Chapter 180: Living Together?

"However, before we start the plan of 'revenge,' I have one last question to ask you."

Seeing that Ryuu had gradually regained her composure and was no longer as hot-headed as before, Luke's heart relaxed a little.

However, just regaining her composure was not enough.

"Are you prepared to pay the price?"

"...Price?"

"Do you know why our Loki Familia, despite having information about Evilus for a long time, has never completely eradicated them?"

Luke didn't directly tell Ryuu the answer.

He still chose to guide the elf girl to find the answer herself.

"Among the people connected to Evilus, there are merchants, shop owners, Guild employees, members of certain Familia, large chambers of commerce, and illegal organizations."

"There are indeed innocent people among them, but most of them are still 'villains'."

Luke looked at Ryuu, who was lost in thought, and Ais, who was also pondering something.

He waited for a while, giving the girls enough time to think before continuing, "These people, besides being members of Evilus, also have their own social circles."

"There are alliances between merchants, cooperation between organizations, Guild employees have colleagues, and Familia members also have their circle of friends."

"Now, do you know why Loki Familia has never taken action?"

Luke asked Ryuu again.

And this time, the girls understood the meaning of Luke's words.

What Ryuu was about to do was to oppose almost all the groups in Orario.

Why hadn't Finn taken action?

It was because of the 'price'!

No one could afford to oppose the entire Orario, not even Loki Familia, one of the strongest Familia in the labyrinth city!

The losses outweigh the gains.

However, Ryuu's situation was somewhat different.

She now had nothing to lose.

With goddess Astraea and the others gone, Ryuu could now be considered to be free and unshackled.

"Will the Guild... intervene?"

The only thing she needed to worry about was whether it would cause trouble for goddess Astraea and the other members of her Familia.

"Astraea Familia has not been disbanded yet. As long as you are not doing evil, the Guild will not intervene."

You know, the current situation is different from the original story.

With some members of Astraea Familia still alive and with the presence of Luke and Ais representing the support of Loki Familia, even if Ryuu carried out 'excessive' revenge like in the original story, she wouldn't be blacklisted by the Guild and wanted like in the original story.

Ryuu herself wouldn't be in trouble, let alone affect goddess Astraea and Alise.

"However, just because the Guild doesn't intervene doesn't mean others won't."

Without letting Ryuu get too happy too soon, Luke's words directly poured a bucket of cold water on her.

"Goddess Astraea and the others have left Orario, which also means you have lost your support now."

"As long as you don't intend to join another Familia, you will be isolated and helpless in this city."

"Even if you succeed in the end, even if you successfully eliminate all the members of Evilus."

"After that, what awaits you will be endless trouble."

Not everyone knew the truth of the matter.

As long as Ryuu killed the first merchant, other merchants would worry that they would be next.

As long as Ryuu destroyed the first organization, other organizations would worry that they would be the next one to be eliminated.

No one would care why she did it.

Because Ryuu represented 'justice'.

And none of them were clean!

Everyone understood the principle of "when the lips are gone, the teeth are cold."

None of these people who hovered in the 'gray' area would want to be the next target of judgment.

In Ryuu's current 'helpless' situation, once she started her plan of revenge, what awaited her in the future would definitely not be a peaceful life.

The simplest solution to this problem was actually to join Loki Familia where Luke was.

With the support of Loki Familia's banner, those petty people would naturally not dare to come out and cause trouble for Ryuu.

And knowing that Loki and Finn's style was quite different from goddess Astraea and her Familia, they wouldn't dare to cause trouble for Ryuu anymore.

However, Ryuu obviously had no intention of joining another Familia.

So the most likely outcome was…

"Before Astraea Familia returns, you may have to live in anonymity for several years."

"Those organizations that feel threatened will keep looking for your traces, and may even offer a high bounty for your head."

"Remnants of Evilus, assassins, bounty hunters, adventurers, etc., you will face the joint sanctions of all the 'gray' organizations in Orario."

"So, if you want to live a peaceful life, you can only change your appearance and live in anonymity."

Luke looked at the elf girl in front of him seriously.

He actually wanted to ask her again if she was prepared to pay the price.

However, before he could say anything, Luke saw a firmness in Ryuu's eyes that hadn't been there before.

The blond elf girl looked at him with determined eyes.

So, the answer to this question was already obvious.

…

After calming the elf girl down, Luke didn't rush back to his Familia residence.

He planned to stay in Stardust Garden with Ais for a few days.

Although Ryuu had regained her composure, it didn't mean that the will for revenge in her heart had disappeared.

If Ryuu were to live alone in Stardust Garden, Luke was worried that she would have some random thoughts.

If someone accidentally stimulated the elf girl's unstable mentality, all the guidance he had given today would be in vain.

Luke didn't touch the rooms that belonged to the girls of Astraea Familia.

Although Alise and the others had packed up everything when they left and even told him that he could "use their room freely," Luke still had no intention of using their rooms.

Not only goddess Astraea and Alise's rooms, but even the rooms of the deceased girls, Luke didn't plan to use.

After all, even though their personal belongings had been taken away, there were still some things left in these rooms that couldn't be taken away.

Beds, cabinets, tables, chairs, and... memories.

Each room carried the girls' memories, which were irreplaceable treasures for Ryuu now.

So Luke and Ais didn't touch them, but chose an empty room that had never been used.

"I guess I have to go buy some things first."

Looking at the empty room, Luke rubbed his forehead helplessly.

It wasn't that there was really nothing in the room.

At least there were basic beds, cabinets, tables, and chairs.

But that was all.

The tables, chairs, and cabinets were fine, but the bed…

Just having a bed board was too harsh.

It wasn't like they were in the dungeon, so there was no need to make things difficult for themselves.

And no matter what, Luke had to go back to his Familia residence.

He still needed to explain the detailed reasons for living outside with Ais to Finn.

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