Chương 83: Hermes's Business

The Hermes Familia shop carried a winged-hat emblem. It handled delivery commissions around Orario and gray-area information work. Hermes, who was usually lazy beyond reason, was unusually diligent today. Even Asfi, captain of Hermes Familia, looked at her god suspiciously as he sent away one customer after another, licked his finger, and counted money.

"Lord Hermes, are you secretly planning something interesting again? You are being far too enthusiastic about business today."

"Hehehe. Not at all. How could I secretly plan anything interesting? I am Orario's most neutral and orderly god, Asfi. You must not suspect me like that," Hermes said cheerfully in his gentlemanly, unreliable tone.

"You are counting money from selling information about your friend Goddess Hestia. That is not convincing at all, Lord Hermes." Asfi's eyelids drooped as she retorted.

"Friendship is friendship, and business is business. You must not mix the two. You still have much to learn, As-fi." The god laughed it off.

"Sigh." Asfi held her cheek and sighed helplessly.

"Hermes, I would like to ask about some information. Do you have time?" At that moment, a god dressed like a noble gentleman, with shining golden hair and an easy, springlike air, walked over and waved.

"So fake..." Asfi's gaze sharpened. She was now certain Lord Hermes was planning something.

"We met yesterday."

"Ah, my memory is poor. Do not mind it. What information do you want?"

"Detailed information on Hestia's children." Dionysus smiled and placed a bag of money in Hermes's hand.

"You want her information?" Hermes weighed the pouch.

"Is there a problem?" Hermes smoothly put an arm around Dionysus's shoulder.

"You care about that? I heard you already sold several copies."

"Ahem. What I mean is, you need to pay more." This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it"..." Dionysus stared at him.

"Please come again next time." He happily shook the money pouch, letting the coins clatter.

"Lord Hermes, what is the point of doing this? Also, how did you obtain information on Hestia Familia's members?" Asfi could understand if someone wanted information that Hermes Familia had gathered. But information on adventurers who had only just arrived in Orario should have been difficult to collect.

"Mm, you really are sharp. That is my Perseus." The god tossed the two bags of money into the shop, rubbed his chin, and narrowed his eyes.

"The rumor says Hestia's children, who only just became adventurers, entered the Middle Floors and defeated Goliath. Something that interesting, of course I had to confirm whether it was true."

"If it is false, it is only entertainment for a dull day. If it is true, then it becomes interesting. Lv. 1 adventurers defeating a Lv. 4 Monster Rex. Even during the Dark Age a thousand years ago, heroes like that did not appear."

"So you want to make the matter bigger?"

"You misunderstand me. At most, I nudged things forward a little. Someone else wants this to grow bigger. That has nothing to do with me. I am only a delivery worker. Very neutral." He waved both hands with elegant innocence.

"It has nothing to do with me. Anyone with half a brain should be able to see that this rumor was deliberately created. Perhaps one of Hestia's enemies wants to cause trouble for her."

"Or perhaps I am thinking too much." North Street, also called the Third District, contained grander buildings than any other part of Orario. Most Familias with power or money chose to build their bases here. Wide white marble roads stretched out in broad, square slabs. Every mansion and garden stood apart, decorated by flowers and trees that made each building stand out clearly. Most of the buildings were Roman or Greek in style, built around white stone and columns.

The most eye-catching structure was the luxurious castle at the end of North Street, the headquarters of one of Orario's three strongest Familias: Loki Familia. In another residence, a man with short red hair, an olive branch in his hair, a suit, and a Greek-style red cloak was playing chess while listening to a Familia member's report. He stroked the chess piece in his hand in a strangely elaborate way, as if treating it like something precious.

"Uhehehe. Magic that raises an adventurer's Level and a Skill that sees an enemy's weak points. What rare children. And they belong to Hestia. What wonderful fate."

"Lord Apollo, I have already investigated the information," said a refined man who looked like a butler.

"No matter where we look, Hestia Familia's captain, Cael, truly seems to possess Magic that raises adventurers' Levels."

"When Cael first appeared, he encountered an Upper Floors rampage. That was his first time entering the Dungeon, and he fought his way out alone before many witnesses."

"After that, every time he returned from the Dungeon, he brought back large amounts of Magic Stones."

"Then, this time, he and a group of Lv. 1 adventurers entered the Middle Floors together and defeated Goliath in front of many witnesses."

"Therefore, we can confirm that Hestia Familia's captain, Cael, does possess Magic that raises adventurers' Levels."

"Such rare children, hidden away by Hestia." Apollo looked at a stack of parchments depicting Hestia Familia's members. His face flushed with excitement, and he licked the chess piece in his hand as if licking one of the people in the drawings.

"And she monopolizes so many lovely children. That is Hestia's mistake. Uhehehehe."

"I want those lovely children." He breathed excitedly, like a man who had lost all sense of restraint.

"I understand, Lord Apollo. I will make arrangements immediately."