"You two, the information about the new world is only known to you. The situation of the new world is also something only you are aware of, and your Familia's members have already entered that world. Now, it's time for you two to share the information!"
As the master of the guild, Ouranos is presiding over the meeting, sitting at the head of the table. Loki and Freya, seated at the top, exchanged glances and both started chuckling simultaneously.
"Ouranos, no matter where we are, it seems like information is always something you need to pay for. The intelligence we gathered came from our familia's efforts, and Freya Familia even lost the mighty Ottar in the process."
"You think you can just take this information from us so easily? That seems a bit excessive, doesn't it?"
While it was true that this information would eventually be made public, both Loki and Freya weren't about to offer it up for free. If others wanted the information, they would have to compensate with money or resources.
There's no such thing as a free lunch, especially now that the gods had sealed away their divine powers upon descending into the lower world.
After Loki and Freya finished speaking, the room fell silent. Even Ishtar, who usually had no love for the two of them, had nothing to say. Despite her animosity, she couldn't deny the truth in their words.
If you wanted information, you had to pay for it. These two had sacrificed much to gather this intel, so it was only fair that others would have to offer something in return to benefit from it.
Ishtar thought about speaking up, but in the end, she held back. She wasn't confident enough that she wouldn't end up in the same position in the future.
If she ever found herself with valuable intel, what then? Would she give it away for free? Digging a hole for herself now wouldn't be wise.
Besides, she knew well that with so many familias in attendance, the cost would be divided and wouldn't end up being much. Some poor gods, however, wouldn't be able to contribute anything of value, just like Hestia back in the day.
Even now, Hestia Familia can't develop without Bell. Although Asahi is keeping Hestia as a pet, it's only limited to raising her.
And to be honest, Hestia didn't even care about this intel, after all, without any familia members of her own, she had no stake in this matter.
Many other poor gods shared a similar mindset. They had no money, and their familias weren't strong enough to venture deep into the dungeons or to the new world, making the whole prospect of obtaining intel seem like a pipe dream.
Rather than wasting their efforts, some of these gods were simply giving up. After all, it was only a matter of time before word got out. With so many people in Orario, eventually, someone would let something slip.
And one more thing, these gods loved to drink. Expecting them to keep secrets, especially after a few rounds of wine, was laughable.
Once things settled down, it was only a matter of time before the information became common knowledge. As for the poorer gods, it wasn't as though anyone could force them into debt for not participating.
Orario had never had such a rule. But if things continued this way, some gods might have to return to the divine realm, unwilling to keep paying for things they couldn't afford.
While the others realized this could cause problems, they agreed it was better to lock down the information for now.
Sure enough, after things were clarified, the Divine Mirror was directly shut off.
The adventurers outside weren't stupid. They knew this was now a matter between the gods, and all they had to do was wait for the information to be revealed.
"Then everyone, let's make a vote now." Ouranos said, cutting to the chase, "We'll agree on whether to pay a price for the information from the Loki and Freya Familias!"
He didn't waste time with more discussion, knowing full well that this was the standard procedure.
The poor gods left the meeting, realizing they couldn't afford the price for the information. Even if they got the details, it wouldn't be useful to them, at least not in the long run. After a few years, any advantage gained would lose its value.
The remaining gods unanimously voted in favor of obtaining the information. They understood that if they didn't seize this opportunity now, they'd be missing out on something monumental.
A new world had just appeared before them, and they couldn't let it slip by. For many, this could be their chance to strengthen their divine authority.
The new world might contain forms of divine authority, something that could make the gods even more powerful.
Although there was no longer direct conflict among gods, everyone still craved strength. There were vast differences in power between the gods, especially between the weaker gods and the major gods.
If a weak god returned to the divine realm without taking advantage of this opportunity, they would face ridicule and trouble, especially from stronger gods. Those who stirred up trouble without the power to back it up would only be digging their own grave.
Take Apollo, for example. Even though he was seen as a deviant, once he returned to the divine realm, the restrictions placed on him in the lower world would be lifted.
Few gods dared to cross him due to his immense strength, and as one of the twelve major gods in Olympus, he wasn't to be taken lightly.
However, if the gods could gain new authority from the new world, particularly powers like those of the sun, Apollo's influence could diminish. Why would anyone care about Apollo when there's another sun god in town?
The weaker gods, especially, saw this as an opportunity they couldn't miss.
The idea of obtaining such power made their hearts race with anticipation. Loki and Freya could see the eagerness in the faces of the other gods, having already anticipated these reactions.
The truth was, however, that the otherworld was more like a desolate wasteland. Its laws and principles were entirely different from their world.
There was no divine authority to be claimed, only a mysterious power called the 'First Flame', something Loki had learned through information brought by the Fire Keeper and her Familia's members.
Had there been any divine authority to be claimed, Loki would have already ventured there. While she was currently strong and influential, returning to the divine realm could still pose challenges for her.
Even though she wasn't weak, there were plenty of beings in the divine realm that could threaten her.
Everyone wanted to become stronger, but that world simply didn't offer much in terms of valuable resources or authority.
Understanding this, Loki lost interest in the otherworld. As long as her Familia's members could grow stronger, that was what mattered. What was more crucial now was Asahi, a powerful and terrifying entity.
Asahi was a being that transcended the worlds, one who seemed to know everything and could traverse realms effortlessly.
If Loki had the chance to solidify her relationship with Asahi, she might find an opportunity for future power.
Rather than waste time on an essentially worthless otherworld, Loki decided her focus should be on building ties with Asahi and making her Familia's members as strong as possible.
If they could ascend to divinity, that would be ideal. Right now, the new world wasn't even worth considering.