Danmaku, my skills refresh weekly.

"Don't misunderstand!!! It's definitely not because I'm hungry that I made that suggestion!" The elf's ears were burning red with embarrassment.

She would never be the kind of bad person who would persuade others to give up the search and rescue just because she was hungry or didn't want to stay!

Leon shouted to cover his embarrassment, "Alright! I... let's keep looking!"

"Do not……"

Just as the atmosphere between the two became incredibly awkward...

"Liang~~~~ Over here!" A shout came from afar.

Ryu turned around and saw Alisha running towards her, swinging her arms, with Lyra behind her, her hands covering her head, and Kaguya, her eyes closed, tugging at her kimono, moving forward like a Yamato Nadeshiko.

"Everyone……"

"Liang! It seems the Dark Faction won't be attacking again for now. Let's go back. Triumph! Triumph!" Alexie's tired face still wore a smile.

Leila rubbed her wrists without any hesitation: "Ugh, I'm exhausted. We haven't had a break in days!"

Kaguya yawned: "About five days, I've been searching for 'Adventurer Hunters' in the dungeons, and just when I got back, this large-scale attack happened."

"Hmm?" Kaguya opened her eyes and saw Ciel standing behind Ryu. Her eyes narrowed, and she spoke in a gentle, Far Eastern geisha tone:

"Oh my, isn't this Brother Ciel? Weren't the Soma Familia all invited for tea by Shak? Why are you still wandering around the streets?"

Kaguya pushed aside Arisaka, who was clinging to Ryu, bent down to meet Ciel's eyes, and smiled sweetly, saying:

"Come, tell your sister, what is the purpose of your clan buying so many ignition devices?"

Ciel raised his head, utterly disgusted by Kaguya's attitude, which was subtly and overtly testing him. "Take back the attitude you had towards Bell, you bastard!"

I clearly looked completely naive too! Look at my innocent eyes, they're full of justice! This week, I'm being completely genuine!

"I don't know, that's a decision made by the big shots up there," Charles said calmly.

Ryu broke free from Alisha and stood in front of Kaguya: "Kaguya, what do you want to do? Even if you suspect the Soma Familia, there's no need to point the finger at Mr. Ciel."

"Sir?" Kaguya glanced sideways. "Oh my, it seems our youngest sister has been getting along well with you lately."

Laila interrupted Kaguya's topic this time: "News has come from the Hero's side that the Soma Familia has been cleared of suspicion."

"You really have a lot of praise for your clan's 'Hero,' then I'll admit I've been too talkative." Kaguya covered her chin with her long sleeve. "I was just curious, can't I really say a word?"

Charles thought for a moment...

"Since you've been quite cooperative this time, I'll say a little something."

He pulled the pistol from Nika's pocket, pulled the trigger, and a flame shot out from the muzzle:

"It's something like this. Don't you guys think the current ignition systems (stoves) are a bit inconvenient? We're researching this because we want to expand our business into the tobacco industry."

In the world of DanMachi, there is the dry tobacco that Ishtar smokes, and at a higher level, there are cigars used by the wealthy. Cigarettes, which are provided to commoners and lower-class adventurers to relieve their mental stress, are not widespread.

Nicotine can stimulate the nervous system and has effects such as improving mental state, making it suitable for some mages as well.

The Astrea group exchanged bewildered glances. They weren't particularly business-savvy and remained noncommittal about the conclusion.

"Is it really okay to reveal the secrets of the clan like this?" Leila asked.

"Of course we trust the Astrea Familia. You wouldn't just leak information, would you?" Ciel said with a fake smile... Whether it was true or not, you can guess for yourselves.

Ryu felt she could stand up again, and her voice rose:

"See? I told you Mr. Charles was a good man!"

"Hey hey~" Layla put her hands on her head and left.

Kaguya also lost interest, put her hands in her pockets and said listlessly, "Let's go back, let's go back."

Ryu looked at Charles: "How about Mr. Charles come back with us for a simple meal, and I'll accompany you this afternoon to search for your companions?"

"Search and rescue?" Alexandra's gaze swept over.

As Ryuko whispered in the red-haired girl's ear, Arisue's eyes immediately welled up with tears.

“Hey… Leon! How could you invite someone like that to our headquarters?” Layla turned her head, her face full of astonishment.

"What do you mean by 'this kind of person'? I won't allow you to talk about Mr. Charles like that, Leila!" Liu said righteously, hands on her hips.

Alexie clasped her hands together with a loud snap: "Yosh! It's decided, Ciel, come visit our clan! Ugh, I'm starving! Let's go, go, go! Lady Astrea is sure she's prepared a delicious feast, waiting for our triumphant return!"

"Hey, Alexie!"

Ciel was unknowingly swept along by the girls.

……

The location is in a corner of the northern district of Orario.

It was a quiet residence, the "Stardust Mansion," the base of Ryu and the others.

And at this time...

"Hey, wait a minute." Kaguya's hand landed on the katana at her waist. "Don't you guys sense something's off?"

"what?"

There are two scents in the room.

"Oh no, Lady Astraea and... are they the Dark Faction?"

"Don't be nervous, Leon. You go around to the back, we'll break through from the front. I'll count to three... Go!"

Reconnaissance, deployment, and strategy planning—in just three seconds, the four officers coordinated their actions and stormed through the gate.

But just as they approached the door, Charles saw it open from the inside, revealing a silly face adorned with cheap rabbit ears.

"Welcome back... Lunch is ready... Eh... Guhah——————"

"Hey, no way..."

Charles covered his face, watching helplessly as a level 5 boy, whose speed was enough to crush Chardo, was pinned to the ground by three level 3s.

What are you doing, Bell?

Ryu, who arrived late, and the divine object stepped out of the room.

"Ah! You are... from back then!" Ryuya exclaimed in surprise as he saw Belle's face clearly.

"You really are a spy sent by the Dark Faction!" Ryu drew his sword and roared, "Kaguya Laila, control him! This man is far too suspicious!"

"So it was a misunderstanding, Rusang!" Belle cried out in despair.

"I didn't give you permission to call me by my name like that!"

Chapter 90 Bell! You with thick eyebrows and big eyes...

At the dinner table, Belle served the dishes with a virtuous demeanor, while Astraea explained Belle's background and comforted the emotionally agitated Ryu.

She was a goddess whose immense compassion could be felt at a glance; dignified and beautiful, untouched by any worldly dust.

Meanwhile, Alexandra was also introducing Charles.

"Eh? Mr. Charles?"

Belle's exaggerated reaction caught Astraea's attention.

"Al, do you know this Mr. Charles?"

Charles looked away: "No, we shouldn't have met."

Belle had indeed never seen what she looked like in her human form, but...

"Um, we really don't know each other..."

Astraea's eyes crinkled into a smile: "Al, has someone told you that you can't lie at all?"

Alexandra nodded: "Yes, the name Al sounds like a pseudonym too."

Because Belle was so concerned, Astraea kept glancing at Ciel throughout the meal, her eyes filled with a smile.

Charles felt extremely uncomfortable. He quickly finished his lunch, stood up to say goodbye, and said, "Um... thank you for the meal, I'm full. I still need to continue looking for someone, so I won't bother you any longer."

Alexandra, biting into a sausage, said, "Huh? Are you leaving already? Wait a minute, I'll finish this bite and we'll go together."

Kaguya and Layla didn't speak. Ryu was still angry because Belle kept looking at this Miss Rion with the eyes of someone looking at a girl next door.

"Please wait..." Astraea stood up and interrupted Ciel, "Can we talk alone?"

"Huh?" Charles's heart skipped a beat, and his gaze involuntarily drifted to Belle, who was scratching her face and looking down without saying a word.

It was exposed after all.

It was my fault for expecting this rabbit to keep things quiet. I wonder how much Bell revealed, even though I had clearly instructed him to.

Knowing that some things couldn't be avoided, he stood up respectfully and said, "I'll do as you please."

……

The human and the god arrived at Astraea's room, and the moment Ciel closed the door, he had mentally prepared himself. Bell didn't actually know much, and Ciel didn't reveal much of the truth to him.

To Ciel's surprise, Astraea's first action was to reach out and stroke Ciel's cheek:

"I've wanted to talk to you for a long time, but I've never been able to reach you."

"How are you feeling? I heard that Lyra did some extreme things to you, and Kaguya said a lot of hurtful things too."

This was the first time Ciel had faced this goddess directly, and he had to admit that if he had to choose a family member, this goddess with long walnut hair and a gentle nature that was enough to tolerate everything would definitely be the top choice for a mother.

But... there are no "ifs".

"Lady Astraea, you care about these things? I thought you would be more concerned with other information. For example, like Kaguya, you would be concerned about the ignition device." Ciel's expression instantly calmed down, and he looked directly at the goddess of justice.

"I think you're holding a grudge."

Astraea sat down, revealing a heart that could embrace everything:

"I think you have your own reasons for not wanting to tell me some relevant information."

Astraea's words were loaded with meaning. As a goddess, she could naturally sense whether Ciel was hiding something, but the gentle Astraea did not intend to expose her.

I knew it!

"What are you talking about? I don't understand." Charles took two steps and casually sat down on the edge of the bed.