Goddess Hephaestus appeared calm, but that composed demeanor made Loki feel slightly uncomfortable.
Just moments ago, the "God of Tricksters" had intended to use the situation to implicate Yami. However, seeing Hephaestus's unyielding expression, Loki quickly abandoned that thought.
Jokes should have their limits—if taken too far, they could backfire.
The more critical issue was that the current Hephaestus Familia had become exceedingly powerful, to the point where even the two kings of Orario couldn't match them. Despite the dissatisfaction simmering in Loki's heart, she had no choice but to suppress it.
"Hmph, yes, we are here to see this brat," Loki said, her gaze shifting to Yami. The murderous intent in her eyes was unmistakable—she wanted nothing more than to eliminate him right then and there.
If not for her attachment to the intriguing happenings in the lower realm, she would have unleashed her divine power long ago. But as long as beings, whether human or god, harbor attachments, they find themselves restrained and unable to act freely.
"What do you want with me, Loki-sama?" Yami asked, having had enough of her antics. He had no time to waste on this troublesome god—he was eager to move on to the world of "One Punch Man."
"What do I want? You brat, don't you know what you've done?" Loki suddenly leaned in close, grabbing Yami by the collar as if trying to pull him down to her level.
But despite her self-proclaimed divine status, Loki had lost all her power. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't budge the tall and muscular Yami, making the situation even more embarrassing for her.
"Loki!" Riveria, who had been watching, sighed and stepped in to help her goddess save face.
"Answer our question—where have you hidden Ais? Whether we search Orario or the dungeon, there's no sign of Ais or the others. You didn't do something to them, did you?"
Loki let go of Yami and questioned him again, staring intently at his face as if trying to glean some clue from his expression. But it was clear that Loki would be disappointed.
Yami's expression remained unchanged, as composed as ever.
"With all due respect, Loki-sama, do you suffer from persecution paranoia?" Yami replied calmly. "If I wanted to, I could have easily wiped out the entire Loki Familia during our expedition. Even if you're one of Orario's 'Double Kings,' you still wouldn't be able to stop me."
"So, I have no need to take Ais or Tiona away. There's no point."
Yami's nonchalant words surprised the three goddesses, including Hephaestus. They hadn't expected him to speak so arrogantly in front of Loki.
It was almost too much to handle.
On the other hand, Goddess Hestia's smile grew even broader. As Loki's long-time rival, Hestia had often found herself oppressed, falling behind due to the gap in the strength of their Familias. Even in the "battles" between gods, she had suffered countless losses because of her smaller wingspan.
Seeing Loki embarrassed now was deeply satisfying.
If it weren't for the situation, Hestia might have personally mocked Loki to vent her long-held resentment.
Sensing Hestia's thoughts, Goddess Artemis reached out and gently held her hand, stopping her from escalating the situation.
Though the conflict didn't intensify, Yami's unusually bold words had left Loki, who was already irritated, even angrier.
"You bastard, you're so infuriating!" Loki spat. "Can't we just beat you up?"
"Loki-sama, if you think you can, go ahead," Yami replied, still polite. "Or perhaps you could ask Finn and Gareth to help—see if they're willing to take you up on that fight. I'll be here, ready whenever you are."
Faced with Loki's impotent rage, Yami remained calm and collected.
"You…!" Loki began, but Riveria swiftly intervened.
"That's enough, Loki!" she said sternly, cutting off the brewing argument.
Seeing the serious expression on Riveria's face, Loki's words caught in her throat. She shot Yami a venomous glare before looking away.
"Leave the rest to me, alright?" Riveria asked, to which Loki begrudgingly agreed.
"Fine, 'Mom' can handle it," Loki muttered, though her words made Riveria frown slightly.
"Loki, for the last time, I'm not your mother!" Riveria said, clearly annoyed by the nickname. But now wasn't the time to argue with her own goddess. Riveria knew how to prioritize.
As the one who had personally trained Ais, Riveria was deeply concerned about the girls' safety. Even though she knew Yami wouldn't harm Ais, Tiona, Tione, or Lefiya, it was better to hear it directly from him for peace of mind.
"Yami," Riveria said sincerely, "if it's convenient, could you let Ais and the others return to Orario? It's been over a month since they left for special training, and we're all worried about their situation. If possible, they also need to update their blessings. We won't interfere with your training plans."
Riveria's request was reasonable and considerate from every angle.