Chapter 798: The Gale Murder Case

The next day after waking up, Broly suddenly remembered where he had seen the gaze of the Justice Goddess Astraea before.

It was the gaze some of his wives' mothers would occasionally give him when meeting for the first time, scrutinizing whether he could bring happiness to their daughters.

However, although he perceived the meaning behind the Justice Goddess Astraea's gaze, Broly did not express anything because of it.

He still lived his recent daily life: morning training with Ais and the others, then going to the Freya Familia to give Ottar and the others a workout, then having morning tea with Freya, and finally returning to Hearth Manor to accompany Little Dragon Girl Wenyi in playing.

As for the preparation work to resurrect the girl Adi, he, who only provided the resurrection magic, fundamentally could not help much.

Rather than pointlessly busy himself in the magic laboratory, it was better to do proper work, like raising the Happiness Values of his Encounter Targets.

"Eh, Ryuu, you're going to the Dungeon?"

"Mm."

"But Miss Adi's remains will be repairable to a resurrectable degree in three or four days."

"I know, but the Giant Goliath is about to appear soon, and the Twin-Headed Dragon Amphisbaena is the same."

The elf wanted to earn the shortfall for resurrecting her best friend as soon as possible, planning to enter the Dungeon to hunt the two Layer Lords about to be newly spawned by the Labyrinth.

The Twin-Headed Dragon Amphisbaena was fine; that Layer Lord was hard to encounter and hard to deal with, but with the Giant Goliath, if she went too late it might be solved by some High-Level Adventurer teams.

"Then I'll go with you?"

"No need, Wenyi needs you to accompany her more."

"Then take the Rabbit-Ox Talisman with you."

Faced with the pendant embedded with two Talismans that Broly handed over, Ryuu did not refuse.

"I'll be back in three days at most."

Accepting the boy's kindness, and greeting her own Main God, she then left Hearth Manor.

"Ryuu is a child with severe mysophobia; before I left Orario, she hardly ever accepted things from people not close to her.

Mr. Broly, you handed something to her and she accepted without hesitation; it seems your relationship with that child is not ordinary, right?"

"Mm, indeed not ordinary."

"These years I wasn't by that child's side, I don't know her situation; would you mind telling me about it?"

Astraea proposed a private chat; Broly did not refuse, but what he could say was only the parts he had heard from Xier's side.

As for his side, there wasn't much to say; after all, he only instructed the elf in swordsmanship, and then Ryuu suddenly requested to move into Hearth Manor.

The development with Ryuu was the comparatively plain kind; until he started helping and thinking of ways to resurrect the other party's best friend, Broly could only obviously feel the change in the elf's attitude toward him, from initial wariness to gradually being able to let go, treating him as a friend, as one of her own.

"So that child has spent these years like this……"

Astraea sighed with emotion; Ryuu had actually told her about her experiences these years.

But to avoid worrying her, she skipped over many things.

For example, after finishing her revenge, nearly dying in an alley — that naturally was impossible to say.

Self-abandonment and such, Astraea could only infer from the state when Ryuu came to find her, head lowered in apology.

"Mr. Broly, thank you very much for making Ryuu pull herself together."

Astraea bowed to the boy in thanks.

"This is not my achievement alone; the one who truly provided help to Ryuu is Xier."

Before he came to this world, the one who saved Ryuu was Freya disguised as Xier.

Only Freya asked him this morning to keep Xier's situation secret, so it was inconvenient to explain to the Justice Goddess before him.

"Whether it is you, or that Miss Xier, or others who have helped Ryuu, I am deeply grateful to all.

Mm, Mr. Broly, I wonder if there is anything you need my help with?

As that child Ryuu's Main God, I want to express my gratitude as much as possible."

Astraea asked.

"Uh……"

Broly pondered, his gaze sizing up the Astraea before him from top to bottom; this Justice Goddess had a head of orange-tinged tea-brown hair, beneath which was an exquisite pretty melon-seed face, a tall slender figure that was still curvaceous, and such a Goddess wanting to do something for him to express thanks……

"Since that's the case, then please, Lady Astraea, tell me what kind of person Ryuu was before."

Compared to making the dignified beautiful Goddess before him do other things, Broly wanted more to inquire about Ryuu's more distant past, for instance her situation during her previous Familia days, before hatred clouded her eyes.

"Eh, that request of yours is really hard to answer, because that child is also growing; she has always been changing.

However, if you don't mind listening to my long-winded account, I can tell you all the past of that child that I know well."

"Of course I don't mind."

Broly agreed immediately, inviting Astraea to the rest pavilion in the backyard; a fox-person girl came over and served tea to the two.

Not far away, Little Dragon Girl Wenyi crouched by the flower bush, observing a butterfly perched on a flower.

"The Ryuu who just arrived in Orario was only 11 years old; she had severe mental mysophobia, and because she disliked the arrogance of her fellow elves, she left her species tribe alone and came to Orario.

Because she was a cute elf, that child was targeted by a group of human traffickers right after arriving, and was then saved by my child, my Familia's Former Captain Alicia; I discovered her soul was pure enough, so I invited her to join my Familia.

This child Ryuu also leaned toward justice; she chose to join; she had extreme talent, rising from Lv. 1 to Lv. 2 in merely one year, just like the Sword Princess currently living with you, both were Tomorrow's Stars among Orario's adventurers at the time."

Speaking to this point, Astraea paused slightly, then unobtrusively asked: "Mr. Broly and Miss Ais also look very familiar; I wonder what relationship you have?"

"Ais? She is my Encounter Target."

"Eh?"

"Just like Ryuu; of course, there's also Lady Hestia, Lady Hephaestus……"

Broly recited a string of god names and personal names to Astraea like reading a menu.

The Justice Goddess listened with eyes and mouth wide open.

Her own child with mental mysophobia actually found an outright Harem King as an Encounter Target?

This is something even ordinary elves find hard to accept; just what kind of change has that child Ryuu undergone these years?

"Lady Astraea, what's wrong?"

"Ah, no, it's nothing, cough cough, let's continue talking about Liu's matter..."

The Justice Goddess used a cough to cover her embarrassment, and she spoke of some interesting past events about Liu in her Familia, which deepened Broly's understanding of Liu.

Of course, Astraea also inquired about the Wings Skill, and Broly only hesitated slightly before choosing to inform this Goddess of the actual Skill situation.

After listening, Astraea seemed to have something to say but stopped.

Finally, she sighed.

"Mr. Broly, may I ask a favor of you?"

"What?"

"I hope you won't mistreat that child Liu in the future."

"Mhm, Lady Astraea, even if you didn't say so, I would do the same. I will let Liu obtain happiness."

Just as Broly's words fell, the Little Dragon Girl Wenyi ran over with hands clasped: "Broly, look quick, I caught a big butterfly."

Looking at the Little Dragon Girl acting spoiled on the Saiyan youth's legs, Astraea fell silent; the label of monster lover is not a positive address in this world.

Time passes quickly; in a blink three days have passed, and the repair work on the girl Adi's defective remains has reached its end.

But the Spirit who had agreed to return within three days at the latest had not returned from the Dungeon Labyrinth even by the morning of the fourth day.

"Broly-san, Miss Liu might have been delayed by something; with her updated Status and the help of the Talisman Necklace, she definitely cannot encounter danger."

When Liliruca said this, she actually had no bottom; after all, Liu Li Ang was preparing to solo the Floor Boss.

"I'll go down to find her; if I find her I'll bring her back, if I don't find her, every other day I'll go to the Upper Floors and use the Transmission Crystal to contact you all, to see if we missed each other."

Broly made the decision to enter the Dungeon to search for the Spirit, refusing others' company, mainly because he alone would be a bit faster going down the Dungeon.

The lightly equipped Saiyan youth ran to the Dungeon; he familiarly took shortcuts down the floors, taking only one hour to reach the 18th Floor Safe Labyrinth.

He originally wanted to inquire about Liu's news here, but discovered Rivira seemed to be missing many Adventurers.

"You ask about people? They all ran off to hunt the Shiren Xiongshou."

Broly was somewhat surprised: "You guys have weirdos and Man-Eating Flowers causing trouble here again?"

"This time it's unrelated to monsters; it was done by an outside Adventurer, heard it's the Gale who's wanted by the Guild."

Broly: "???"

"Details."

"Hah, why should I give intel for free..."

Before he finished speaking, the voice stopped; the man took the Voucher from the Saiyan youth's hand.

After clearly seeing the four zeros on it, his attitude became enthusiastic at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"Eh, the dead are our local residents here; the other party is Moduo Boss's subordinate, heard he was sneak attacked by Gale while patrolling last night, tendons in limbs severed, throat slit, it was truly miserable; the companion patrolling with him witnessed it all, only avoided being discovered by that murderer by hiding in the grass..."

"Do you know the reason Gale killed?"

"That's unclear; after all, before that guy vanished, he committed many heinous cases, killed many people, got on the Guild's blacklist, and was also wanted by the underground Black Market; suddenly appearing, killing some people, who knows the reason for killing, maybe just a whim."

"Alright then, do you know where Gale went?"

"The Deep Floors, right? Moduo Boss took people there to hunt; but calling it a hunt is more like for the other party's eighty million bounty; so many people subjugating one Lv. 4 Adventurer is much simpler than subjugating a Floor Boss, eh, where's the person?"

The shopkeeper stroking his chin and speaking with eyes closed, upon opening them, discovered the customer who had been asking for intel had vanished without a trace.

Poking his head to look at the street outside, he saw the Saiyan youth's figure sprinting far away: "Running so fast, is he worried he won't get a share of the eighty million bounty?"

He withdrew his head, flicked the Guild Voucher in his hand: "Compared to risking danger to hunt Gale, selling intel is indeed more profitable, and safe."

"Don't let her escape, find that guy Gale, daring to kill our companions in Rivira, we'll make that guy know Rivira's Adventurers have no cowards; even if her Level is higher than ours, she must pay the price of blood for blood!"

25th Floor Labyrinth, a group of Adventurers spread a dragnet; the leader, Rivira's Boss Moduo, was directing the Adventurers participating in the Gale subjugation to conduct a sweep search operation.

When Broly caught up to the 27th Floor, this group had just cornered Liu, and was in a standoff with the Spirit.

"I killed that person, so what?

That guy had contact with Dark Faction people, he deserved to die.

Move aside, otherwise I'll take you all down together!"

"We have this many people, could we still fear you alone?

Big guys, bring out your trump cards.

All Consumable Items will be reimbursed from her bounty afterward!"

Arrows wiped with deadly poison, Magic Swords sealed with powerful attack Magic...

These Rivira Lv. 3 veterans, this group able to survive long-term in the Dungeon, all have their own trump cards.

If the Gale opposite thought that just because her Level was one higher than them she could steadily eat this many people, she would definitely suffer a huge loss and fall flat on her face.

Liu Li Ang pressed the Wooden Sword at her waist, her gaze sweeping over the surrounding group encircling her; among them was not that guy she wanted to find.

And if it were before her Status update, she might have felt this group was Toge, but after updating her Status, and with the Talisman Necklace Broly lent her hanging on her neck, this group before her was not placed in her eyes.

It's just that Liu had no intention of massacring innocent Adventurers, but if these people on the other side pressed relentlessly, then don't blame her for being ruthless.

"Moduo, wait."

Just as the situation gradually grew heavy, as if a melee was about to break out, a halting voice came from afar.

Everyone followed the sound and saw a figure, in a few leaps in the Water Vein Cave, shoot over here like an arrow.

"Mr. Broly, have you come to help us?"

Seeing it was the Saiyan youth, Moduo's brows relaxed at once; recently because of the Man-Eating Flower matter, this Rivira Street Boss had some dealings with Broly, counting as an acquaintance with some friendship.

"I came to help, but it might not be the same as you think; hmm, this Gale you're hunting is actually my Encounter Target."

Broly's words made Moduo's face darken.

He had thought reinforcements had arrived, but it turned out to be the other side's reinforcements.

"But she killed my people."

"There might be a misunderstanding in all this."

"She admitted it herself — the person was killed by her."

Broly turned to look at Ryu; the elf subconsciously averted her gaze and offered an explanation once more: "That person had connections to the Dark Faction……"

"That's what she says."

"Even if he had connections to the Dark Faction, the guy you killed was still my man.

If there's a problem you can tell me, and I'll deal with him myself.

You, this guy, without a word just directly slaughtered him — what do you call this?"

"I did that for the sake of……"

If Broly weren't here, Ryu definitely wouldn't want to explain further; she only wants to find the enemy who exterminated her Familia back then.

But with the Saiyan boy here, Ryu still wants her behavior of interrogating others to sound slightly more justified.

"Moduo, I think I need to reiterate to you once again: she is my Encounter Target, and in the future she will become my woman."

However, Broly's words interrupted her explanation.

"Tyrant of Extreme Desire, you, this guy — you're not thinking of making me just give up pursuing the matter of my subordinate being inexplicably killed, are you?"

In truth Moduo already had thoughts of retreat; Gale alone would be one thing, but now with Broly added — who single-handedly overturned two Familias — even with numbers on his side, he doesn't feel he has any chance of winning.

But as the boss of Rivira, he can't possibly shrink back just because someone shows up and says one line about "this is my woman."

However you put it, he has to act tough here first, then later come out with something about "on account of an acquaintance's face" and find himself a step down.

"The amounts on these few signed bills add up to eighty-two million Valis."

"Eh?"

"Moduo, I'm giving you two choices right now:

One, take the signed bills I'm giving you and leave.

Two, more nonsense and you try to touch my girl, I'll kill all of you."

Moduo: "……"

"Ah, sorry, Mr. Broly, we'll be going right now."

The one-eyed burly man hurriedly stepped forward, tightly pinching the signed bills in the boy's hand.

"Eh, Boss Moduo, we're not avenging A-Rang anymore?"

He took the signed bills back to the crowd, and then someone asked.

"Smack—"

The person who spoke up got smacked directly on the back of the head by him.

Close on its heels came Moduo's scolding.

"Avenging your mother's ass — didn't you hear she has connections with Dark Faction guys?

Miss Gale killing him, that's called upholding justice, eliminating evil.

You so want to avenge him — tell me, are you a Dark Faction person?"

Ryu: "……"

She herself feels her methods were fierce and disgraceful, yet now after taking money the other side directly crowns it with the name of justice.

"Moduo is my acquaintance; I want to try to avoid conflict between you two."

Broly walked over, and regarding his giving money, offered a slight explanation.

"By the way, Ryu, what was the reason you killed him?"

Only now does he ask.

"You don't know anything, and you just directly stand on my side?"

The elf looked at her, somewhat speechless.

"These past few days I've heard Lady Astraea speak about matters of justice; I don't know what others' justice is, but my justice is my wife, is you whom I encountered — this point I understand very clearly, so, never mind that you killing someone might have your own reasons, even if there were no reason, I would still stand on your side."

Before establishing an intersection, facing a strange Capture Target and a known acquaintance, Broly might choose to help reason.

But after establishing an intersection, facing a Capture Target with feelings and a mere casual acquaintance who might come into conflict, naturally it's favor kin over reason.

Of course, if conflict can be avoided it should still be avoided — just like now, directly giving money to settle the problem.

"Ryu, can you tell me the reason for the killing? If there's need, I can help you kill together."

Chaos — the boy's absolutely un-righteous words made the elf's ear tips gradually turn red.

"I discovered the traces of the enemy who once entrapped my Familia and caused my companions' deaths……"

She didn't dare meet Broly's gaze, yet she explained her reason for killing — it was to interrogate the traces of her former enemy.

"Eh, wasn't it that two years ago you already completed all your revenge?"

Broly was somewhat surprised.

"Maybe it's a fish that slipped through the net back then……"

"Moduo."

"Eh, Mr. Broly, what are your orders?"

The Rivira boss, just preparing to leave, was called back; rubbing his hands he jogged over.

"The subordinates of yours who were killed — who were they closest with?"

Broly gave over eighty million Valis, and now asking about the other party, he's perfectly justified and confident.

"A-Rang, speaking of which, that guy only joined my side in the last two years.

Hmm, the people he was closest with, that should be……"

Moduo turned back, looking at the group of people he brought.

"Strange, where are Taku and his bunch?"

"Rumble——"

Just at this time, a series of explosion sounds came from the distance.

The lake rippled, and the ground also shook violently.

"That money-grubbing Moduo, someone just gave him money and he wagged his tail like a dog, directly giving up on dealing with Gale; where is his dignity as the boss of Rivira?"

The Cat People youth who secretly led people away cursed under his breath.

"Execute the Second Plan, detonate the Flame Stones we set up on the road!"

(Chapter End)