"Thriving? That's not a word you should throw around."
Roland chuckled, though he did not believe the Guild, founded by the first group of patron gods and still governing all of Orario to this day, would truly think that way.
"Is the Guild planning to keep giving Orario a shot in the arm?"
"That's right."
Finn sounded somewhat helpless as well. "Orario is the center of the world. Every move it makes requires the utmost caution. After all, the entire world will change depending on the direction it takes. Before disaster strikes, all we can do is prepare."
"I imagine the Guild's plan involves more than just promoting a hero like me?"
Roland took another small sip of wine, an unreadable light flickering in his eyes as he looked at Finn before him.
"What do they want me to do, sending you to see me privately?"
"You really have seen through everything... as expected of the Sword Hero."
Finn smiled freely as well, but did not answer the question immediately.
"The Guild takes the information about the purple crystals very seriously. Over the next two days, it will gradually begin taking action, screening for infected people under the pretext of maintaining public order and isolating them. As for forces outside Orario, all we can do for now is notify them. Orario doesn't have much time to spare for them right now. Starting today, every Familia with first-class Adventurers will receive a notice."
Finn's gaze sharpened, and he said gravely, "A Great Expedition is about to begin. Regardless of their Familia affiliation, every force with first-class Adventurers must participate. We must break through the fifty-eighth floor and do everything possible to find and eliminate the source of the disaster."
"A Great Expedition..."
An inscrutable gleam flashed through Roland's eyes as he