In Finn's office.
"Thank you everyone for coming."
The blonde pallum said, his sharp eyes scanning the group gathered before him.
Other than Loki, Riveria, and Gareth, there were also Tiona, Tione, and Ais.
Every executive was present... except for Bete, who had already gone back to the dungeon.
The only odd one out was Judas, who, for some reason, found himself sandwiched between Tiona and Ais.
"I'm sure you all know that what we're about to discuss won't be pleasant."
"And it mainly involves our newest member."
Finn said, folding his hands over the desk.
He turned his gaze toward Judas.
"About the Freya Familia's ambush attempt."
The words hung heavy in the air.
Everyone's attention immediately shifted toward Judas.
Judas blinked twice, feeling the weight of their stares.
"Freya Familia, huh..."
"Those bastards are getting bolder by the day."
Gareth muttered, the deep rumble of his voice carrying through the room.
"That woman's got an obsession problem."
"Once she sets her eyes on someone, she doesn't stop until she gets them."
Loki said with a sigh, sitting up from her lazy slouch.
"Then there's also the issue with Silence."
"I still can't believe that woman has been alive all this time... and she took Judas as her disciple... not to mention she has a niece?"
Riveria added with folded arms.
"Silence is laying low for now."
"She's not an immediate threat. Let's focus on that sex-crazed woman and her group of simps first."
Loki interjected, waving a hand.
"We'll deal with the expedition report and the issue with Silence later. For now, I want everyone's opinions regarding Freya Familia's actions."
Finn nodded, leaning slightly forward.
At once, Tiona raised her hand, her expression fierce.
"Is there any need for further discussion? We should just barge into Folkvangr and beat everyone up!"
She declared, punching the air a few times.
Unlike her sister, Tione said nothing... she trusted Finn's judgment completely and would follow his lead, no matter what he decided.
Finn sighed, pressing a hand to his temple before turning his gaze to Ais.
"What about you, Ais? Any comment on the situation?"
Ais blinked slowly, her fingers touching her chin as if in deep thought.
Then she turned to Judas, her golden eyes steady.
"They're bullies and Judas got hurt."
She said after a pause.
"We should declare a wargame."
Her tone was calm, but there was no hesitation... only conviction.
Though they had only known each other for a short while, their battle had left an impression on her.
Judas had been added to her personal list of people precious to her... someone she was determined to protect, even if it meant opposing the Freya Familia.
Finn exhaled softly, a small, wry smile tugging at his lips.
"Tiona is too impulsive and Ais... is too much of an airhead."
He muttered under his breath, then shifted his gaze toward Judas.
"And you, Judas."
Finn said, his tone firm but measured.
"As the one who suffered at their hands, what do you think we should do?"
This wasn't just a simple question... it served two purposes.
Finn genuinely wanted Judas' opinion, but he was also using it to gauge what kind of person Judas truly was.
A hidden test disguised as a question.
Judas could faintly feel Finn's intentions by reading between the lines.
'Are all pallums this crafty?'
All eyes were on him again.
He leaned back slightly, his expression calm, though his mind was already working through possibilities.
After thinking for a moment, Judas finally opened his mouth.
"Captain... can you leave this Freya matter to me?"
An unexpected proposal... enough to make Finn raise a brow.
The room fell silent.
Every gaze turned toward Judas, their expressions a mix of surprise and confusion.
"Oh? And why is that?"
Finn asked, interlocking his fingers as he leaned slightly forward.
"Like I said, can you allow me to be the one to lead this matter with the Freya Familia? Don't worry... I'll handle it in a way that won't lead to an all-out war."
Judas affirmed, his eyes meeting Finn's without a single flinch.
In truth, Judas understood that an outright war between the two strongest familias in Orario was highly unlikely... not over something as flimsy as one member being attacked.
It wasn't that Finn and the others lacked backbone... far from it.
There were simply too many reasons why a war was a disastrously bad idea.
First, the most obvious reason.
'The casualties... if such a war happens, they'll be immense.'
The losses would far outweigh any gains, and the only result would be the mutual weakening of both factions.
Which leads to the second reason.
'If both sides are weakened before the battle against the One-Eyed Black Dragon... then what happened to the Zeus and Hera Familias will inevitably repeat once again.'
'The Guild won't allow that to happen. They'll intervene before it ever reaches that point.'
And then the third reason... animosity.
Let's say a war did occur, with minimal casualties.
The Freya Familia gets taught a lesson, the Loki Familia walks away victorious, and everything ends on what seems to be a positive note.
A clean, happy ending... right?
But what comes after that?
Two familias already locked in a fierce rivalry would devolve from slight hostility into outright hatred.
Imagine the two most powerful factions in Orario... sharing the same city, yet despising each other to the core.
How long could Orario stand before it tore itself apart from within?
In the end, there were simply no benefits to be gained, and not a strong enough reason to justify a war between the two factions.
Of course, if the Freya Familia had actually succeeded in capturing Judas and forcing him to join their ranks, the Loki Familia would never take that lying down.
In that case, there would've been a ninety percent chance of war.
This was the difference between an attempted ambush and a successful one... something Finn had already highlighted at the start of the meeting.
A few seconds of silence followed Judas's words.
Everyone turned their eyes to Finn.
Though surprised by Judas's boldness, they all knew the final decision rested with the tiny man sitting atop the desk.
Finn tapped his foot, eyes drifting toward his thumb.
He felt no pain. No tingle. His instincts were quiet.
"Alright... if you swear by your words, Judas, then I'll put my trust in you."
Finn smiled and closed one eye.
"Finn..."
For the ever-rational and logical captain to entrust such a serious matter to a rookie... both Gareth and Riveria couldn't help but mutter in disbelief.
"Oh? What's the matter?"
Finn teased, noticing their reactions.
"The moment Judas displayed his ability against our Ais, you all knew this was coming. Him becoming a core member was inevitable."
"We can't exactly put him in the second-string group either... he's too much of an asset to waste on a lower position."
Finn chuckled, clearly amused.
In a sense, Judas's situation was somewhat similar to Lefiya's.
Despite her lower level, she had earned her place among the elite through sheer potential.
Judas, on the other hand, was the opposite... already a powerhouse whose true capabilities far exceeded what his current level suggested.
"That kind of strength... it's not something you can ignore. The others may still see him as a newcomer, but in practice, he's already standing shoulder to shoulder with our top members."
Finn's gaze swept across the room.
"Since he's now effectively a core member, I'm simply entrusting him with a duty befitting that position."
Silence followed his words, and even Loki... lounging nearby with her usual mischievous grin... couldn't help but smirk.
'Finn... you changed.'
(A/N: What did you guys think of this chapter? Did I handle it correctly? I know some people were expecting a war between Loki and Freya after Judas got ambushed by Freya's simps many chapters ago. From a storytelling perspective, that does sound exciting... but from the point of view of those living in DanMachi, it would be a terrible idea. Navigating the political landscape of a fantasy world can be tricky, so I don't blame you if you were hoping to see Finn and the others charging toward Folkvangr with torches and pitchforks right away. But I assure you, the payoff for all this will be satisfying.)
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