Damn it! What sin had he committed to unleash this monster?!
What to do? What should he do? What should the Empire do?
As the Empire that first provoked him, it might be the first to become his enemy! The wisest course of action now was to directly submit, wasn't it?
From a personal standpoint, direct surrender was the smartest move, but... this Ainz Ooal Gown wasn't a normal human!
Direct surrender? Let the people of the Empire be ruled by a monster? Would the people find happiness? He might even turn them into Death Knights, who knows...
What to do! What to do! If only he had those ministers by his side! He could discuss it with them.
Now... the fate of the entire Empire was in his hands. A slight misstep and the entire Empire would be ruined! Since that was the case... he would take a gamble! Jierunifu thought.
"Then I have a suggestion, how about we form an alliance?" Jierunifu proposed. Yes! An alliance! But this would surely be rejected, wouldn't it? After it was rejected, he would add more favorable conditions!
As expected... before Ainz Ooal Gown could even react, his subordinates already had opinions. This was normal, wasn't it? So, he would propose additional conditions in line with his subordinates' wishes, Jierunifu thought.
"No noise! Silence!"
Ainz Ooal Gown's action... made Jierunifu even more uneasy. His every gesture and movement seemed like the natural actions of someone who had ruled for a long time, very natural. This must be the prestige possessed by a true ruler.
Now for the main event. Although he knew the worst outcome might be the Empire becoming a vassal state of this monster, at least before that became a reality, he still had to struggle!
"Hoh... Lord Jierunifu, I don't think this will be of any benefit to you." Ainz Ooal Gown responded calmly after listening to Jierunifu's alliance proposal.
This question was very reasonable, and such a response was within Jierunifu's expectations. After all, allying with the Empire would bring them no benefit. Ainz Ooal Gown's words were clearly sarcastic, meaning, what benefit could they gain from allying with the Empire?
Before proposing satisfactory additional conditions... he needed to first probe what kind of benefits Ainz Ooal Gown was looking for, Jierunifu thought.
"For the future, I hope the country ruled by Lord Cong can form a friendly alliance with our Empire." Good! This would shift the initiative to Ainz Ooal Gown. Yes! His meaning was clear: what price would the Empire have to pay to have a future?
"I see. Then I'll trouble you." Ainz Ooal Gown agreed very readily.
What! He agreed? He agreed so easily? Why?! Jierunifu was even more confused.
Why didn't he demand his submission, nor propose various unequal additional conditions?
He didn't even mention tribute. Wasn't it normal for an absolute powerhouse to make demands?
As the one proposing the alliance first, he was clearly in a position to take a loss. Yet, why did he accept the proposal so easily?
He had already thought of several excuses to deal with the many unfavorable demands he might make on the Empire, but this Ainz Ooal Gown actually said something so unexpected.
He! What was Ainz Ooal Gown's goal?! He couldn't guess him at all! Jierunifu felt deeply uneasy.
In diplomacy between a strong nation and a weak nation, the weak nation's method is to use the strong nation's arrogance and complacency to minimize its own losses. However, this Ainz Ooal Gown was neither arrogant nor complacent, so... this method was completely unworkable!
This was completely out of character... Ah... no! Could it be??
What if all of this, including the alliance... was within his control? Did Ainz Ooal Gown already know he would propose an alliance? Ainz Ooal Gown's previous responses were all natural, unperturbed, and calm. Was it because of this?
This guy! He's too terrifying!
He must... he must do something. The most urgent task now was to figure out what he wanted the Empire to do! Jierunifu thought, and so he quickly brought it up.
"I haven't thought of anything yet, but I hope both sides can establish a method to contact Lord Cong at any time, for example... arranging a place for my envoy." Ainz Ooal Gown still spoke in a very calm tone.
No! If everything was under his control, he couldn't have thought of nothing. Was it a coincidence? Or was he overthinking?
No! This might just be a smokescreen he's throwing, a disguise to prevent him from seeing through his intentions! This monster is too cunning!
No... it's precisely because he's a monster that he's so wise! So what should he do next? Should he flatter him first? Okay, let's see his reaction to flattery.
"Yes, I was so foolish, I didn't think of this immediately. As expected of Lord Cong." Jierunifu said, forcing himself. To be honest... he couldn't say flattering words at all. This was already his limit.
"Oh..." Ainz Ooal Gown's reaction was still very bland.
As expected of a king... such low-level flattery was too childish for him, wasn't it? This situation was already the best outcome for the Empire, wasn't it?
Although it was highly possible that all of this was within Ainz Ooal Gown's control, from the current situation, the Empire had not suffered any losses. So, before he changed his mind, it was time to leave! Jierunifu thought.
"Then, I will leave my Secretary here. Can I ask you to discuss this matter with him? Rone Vermillion!" Jierunifu said. Although he felt bad for his Secretary, there was nothing he could do.
"Yes! I will dedicate myself to the Empire!" Rone, who was behind him, said firmly, though he couldn't see the expression on his Secretary Rone's face.
But from his words, he could feel his determination, as if he embraced death. In fact... leaving him here to deal with Ainz Ooal Gown, this monster, would largely determine the fate of the entire Empire.
But for the Empire to survive at Ainz Ooal Gown's hands, no... rather, for all humanity to survive at his hands, he had to go back. If it weren't for that, he would have loved to stay.
"Then I will send..." Ainz Ooal Gown made his move. Let's see who he would send to handle the Empire's diplomatic affairs! Jierunifu's heart tightened.
"Father!" At this moment, that willful princess from before inappropriately interrupted, which greatly surprised Jierunifu. What are you interrupting for?!
"What is it, my daughter?" Ainz Ooal Gown also stopped the previous discussion due to his daughter's interruption and prioritized asking his daughter. How much do you spoil your daughter?!
No! Ainz Ooal Gown was so calm, so unconcerned, so at ease... didn't that indirectly prove that everything was within his control?! Damn it!
"Can I go?" That willful princess made a request that almost made Jierunifu's jaw drop.
"Hoh... my daughter, you want to go?" Ainz Ooal Gown asked, looking at his willful daughter with interest. Seeing this, Jierunifu was completely confused. What was Ainz Ooal Gown thinking?!
"Yes, I want to go." That willful princess once again expressed her attitude.
Ainz Ooal Gown's next answer surprised Jierunifu even more.
"Alright, then I will have my daughter, Elizabeth Ooal Gown, be responsible for communicating with you!"
What the hell!!