Chapter 127: Ouranos' Decision (Bonus)

After Phryne Jamil was brought under control, the Ganesha Familia and Loki Familia swiftly compressed the Ishtar Familia's area of activity.

Even so, Ishtar didn't immediately choose to surrender. They continued to resist stubbornly, dragging it out until Riveria and the Guild members discovered the underground passage connecting to the Dungeon.

Gareth, along with members of the Ganesha Familia, also located a passage leading toward the outskirts of Orario. Once both sides found their respective paths, they immediately dispatched personnel into the underground tunnels.

Then, they encountered a scene that made their blood boil.

"There are this many?!"

Gareth's heart sank, and his face darkened.

At the end of the passage, in the underground space directly beneath the Pleasure District, he saw countless girls locked in cages—Pallums, Elves, and even Dwarves.

Shakti, the captain of the Ganesha Familia who had come with him, also wore a terrifyingly grim expression.

The number of demi-humans imprisoned here was actually the minority. The majority were human girls. Still, seeing their own kind caged and treated like merchandise was something else entirely.

"Elgarm, let our Familia handle this."

"All the captives inside are girls. It wouldn't be appropriate for you to go in."

After all, the ones locked up here were intended for trafficking into the Pleasure District, and their captors clearly hadn't cared whether they were clothed. The girls had been subjected to inhumane treatment and wore barely anything, making it inappropriate for men to enter.

Realizing his mistake, Gareth quickly turned away.

"Thanks for handling this, Ankusha."

With rage simmering in his chest, Gareth exited the underground space.

Shakti wasted no time giving orders.

"Bring in some women's clothing."

Everything else could wait—this had to be prioritized.

These imprisoned girls were the clearest evidence of the Ishtar Familia's human trafficking. However, linking this to the Evilus wouldn't be so simple...

...

Riveria and the Guild members also reached the hidden underground space beneath the Pleasure District.

The fury burning in Riveria's heart was intense.

Seeing one girl after another confined in iron cages, barely clothed, she felt a rare surge of murderous intent toward those responsible.

"These are..."

Behind her, Eina trembled, both hands covering her mouth as she fought to keep her emotions in check.

But the sight of so many girls—some her age, others even younger—locked up in cages sent chills down her spine.

Riveria's heart sank into the depths. As her eyes swept across the cages, she spotted several girls with pointed ears and other distinct traits of Elves.

Their eyes were vacant and hollow, like lifeless puppets stripped of self-awareness. All of them were poorly clothed. Who knew how long they'd been held in this lightless underground space?

"Miss Eina, please arrange to bring in clothing."

"And also, keep the male Guild members out. These girls need a moment to prepare."

Snapped out of her daze by the voice, Eina quickly refocused. One last glance at the harrowing scene caused her heart to tremble again.

"I-I understand... I'll get on it right away."

Without wasting time in the underground corridor, Eina and the others immediately relayed the situation outside.

Thankfully, the underground space wasn't far from the exit, so clothing could be delivered quickly.

Riveria personally stood guard at the entrance and extinguished the magic stone lights inside.

This was no time for jokes.

The dignity of the controlled girls had already been stripped away. Riveria couldn't allow them to suffer further.

They hadn't even begun their lives before enduring such trauma.

Riveria could fully imagine the sorrow and rage in their hearts, even their hatred toward the mastermind behind it all.

But in that moment, she couldn't bring herself to say a word.

The fury on both sides had reached a peak. Riveria and Gareth, as leaders, were barely restraining themselves from lashing out in rage.

The Guild did, indeed, report the matter without delay.

"So this is how it turned out."

Ouranos wasn't particularly surprised by the report.

Ishtar had indeed gone too far.

A large number of children had already been found imprisoned in one underground space—there was no doubt that the others would be just as bad.

Ouranos shook his head slightly. He had given Ishtar more than enough chances, yet she had used them to do something like this.

It was already a clear violation for any Familia or god to have dealings with the Evilus, and yet the Ishtar Familia had the audacity to cross that line so brazenly.

A mix of anger and disappointment clouded Ouranos's expression.

"It seems I gave Ishtar far too much credit."

A god engaging in such despicable acts—trafficking, and stirring up such a mess.

"Royman, issue the decree."

"Ishtar has openly conducted dealings with the Evilus and trafficked children from Genkai at will. In the name of Ouranos, I hereby sentence Ishtar to immediate divine repatriation."

With that, Ouranos had made his decision to fully dismantle the Ishtar Familia.

If it was rotten to the core, then there was no reason for it to continue existing.

He personally arranged the repatriation ritual—something that only Ishtar could still be granted. Most gods wouldn't be so fortunate.

Royman wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, then quickly left to carry out the order.

"Ouranos-sama, what about the members of the Ishtar Familia?"

Ouranos cast a glance at the plump Elf, then made his ruling.

"Place the Ishtar Familia under temporary supervision."

"Have Loki conduct a thorough investigation and compile all the relevant details for submission."

Ouranos understood that not every member of the Ishtar Familia was involved. But there was at least one person who definitely knew everything—the captain of the Ishtar Familia.

"Take control of the Familia's captain. Let Loki handle the rest."