Chapter 187: War Preparation (3)

Originally, the task had been Sol's responsibility, but since he was away from Orario at the time, it's Riveria who attended the meeting in his place. 

It wasn't uncommon for adventurers to stand in for their gods at these gatherings. Many deities had little interest in such matters, especially since Ares launched an attack on Orario almost every year. Each time, he faced defeat at the hands of Orario's adventurers, making the gods increasingly disinterested in the repetitive spectacle.

As Sol climbed to the second floor, he pushed open the door to the meeting room without warning. Finn, who was speaking passionately, was cut off mid-sentence as everyone's eyes turned toward Sol.

"Sol-sama?!"

At the front of the room, Riveria, who had been trying to sneak a quiet moment, stood up in surprise. Her eyes widened as she saw him enter.

When had this troublemaking god returned to Orario? And why hadn't she, his familia captain, heard anything about it?

"Hey, Riveria! I'm here to take you to the temple fair," Sol announced, waving enthusiastically.

Unfazed by the eyes on him, Sol seemed entirely unaware of the disruption he'd caused. Riveria, however, felt her blood pressure spike. She stood abruptly and, lowering her voice, addressed Finn, who was nearby.

"Sorry, I have some personal matters to attend to," she said, trying to contain her irritation.

Even Finn, recognizing her restrained frustration, nodded without objection. Riveria walked swiftly to Sol, her steps quick and purposeful. Without a word, she seized him by the collar, shut the conference room door behind them, and led him out.

"When did you get back?" she demanded, pulling him into a quieter corner.

"About an hour ago. I didn't find you at the familia residence, so I asked Xayah and Rakan, and they told me you were at the guild," Sol replied.

"Why didn't you just send me a message?"

"I wanted to surprise you! How's that for an entrance?" Sol responded with a grin, apparently oblivious to her irritation.

Riveria sighed, her patience wearing thin. "You really know how to make an entrance!" she muttered, resisting the urge to argue further. Years of dealing with Sol had taught her that explanations often fell on deaf ears.

"Well, since we're here early, let's get a head start. The vendors are already setting up," Sol suggested, eager to stroll through the street fair before it became crowded.

Sol's enthusiasm seemed to lighten Riveria's mood, and she let the guild meeting fade from her thoughts. Spending time with him had taught her to let go of frustrating memories quickly; otherwise, she'd be exasperated constantly.

"By the way, does this whole business with the Ares familia have anything to do with you?" she asked as they browsed through the stalls, their hands already full of treats.

She knew the reason Sol had left Orario this time, and she found it hard to believe that Ares's sudden movements weren't somehow related to him.

"Hey, that's unfair! I was out there saving the world," Sol protested, feigning indignation. "I didn't have time to meddle with Ares—I didn't even see him."

In truth, Sol hadn't stepped foot in the Kingdom of Rakia; the negotiations had all been handled by Renata. He looked entirely innocent, and Riveria, seeing he wasn't going to budge, decided to change the subject.

"Alright, then tell me about 'saving the world.'"

Her curiosity piqued, she leaned closer as Sol eagerly launched into his tale, recounting his heroics with dramatic flair. Though his storytelling was rough around the edges, Riveria pieced together the events and got a sense of the mission's importance.

"So, how far do we go with the guild's actions against the Ares familia?" she asked after he finished, sounding him out.

If the Ares familia's plans had been tied to Sol, she'd have considered letting the matter rest. But now it seemed he truly hadn't interfered.

"Just handle it as usual. But keep an eye on the situation—don't overwhelm Ares's familia all at once. Draw it out a bit," he advised with a casual shrug.

Riveria sighed. "You're really giving me a challenge here. But fine, I'll do my best."