Is it wrong to try to meet someone in a dungeon?

"I never expected you to do these things... You really took a risky move."

If this matter were to be exposed, Dionysus would be unjustly suspected and might even be considered the real culprit.

Loki was initially impressed, but then disagreed. Seeing her expression, Dionysus smiled wryly.

"The children's bodies and this magic stone were found on a deserted street in the east of the city, near where we are now."

A grand festival was scheduled to be held in the area within a few days.

"A monster festival...?"

"Yes. Perhaps it was just a coincidence, but at the time I thought there might be some kind of cause and effect. I guessed that something would happen on the day of the festival, so I laid a trap."

Then, the incident actually happened.

Although the goddess of beauty was an extra factor, the man-eating flower monster with a bright red magic stone inside its body did indeed appear as Dionysus had predicted.

"We just happened to run into Loki and the others today, and we can still smell our scent in the sewers. It's because we're also tracking down that man-eating flower monster... Unfortunately, that monster seems to be more powerful than my child, and our investigations always end inconclusively."

Dionysus shrugged self-deprecatingly, concluding the conversation there.

Loki asked him several questions, which he answered one by one. Loki asked him how he got in and out of the old sewers, and he replied that he had Phil Weiss break the original lock and then put on a similar one.

Loki thought to himself, "It's also true that he got the magic stone before the guild. This guy looks so refined, but I didn't expect him to be so decisive."

The handsome man opposite her seemed to sense her thoughts and smiled at her with his good looks.

"Stop with that, it's so cheesy," Loki said, waving his hand dismissively.

"...Well, I'll just believe you anyway. You can't lie about this kind of thing if you check it later."

"I'm sorry. Thank you, Loki."

The misunderstanding being cleared up seemed to put Dionysus at ease, and he breathed a small sigh of relief.

"Actually, at the 'banquet' in Ganesha, I was also trying to find out which 'kin' the person who killed my child belonged to, and I tried to get information out of the other gods."

At this point, Dionysus finally confessed everything, and Loki then recalled the events of the "banquet" a few days earlier.

"I bet you're up to something bad this time?" — That's exactly what the man asked himself back then.

So he didn't forget to try and get information out of Loki while secretly observing his reaction?

"Damn it." Loki gritted his teeth inwardly.

"...However, to be able to confront a LV.2 adventurer head-on without using any tricks, and to easily kill them, means that the murderer (the child) is a LV.3...no, equivalent to a LV.4, or even a higher-level adventurer?"

"Yes, that should be the case."

"There aren't many [Familia] with adventurers of LV3 or higher."

That's probably why Dionysus spyed on Loki.

He had no reason not to doubt the Loki Familia, which included Ais and her group of first-class adventurers.

"No, there are also those who, like Hermes, deliberately conceal the [upgrades] of their clan members. We cannot be careless."

"That spineless coward actually pulled this kind of trick..."

"Yes. Gods can see through children's lies, but they cannot fathom the thoughts of the gods."

Many of the gods were seasoned veterans. Dionysus emphasized this point.

During this private conversation, he raised his eyebrows and glared at everyone for the first time, resolutely declaring:

"To me, all the gods in the city are suspects, enemies of children."

The blond heartthrob stared intently at Loki, displaying unwavering resolve.

Under the gaze of his glassy eyes, Loki slightly opened his eyes, letting out an "Oh..."

Then she smiled and asked with great interest:

"And what about me?"

"...I'd say I'm very close to being innocent."

"Can't you just declare me completely innocent?"

Loki cursed at the smiling Dionysus.

"Of all the gods in the city, I trust you the most," he smiled at Loki. "That's for the best," she murmured to herself.

"Although I don't know the killer's motive, well, it won't end that easily. After all, there are monsters in the sewers."

"Yes, it must be just like you said."

"Didn't you already conduct investigations everywhere? Didn't you spot any suspicious individuals?"

In response to Loki's question, Dionysus became expressionless and narrowed his eyes.

He leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice so as not to be heard.

"Loki, how do you think that man-eating flower monster was brought to Earth?"

"...Logically speaking, it should have been done by Ganesha, who captured monsters for a festival."

Various monsters were sent to the arena before the day of the Monster Festival.

Apart from that faction, no one can openly bring monsters from the dungeon to the surface without suspicion or guild repercussions.

"But Ganesha loves children so much! He wouldn't willingly put children in danger." The image of a dark-skinned god wearing an elephant mask and always doing strange things flashed through his mind.

Loki asserted that only that lovable fool could possibly be smiling while harboring a dagger. It would be pointless to suspect him.

"Instead of suspecting him, it's better to guess that someone, like some goddess of beauty, stole the monster from the sidelines, or that Ganesha's subordinates acted on their own initiative and did something bad. That would be more plausible..."

Loki was speaking when Dionysus interrupted her and shook his head.

"Wait a minute, Loki. You've got the premise wrong."

Then, he brought his face close to Loki's and, with their eyes locked, told her:

"Who ordered Ganesha and the others to capture the monsters? And ultimately, who organizes the Monster Festival?"

This time, Loki really opened his eyes wide.

"You mean the guilds are behind all this?"

In response to Loki's question, Dionysus remained silent in affirmation.

Loki stared intently at his face and said, "Impossible," shaking his head slightly.

"That management organization (guild), that Uranus has been protecting the city's peace all this time. What reason would he have to threaten the city's safety now?"

"However, I think the guild is the most suspicious. At least I have reason to suspect them."

Indeed, the Monster Festival was initiated and organized by the guild. It wasn't started by Loki and the other gods just for fun.

The history of the Monster Festival is actually quite short; it was proposed suddenly in recent years. The guild didn't explain the festival much, and at the Grand Assembly of Gods, it approved the project simply because "it seems interesting."

Loki finally understood why Dionysus was willing to risk everything to steal the magic stone from the man-eating flower monster. It was because he had suspected the guild from the beginning and wanted to act before them.

Loki remained silent.

Dionysus observed her silently for a while, then slowly spoke:

"I have a suggestion regarding this matter."

"...?"

"Loki, could you please go and spy on the guild?"

Loki was stunned, and it took him a while to move.

"What?"

"If the guild has any level 3 or higher pieces... and if Uranus has a private army, my [Familia] would be in danger if it easily gets close to him. Considering that, Loki leads the city's strongest and most famous [Familia], so there's nothing to worry about, right?"

"Hey! Wait a minute! Stop joking! I don't want to do anything that complicated!"

She answered angrily, but Dionysus didn't care.

Then, he narrowed his glass-colored eyes with a cunning expression.

"Loki can't just let it go like nothing happened, can he?"

—That bastard.

Loki wished he could grab the man in front of him by the collar and slap him twice.

Dionysus was right; her beloved members of the Familia had all been affected, and Loki couldn't stand idly by. The clue was right in front of her; she had no reason not to seize it.

Dionysus flashed an infuriating grin, his white teeth gleaming.

"...I think you've always wanted to drag me into this, it was just a matter of time, right?"

"Not at all, it was just a coincidence."

Loki felt he had been tricked and couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement.

Dionysus first denied Loki's accusations, then said:

"However, I do want to find someone to help me."

Facing this arrogant and boastful male god, Loki no longer hid his sinister gaze.

Dionysus smiled at her indifferent gaze, seemingly knowing it was time to leave, and slowly rose from his seat.

"We will also conduct our own investigation. If you don't mind, we hope you will consider it."

I'll let you know if there's any progress. With that, he left the lounge.

Loki stared at his departing back so hard she almost punched a hole in it, then sat back down. "Damn it—" she groaned through gritted teeth, clasping her hands behind her head and gazing into the air in deep thought for a long while.

She lost track of time and didn't notice that Phil Weiss had long since disappeared from the window.

At that moment, Bert came into the lounge alone to check on the situation.

"Hey, are you done yet?"

Bert asked, and Loki remained in the same position before releasing his hands.

She suddenly stood up, as if she had made up her mind.

"Sorry, please stay with me a little longer, Bo-chi."

Seeing that the main god had dropped his joking attitude, Bert sighed and said nothing, simply following silently. After leaving the hotel, the two crossed East Street, passed through Central Square, and headed towards Northwest Street.

Stepping once again into the bustling street, which has the familiar nickname "Adventurer's Street," one can see the majestic Pantheon—part of the guild headquarters built of white pillars—no matter where one stands.

"Bert, wait for me here."

"We have to wait again..."

"If I'm not back in an hour, just assume something happened to me. It's okay to take action. Please."

After instructing Bert to remain where he was, Loki walked to the front half of the guild headquarters' front courtyard.

To avoid arousing unnecessary suspicion, it's best to go alone. At least you won't be turned away before you can even exchange a word.

Her destination was only one place: the guild center, the city where a certain god sat majestically.

"Alright, let's see what they do..."

After looking at the beautiful, pure white temple from beginning to end, she stepped forward again.

With the clear blue sky overhead, Loki walked into the guild headquarters after brushing past numerous adventurers.

*

An unprecedented uproar and unrest are spreading through Rivera, which is under complete lockdown under Perth's orders.

The commotion never subsided, and the dwarfs, strong as oxen, pushed the large stone that had been placed steadily in front of the archway to the north and south gates, blocking both exits.

The town of blue and white crystals has now been transformed into a cold prison.

"Everyone gathered so quickly!"

"Because I threatened them that anyone who dared to disobey would be put on the town's list of dangerous individuals. That way, no shop would do business with him. From now on, any guy who wants to stay in this important place (town) will have to obey, no matter how unwilling he is."

"Besides, everyone's afraid of being alone, right?"

"Yes," Perth nodded in response to Finn's whisper. Ahead of them, a large group of people swayed nervously, each with varying degrees of unease and fear on their faces.

Perth has already personally informed everyone of the murder of the Level 2 adventurer (Hassana). Once they know that a murderer whose strength rivals that of a Level 1 adventurer is lurking somewhere in town, it is only natural that they would not dare to act alone.

The location is Crystal Square. This is the heart of town, spacious and with a wide view, the largest area in town. In the center of the square, a pair of huge blue and white crystal pillars stand side by side like twins, and Hassanna's personal belongings, including a bloodstained full-body suit of armor, have also been moved here.