Bete heard the quiet question from beside him.
Finn subtly adjusted his stance, his lips barely moving.
"Earlier, members of another Familia came asking for help. They said members of the Freya Familia had forced their way in."
"I hadn't wanted to get into a direct conflict with the Freya Familia, so I was going to turn them down.
"But Riveria couldn't ignore her fellow elves asking for help. She wanted to go and take a look, and do what she could to keep them from getting hurt.
"She knew herself that it was unwise to pick a fight with the Freya Familia.
"Besides, given Riveria's royal status and her role as a Mage, she wasn't likely to provoke much of a confrontation between the two sides.
"So I agreed to her request."
"What about the other members at Level 2 and above? And Ais and those two idiots?"
Bete raised an eyebrow and pressed him for an answer.
At that, Finn furrowed his brow.
"That's where the problem started.
"After Riveria left, more people kept coming to ask for help, all because of the Freya Familia.
"They were making more and more of a commotion. I realized something was wrong, so I sent people to investigate and told Ais and the others to stay at our home base in case anything happened."
"But then an elf came running over and said Riveria was fighting the Gulliver Brothers and was in danger.
"Lefiya ran off before she'd even heard the whole story.
"Knowing how strong the Four Flame Gold Warriors were, I sent Ais and the others to back her up."
As Finn spoke, his thumb gave a faint twinge.
"I just didn't expect Vana Freya and Ottarl to come right to our door and start demanding to search the Familia's home."
Gareth, standing nearby, lifted his Greatshield and rested his hand axe against it as he picked up where Finn left off.
Finn could only smile bitterly.
"What are you mutts mumbling about? Hurry up and get out of the way!"
Allen strode up behind Ottar, carrying his spear over one shoulder.
"Damn cat, I'm going to tear that mouth of yours off."
Bete had been thinking about how to deal with Ottar, but Allen's words sent his temper surging.
Ignoring Bete, Allen looked at the towering figure before him, pursed his lips, and spoke.
"You're taking forever. If you can't handle it, get out of the way and let me."
"You can't," Ottar replied curtly.
"Huh? What the hell did you just say, you bastard?"
At Ottar's words, Allen's face twisted with rage, and his two cat ears suddenly stood straight up.
"Looks like your ears are just decoration, same as that useless mouth of yours, damn cat!" Bete jeered, watching Allen get riled up by Ottar's single remark.
"You mutt..."
Allen was about to fire back when a flash of light in the distance suddenly caught his attention.
Everyone there turned to look in the same direction.
Lights of every color flickered there as two tall figures leaped through the air, dodging the incoming attacks in a somewhat desperate fashion.
The adventurers present were all formidable, and the light made the figures in the air easy to see.
Lightning blazed in the hands of the blond figure, while the brown-skinned man beside him raised his staff-sword.
Watching the two figures leap and land, Finn's expression grew more and more serious.
"The Black and White Knights? Looks like you really have brought out everyone.
"Are you planning to declare war on all of Orario?"
He challenged Ottar, who stood before him.
The Black and White Knights were a pair consisting of the White Spirit Wand and the Black Spirit Sword.
Both were members of the Freya Familia and Level 6 adventurers, elven magic swordsmen skilled in magic.
"The goddess gave no such order. This is our own doing," Ottar replied steadily.
"Those are weak words. So what if it's a declaration of war?
"We'll turn all of Orario upside down, find the goddess, and tear the criminal who took her away limb from limb," Allen said brazenly, dismissing Ottar's words.
"Listen to you, talking big about going up against all of Orario. You're all bark, damn cat. What a joke."
The moment Bete finished speaking, a glint flashed in Allen's eyes.
He hurled the spear in his hand at Bete, then crouched low and charged after it.
Gareth reacted at once, bracing his Greatshield in front of Bete.
The spear struck the shield and spun upward. Allen followed close behind, stepped onto the edge of Gareth's shield, leaped up, and caught the spear as it was knocked away.
He sailed over Gareth and hurled the spear at Bete again. Bete reacted in time, dodged aside, and kicked the spear away.
Landing behind Gareth, Allen grabbed Bete's leg before he could lower it, ready to put his strength behind the move.
Seeing Bete pinned down, Finn decisively thrust his spear at Allen.
At that moment, a greatsword suddenly flew in and knocked Gareth back. He was about to collide with the spearpoint jutting out behind him.
Seeing the spear about to pierce Gareth, Finn had no choice but to drive his own spear down into the ground.
The spearpoint missed Gareth, while the shaft stopped him from falling backward.
Allen noticed what was happening around him and curled his lips into a savage grin.
Looking at Bete, whom he had seized, he gripped his ankle tightly, spun halfway around, and flung him away.
"Before I kill this mutt, finish them off. For our great goddess!"
With those words tossed at Ottar, Allen lunged at Bete, murder in his eyes.
The area in front of the Loki Familia's door was once again split into two battlefields.
Ottar didn't respond to Allen. He simply took a few more steps toward the Loki Familia's entrance.
Bete had only just hit the ground when he looked up and saw Allen's detestable face right in front of him, grinning maliciously.
Liber hurried toward the Familia.
The streets around him grew more and more chaotic. He saw a number of Freya Familia members storming into nearby shops, grabbing the clerks and questioning them, then rummaging through the stores.
Their faces showed anger and panic as they hurriedly searched for something.
The Freya Familia members were getting rougher and rougher, causing widespread chaos around them.
Liber's brow furrowed, his expression cold.
He grew increasingly worried about the Familia's situation.
As he rounded a corner and reached an intersection, an armed member of the Ganesha Familia suddenly held out an arm to stop him.
"Please don't go any farther."
The fully equipped Ganesha Familia member tried to dissuade Liber.
"What happened up ahead?"
Seeing flashes of light in the distance and hearing an endless stream of clashes and shouts, Liber asked anxiously.
"High-level adventurers are fighting up ahead. Don't go any farther, or you might get caught in the crossfire."
The man explained patiently.
At his words, Liber ducked under the outstretched arm and rushed toward the Familia's home base.
"Hey! Don't—"
Watching Liber run toward the battlefield, the man was about to follow and stop him.
Just as he moved to make Liber stop, a companion beside him held him back.
The man saw his companion shake his head and looked at him in confusion.
His companion explained helplessly, "Who knows what's gotten into the Freya Familia tonight? They're nearly at each other's throats with the Loki Familia.
"We absolutely can't get involved and cause even more chaos in the city."
The man hesitated as he watched Liber disappear around the corner, then sighed and returned to his post.
Liber sprinted onward. After turning a few corners, he caught sight of the clash of blades and shadows in front of the Familia's entrance.
Before he even reached the gate, a familiar figure came hurtling toward him.
He turned and dodged, then saw Bete lying on the ground in a sorry state.
"Damn it!"
Bete got back to his feet, ready to charge in again. When he saw Liber standing in front of him, he snapped, "Get out of the way, newbie! This isn't a place for you!"
Allen, not far away, changed the cruel expression on his face ever so slightly. His nostrils twitched, and then his expression shifted to one of delight.
Confused by the situation, Liber was about to ask Bete what was going on.
Then Bete suddenly looked shocked and charged toward him.
Just then, a strange voice rang in Liber's ear.
"You've seen that esteemed person?"
Hearing the voice beside him, Liber whipped around and saw an unfamiliar male cat person who had appeared behind him.
He reached out with his right hand, grabbing for Liber's face.
Before you continue