Ainz Ooal Gown: Noble Knight

Ainz felt his skeleton stiffen for a moment.

'There...there's more?'

He let out a silent gasp in his heart.

What's wrong with Demiurge's brain? Could a simple food procurement plan have a deeper purpose?

But he couldn't show any surprise.

Ainz put on a calm demeanor.

"Hmm, not bad. Demiurge, continue."

Demiurge nodded slightly and began a deeper analysis.

"The Demon Kingdom's declaration of founding has been sent to the surrounding countries, but so far, none of them have shown much of a reaction."

"They're probably all watching and waiting to see if the Demon Kingdom makes a mistake."

"In this state of observation, it is difficult for us to probe out the dragon hiding in the shadows through normal means."

Demiurge continued.

“Therefore,” he said with great certainty, “the fact that the Demon Kingdom is sending an envoy to the Kingdom to discuss food trade has a dual significance.”

He held up one finger, as if to emphasize a key point in class.

"On the surface, this is to solve the food shortage in Riblom Rashur, but in reality, it is also a 'flaw' that we deliberately exposed."

“Send suitable candidates to set off openly from the Demon Kingdom to test whether the dragons controlling Shalltear have taken notice of this place since the Demon Kingdom was founded.”

A moment of silence fell over the throne room.

Ainz sat on the throne, feeling as if he had just emerged from a long fog. He had initially thought Demiurge was merely addressing the food problem, but he hadn't expected there to be this hidden agenda.

He maintained his "everything is under control" demeanor, nodding slightly with an approving tone.

“Demiurge, as expected of the intellectual powerhouse of Nazarick. You really did... completely decipher my meaning.”

Demiurge immediately responded to Ainz's praise.

"Lord Ainz, you flatter me. Compared to your profound wisdom, I am merely putting your intentions into practice."

Ainz silently breathed a sigh of relief.

'Thankfully, I got through it...'

He was secretly rejoicing when a voice came from below the throne.

"Then, I will be the envoy for this mission."

All eyes turned to the source of the sound.

Albedo stood slightly forward below the throne, the hem of her pure white dress spreading out like snow, shimmering softly in the light of the magic lamp.

She stood upright, calmly looking in Ainz's direction.

The seriousness in her eyes revealed that Albedo had made up her mind.

Demiurge looked in Albedo's direction, pondered for a moment, and then nodded slightly.

“Indeed, Albedo is the most suitable candidate.”

Upon hearing this, Albedo's golden vertical pupils flickered slightly, but her gaze remained fixed on Ainz's direction.

Ainz, however, had already panicked.

Albedo herself as an envoy? Are you kidding me? What if something goes wrong...?

Countless terrible possibilities flashed through his mind in an instant.

If the dragon that controls Shalltear is really nearby, wouldn't Albedo be directly exposed to danger?

Ainz's fingers unconsciously gripped the armrest of the throne.

"No."

He blurted it out, his voice more resolute than he had expected.

“Albedo, this is far too dangerous. You are the Grand Master of the Guardians of Nazarick; you should not take this risk yourself.”

Albedo remained unmoved.

"Lord Ainz, I understand your concerns, but please let me finish."

Ainz's fingers clenched slightly on the armrest, as if he wanted to speak again, but Albedo did not give him the chance.

She took half a step forward.

"To test whether the dragon is paying attention to the Demon Kingdom, one must send someone of considerable importance. But if only ordinary monsters or low-level familiars are sent, even if the dragon sees them, it may not take action. Only a worthy target can elicit a result worth verifying."

She met Ainz's gaze without flinching.

“Cocytus and the others are not suitable to be envoys, and Sebas is in the capital. I am the most suitable one.”

"Moreover, the subordinates have the highest defensive capabilities, so in the event of an attack, they can delay the arrival of Nazarick's reinforcements."

Ainz remained silent for a moment upon hearing this.

“…Demiurge,” his voice was a little hoarse, “what do you think?”

Demiurge bowed slightly and gave his judgment sincerely: "Lord Ainz, I believe Albedo's considerations are reasonable. Under the current circumstances, she is indeed the most suitable candidate."

Ainz looked into Albedo's golden vertical pupils, which held only a resolute, almost unwavering will.

“…I understand.” Ainz’s fingers slowly loosened their grip on the armrest. “Since you’ve made up your mind, I won’t stop you anymore.”

Albedo's lips curved slightly: "Thank you, Lord Ainz."

She lowered her eyes, the smile lingering on her lips for only a moment before being concealed beneath a calm expression.

She actually had her own plans in mind.

She was more aware than anyone of the risks involved in this trip.

But that's precisely why she had to go.

The world-class item [Hell Abyss] is currently on her person.

Theoretically, possessing a World-Class Item grants immunity to the mind control effects of other World-Class Items.

If the dragon controlling Shalltear relies on power at the level of a World Item, then she can resist the dragon's control.

Therefore, even if the dragon attacks, and she cannot control it, her defense should be strong enough to delay Nazarick's reinforcements until they arrive.

But... what if Primal Magic truly surpasses World-Class Items?

That is equally important.

Nazarick's information about Origin Magic remains at the level of "rumors".

Whether it can break through the protection of world-class artifacts remains unverified.

This information is precisely the foundation for all of Lord Ainz's subsequent plans.

If even world-class artifacts cannot withstand primordial magic, the best strategy for the Great Tomb of Nazarick is to hide and cease fighting against dragons.

Then, her sacrifice will protect Lord Ainz.

Sending out weak monsters to test the waters will prevent the enemy from using their true power.

Even if it is destroyed, nothing can be verified.

There was only one person who could test this bottom line from beginning to end.

Only her.

Moreover, if the trip goes smoothly, she has some important arrangements to complete in the capital.

Albedo raised her head, and the smile on her lips returned.

It was as if all the calculations that had just crossed my mind had never existed.

Ainz then adjourned the meeting.

The guardians departed one by one, their footsteps gradually fading away.

Ainz sat on the throne, his unease still lingering. He had a feeling he would regret sending Albedo on this mission.

Chapter 146 The Visit

A tense, stagnant atmosphere hung in the air at the city gates leading from the capital to Riblomlashur.

The overcast skies that had lasted for several days had unbelievably cleared up, and the azure sky was breathtaking.

However, thick clouds still covered the distance, and only the sky above the capital was blue.

The situation is really too unusual.

The weather forecaster in the royal city pulled at his hair and said, "Impossible." He had been serving in the palace for a long time, and his accuracy rate in predicting the weather the next day was easily over 90%.

Since he said so, this blue sky must not be a natural phenomenon.

Prince Zanak exhaled a breath from under his helmet.

He had never heard his teacher mention magic that could control the weather, but he figured it would be a piece of cake for that Demon Emperor.

He turned his head to look at the figure beside him who was also wearing armor.

"Lu Enqing, is this situation... normal?"

Rune turned his gaze away from the unusually clear sky.

He certainly knew who was behind it; such a thing was indeed easy for Nazarick.

“It would require at least a fourth-tier spell like Cloud Control to achieve this effect.” Rune made his tone sound scholarly and cautious.

"But it could also be the result of a sixth-tier rank magic, [Weather Control]. Either way, it means the other side is flexing their muscles, that they can easily change the weather in this area."

Zanak's shoulders tensed slightly for a moment, but he quickly returned to normal.

He nodded, his gaze returning to the end of the road.

Rune looked at him and sighed silently in his heart.

The second prince was under immense pressure. The disastrous defeat in the last war had plunged the kingdom's power to its lowest point. Now, the envoys sent by the Demon Kingdom, ostensibly to discuss grain trade, were in reality no different from a humiliating surrender.