Inside the guild headquarters, the top executives of Orario's major Familia's gathered. Rivaria, Finn and Gareth of the Loki Familia. Allen and Ottar of the Freya Familia. Shakti of the Ganesha Familia and Asfi of the Hermes Familia. Finally, Kaguya and Alise of the Astrea Familia.
They all gathered around a table with various documents scattered around and a large map of Orario in the center. At one end of the table was a short old fat elf, his name is Royman and the current head of the guild.
"I guess we have all the Familia leaders gathered here. Now, let's start talking about our countermeasures to deal with Evilus. But before that, explain whats going on! Everyday we have incidents, and the last time the huge raid couldn't be prevented" Royman said, starting the meeting.
"If you want those maggots exterminated, don't go insane asking for dungeon exploration and Evilus hunting at the same time. Asking me to run around the city after an expedition like this... they're out of their mind" Allen was the first to speak.
"It can't be helped! Now that we don't have Zeus and Hera, it is our top priority to show the world that Orario remains dauntless! It could create a second or third Evilus! The unknown of the dungeon has to be reached, the power of Orario must be proven to the world...!"
Allen didn't believe a word he said. "Just say the word. You're simply worried about your silly little power and status, which you have been miserably clinging onto"
"Let's stop, Allen. We're not getting anywhere. There's no need for this meaningless argument" Finn said to calm the situation down.
"Do not speak of my name, you little Pallum. It gets on my nerves"
"A Familia child who can't even communicate properly, huh? I guess Goddess Freya wasn't a perfect goddess after all" Riveria, the green haired high elf said.
"You wimp. Wanna die?" Allen with his poor communication skills, continued to escalate the situation.
Asfi looked awkward, as the two strongest Familia's talked back to each other. "I know I just got here but I wanna go home. Is it just me or is everyone eager to kill each other?"
Kaguya answered her question saying "It's been known that Loki Familia and Freya Familia never work well together. We shouldn't be too concerned about it"
"In fact, why do I, a vice-captain, have to attend this gathering? I swear, I'm going to punch that deity and captain..." Asfi muttered.
"Not to defend Royman, but it's my responsibility that I couldn't keep things in control. I do not know how to apologize enough" This time Gareth spoke.
Shakti spoke up. "It happened in broad daylight, and we could've seen it coming. Yet, it couldn't have been prevented. And hey, at least Archnia and many other Evilus members were captured. All of us including Finn were expecting explosives... that's where we made a mistake. We told Gareth to look for suspicious people"
"Explosives? What does that mean?" Alise asked.
"Remember when ignition systems were being stolen from factories? We're assuming that they're going to be used for producing a bomb" Gareth responded.
"It would be a threat if there was a bomb attached with an activation switch that anyone can press. It's just like dealing with magic stones" Riveria added.
"Unlike magic swords and magic tools, those without combat knowledge can also operate them. But then, my guess was wrong..." Shakti said.
"Or perhaps they're keeping it because now is not the time to use it" Riveria said.
"Now I understand. Although, I'd have appreciated it if you were to have shared this information in advance" Said Kaguya.
"First, it was just a guess. Second, I didn't want to keep the guard level too high because that'll make it hard to lure out the enemy" Responded Finn.
"So, Braver. Are you saying that the raiding was part of a pre-established harmony? Did you round the number of victims to the nearest ten?" Kaguya asked. Alise had a troubled expression.
"This might sound like an excuse, but we couldn't predict the degree of damage. But we managed to get in touch with the enemy's main force"
"I'm impressed, Braver" Allen said a compliment to someone who isn't his goddess for the first time in his life.
"So am I. Believe me. I hate myself for having to make decisions after decisions"
"That's it. This conversation ends now! I don't want any more of this gloomy discussion! It makes me want to gorge myself on cakes!" Said Alise.
"Alise Lovell... You're quite something" Asfi said.
"Have I said anything wrong?! We're all trying to do our best to save the city, and this isn't the time to point fingers at each other! Conversation is about admitting your wrongs and complimenting others for their goodness! Even children know that!"
"You're right indeed, dauntless little girl. Mua ha ha!" Gareth began laughing.
"Tch. I hate it when you go all logical" Allen said, going back to being a hot-headed loser.
Riveria looked at Allen. "Unless you have better things to say, behave. She is making a constructive suggestion here"
"I've even won a first-class adventurer's respect with justice! How impressive I am!" Alise said with a smug look on her face.
"Please don't let her get carried away anymore, captain" Kaguya said.
"hahah. I'd love to keep enjoying this happy conversation, but let's get back on topic and have a productive chat" Finn said, trying to get the meeting on track again. "First, intel about the black market that Shakti and her crew managed to take care of-"
...
The meeting continued as they exchanged information.
"So, we've covered incidents that happened until today and.. I guess that's about it. Does anyone have anything to say?" Finn asked.
"At least one of the Evilus is an experienced person, probably a genuine warrior" Ottarl spoke for the first time since the meeting began.
"Right, the person who must've put a hole in the adamantite. But it's not like anyone's seen them or fought against, right?" Alise said.
"That won't be necessary. We can tell this one's extraordinary, and they're not just one of the higher-ups of Evilus" Allen said, finally contributing something to the meeting.
"There's not much we know to build our research on, Ottarl, but if we were to make a wild guess, how strong is the enemy?" Finn asked Ottarl.
"...Higher than Lv. 6. anything below is just impossible"
"What...! The same as the King...?!" Asfi said in shock.
"...Speaking of which, we've met a suspicious woman in the storehouse. She was either a mage or a magic swordsman" Shakti said. "There wasn't any real damage, but about thirty of us are now in the palm of her hand"
"A woman was on her own, and she didn't even surrender to Ganesha Familia? What sort of mage is she, and where does she belong...?" Riveria said. Alise couldn't help but think about a certain drunkard.
"This could be just like the case of the Osiris Familia. No one knew about this member who was as strong as a Lv. 7 adventurer" Gareth said.
"Let's focus on the first one. There's a high chance this warrior is part of Evilus. I suggest each Familias to stay together as a team" Finn said. "Now, here goes the main part. According to the findings based on research performed by Hermes Familia, we found the new basecamp of Evilus"
Everyone in the room, minus Loki, Freya and Hermes Familia were shocked by the news.
Asfi started to explain. "They're using an abandoned facility. The scale is way bigger than before and there are three. We don't have further details, though. Including those disguised as commoners, they come in great numbers and they're sketchy. This must be their main base"
"And so, we're invading all three bases at the same time" Finn declared.
"We, Astrea will take care of one of them!" Alise said.
"Just so you know, I still haven't said anything"
"We need Familias for this mission, right? Loki and Freya Familia should work individually, and that leaves us one more slot" Alise said. "Let us be the third one! No one can doubt our combat skills!"
"...Finn. We'll work with Astrea Familia. We'll have enough headcount then" Shakti said.
"Let's go with that plan. We'll take care of one, and..." Finn looked over to Ottarl and Allen. "You guys can handle one, right, Ottarl?"
"Fine"
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but is it possible that this whole thing was a setup?" Kaguya asked.
"We'll keep that in mind. We'll make sure to have our strongest team working on this while keeping our eyes on other parts" Finn said. "We'll seek help from all the strong Familias including Hephaistios, Ishtar and Dionysus. Royman, you take care of your part"
"I assume I don't have a choice. Well, this is all for restoring peace in this city again..."
"I want Hermes Familia to keep an eye on all parts of Orario. If anything happens, be sure to pass the message immediately"
"We shall. I'll brief our Familia members about this" Asfi said to Finn.
"...This is going to be a massive mopping-up operation. Now that we know their base, we can't pretend we didn't see them. We must strike out. And the mission start, in three days. Be very careful so that our enemies won't find out what we're up to. We end this now"
As the meeting was coming to a close, Kaguya suggested something to her captain. "Alise, I think we should get Merlin to help us"
"Haaaa! That drunkard!"
Alise's words caught the attention of the others in the meeting.
"Who?" Finn asked.
"I believe they are referring to the interesting lad I mentioned in my report on what happened at the soup kitchen" Gareth answered him.
"The one who calls herself the Mage of Flowers?" Finn said, and Riveria froze when she heard that title.
"Yep, that's the one"
"She could be a good addition. Demonstrating powerful magic, a wide range healing spell that heals even the most severe wounds, spells that can restrain multiple people at once, and strength and speed to overwhelm and defeat a Lv. 5 in one hit" Finn was recalling all the information that Gareth had said in his report. "But we don't know much else about her"
Kaguya and Riveria both raised their hands. "I know her"
"Haaahh! You both know that drunkard!" Alise was in shock, she could probably understand how Riveria knew Merlin, since they were both mages but Kaguya?!
"Can you share what you know?" Finn asked, and Riveria was the first to speak.
"A few years ago, I had received a letter from my homeland. They had told me that someone trespassed into the Alf Royal Forest, broke into the Royal library and stole several books before escaping. The one who broke in had names themselves as Merlin, the Mage of Flowers"
Everyone was shocked by that information. They had heard how brutal the elves were to intruders in their forests, it was pretty much kill on sight.
Then Kaguya spoke up. "Merlin used to be in the Far East, she worked under Amaterasu. She played a key role in putting down the coup staged by one of the Royal families against Amaterasu. Merlin took direct action during the conflict and also supplied the Amaterasu Familia with magic weapons and tools which solidified her authority"
"Hmm... How interesting. She appears to possess a wide range of skills. It wouldn't hurt to contact her" Finn said. "Alise, I leave it to you"
"WHAT?! why me?!"
"You seem to be the most familiar with her, since you casually call her drunkard"
"That's because she is a drunkard!"
"Well, good luck. This meeting is now dismissed" Finn declared.
...
...
A few minutes after the meeting ended, a guild employee walked outside and into an area with no one around. She blew a whistle, and a bird appeared, she pulled out a letter and was about to attach it to the bird when suddenly.
~THUNK~
With a hit to the head, the lady fell over. "It seems that I'm not the only spy, hehehe. They should really tighten security, if it weren't for me also spying on them, this information would have leaked to Evilus. As expected of me, saving the day once more!"
Merlin grabbed the letter and read its contents before burning it. "Now what to do with you? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm... I know!" She pulled out some rope and a marker. "Astrea Familia's home isn't that far from here, right?"
"Teacher, what are you doing?"
"Ais, here's a marker, start drawing on their face as I tie them up"
[A/N] I kinda want to keep Zald and Alfia alive. What do you guys think?