yeah. Got it."
During his spars with Ais, Tsuna had played strictly defensively. If he did that here, no one would grasp the true extent of his power. He needed to strike back.
"And just so you know, I haven't underestimated you," Finn warned, his easy smile vanishing. "Sorry, but I'm coming at you with everything I've got."
"Okay."
"That's enough talk. Let our fists speak for us. Are you ready?"
Finn lowered his stance, his eyes narrowing into a deadly, focused glare.
"Yeah. Of course."
Tsuna's eyes snapped shut. When they opened, they were a vibrant, crystalline orange. He entered Hyper Dying Will Mode, lowering his center of gravity into a flawless combat stance.
"Come at me with the intent to kill."
"You don't have to tell me twice."
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