The group of people stared at Alexander, whose stern demeanor was imposing. Although they entertained thoughts of resistance, the memory of how he had effortlessly subdued them with a mere wave of his hand lingered in their minds.
"Forget it! It's not like I'm scared!" one of them grumbled inwardly. "I just ate too much and need some exercise!"
With the "help" of several reluctant passers-by, Alexander and his companions arrived at Hephaestus's residence.
Upon their arrival, the Hephaestus Familia members were stunned by the sight of the imposing group entering their domain.
"Huh? Hestia-sama? What's going on? Our Familia doesn't need this many people to work," someone remarked.
At that moment, a striking woman stepped forward. She had long black hair, fiery red eyes, and an eyepatch covering her left eye. Her powerful presence was unmistakable.
"Tsubaki! I'm not here to work this time!" Hestia declared indignantly.
Tsubaki, the Captain of the Hephaestus Familia, was a renowned blacksmith, a Level 5 adventurer, and holder of the title "Cyclops." She was one of the best craftsmen in all of Orario.
"Well, that's a surprise," Tsubaki teased, crossing her arms. "You're always running errands here. Have you actually decided to do something else for once?"
Hestia pouted at the jab. "Seriously, is that all you think of me? A part-time goddess?"
Tsubaki had long known of Hestia's struggles. The Goddess of the Hearth and Home lived a humble life, and without occasional assistance from her old god friends, she would've faced far worse conditions.
"So, what brings you here if not work?" Tsubaki asked curiously, her tone skeptical. "And who are all these people? Are they your Familia?"
Hestia's confidence surged as she replied, "Don't worry about them. Call Hephaestus out. I'm here to discuss a big business deal with her!"
Her bold proclamation echoed through the room, but instead of impressing the crowd, it incited laughter from all corners.
"Hahaha! Hestia-sama, big business? Are you serious?"
"What kind of business could it be? Maybe buying a weapon or some armor for her rookies? Look at their shabby gear!"
"Exactly! Big business, huh? Our Hephaestus Familia deals in projects worth hundreds of millions. I bet she's never even seen that much money before!"
Hestia's twin ponytails bristled in outrage. Furious, she turned to Alexander. "Look, Alexander! They're making fun of me again!" she wailed, burying her face against his chest. Her petite frame barely reached his waist, the height difference accentuating her childlike indignation.
Alexander smiled gently and patted her head. "Alright, calm down. You can't blame them for having such an impression of you, can you?"
Hestia sniffled, still sulking. "But they're so mean! They don't believe me!"
Alexander turned to Tsubaki and spoke in a calm, auThoritative tone. "Miss Tsubaki, please inform Goddess Hephaestus. We're here for a genuine business proposal."
The ease in his tone annoyed the group of onlookers even more. To them, Alexander's calm demeanor while dismissing their taunts was almost insulting.
"What arrogance!" one of them thought bitterly. "We're out here carrying boxes like grunts, and he's standing there acting like royalty. Double standards, I tell you!"
Of course, Alexander neither noticed nor cared about their complaints. Even if he did, they wouldn't have fazed him.
Alexander wasn't a vindictive person by nature. Hephaestus was a close friend of Hestia's, someone who had always helped her out of tough spots. He had no intention of causing unnecessary drama.
However, there were limits to his patience. The open mockery was something he couldn't entirely ignore.
Just as the situation reached its peak of tension, a figure finally appeared at the entrance to the room. The moment she entered, all conversation ceased, and the room filled with respectful murmurs.
"Hephaestus-sama, you've arrived."
"Good afternoon, Hephaestus-sama."
"Hephaestus-sama."
The newly arrived Hephaestus, exuding an aura of authority and grace, walked over to Alexander and Hestia. Noticing Hestia's puffed-up cheeks and indignant demeanor, a smile crept across her face.
"What's the matter, Hestia? Who's upset you this time?" she asked teasingly.
Hestia immediately launched into an impassioned tirade. "Hephaestus, you need to control your Familia! I've come to propose a major project—worth tens of billions! But they didn't just doubt me; they outright mocked me!"
Hephaestus blinked, momentarily stunned. "Wait… did you just say tens of billions?"
She looked at her friend in disbelief. Did she hear that correctly, or was Hestia just dreaming?