The matter of the Familia's residence has been settled. As former Guild employees, Eina and Airel had a good understanding of various aspects of Orario.
After Hestia stated the conditions for the Familia residence, it took less than an hour for Eina and Airel to secure a location for the Familia. The new residence, a modestly sized villa costing 20 million valis, was located next to the Hephaestus Familia's territory. This purchase consumed four-fifths of the Hestia Familia's funds, which totaled only 25 million valis. The group could move into the new residence tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the recruitment of new members to form the magic corps had also been completed. Using the strands of hair they got from Aston, Eina and Airel effortlessly recruited over twenty elves. If Aston hadn't previously advised them to limit the recruitment for now, they might have filled up the new residence entirely.
These new members had already received their Falna from Hestia and were officially part of the Familia, although they hadn't formally arrived yet. They would directly come to the new residence tomorrow to officially join the Hestia Familia.
"Well done," Aston praised after hearing Hestia's report, gently rubbing her head.
"Hehe," Hestia responded with a happy smile, while Eina and Airel looked on with curious expressions, finding the situation somewhat awkward, considering Hestia was the head deity.
"You all rest first; I need to go out again," Aston said after interacting with Hestia for a while.
"Ah, right, you have to meet that person tonight. Be careful," Hestia remembered and responded with a smile.
Aston had to meet someone from Ouranos tonight.
"Mhm," Aston nodded, then gestured to Eina and Airel before leaving the underground church. Before leaving, he suddenly remembered something and took out a barrel of wine that had settled in the potion field.
"Hestia, the wine is ready; you can drink it now."
"Really!"
"Hestia-sama, what does Aston have to do so late at night?" Eina asked curiously after Aston left, and Airel also looked at Hestia curiously.
"He's doing something that will greatly expand our Familia. Once it's completed, our Familia will definitely become a large one," Hestia replied while tapping the wine barrel, not hiding much but not mentioning the matter of the Xenos either.
Once Aston transforms the Xenos into humans and subdues them, Hestia Familia will indeed grow significantly. It's known that although the Xenos currently lack level 5 strength, there are several level 4 combatants among them. Once they join the Hestia Familia, its strength will increase several-fold.
"Really!" Both Eina and Airel were visibly excited. Having joined the Hestia Familia, they naturally hoped for its strength to grow.
"Yes, really. But let's set that aside for now. Come taste the wine Aston made. Such a rich aroma, it's tantalizing!"
Meanwhile, having left the underground church again, Aston headed to the address given by Hestia.
It was already late at night, and the location Aston arrived at was on a sparsely populated street, eerily quiet.
When he arrived, there was no one to be seen, but he could sense a presence.
After Aston appeared, a tall, thin figure slowly emerged from the darkness of an alleyway.
This shadowy figure was entirely clad in black, with hands covered in black gloves intricately patterned, none other than Ouranos's subordinate, Fels.
Fels was once a sage who had reached the pinnacle of magic, successfully creating the Philosopher's Stone. Discontented with the destruction of the Philosopher's Stone by the main gods, he created a secret method for immortality. The side effect of the secret method made his body feel like a shadow, unable to sense hunger or thirst, and unable to upgrade his abilities.
Hundreds of years ago, when wandering in Orario, he was taken in by Ouranos and became his shadowy mercenary. Due to his appearance, some of the Guild's employees called him "Ghost."
It is said that before becoming this shadowy figure, Fels's true form was that of a loli, though whether this is true or not is unknown. (t/n: …no commentaries.)
Regardless, Aston knew that Fels was an impressive character.
At least, possessing the magic of resurrection, Fels was the only one in all of Orario.
In the original story, after the dragon girl Wiene died, Fels used the resurrection magic 'Dia Orpheus' to bring her back to life.
However, the probability of this magic was very low, and whether it could resurrect someone depended entirely on chance.
Even so, Fels was still a formidable existence.
"I've been waiting for you, Aston Glycias," Fels said upon his appearance, his voice hoarse yet ethereal.
"So you're the sage Fels."
"Have you talked about my proposal with the Xenos?" Aston nodded slightly and then asked.
"You know of my existence…"
"But that's not surprising. Ouranos said that the main instigator of this event isn't the goddess Hestia, but her child, you, Aston Glycias."
"Knowing of the Xenos and my existence is not surprising."
"If you have a way to allow the Xenos to live openly and legitimately on the surface, I will not obstruct it. In fact, I will offer you help."
"However, before that, there's another urgent matter that needs to be dealt with."
"If this issue isn't resolved, even if you bring the Xenos to the surface, it will cause a series of troubles." Fels wasn't surprised that Aston knew of his existence. He was very interested in Aston's plan and would offer help if it was indeed feasible.
However, there was another matter that needed to be addressed before subduing the Xenos. If not handled properly, everything else would be in vain.
Hearing this, Aston's eyes narrowed slightly as he spoke softly: "The Familia hunting the Xenos, the Ikelos Familia?"
Fels stiffened at the mention, his reaction hidden under the cloak, but Aston knew Fels was shocked.
"The Ikelos Familia, they are the ones hunting the Xenos?!"
***
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