Chapter 154: I bought you! Gambling with God!
The night wind, laden with salty sea and blood, scoured the scarred trade port.
Under the resentful gaze of the Kali Familia survivors, Arthur and Aisha exchanged rapid words in a language they didn't understand.
A moment later, the former lowered his gaze to Haruhime, who was on the verge of tears, and nodded slightly.
The latter's tightly pursed lips finally relaxed into a hint of relief, then her body went limp, and she fainted backward.
Arthur walked back to Haruhime, knelt on one knee, and looked directly at the pure and delicate fox-girl, his voice leaving no room for doubt.
"Regarding the information provided by the 'Courtesan', I will personally verify it. As for you, come with me for now."
Haruhime bit her lower lip, her gaze flickering between the unconscious Aisha and Arthur, finally shaking her head bitterly.
"But I am a member of the Ishtar Familia, how can I..."
"Then we'll follow the rules of the Pleasure Quarter. You, I've bought you!"
Arthur's single sentence cut through all of Haruhime's worries, and he reached out to pull her up from the ground.
Then he turned to look at the Kali Familia members who were still sprawled on the ground, stirring restlessly.
"Should I say you truly live up to your reputation as elites from the Dou Country? This fighting spirit is much stronger than that of the Ishtar Familia's battle courtesans."
The Amazons shouted in a barbaric tongue he couldn't understand, their fierce, eager gazes almost wanting to carve a piece of flesh from him.
Just then, under the cold moonlight, a beast-like shadow streaked across the sky like lightning.
Bete, with his fangs protruding and fur bristling, unceremoniously kicked several Amazon women who tried to resist, knocking them unconscious.
"Hey! Arthur! You're too slow!"
Observing the werewolf's bristling fur and fierce, wild demeanor, Arthur raised an eyebrow slightly and waved his hand dismissively.
"There was a bit of an unexpected gain here."
"Unexpected gain?"
Bete glanced sideways at Haruhime, who was cowering behind Arthur and trembling, and his expression instantly became strange.
"A fox-person?"
Arthur bent down to pick up the pure white cloak he had just kicked away, casually draped it over the timid Haruhime, and subtly changed the subject.
"I'll explain Haruhime's situation to Finn and the others later. But you, which expert forced you into your beast form?"
Recalling the previous battle, the usually rough werewolf's face twisted instantly, as if he had swallowed a fly whole.
"If I had actually met an expert, it would have been more enjoyable!"
Before Arthur could press him, Bete clicked his tongue in annoyance and complained.
"That Amazon was absolutely crazy! Every time I kicked her away, she had a look of pure bliss on her face, and her screams... they were so weird, they gave me goosebumps!"
Arthur couldn't help but chuckle at that, his eyes full of amusement.
"Perhaps, she genuinely fell for you?"
Bete immediately spat on the ground and growled.
"Don't disgust me! Since things are done here, I'll go support the others!"
Arthur gazed at his rapidly retreating figure and shook his head slightly.
"Have a little faith in Finn and the others, okay? I don't think we'll lose to the Kali Familia."
...
And indeed, things were as Arthur had said.
This Faction War, which swept through the port town, began under the cover of night and concluded before dawn.
As the eastern sky began to show the first hint of dawn, Tione, with tears in her eyes and wearing Finn's loincloth, arrived late and reunited with the waiting group.
The first to spot them was Tiona, who was also covered in scars.
"Tione! Captain!"
The Amazon sister lunged forward, hugging her sister, whom she hadn't seen all night, and asked repeatedly.
"How was the 'Ritual'? Where's Argonaut?"
Tione tightened the loincloth on her shoulder with a hand, a genuinely relaxed smile blooming on her lips.
"...She was sent flying by the Captain."
Seeing her sister like this, Tiona put her hands on her hips, looking triumphant.
"I beat Bardot! And none of us died! And we didn't kill anyone! Aren't I amazing!"
The sky gradually turned golden-red, and a ray of morning light happened to fall on Tiona, coating her smile with a brilliant, flowing gold.
Finn, taking advantage of the sisters' heartfelt conversation, walked leisurely towards the group, but found the atmosphere a bit strange.
Arthur and an unfamiliar fox-girl were surrounded by everyone, and their patron goddess, Loki, was panting like an ox, two plumes of white smoke erupting from her nostrils, muttering to herself!
"This captivating figure paired with these pitifully innocent eyes... slurp! As expected of a fox-person! I absolutely love it!"
Arthur, while raising a hand to block the flushed and extremely excited Loki, glanced sideways and greeted the bewildered Finn.
"Regarding the collusion between the Kali Familia and the Ishtar Familia, I think it's necessary to discuss it further."
Upon hearing this, Finn habitually raised his thumb to lick it, but there was no familiar pain.
It seemed it was a good thing.
...
The Port House.
Loki had commandeered Njord's office, sitting opposite Arthur and Finn, her expression more serious than ever.
"Ahem! In short, the seal beneath Lake Meren is intact."
"The underground waterway is fine. The Dark Faction merely used the Njord Familia as a cover to secretly transport new species of monsters."
Finn's brows furrowed: "So, our previous hypothesis was wrong."
Arthur's lips curved slightly: "Why not go directly and ask Ishtar herself? She has connections with both Kali and Njord, she definitely knows more inside information."
Loki narrowed her vermilion eyes, her finger tapping the table rhythmically.
"Secretly allied with the Kali Familia, waiting in Port Meren, then decisively abandoning them when they became uncontrollable, and even acting as a bridge for Njord to smuggle monsters..."
"Does that jealous hussy truly understand what she's getting involved with?"
At this point, Loki took a crumpled sketch from her pocket and tossed it onto the table.
The paper depicted a thin, gaunt man with bangs covering his eyes, looking dispirited.
"This is what that idiot Njord confessed. All along, this man has been trading with him."
"Food, liquor, materials, magic items... in substantial quantities and at considerable prices."
Arthur and Finn examined the unfamiliar face in the sketch, shaking their heads in unison.
"I don't recall him; he's not a remnant of the Dark Faction from the Great Cataclysm era."
"In other words, he's new blood recruited by the Dark Faction in recent years?"
Loki sat cross-legged in the main seat, swaying her upper body seemingly casually.
"Let's pay a visit to the Ishtar Familia tomorrow. After all, she's certainly more afraid of offending the Guild than losing a Familia member with rare magic."
Arthur's gaze shifted from the sketch, and he added calmly.
"Speed is of the essence, I don't object. It's just that the other party handled things very cleanly, and Kali also refused to cooperate. Furthermore—"
He paused, his gaze sharpening: "Regarding Haruhime, I want to speak with Ishtar personally."
Loki's smile grew more wicked, and a look of anticipation flickered in the depths of her eyes.
"Oh? You, boy, are you planning to confront a deity yourself?"
Arthur met her gaze without the slightest hesitation, merely retorting blandly.
"So what if she's a deity?"