WebNovels

Chapter 186 - Chapter 186: Kali Familia Bankrupts, Clearing Guild Branch

A sudden monster attack startled everyone present.

However, the female adventurers of the Loki Familia quickly demonstrated their outstanding combat quality.

Swordsmen and other vanguard-class girls swiftly advanced to the front, while several mages quickly gathered around the strongest rear guard, Riveria, forming a tight defensive formation, fully prepared.

"Lefiya, start preparing magic."

Riveria tapped her staff lightly on the ground. The magic circle of the Fairy King's Seal unfolded.

She did not immediately release magic, but instead issued commands to the elf girl beside her.

"Yes!"

Although Lefiya was a bit flustered, she quickly adjusted her emotions. The girl gripped her staff Forest's Teardrop, and began to chant.

Meanwhile, first-tier adventurers were already engaging the man-eating flower monsters.

The man-eating flower monsters were quite powerful; ordinary Lv.3 adventurers would struggle against them, but in front of first-tier adventurers, these monsters posed little threat.

"Proud warriors, archers of the forest. Predators advancing before you, take up your bows. Respond to the calls of your kin, string the arrows, ignite the flame, lights of the forest. Commanded to fire, elven fire arrows fall like sudden rain, burning the barbarians."

"Fusillade Fallarica!"

Lefiya gripped her staff tightly. Mana rapidly gathered in her body. With her chant, the magical glow at the staff's tip became increasingly radiant.

Upon completing the final incantation, scorching flames condensed into form, transforming into fierce flaming spears.

The flame spears drew scorching trajectories in the air, like meteors, and plunged fiercely into the man-eating flower group. Flames exploded and spread instantly, engulfing the surrounding monsters.

Meanwhile, beyond Argana and Bache, who had completely lost combat capability, many Amazon female warriors stood and confronted the man-eating flower monsters surging from all directions.

Because they did not understand these monsters' traits and were accustomed to arena combat against humans, the warriors appeared somewhat awkward and unadapted fighting monsters. The battle was quite difficult.

However, led by Lv.5 Berylnice and Elna, they still resisted the monsters' attacks in an orderly fashion.

Emiya projected a Pseudo-Sword of Tenacious Burning Victory(Secance Morgan) and intended to join the fight.

However, he noticed Riveria already preparing magic, and immediately realized he probably wouldn't have a chance to participate.

"—O herald of doom, pure white snow. When facing dusk, stir the gale. Enclosed light, frozen earth, swirling snowfall, threefold winter, my name is Alf."

"Wynn Fimbulvetr"

Riveria completed her chant.

Centered on their island, a fierce blizzard suddenly swept across.

The blizzard rushed like a raging beast, covering the whole island instantly with irresistible force.

All humans, whether from the Loki or Kali Familia, were not directly attacked, but even slight impact of wind and snow brought bone-chilling cold, causing them to shiver uncontrollably.

The incoming man-eating flower monsters, and some nearby sea creatures, were all frozen by the cold wind.

Whether vines bursting from the ground or monsters leaping into mid-air, they were instantly frozen in ice and snow, as if time itself had stopped.

The monster bodies, frozen into pillars of ice, stood like sculptures on the frozen sea, radiating a chilling steely light. The entire island transformed into a silver-white ice and snow world.

The battlefield, once resounding with monsters' roars and battle cries, fell into dead silence at that moment. Only the howling wind passed by, carrying brisk, murderous cold.

"This is the city... no, the world's strongest mage...", One Amazon female warrior whispered softly.

Within a single day, after the unique barrier UnlimitedBlade Works, they witnessed another worldview-shattering spectacle.

Among all races, Amazons have the lowest ratio of magic users; they are naturally lacking in magic talent. Thus, in their nation, mages are never valued.

Indeed, in the warrior nation's culture, there is subtle disdain for mage professions.

In the eyes of female warriors, although mages have powerful offensive magic, they cannot survive against real warriors, even at higher levels, mages cannot withstand ferocious warrior charges.

However, today, these girls, like frogs at the bottom of a well in the "magic" realm, finally got to glimpse the world's breadth.

"So terrifying. After Riveria leveled up, the scope and power of her magic are truly outrageous," Tiona sighed.

"Yes, truly fitting of Lady Riveria," Lefiya's eyes were full of worship.

Ais suddenly looked into the distance and pointed in a direction, "Look over there, there's a ship frozen in the ice."

Following Ais's finger, they indeed saw a large ship quietly sitting on the frozen sea surface.

That ship seemed headed toward the island, but before arrival, it was frozen by Riveria's Wynn Fimbulvetr in the ice, immobile.

"At this hour, there shouldn't be any fishermen passing by... something's wrong," Realizing this, Tiona and the others immediately rushed over.

"There seems to be someone on the ship!", Upon approaching, Lefiya keen-eyed spotted silhouettes of several people on board, fumbling with ropes, attempting to untie them to escape.

However, facing the frozen sea, they could only fall miserably on the icy deck.

These people were obviously no strong fighters, none had received "Falna"; they were merely ordinary sailors or fishermen. Facing sudden freeze, there was nowhere to flee.

Tiona, Tione, and Ais leapt gracefully and landed steadily on deck, quickly subduing the crew attempting to escape.

"Don't move. No resistance!", Tiona pointed her weapon at them and said coldly.

"We... we were just hired. It's not our affair!", The men on the ship hurriedly defended, filled with panic. Some couldn't even speak coherently.

"Hmph! Hired?"

Tione frowned and spoke roughly, "Then tell me, who hired you? Who ordered you to bring these monsters?"

Faced with Tione's accusation, the sailors looked at each other, shivering, and answered, "Someone paid us to transport these things... he... he should still be on the ship..."

At this, Ais immediately and without hesitation slashed open the cabin door with her sword. From inside the cabin came an angry roar, and a man wielding a steel knife rushed out to attack Ais.

However, facing an experienced and strong swordswoman, the man had no chance.

Ais nimbly dodged his attack and knocked him to the ground with one punch.

——_

After the Kali Familia adventurers used "Great Memory Restoration," the Lv.1 man immediately confessed.

He was a member of a gang in the port city of Melen. Though he had Falna, he had not officially joined any Familia.

His patron deity was a lazy, decadent god who lived by "selling blessings", as long as someone paid, he would grant Falna and help update ability values.

This god did not care about right or wrong, only wealth. He lived a life of indulgence funded by that income, every day sunk in promiscuity and gambling.

Because his fees were fair and honest, he had garnered a modest reputation in the port city.

This man's true superior was the Melen Guild branch manager, Rubato.

Based on his confession, Rubato feared the Loki Familia secretly investigating his dealings with the Evilus, particularly smuggling and illegal monster trade. Therefore, he orchestrated this attack.

Because Lefiya intuitively said, "that guild branch manager Rubato doesn't feel like a good guy," Loki began to investigate and test Rubato.

Rubato dared not confront the "Goddess of Lies" directly, and had no choice but to flee messily.

At the same time, Rubato grew suspicious of the Kali Familia being invited by the Murdock family. He suspected they intended to target him. So he planned to exploit the conflict between Loki and Kali Familias to eliminate both.

Rubato's actions were a panic-driven scramble, because once targeted by Loki, his escape was impossible. He counted on those "allies" supplying man-eating flower monsters, hoping to reverse the situation.

As for how Rubato learned of the conflict between Kali and Loki Familias, and even accurately located Emiya's duel with the Kali Familia: the Kali Familia carelessly told the Murdock family, and the Murdock family happened to have an inside agent planted by Rubato.

The mission of this ship was to lead the man-eating flower monsters here. Not long ago, they dumped some man-eating flower monsters and magical stone powder into the nearby sea, attracting the monsters to the island with the waves.

These monsters sensed the magical reaction on the island and gathered to launch the attack.

Aside from this man being Rubato's subordinate, the other men on board were deceived fishermen hired to operate the ship. The man planned to kill them all before leaving.

Meanwhile, the Kali Goddess had fallen into complete despair.

The goddess, appearing like a young girl, sat on the cold ground with tears in her eyes, pounding the floor with her fists, as if about to wail.

"MY SHIP!"

The goddess's despairing voice echoed through the air.

The ship had been newly purchased by Goddess Kali by selling all the Setes' dropped magic stones and dragon bones to Emiya and adding a large sum of money.

But now, this precious vessel had been torn to pieces by the out-of-control man-eating flower monsters, strewn across the frozen sea.

The masts, planks, and canvas lay scattered, mixed with the frozen flower monsters, debris covered everywhere.

The Kali Familia was officially bankrupt.

———

The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight sparkled on the sea horizon, Emiya and the others had already packed up and were preparing to depart for Orario.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the port city, Guild Branch Manager Rubato and his underlings were found collapsed in their manor, transformed into black-green poisonous sludge.

———

Before sunrise, at the empty portside, two deities sat together, shoulder to shoulder, gazing at the skyline.

Next to Loki, Njord had brown hair tied back, a gentle yet unwavering appearance, a strong build, nearly 1.8 meters tall. His features and aura easily brought to mind "seafaring men" who conquered the oceans.

"The guild branch manager already explained everything."

Loki spoke, "Murdock family's head, the branch manager of the guild, and you, sea god, you were all in this together. Those man-eating flower monsters were literally bred by you, right?"

Njord sighed, showing a helpless smile, "You found out after all... but I guess it was only a matter of time."

From the moment Goddess Loki personally began the investigation, this outcome seemed inevitable.

Except for Njord, no other god could resist Loki. In her presence, no secret could remain hidden.

As soon as she found the other two, or even barely glanced their way, the truth would be immediately evident.

However, Rubato going insane in desperation exceeded Njord's expectations.

Now, Rubato was killed by the bankrupt Kali Familia in anger. The lord of the Murdock family, Borg, has locked himself inside and won't appear. Njord has been summoned by Loki.

The deities sat chatting at the coast. In the distance, Riveria and Emiya watched this side.

To be honest, after such a major incident, Loki could have sent Njord straight back to the heavens without complaint.

But perhaps because they share the same homeland in Heaven, Loki seems willing to give him a chance to explain.

"That's right. Those flowers were indeed bred by us," Njord calmly admitted first.

Loki narrowed her eyes slightly, "So your mutual accusations were just co-conspirators disguising themselves?"

Njord offered a self-mocking smile, "Not entirely. Actually Borg and I both hated Rubato."

"You used the flowers' habits, hunting magic stones, to clear monsters from oceans and lakes?", Loki continued to ask.

Njord sighed softly, his tone full of deep fatigue, "The oceans of the lower world are in terrible shape. Over the past 500 years, the number of monsters has increased drastically..."

"When Leviathan was defeated, I thought everything would improve, but a few years later, the number of sea monsters returned to its original level."

Loki nodded in understanding, "On land the situation is barely controllable, but at sea, very few can eliminate those monsters."

"Indeed."

Njord smiled bitterly, "Though Poseidon and others are doing their best, it's just a drop in the bucket. If this continues, not only fisheries will suffer greatly, even basic safety at sea cannot be guaranteed... so I really couldn't stand by and do nothing."

Njord, god of fisheries, a celestial afraid of losing the sea's blessing in the lower world.

"To earn money, people must fish; to fish, they must go to sea. And every time they go... my children lose their lives. Even if I grant them Falna, they still cannot resist the monsters' attacks," The god's tone was full of sorrow.

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