After watching the recorded battle in silence, Brain Anglaus slowly handed the artifact back to Lock.
Only after several long breaths did his rigid posture finally relax.
"…Boss," Brain said quietly, "is that thing… the kind of monster you're preparing us to face?"
"Exactly."
Lock leaned back against the carriage seat, his tone casual. "Now you understand why I'm pushing you. If you don't grow fast enough, you won't even qualify to stand on the same battlefield."
Brain let out a dry laugh, tilting his head back to stare at the ceiling.
"That's not motivation—that's despair."
Lock shrugged. "There's no turning back now."
"…How reassuring."
Lock ignored him and turned inward, his thoughts already moving several steps ahead.
---
The early groundwork was complete.
His repeated appearances before Ainz Ooal Gown, the deliberate exposure of his strength, and the controlled interference involving Shalltear Bloodfallen had all served one purpose—to deepen Nazarick's caution.
Whether that caution would become restraint remained uncertain.
But Lock had already extracted what he wanted.
Knowledge from Fluder Paradyne
Subjugation of Clementine
Recruitment of Brain Anglaus
A formal line of cooperation with the Slane Theocracy
The next stage was the Kingdom.
This journey to the Royal Capital had three objectives.
Objective One — Eight Fingers
The Kingdom's criminal syndicate, Eight Fingers, would be absorbed.
There would be no negotiations.
They valued profit over loyalty and survival over pride.
Military pressure alone would break them.
Objective Two — The Golden Princess
Finalize the engagement with Renner Theiere Chardelon Ryle Vaiself.
Once secured, the legitimacy of future authority would follow naturally.
Power did not always need to be seized by blood.
Sometimes, it merely required the correct marriage contract.
Objective Three — Nazarick's Shadow
Prepare for the possibility of Jaldabaoth.
This objective was uncertain.
The Nazarick NPCs were powerful—overwhelmingly so—but they lacked experience with human politics.
Sebas Tian and Solution Epsilon, operating in the capital, were conspicuous. Too conspicuous.
If pressured by the Kingdom's nobles, they would likely withdraw rather than escalate—unless events forced their hand.
If Jaldabaoth intervened, panic would spread.
And panic was fertile soil for regime change.
If he didn't…
Lock would proceed regardless.
Either outcome was acceptable.
---
Inside the Guild's second-floor office, Burdon Ainzac listened carefully.
Opposite him stood the adventurer Fifee, helmet tucked under one arm, with Narberal Gamma standing silently behind.
"The vampire was too powerful," Fifee reported evenly.
"The accompanying teams were annihilated. I used a rare magic item and eliminated the target."
Burdon studied him for a long moment.
"…I'll dispatch confirmation personnel. If your report checks out, I'll authorize your promotion to Mithril rank."
"I appreciate it."
Fifee already wore a Gold-ranked plate. His rise had been absurdly fast—but not inexplicable.
The subjugation of the Hamsuke alone had guaranteed attention.
And Burdon himself had witnessed Fifee's physical power.
The technique could be taught.
Talent could not.
When Fifee turned to leave, Burdon spoke again.
"Don't make things difficult for me."
"I won't," Fifee replied calmly. "Thank you."
---
That night, Fifee returned to his inn, issued final instructions, and removed his armor.
Undead bone gleamed briefly in the candlelight.
With a single spell, he vanished.
At the entrance of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, Ainz Ooal Gown descended from the sky.
"Welcome back, Lord Ainz," said Mare Bello Fiore, presenting the Guild Ring.
Ainz slipped it on.
"We're reviving Shalltear," he said immediately.
"I want answers."
What Ainz did not know—
Was that the truth he sought had already been shaped, redirected, and weaponized by someone else?
And that misunderstanding would linger over Nazarick for a very long time.
---
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