Chapter 117: Is Loki Going to Take Down Ishtar?

Ganesha, who had taken over maintaining Orario's security, was well aware that many gods in the city were aligned with the Evilus.

He'd understood long ago, even back in Tenkai, that when immortal gods grew bored, some of them would eventually turn into lunatics. Back then, though, conflicts between gods had little real impact—it was more annoying than dangerous, something you could ignore if you had the patience.

But things were different in Genkai. That kind of attitude no longer worked here.

Even if their powers were sealed and they couldn't wreak havoc like before, the madness of those lunatics could still influence naive children—leading them down twisted paths.

Children in Genkai were easily swayed.

Sometimes, that change was for the better. Sometimes, for the worse.

But when it was the lunatics doing the leading, the road those children walked would always be a mad one.

That was why Ganesha had started taking things seriously. His instincts told him the Evilus were plotting something big again.

Then he remembered how Loki hadn't been preparing for an expedition lately. He'd assumed something must've happened—but now, Loki's child had come to him with news.

"Loki hasn't been preparing for an expedition lately. Was she investigating those people?"

"Yes."

Well, that changed everything. Ganesha's expression shifted instantly.

Loki wasn't the type to act without gain. She wouldn't move just because she happened to notice the Evilus.

If there wasn't anything to gain, she'd act like nothing was happening.

'So I'm just the tool again, huh.'

Ganesha sighed internally, frustrated—but he couldn't ignore this.

If Loki was moving, then she must have solid evidence.

No matter what she was aiming for, Ganesha agreed with taking down the Evilus.

"What exactly did Loki's child find out?"

Gareth didn't hold back. He spoke plainly about the Evilus's actions.

"Ganesha-sama, the Evilus are trafficking people."

"What!?"

Ganesha hadn't expected those lunatics to still be involved in something like that.

'So then... how many of Orario's gods are tangled up with them?'

His face darkened as the thought hit him.

His Familia was practically the one keeping Orario's order. And yet, those lunatics were conducting these kinds of trades right under his nose.

And the worst part—human trafficking.

Treating the children of Genkai like merchandise... That was exactly the kind of madness only they could commit.

Gareth had no doubt about the fury on Ganesha's face. In Orario, Ganesha had always been the god who cared most about the children of Genkai. So it was no surprise this struck a nerve.

But Gareth had more to say.

"The location of the transactions is in the underground space beneath the Pleasure District, Ganesha-sama."

"Ishtar! Damn it! No wonder my children have been reporting changes in the Pleasure District lately."

With the evidence pointing squarely at the Pleasure District, there was no doubt that Ishtar was the one colluding with the Evilus.

This also reminded Ganesha of earlier reports from his own children—about a surge of unfamiliar faces in the Pleasure District. At the time, he had wondered where those people were coming from and had ordered his children to continue investigating.

He hadn't expected Loki's Familia to be the ones to uncover something first.

If it was human trafficking, then the reason for the new faces was obvious.

The fire in Ganesha's heart burned hotter.

"Shakti!!!"

Hearing the roar from the god inside the room, the captain of Ganesha Familia, Shakti Varma, quickly stepped in.

"Shakti! Take the children of our Familia and begin evacuating the people around the Pleasure District immediately. Minimize any unnecessary harm.

"Keep it covert. Do everything you can to avoid alerting the Ishtar Familia."

"Also, have the children investigating the Pleasure District raise their alert level. Be cautious in everything they do from now on."

At the command of her god, Shakti's previously calm expression turned solemn.

It was clear this operation was centered around the Ishtar Familia.

She could feel the fury in Ganesha's voice. Even if she didn't know the full story, it was clear—Ishtar had crossed a line.

Gareth spoke up from beside them.

"Ganesha-sama, there are underground tunnels connecting the outer edges of Orario with the Pleasure District."

"Loki-sama has already gone to the Guild with Riveria to request their cooperation."

"Finn has also taken a team to surround the area."

Ganesha's face twitched. He hadn't expected Loki to go to Ouranos.

This wasn't just about driving Ishtar out of Orario.

Loki clearly wanted her destroyed.

'Underground tunnels connecting the Pleasure District to the outside… Loki went to the Guild for help...'

Shakti felt a chill run down her spine.

The Nine Hells, the Braver, and Elgarm were all moving together—that alone showed how grave the situation was.

Whatever Ishtar had done… it wasn't minor.

In fact...

Shakti began to sense a grim truth forming in her mind, her face tightening with realization.

"Shakti, dispatch another team of children to join Elgarm. Find that underground passage as quickly as possible!"

"Have everyone prepare for combat. The enemy is the Evilus."

Ganesha took a deep breath, pushing aside—for now—Loki's intent to completely eliminate Ishtar. That lunatic had aligned with the Evilus; exile was inevitable.

And honestly, there wasn't much difference between exile and death.

This time, Ishtar wouldn't recover.

He had to focus on the next steps.

Finding the entrance to the underground tunnels outside Orario was a priority. Once found, it had to be sealed off completely—if left unchecked, the Evilus might continue to exploit it.

And of course, once it was found, they had to be ready for battle. The Evilus wouldn't give up easily.

...

(90 Chapters Ahead)

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