(Heartfelt thanks to 'A Story Written for Someone' for the 1,000 reward, and to 'Starry Night Phantom Sky,' 'Never Mind the Name,' and 'True Dragon Tiger King' for their rewards!)
After that little interlude, Noah, Bell, and Lili finally entered the room, only to immediately see Hestia sitting on the sofa with an angry look on her face.
"Lady Hestia?" Lili asked curiously.
"What's wrong? Why do you look like that?"
Only then did Hestia notice Noah and the others entering. The moment she saw Noah, her furious expression immediately turned pitiful.
Hestia promptly jumped down from the sofa with a patter, then hurried over to Noah amid a series of rapid footsteps and threw her arms around him.
That bold display startled both Bell and Lili.
As for Noah, he could only sigh helplessly.
"How many times have I told you? Don't just throw yourself at me whenever you feel like it." Noah patted Hestia's little head.
"But I won't knock you on the head today."
At that, Hestia raised her head and stared straight at Noah.
"You already know?"
"I should say I guessed." Noah shrugged, pushed away Hestia's petite yet curvaceous body, and sat down on the sofa by himself, speaking in an utterly unconcerned tone.
"Someone from another Familia came to poach us, right?"
"Poach?" Lili blinked, then suddenly understood.
"Was it that person from earlier?"
"That's right!" Hestia immediately became furious again and began shouting.
"What was that supposed to mean?! 'As long as you give us that person, the terms are negotiable'?! Are they treating the children in other Familias like merchandise?!"
"Huh?" Bell still seemed not to have caught on. He spoke timidly.
"So, that person earlier was sent by another Familia to poach our members?"
"That's exactly it." Lili found it perfectly