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

Ishtar smiled with satisfaction.

"I want a swift victory. While Freya is distracted by us, I want you to invade the city and attack them from behind."

Ishtar didn't ally with factions within the city, partly because the plan needed to be kept secret, and partly because she wanted to launch a perfect surprise attack. If forces outside the city attacked directly through the city walls, even the largest faction (the Freya Familia) would likely be caught off guard.

If this ambush force also possesses Lv.6 combat power, it will be even more effective.

"What should we do with that ridiculously large city wall? Surely someone will be guarding it, right?"

"Those people in Erbil... there's a trading company that listens to me completely. You can hide among the goods and fool the inspectors. Otherwise, I could personally go out the day before and open the door for you."

Ishtar first hinted that she would use her irresistible "charm" power, then curled the corners of her mouth into a smile.

"Once we're ready, we'll storm Freya's positions... The signal will signal the start of the offensive."

Although Ishtar is the goddess of beauty, at this moment she can only be described as "fierce".

Guiding external forces to invade the city's inner walls is a huge problem. But Ishtar is willing to be an enemy of the guild. The goddess cannot let go of the humiliation she has suffered for so long, which leads her to do all this.

After Ishtar finished explaining the entire plan, Kali narrowed her eyes.

"Oh dear, nothing is uglier than a goddess's jealousy. Excessive beauty and pride in it, when taken to this point, become ugly."

Even though her appearance and voice are like a child's, her tone and eyes are like those of an old woman who knows everything.

Kali smiled maliciously and uttered venomous sarcastic remarks.

Say what you want.

Ishtar simply laughed it off.

"I'm willing to break any taboo as long as I can drag that goddess (woman) into the abyss."

Her beauty was etched with a fierce smile.

The overwhelming divine power that emanated from Kali truly intimidated the Amazons under his command.

"That's it for the plan. Even an animal could handle something this simple."

"Hehe, that's a harsh way to put it. But you are indeed quite naive, which I like. After all, we've only just met you all today, so it's impossible for us to work together."

Kali comfortably accepted the divine power emanating from the other party and agreed.

Then she asked, "And what about the most important date?"

"The preparations have been delayed a bit. You can stay at this hotel until the day the plan is implemented."

"That's so generous."

"I arranged this on my own initiative; you should thank me."

From the port permits to the inn they stayed at, everything that Kali and the others needed was arranged by Ishtar. Until this day, Ishtar's retinue frequently slipped out of the city and frequently entered and exited Melon. The Amazons being discussed behind a certain tavern were referring to the members of the Ishtar Familia.

"But with such exquisite food right in front of you, it's been a while since you can enjoy it... Don't you want to have a fight soon, Algana?"

"Yes, Kali."

Kali leaned back on the sofa, looked up, and saw Algana standing directly behind her, giving her a serpentine smile.

"Especially the legendary 'fierce one,' I really want my concubine's child to fight him."

"That boar is particularly fierce among the children. Don't act rashly or on your own."

"I understand, I understand, I'll wait then."

Warninged by Ishtar's puff of smoke, Kali waved her hand listlessly like a child.

"Speaking of which, Ishtar, are these all your children?"

"Don't talk nonsense. My [Family] is a large family, just like yours in the nation-type. I've kept most of them in the city. But the main force is here. So what?"

Ishtar retorted that Kali, who also left most of her family in her homeland (Tirskula), tilted her head.

"You say you want to attack from both sides, but do you have the strength to do so? That [Fierce Warrior], judging by his level and [ability stats], is even superior to me, Algana and Baje. I think that once the attack begins, you will only be ravaged along with your city."

Kali looked at the Amazons of Ishtar and stated her opinions without any reservations.

Indeed, the highest level of the [Ishtar Familia] is only Lv.5. Compared to her own faction, which has Lv.6, it must seem very unreliable to Kari.

The Amazons, feeling their talents were being wasted, became menacing, but the goddess Ishtar simply grinned.

"Don't worry. I have an 'ace'."

After saying that, the goddess's gaze flew to the diagonal rear.

Among the Amazons standing side by side, only one of their relatives was of a different race.

The person's head was covered by a pure white cloth resembling a feathered robe, obscuring their face. However, the bulge at their waist was likely the tail, a trait unique to orcs. Judging from their posture, they were a young girl. Combined with their clothing, they resembled a priestess in a long robe, or a shrine maiden whose face was veiled in a kimono.

She exuded no domineering aura whatsoever, and dared not speak, simply standing there quietly.

"……Um?"

Kali watched the girl with great interest.

She gazed at the bright green eyes that were slightly visible beneath the girl's face covering.

The long-legged female hero immediately made the girl hide behind her with a stern expression, blocking her view.

"I've already sent the deliveryman with the sure-fire method; you'll all get a share of the spoils then. ... Once you receive it, the banquet will begin."

Upon hearing Ishtar's announcement, her retinue wore savage smiles.

Influenced by them, the Amazons on Kali's side also showed smiles.

"I'm curious what you mean by 'trump card'... well, whatever. I understand the general situation. Anyway, there's still time before the battle, right?"

"right."

"Then, Ishtar, I'd like to discuss the payment first."

Shaking her deep, purplish-black hair, Ishtar responded to her request:

"If you want a reward, I'll give you as much gold and silver as you want. Just name the amount you need—"

"I don't want money. I don't want it now. I want other forms of compensation."

"?"

"One more thing, I'd like to receive payment first."

Ishtar frowned upon hearing Kali's somewhat odd remarks.

She narrowed her eyes to the point of needles, observing the expression of her opponent.

"...Tell me about it."

"Right now, the Loki Familia is in this port city. Oh, don't get me wrong, their presence here has nothing to do with us, it's just a coincidence. They're said to be tracking down some kind of man-eating flower monster."

"A man-eating flower...? Oh, that one."

Ishtar seemed to have figured out the answer and gave a cold laugh.

"So what? You wouldn't happen to...?"

"You guessed right, I want to fight those people."

Upon hearing Kali's admission, Ishtar immediately raised her eyebrows.

"Don't joke around! Freya's familiars are already ridiculous enough, but that [familia] isn't much better. They're already causing big trouble before they've even started fighting Freya."

Ishtar said gruffly that doing so would surely cause irreparable and serious damage; but Kali raised her hands to stop her.

"My apologies, my apologies. Using the word 'family' was a bit grammatically incorrect. Our goal... is only a pair of sisters."

The moment Kali said that, Algana's lips curled into a smile behind her.

"Loki has children from a concubine. But it would be more accurate to say 'former.' The concubine used to show them some kindness and let them go... but now she regrets it."

"...You mean those Amazonian twins?"

"That's right. I want those two sisters to fight against me, Argana, and Baje."

Ishtar looked suspiciously behind Kali.

Two sisters, both with sandy-colored hair. One couldn't hide her joy, while the other remained silent.

Although their attitudes differed, both men exuded a burning fighting spirit.

"The two sisters who left my side, and the two sisters who stayed... which one is stronger? Which one will win, surpass the limits, and successfully elevate the 'vessel'?..."

Kali spoke halfway through her speech, her tone becoming almost a monologue, her gaze fixed on the sky.

"I want to see a struggle."

"I want to see blood." J

"Which side is the right choice... I want to drink the blood and rain while witnessing it with my own eyes."

She spoke continuously in a warm yet calm tone.

First, he let out a dazed sigh, then his wide eyes beneath the mask emitted a bright light.

Witnessing a part of Kali's true nature—that of the "Goddess of War" who governs blood and slaughter—it was now Ishtar's Amazons who trembled. They realized that the goddess before them, in essence, did not seek "battle" but rather "mutual slaughter."

Kali's entertainment descends to the mortal realm for the purpose of "struggle itself".

Since the motive ultimately boils down to mutual slaughter, it is, in a sense, more heinous than anything else. It was precisely because the purpose was so simple that Ishtar thought it would be easier to control; however… the goddess of beauty failed to grasp the essence of the god of war, causing her to click her tongue in disapproval.

The orc girl covered with a white cloth seemed to feel fear, and a gasp echoed in the room.

"I hope you will hold back everyone except those two sisters. Today, I encouraged Algana and the others to try, and they discovered that the Loki Familia has formidable opponents like the Sword Maiden. What I desire is a duel between the sisters."

Seeing the young goddess stretching out her legs arrogantly on the sofa and making demands, how could Ishtar possibly agree? She was about to refuse.

"—Hehehehehe! Let them fight, Goddess Ishtar~"

The giantess, who had been silent, opened her enormous mouth.

"Friline..."

"What does it matter? Just consider it a preliminary battle before we clash with Freya's side. Besides, Orario will find out sooner or later that these guys are staying in the port city (Merlen). In that case, as long as we make them think that these guys' goal is to fight the Loki Familia, the guild and Freya and the others probably won't be too wary."

The Amazonian said that this way, they wouldn't suspect that the other side was planning to invade the city, let alone launch a surprise attack.

This person had short limbs and a frighteningly large body. Her face was also large, and her sister's hairstyle resembled that of a toad. Whenever they heard her hoarse, frog-like voice, the Kali Familia and their own faction of Amazons showed disgust.

Frini Jamil, leader of the Ishtar Familia.

His rank is Lv.5, making him the strongest adventurer in his faction.

"I've got Fiora under my thumb~"

Phryne spoke as if it were the truth, but Ishtar knew she was actually plotting something else. The moment she uttered "Sword Maiden," a burning resentment blazed in her wide, throbbing eyes, which Ishtar noticed.

Ishtar first let out a long sigh, then slowly put on a smile.

"Well, Frini has a point. Besides, I don't like Loki and the others either."

She expressed her resentment towards Loki and the others who were on par with the Freya Familia, and decided to grant Kali's request.

"However, if the situation becomes unfavorable, we will retreat immediately. You will be responsible for everything afterward."

"Of course."

Having received the verbal agreement, Kali nodded haughtily.

Finally, the child goddess wore a faint smile on her face.

"The scattering of blood excites me, and the roar of death makes my belly burn. There is no more delicious feast than this. The cynical gods cannot taste such a life-or-death struggle... This is the essence of the mortal realm that I have been constantly seeking."

"..."

"Struggle and killing are the truth for children."

For Ishtar, who celebrated sex, love was the unchanging and universal essence; she wanted to refute this, but knowing that it would be pointless to say anything more, she kept quiet.

Kali said:

"—The outcome of the struggle."

As he spoke, he squinted, revealing blood-red eyes deep within the hollowed-out cave of his mask.

"This is exactly what I want to see."

Side Story: Sword Oratoria 6 Chapter 4 Sisters and Brothers Night and Dawn Darkness and Light

Tione's eyes became cloudy.