Chapter 682

"First, your plan to replace the Soma Familia's regiment commander and rectify that Familia's terrible atmosphere — to me, it feels extremely crude and barbaric, like something a martial brute would slap his head and come up with without thinking much."

Hermes gave his evaluation first.

Broly: "..."

I'm a brute, my apologies!

"Of course, I'm not saying such a plan is bad; when you possess the strength to guarantee victory, a straightforward plan is always better than some unfathomable schemes and tricks."

"And Hephaestus and Miach are not ignorant gods; the fact that the two of them could formulate such a plan with you suggests they have great confidence in your Hestia Familia's strength."

"On this point, I will trust their judgment, and also trust Hestia — your Familia's guaranteed victory strength."

"Therefore, my advice will be like adding flowers to brocade, given on the premise that you are certain to win."

"Stop beating around the bush; if you have advice, just say it directly."

Hestia said.

"Your plan is to train Liliruca's strength, commission the Hephaestus Familia to forge a set of costly fine equipment for her, and commission the Miach Familia to develop a special medicine to cure the divine wine addiction, preparing to secretly feed the other members the special medicine to cure the divine wine addiction on the day of the Soma Familia's divine wine banquet."

"Then, openly challenge the Soma Familia's regiment commander Chanisi, including taking action to deal with the other Soma Familia members supporting Chanisi during the process, and after victory, declare the transfer of Soma Familia's authority to the other observing Soma Familia members — correct?"

"Correct."

"Then, before conducting the challenge for the regiment commander position, you should first propose a conversion request to the other party."

"But, the Soma Familia's regiment commander is a treacherous and greedy small person; he single-handedly caused the Soma Familia to become what it is today, that man definitely won't let Lili off easily."

"Correct, this may be well-known, but you cannot treat it as a known condition; you should treat it as an unknown condition and conduct verification."

"Think about it: when this poor Pallum girl finally scrapes together the cost to leave the Familia, and when she proposes to withdraw from the Familia but is refused, which side do you think the weak Familia members inside the Soma Familia will lean toward more, and sympathize with more?"

"The treacherous and cunning Wine Guardian, or the Pallum girl who painstakingly saved money, saw the hope of escaping the quagmire, but at the last moment had the plank of escape pulled away by that treacherous regiment commander and fell back into the quagmire?"

"The answer is self-evident; the weak mostly only empathize with those equally weak, and even the current Soma Familia with its terrible internal atmosphere is the same."

Hermes made a definitive statement.

"And at that time, the girl whose hope of escaping the quagmire was severed will draw her sword to demand justice for herself, launch a challenge for the regiment commander position against the treacherous and cunning Wine Guardian — this way, isn't it even more justified and righteous?"

This god Hermes seemed immersed in the script he imagined, speaking the story's development in an operatic aria.

"Correct, this should be a just struggle that the oppressed had no choice but to wage, not a scheme by someone intending to usurp power."

In simple words, Hermes presented the image of the girl suffering unjust oppression before everyone, fleshing out the inevitability and justice of why the Pallum girl as a rebel would commit rebellious acts.

Broly could feel Liliruca beside him unconsciously tighten her grip on his hand, clearly affected by the god's words before him.

"But, what if that Wine Guardian agrees to the condition of letting Lili withdraw from the Familia?"

Hestia asked.

"Children of the Lower World may be changeable, but their nature is hard to alter; moreover, if you truly believe that Wine Guardian would be willing to let that Pallum girl go, you wouldn't have formulated a plan to directly kick him off the regiment commander position and replace him, would you?!"

Hermes shrugged and said; he had investigated that Soma Familia regiment commander together, he's a greedy fellow, what kind of choice he would make is really not hard to imagine.

"Makes sense."

Hestia nodded; only Broly was silent — he really directly treated that current Soma Familia regiment commander as this script's villain to be thoroughly dealt with, directly ruling out the possibility of him taking the money and actually doing the job.

"Taking a step back, even if that Wine Guardian is truly willing to take money and release her, you would have achieved your goal, no?"

"After all, your original purpose was just to let that Pallum girl escape her original Familia's quagmire, right?"

"Broly, what do you think?"

Hestia asked the boy; wanting to move against the Soma Familia wasn't just about letting Lili escape the quagmire, there was also the intention to strike back and retaliate against those who once bullied Lili.

"If that Wine Guardian is truly willing to take money and let Lili leave, I can consider not selling him to the Ishtar Familia's regiment commander Furini, but afterwards I will secretly make those who once bullied Lili pay the price they deserve."

Broly answered.

"Eh? Then what do you plan to do?"

Hermes asked.

"Sneak attack, cut off their heads."

Broly was concise and to the point.

Hermes: "..."

Good nature, willing to take money and release — still has to die.

Although compared to selling to the Man Killer Furini, it's indeed a bit better, just not much better.

【This personality...】

Hermes pondered for a moment, and in his heart found the apt description.

【Compared to a hero, more like a certain brutal tyrant.】

"Is it really okay for you to kill people so haphazardly?"

Hermes asked.

"I'm not killing haphazardly; I just plan to deal with the people who bullied my girl."

Broly corrected the other's words.

"Reason sufficient, but doing this still easily gets you on Orario's blacklist."

"Thanks for the reminder, I'll pay attention to the influence, hide my identity well."

Hermes: "..."

【Was I reminding you to hide your identity?】

Seeing Hestia had no intention of stopping him, Hermes understood this Holy Fire Goddess also supported the boy, so he said no more.

"Second piece of advice: after gaining the justification of justice, you still need to obtain the justification of name/title."

Hermes held up two fingers, continuing.

"What do you mean?"

Liliruca didn't quite understand, and couldn't help asking.

"The core of a Familia is the God; naturally, the nominal greater cause is the God's own will. Before you make a move on the Soma Familia — before you stage a coup — you can first go and sound out Soma."

Hermes said.

"Eh, we're going to rebel against the Soma Familia's Captain, and we still need to give advance notice to Soma, that God who doesn't manage Familia affairs, explaining that we're going to rebel against his Captain?"

Hestia only felt that Hermes, who had spoken these words, had definitely been kicked in the head by a donkey.

"Of course not put it that directly; rather, you must say it more tactfully. For example, you can ask Soma-sama his current view of his own Familia."

"You can also inquire of Soma-sama hypothetically: if the Familia's situation were to change suddenly, would he have any objections?"

"Trust me, the answer that Wine God gives will be the one you need."

Hestia fell thoughtful, looking at the frivolous blond Male God opposite and asked: "Hermes, you get along with many Gods; do you know Soma's situation?"

"This I cannot say, because I am a God of neutral stance; however, my advice has already been given to you. Whether you are willing to heed it is your own business."

Faced with Hermes's attitude of not responding directly, Hestia was somewhat speechless; the other party was all but explicitly telling them to modify their plan according to his advice, yet he refused to explain or speak plainly.

Truly a Riddle God, get out of Orario!

"Lili, what do you plan to do?"

Leaving the Hermes Familia's base, the Loli Goddess asked the Pallum girl beside her.

"I want to go test Soma-sama's attitude."

The Pallum girl answered.

"Then you go ask Soma; I'm going on a date with Broly."

Hestia nodded.

"Ah, I didn't say go test him right now."

The Pallum girl said immediately.

"Tch~"

The Loli Goddess wore a look of a plan having failed.

"Hestia-sama, are we going home now?"

Broly asked.

"Not going home; we're going to the Blue Pharmacy side to see if Miach has finished making the medicine to cure the Divine Wine addiction."

Hestia shook her head, and the three transferred to the Blue Pharmacy.

"Miach-sama said that Soma-sama's Divine Wine has a terrible addiction, but he has already found a way to break it. He will produce the medicine to cure the Divine Wine addiction before the day of the Divine Wine Banquet that the Soma Familia is holding this month arrives. But right now, Miach-sama is in seclusion researching and developing, and does not want to be disturbed."

They did not see God Miach; after receiving this reply from the Chienthrope girl Naza, Hestia took Broly on a date, although Liliruca was still following beside them, making it a three-person date.

The three went to a park, found a long bench in a secluded corner, sat side by side, and began flipping through the Soma Familia member data they had just obtained.

The people inside were divided into three types. One type: those with a record of evil deeds, bottomless scoundrels. Even if these guys hadn't bullied Liliruca, they were to be sold out together; they had no value to be won over.

One type: those who drift with the tide, who became deceitful scoundrels because of the environment. If these people are willing to respond positively after Lili's promotion — for example, support Liliruca in rectifying the Familia's internal wind qi — then they can be handled discretionarily.

The rest are the Soma Familia members who have a bottom line, and this batch of people is the group worth winning over.

Just as Broly's trio were re-categorizing the intelligence in their hands, Bell, on his way to buy a thank-you gift for Eina, encountered the Rabbit Person girl Irene and the Human girl Anna, who had come out to purchase flower-wrapping paper and weaving rope.

"Ah, buying a gift for a woman — could it be a girlfriend?"

"Ah, no, that's the Guild Staff lady who taught me Dungeon monster knowledge; she's not my girlfriend. Correctly speaking, I currently don't have a girlfriend..."

Watching the white-haired boy explain in a panic the reason for buying the gift, and even stealing careful glances at herself from time to time, the Human girl Anna laughed lightly.

"Then, Bell Little Brother, do you need help?"

"Eh, what help?"

"Naturally, helping you pick a gift to thank someone."

"Ah, then, I'll entrust it to you, Anna-san."

"Me too, me too~"

The Rabbit Person girl Irene raised her hand, also wanting to help pick the gift.

"Good, then I'll also entrust it to Irene."

The white-haired boy, the Rabbit Person girl, and the Human girl formed a party, which also counted as an unconventional three-person date.

"The matter is exactly like this."

At the same time, the Loki Familia Captain Finn, having returned to the surface, also organized and reported to the Guild the intelligence they had investigated deep in the Dungeon.

"A mysterious Black-Robed Dragon Hunter, hm? So you're saying you didn't directly encounter the other party, right?"

The Guild's de facto highest authority, a somewhat portly elderly Elf, Royman Madil, frowned and asked.

"Yes, we only gleaned some information from the mouths of some Adventurers. And among it, the missing 27th Floor Layer Lord 【Amphisbaena】 should also have been dealt with incidentally by the other party. Although we haven't seen his whereabouts, it can be affirmed that that mysterious person's strength is very strong."

Finn emphasized, and what he truly wanted to say was that when the Guild issued the Quest, the promised intelligence regarding the Deeper Floors of the Labyrinth — the time to honor it had arrived.

"Guild President Royman, if you want to use the excuse that the intelligence we brought back this time is insufficient to refuse giving us the Labyrinth intelligence, then I think our Familia's Main God will probably have to personally meet with the Guild's Main God, Orario's Founder God Uranus-sama."

Hearing this, the mouth corner of the obese old Elf behind the office desk twitched, but he still took out the Quest Reward intelligence from the bookcase and handed it to the ambitious Pallum Captain before him.

"Then I shall not disturb you further."

After obtaining the intelligence, Finn took his leave, heading to the Gulliver Brothers Familia, intending to order a batch of corrosion-resistant Weapons Equipment, preparing for the next Dungeon expedition.

"What, you want us to make weapons for you again?"

"Hm."

"Hm what hm, where did your Uruga go?"

"That was forged with a massive amount of Orichalcum, an unrivaled weapon we crafted without rest!"

Several smiths of the Gulliver Brothers Familia surrounded the flat Amazon girl, asking about her original weapon's situation.

"The original Uruga was accidentally dissolved."

Tiona stuck out her little tongue, replying in a cutesy manner.

"Ah, no!"

Hearing this news, the smiths let out wails.

"Not caring for it at all, again!"

In another forge room, the elderly smith examined the Despair Sword in his hand, then spoke to the Sword Princess girl before him: "A sword with the Indestructible Property indeed lives up to its name and won't be destroyed, but overuse will still lead to a decrease in sharpness; I should have told you that already."

Some smiths dislike people who don't cherish their weapons; clearly, this master craftsman of the Gulliver Brothers Familia doesn't quite like Ais's way of using a sword.

"I am very sorry."

Ais apologized seriously; the elderly smith was a bit helpless.

"So, what exactly did you cut with it?"

"Many monsters that can spit strong dissolving fluid."

"Sigh..." The elderly craftsman sighed, then asked: "The repair fee is the same price as a new one, no problem with that, right?"

"No problem."

"Worn to this degree, to restore it to its original condition will cost at least five."

The elderly craftsman turned and took down a long sword from the wall, then handed it to the Sword Princess girl.

"Although it lacks the Indestructible Property, the sharpness is guaranteed; it just needs a little time to adapt to."

"How much deposit do I need?"

"You count as my regular customer, so no deposit needed; just don't break it."

The girl's sword usage is extremely rough; the elderly smith had to give a reminder.

"I understand, thank you."

The Sword Princess girl thanked him, took the substitute sword, and walked out of the forge room.

"Then, the second-generation Uruga is entrusted to you."

"You make it sound simple!"

The smiths shouted in dissatisfaction.

"Tiona, you've been disliked by the smiths again!"

"Usual occurrence, I'm used to it. Tione, how's the situation on your end?"

"All tools sold, at prices higher than market price; didn't betray the Commander's trust."

"That's the best possible outcome."

Finn, who had finished discussing a large amount of custom weapon business with the Gulliver Brothers Familia, walked over and praised the Amazon girl.

"Any reward? Like Commander you kissing me once, for example."

"That's not happening, but there is two weeks of long leave."

"Tch, brushed off by the Commander again~"

"Ais, you're tired too; go back and rest for a bit.

As for wanting to find someone to ask for swordsmanship guidance, that's not urgent.

At least, say hello to Loki first."

Finn looked at the absent-minded Sword Princess girl and gave a reminder.

"Mm."

The Sword Princess nodded.

Loki Familia Residence, Twilight Manor; Finn had just brought the members back to this side, and from inside the opened Familia gate rushed a red-haired figure with a single ponytail: "Welcome back, is everyone alright?!"

The Clown God flew out in a tackle; the Loki Familia members, long used to their own God's personality, dodged one by one; in the end, the elf girl with slightly slow reactions was tackled down, and the Goddess's two hands directly grabbed and kneaded her chest: "I was so lonely while you weren't here~"

After a bout of noisy commotion at the front door, the Loki Familia all returned inside the residence; bathing and resting were what they needed most after the Dungeon expedition.

And as Commander, Finn still needed to report the investigation results of this trip to his Main God, as well as Ais's matter.

"Setting aside the matter of the Black-Robed Dragon Hunter and the new species monster for now, what's this about Ais wanting to ask a member of the small dwarf (Hestia)'s Familia for swordsmanship guidance?"

"On the 15th Floor, we encountered a Minotaur group stampede; when chasing them up to the Upper Floors, Ais encountered that person, had a swordsmanship match with the other party, and then suffered defeat..."

Gareth concisely narrated the situation he understood.

(Chapter End)