If it had been anyone else, Marius would have taunted them without hesitation.
But since it was Xayah—given her past behavior—he couldn't help but feel that this idiot truly had no idea what was going on behind the scenes.
However, just as Marius finished his mockery, he felt a heavy blow to the back of his head.
The one who struck him was Rakan. As Xayah's self-proclaimed protector, he wasn't about to stand by and let his goddess be ridiculed.
That strike to the back of the head was already an act of mercy, considering Marius's status as the commander-in-chief of the Ares family.
Otherwise, given the sheer difference in strength between them, Rakan could have easily caved his skull in with a single slap.
"Leave it to me."
Rakan took over without hesitation.
Grabbing Marius by the collar, he lunged forward in a single swift motion. Although she wasn't entirely sure of Rakan's plan, Xayah quickly followed.
Earlier, while standing at a vantage point, Rakan had already noticed something peculiar—a tent that stood out from the rest.
What caught his attention most was the presence of two military flags planted in front of it, an unusual sight that immediately set it apart.
Without hesitation, Rakan sprinted toward the tent, with Xayah close behind.
However, when they arrived, the guards who had been stationed there were nowhere to be seen.
Rakan had anticipated this outcome, yet he still moved forward and swiftly pulled back the tent's curtain.
Inside, a man sat calmly.
It was Marion.
He was already on the list Riveria had provided them beforehand, so Rakan instantly recognized him.
Wasn't it through Marion that Renata first established contact with Ares?
Yet here he was.
Wasn't he supposed to be in charge of logistics?
"It seems they've been expecting us," Rakan remarked, glancing at Xayah with a hint of curiosity.
Marion's composed demeanor made his intentions clear.
He had been waiting for them.
"This is your commander. I assume you're more familiar with him than I am," Rakan said nonchalantly before tossing Marius between them like a discarded package.
The humiliation was unbearable.
To be the dignified commander-in-chief, only to be dragged back in such a disgraceful manner...
At this moment, Marius wished more than anything to just pass out.
That way, he wouldn't have to face the shame that was sure to follow.
"It doesn't matter if God Ares is absent. Since you're still here, I assume you hold some authority within your familia."
Rakan's negotiation had begun, and Xayah, for once, remained silent.
A rare moment of quiet elegance.
"State your demands. If they're reasonable, I'll report them to Ares-sama," Marion said after a brief pause, his gaze drifting to Marius with helpless resignation.
Both men shared the same surname, Lagia. Marion and Marius were close relatives.
This was the first time he had seen his elder in such a pitiful state.
But regardless of the situation, their priority now was getting Marius back safely.
"First and foremost, Sol-sama sent us here for a reason—he does not wish for this battle to continue."
"Exactly! If the Ares family's army remains here, then our companions will remain here as well," Xayah chimed in.
Hearing the veiled threats from the two, Marion couldn't help but frown.
Too much had been invested in the preparation for this war.
According to the original plan, the conflict was supposed to continue for several more months.
If they were to retreat now, all their early efforts would have been for nothing.
And the reason for their failure? The intervention of the Sol family. If word spread that they had been defeated by a single family, it would be a humiliating stain on their reputation.
How would the Ares Familia maintain its dominance in the Kingdom of Rakia after that?
Yet, if they refused to withdraw, they faced another harsh reality—many of their stored supplies had already been lost due to the Sol family's attacks.
And deep down, Marion had to admit that Xayah and Rakan's threats were truly intimidating.
If so many high-level adventurers raided their camp daily, not even the mighty Ares Familia could endure it for long.
"Is this really enough to give you such a headache? That's not even the real condition for returning your commander-in-chief," Rakan remarked, raising an eyebrow at the still-hesitant Marion.
Their previous demands were merely part of the instructions Sol had given them before they arrived—completely unrelated to Marius himself.
Initially, they hadn't even considered using Marius as leverage for negotiations.
If they had intended to make demands, the usual choice would have been Valis. However, given their current situation, blackmailing some Valis wouldn't be beneficial to them.
After all, they still needed to ensure both sides upheld their end of the bargain.
"I will relay Sol-sama's message to Lord Ares," Marion finally conceded, albeit reluctantly. He had no other choice—the situation was clearly not in their favor.
He lacked the leverage to negotiate with these two.
"I know you still have Crozo's magic swords in your possession," Rakan continued, his tone calm but firm. "I think fifty of them would be a fair trade for your commander-in-chief."
F-Fifty? Wasn't that too much?!
Marion felt an immediate headache coming on.
The magic swords forged by the noble Crozo family were world-renowned for their power. Their ancestors had been blessed by fairy spirits, making their creations far superior to ordinary magic swords.
For years, the Crozo family had operated outside Orario, and at one point, Ares had even formed a deep partnership with them to acquire their enchanted weapons.
Though the Crozo bloodline had thinned over time, they still had some reserves left.
These swords were treasures—kept under strict protection and never casually brought out.
That said, Marion did possess a few of them.
Before the war, believing in an imminent victory, Ares had personally authorized the use of several Crozo magic swords.
But certainly not fifty.
"There's no way I can give you that many Crozo magic swords," Marion said firmly. "You'll have to change your terms."
Rakan smirked. "So they're that valuable, huh? Fine. Two Grimoire, then."
"...???"