Why had Riveria suddenly become the benchmark for determining the Familia's ace?
"That lord is even stronger than Riveria!"
Tiona couldn't sit still, even addressing Alfia with the utmost respect.
For Amazons, strength was the ultimate quality—one that commanded instant recognition.
And as their Familia's god, Sol wouldn't lie to them.
This time, even Tione, who had remained relatively calm, found herself unable to stay composed.
Outsiders might see Riveria as just a powerful LV6, but those within the Familia knew better.
She never hid her true abilities from them.
Riveria was, in reality, Orario's strongest LV7 adventurer.
Even Ottar, the so-called "strongest on the surface," might not be her equal. She was capable of standing alone against any of the Loki Familia's "Big Three" powerhouses.
Not to mention, she wasn't just a warrior—she was a high-tier magus, a master of wide-range offensive magic, and far more versatile than someone like Ottar, who relied purely on brute force.
But as much as Tione admired Riveria's strength, she couldn't ignore the overwhelming pressure she had felt earlier.
That oppressive aura…
Even Riveria had never made her feel such sheer hopelessness.
If that 'man' in black was truly stronger than Riveria, then… was he LV8?
No.
More likely, he was at the absolute peak of LV7, specializing as an assassin.
Like Akali.
She had caught a glimpse of his movements before. A pure assassin type.
Riveria, as powerful as she was, wouldn't be a match for someone like that in a one-on-one battle.
Tione's thoughts were in complete disarray, grasping at fragments of logic to piece together a conclusion.
Even so, the truth was undeniable:
Their Familia had two LV7 adventurers.
And she had spent all this time surrounded by literal monsters without realizing it.
At this moment, Tiona and Tione felt as if they had just stumbled upon an untold fortune.
"You two, stay here for a while. If the Amazons wake up and try anything, put them back to sleep. Once the battlefield cleanup crew arrives, you can leave."
"Hehe—leave it to me!"
Tiona puffed up her chest and boldly accepted the task.
It seemed the earlier talk about becoming the Familia's trump card had ignited her fighting spirit.
My stupid sister, you're really falling for it…
Tione sighed internally.
Forget it. I'm too tired for this. I'll just lie down and pretend I didn't see anything.
With Ishtar taken care of, Sol descended the tower at a leisurely pace, strolling through the ruins of the fallen Familia.
There was no resistance left.
Everywhere he looked, his own people were cleaning up the battlefield.
The fires that had once engulfed the estate had been extinguished, but the damage was still visible. Black smoke curled from the shattered ruins, marking the end of Ishtar's reign.
Before he knew it, he had arrived at the Familia's entrance.
"Sol-sama? When did you get here?"
Riveria, who had been directing the cleanup efforts, turned to face him in surprise.
"Didn't I tell you I'd go in first? Ishtar has already been sent back to heaven."
"So, what's the next step?"
Now that Sol had arrived, Riveria wasted no time in handing over command.
It was rare to have a chance to slack off—there was no way she was letting him slip away.
"Did you find all the title deeds?"
"Yes, they were all in Goddess Ishtar's room. Should I send them over to Morgana-sama?"
"Handle the transfer formally. And while you're at it, send the Amazons we locked in the basement over to her as well."
Though they were prostitutes, these Amazons were still the backbone of the Ishtar Familia and had a decent level of strength.
There was no place for them in the Sol Familia, but they would be a useful asset for Morgana.
The fallen angel wouldn't be picky about their past.
To establish control over the Pleasure District, it was essential to leverage the existing members of the Ishtar Familia—those familiar with the area and its workings.
This was precisely why Sol hadn't allowed Alfia to kill the Amazons on the tower.
The Pleasure District was simply too vast. Attempting to govern it without local cooperation would be an exhausting waste of time.
And soon enough, the Guild would come knocking with questions—likely at dawn.
Sol needed to secure control of Pleasure District swiftly, making sure it was firmly under his Familia's rule.
In this tight window, anyone daring enough to contest his claim would be met with merciless retribution.
It was a race against the clock.
Renata and her group, fully aware of the situation's urgency, had arrived at the Pleasure District in the early morning hours. While Riveria and her team dealt with the physical confrontation, Renata managed the logistics behind the scenes.
Meanwhile, a large crowd of adventurers lingered around the outskirts of the Pleasure District. Most were customers who had been indulging in its offerings just hours before.
The initial chaos had driven them out, but curiosity—and perhaps a touch of fear—kept them hovering at the perimeter, unwilling to venture back inside.
No way in hell they're going back there right now.
The Sol Familia had made its stance clear—anyone still in the Pleasure District was considered an enemy.
And with Riveria, Orario's top magus, leading the charge personally?
Only a fool would think about crossing her.
Though it had only been a short while, the gathered adventurers had pieced together what had happened.
In essence, the Sol Familia had declared war on the Ishtar Familia.
And in a swift, brutal assault, they had dismantled it entirely.
There hadn't been a shred of mercy. The entire Familia had been annihilated in a single, decisive strike.
The brilliant beam of light signaling Ishtar's return to the heavens had been visible to all, leaving no room for doubt. Tomorrow, all of Orario would buzz with this news.
Onlookers now had a renewed respect—and fear—for how the Sol Familia operated.
They had always seemed friendly and neutral, but this action was ruthless—completely uprooting their enemy.
How deep did this grudge go?
Sending a deity back to the heavens, and not just any deity but one commanding a Familia as significant as Ishtar's…
The smarter adventurers had already hurried back to their own Familias, spreading the news to their gods.
The Sol Familia was one of Orario's top powers—a single move from them could shake countless smaller Familias.
And if they were now shifting from a neutral stance to an aggressive one, it was a game changer.
With the external threat of the Ares Familia still looming, Orario's delicate balance was on the verge of collapse.
That night, many would find sleep elusive, their minds racing with the implications of Sol's sudden strike.