Roy was stunned by Ryu's refusal.
Ryu said coldly, "I also have my own matters; it's impossible for me to keep helping you hunt monsters. Don't forget, Adventurers also have their private time."
Hearing this, Roy's heart sank halfway. His dream of punching Orario's Familias and kicking the Black Dragon was shattered.
It was outrageous that the workhorse he had finally found was unwilling to work 996 or 007. This was intolerable!
Roy's mind raced, "You want to assassinate Adventurers from the Darkness Familia?"
"That's right!"
Ryu wasn't surprised that Roy knew her plan. This mysterious young man seemed to know everything, his wisdom comparable to that of a god.
"Understood."
Roy nodded. Ryu was only helping him fight monsters with a try-it-and-see attitude. It would be best if Ais Wallenstein and the others could be revived, but revenge still had to be taken.
After a moment of thought, Roy gritted his teeth and stamped his foot. To prevent his henchman from running off, Darkness Familia, is it? I'm going to take care of you today!
Roy asked, "What do you plan to do next? Just kill people? I might be able to give you some advice, after all, we're in this together."
After a few seconds of hesitation, Ryu said, "I'm preparing to ask Astrea to leave Orario, and then assassinate Adventurers from the Darkness Familia and related individuals."
Ryu's small face was icy cold, filled with murderous intent. The raging fire of revenge would even burn innocent people. She didn't want to tarnish the reputation of a righteous Familia or let Astrea see her in this state.
"Indeed!"
Roy secretly thought that after her Familia was wiped out, the sixteen-year-old Ryu asked her patron deity, Astrea, to leave Orario, becoming a beast of revenge. Because her assassination targets even included Guild members, she was later blacklisted by the Guild and had an 80 million falis bounty placed on her.
"That's how it is. Don't stop me, or I'll kill you too!" Ryu said indifferently. Having only met for less than two hours, it was impossible for her to have any feelings for Roy. Whoever stood in the way of her revenge would die!
"When did I say I'd stop you?"
"That's best!"
Roy asked, "I just have one question: Orario is so big, and the Darkness Familia has so many people. How long will it take you to complete your revenge by yourself? Miss Ais Wallenstein must be getting impatient in the underworld."
Ryu remained silent.
Roy remembered that it took Ryu three years to clear out the remnants of the Darkness Familia.
As for why they were called remnants, the main force of the Dark Faction had been wiped out by Finn of the Loki Familia in the past two years. Ryu's painstaking three years of assassination were actually spent eliminating some LV.1 and LV.2 small fry.
If it were LV.5 or LV.6 Adventurers, Roy might not have said anything, after all, you can't fight city hall, but if these trash from the Darkness Familia were going to block his path to leveling up, could he tolerate that?
Roy said, "I'll help you. When doing things, efficiency is key. Let's quickly take down the Darkness Familia; it's good for both of us!"
Ryu's lips parted slightly, "Why do you want to help me?"
"Don't make my conscience uneasy, girl."
Roy said. In reality, reviving Ais Wallenstein and the others was just an empty promise; he had no idea if he could actually do it. But Ryu had genuinely helped him hunt Douma.
The equipment in the system corresponded to low-level Adventurers (LV.1, LV.2) and high-level Adventurers (LV.3, LV.4). This should make it clear.
Roy didn't like owing people favors.
Seeing that Roy was unwilling to state his reason, Ryu didn't press him, but a hint of interest sparked in her eyes regarding Roy's words, "Quickly take down the Rudra Familia? Do you know how many people they have? That's impossible!"
Even she, a LV.4, was prepared for a long period of assassination.
"Don't worry about whether I can do it. First, drink these two potions." Roy said, throwing two low-level life potions to Ryu.
Ryu caught the two potions and frowned. She hadn't even seen where Roy had pulled the potions from.
Looking at the carnelian-like liquid inside the bottles, then back at Roy, she realized that he had long noticed her injuries from encountering Zagnate had not fully recovered.
After burying the relics of her Familia companions on the eighteenth floor and returning to the surface, she had collapsed in Roy's tent.
"No, we're just trading. I won't accept anything from you." Ryu shook her head, appearing very stubborn in this regard. She didn't want to owe anyone.
Roy said impatiently, "Stop talking nonsense. If you want revenge, listen to me. You're already prepared to use any means for assassination, and you're afraid to accept even two potions?"
Why be stubborn at a time like this? When she slept in his bed, her principles were thrown into the Underground City, right?
This move had an immediate effect on Ryu. A sixteen-year-old LV.4 Adventurer couldn't possibly be without some pride. Provoked by Roy, Ryu gripped the two potions tightly, glaring at Roy through gritted teeth.
Ryu opened the corks and fiercely gulped down the two potions, as if she were drinking Roy's blood.
The potion's effect was very obvious.
A faint, almost ethereal emerald green light emanated from Ryu's body. Her HP recovered by 40% in 20 seconds, and her internal injuries healed at a visible rate.
Ryu's eyes widened in surprise. What powerful potions! They were comparable to the high-quality ones costing ten thousand falis in apothecaries, yet he had casually thrown them to her, and she had swallowed them in one gulp.
Roy had no idea what Ryu was thinking. His mind raced as he considered the revenge operation.
There were excellent, moderate, and poor strategies to help Ryu get revenge.
The excellent strategy: grind Underground Citys, level up, then crush the Darkness Familia after gaining strength. It was safe and guaranteed, but time-consuming. Ryu wouldn't see short-term results and would definitely be unwilling.
The poor strategy: carry out assassinations. It would take even longer, be dangerous, unstable, and Ryu might even fail. If his LV.4 henchman was gone, Roy would be even more unwilling.
People always prefer compromises, and Roy was no exception. The moderate strategy was a bit more complex and carried some risk, but it could eliminate the target in a short amount of time.
Roy hinted, "First, go see your patron deity. Your Familia was destroyed, and you're living alone in the mansion. The remaining Familia members don't even go back to see her. It's quite pitiful to think about."
Ryu bit her lower lip, biting harder and harder.
Ryu walked with her head down, following behind Roy.
After crossing streets and making several turns, they unknowingly arrived at a corner of Orario's North District. A mansion built of white stone, it was the headquarters of the Astrea Familia—the Star Garden.
Looking at the mansion before her, Ryu instinctively wanted to retreat, to flee from this place filled with memories of Aishe and Kaguya.
"Swear by the Sword and Wings of Justice!"
The oath of justice carved on the plaque was like a heavy mountain pressing down on Ryu, making her breathless and afraid to even lift her head.
The graceful demeanor she had shown when instantly killing the Upper Rank demon Douma was gone. The golden-haired elf before him was just a scarred girl, her trembling hands wrapped around her body, her sky-blue eyes devoid of light.
All of this fell into Roy's eyes.