The Ishtar Familia is one of the strongest familias in Orario. Officially, this familia is registered as an exploration-type familia, but they also run a business specializing in managing brothels, with various types of women from different cultures around the world. Most of its members are Amazons, and 90 percent of all members are female. The Amazon warriors are known as Berbera, and their numbers exceed 100, most of whom are Level 3.
At the center of the Entertainment District stands a grand building known as Belit Babili, the main residence of Goddess Ishtar.
Inside the building, seated on a luxurious throne, is a tall, strikingly beautiful woman with a toned, exotic brown complexion. Her long, dark purple hair cascades down to her hips, her thin, pale pink lips pout in annoyance, and her bright brown eyes gleam dangerously. She wears an open outfit consisting of a red-orange cloth around her neck that barely covers her ample chest and a matching pareo around her waist that reaches her ankles.
This woman is Goddess Ishtar, the ruler of the Entertainment District and one of the Three Goddesses of Beauty in Orario.
"What did you say?" Her voice sounded dangerous as several Amazons knelt before her.
"W-we're sorry, Ishtar-sama. Charlie Avalon managed to escape. He's still in the Entertainment District, but we haven't been able to capture him yet." One of the Amazons answered with her head bowed.
"Useless!" Ishtar stomped her foot hard on the floor. "How is it possible that your entire force can't capture a single man in our own territory?"
"He... he's stronger than we expected. He claims to be Level 4, and his abilities are indeed unlike a Level 2." Another Amazon tried to explain.
"Nonsense! The Guild's information states he's Level 2!" Ishtar threw the wine glass in her hand, shattering it against the wall. "Mobilize more people! Deploy all the Berbera if necessary! I want him brought to me alive!"
"Yes, Ishtar-sama!" The Amazons immediately rose and ran out, hurrying to carry out their goddess's orders.
After all her followers had left, Ishtar crossed her legs gracefully and muttered softly, "I wonder what makes Charlie Avalon so intriguing that he's caught the attention of Aphrodite and Freya... If I can charm him, I'd love to see what kind of expression Freya would make."
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Meanwhile, on the streets of the Entertainment District, Charlie noticed the number of people chasing him was increasing. Dozens of Amazons were emerging from every corner, joining the hunt. Despite this, all their efforts were in vain.
He wasn't an ordinary adventurer. Every one of his stats reached Rank EX before leveling up, making his attributes far surpass those of any adventurer at the same level. And as a Level 4, facing pursuit from Level 3 and below adventurers wasn't a big deal for him.
In truth, Charlie could have left the Entertainment District without going through all this trouble. After all, he could fly.
Although Orario prohibits flight, only two people so far are known to possess this ability: Asfi of the Hermes Familia, and Charlie himself of the Hera Familia. Moreover, both of them have methods to remain unseen. So, who would know if they flew over Orario?
However, Charlie chose not to do so. He wanted to know the real motive behind the Ishtar Familia suddenly targeting him. After all, he wasn't the type to leave problems unresolved.
*WHOOSH!*
Charlie jumped onto a streetlamp, using it to swing and land on the roof of a low building. Three Amazons immediately blocked his path from the front.
"Surrender, Charlie Avalon. All escape routes have been cut off." One of them ordered.
"Tell me why Goddess Ishtar wants me, and maybe I'll consider it." Charlie replied calmly.
"You don't need to know that!" Shouted another Amazon as she launched a powerful kick, which Charlie easily dodged.
*SWISH!*
With a swift motion, Charlie swept the legs of all three attackers, sending them tumbling to the ground.
"Really? Isn't it strange to chase someone without knowing the reason?"
Without waiting for an answer, he leaped to the next building. Below, dozens of Amazons shouted in frustration as their prey escaped again.
"He's up there!" One of them yelled.
Charlie ran along the rooftops, easily jumping across the gaps between buildings.
*SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!*
Two arrows shot toward him, followed by a fireball from a Mage. Charlie didn't even bother dodging them.
*BOOM!* *CLANG!* *CLANG!*
The arrows and fire magic hit him squarely, but Charlie kept running as if nothing had happened.
"What the hell?! My magic didn't work!" The Mage shouted in shock.
"Impossible! My arrow hit him dead-on!" Another yelled.
Charlie jumped down into a narrow alley, facing five Amazons who blocked his path.
"Sorry to disappoint you, but attacks like that won't work on me."
*SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!*
*BAM!* *BAM!* *BAM!*
The five Amazons attacked simultaneously. Charlie parried, dodged, and occasionally countered. In an instant, all five attackers were lying on the ground.
"Once again, why does Goddess Ishtar want me?" He asked one of the Amazons who was still conscious.
"You monster!" The woman replied with a fearful gaze, seeing how their attacks had no effect on Charlie.
"Sigh... Stubborn women won't be liked by men."
After saying that, Charlie continued his escape.
*SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!*
Two swords were thrown at him, hitting his back, but they only tore his clothes without harming his skin. The Armor of Fafnir, which he obtained after bathing in the blood of the Fafnir Evil Dragon, made him immune to all attacks of Rank B or lower. In his opinion, only First-Class Weapons stood a chance of injuring him.
"Did you see that?! Our swords couldn't even pierce his skin!" One of the Amazons shouted.
"Is he even human? He's scarier than a monster!" Another cried in fear.
"..."
Pausing for a moment, Charlie turned to face his pursuers.
"I'm not a monster, just an adventurer with a few special traits. Now, please tell me why your goddess is so eager to meet me?"
"..."
No one answered. Instead, more Amazons emerged from every corner. Charlie counted at least fifty Amazons now surrounding him.
"I see... It seems I'll have to show you despair so you realize the gap in strength between us."
*WHOOSH!*
With a high leap, Charlie landed on a merchant's cart, then jumped again onto a building's balcony. Some Amazons tried to follow him, but his movements were too fast.
His goal was to defeat the strongest adventurer of the Ishtar Familia to make his pursuers give up, realizing it was impossible to capture him.
"You can't run forever!" One of them shouted.
Of course, from the perspective of the Ishtar Familia members, Charlie's actions were just him fleeing from their pursuit as before.