Chapter 25: Ainz’s Plan
"Orichalcum-level adventurer. 'The Last Defender of the Way' team leader."
"Is that all the information?" Ainz's skeletal eyes glowed brighter as he looked at the message scroll made from Roble Holy Kingdom's sheepskin.
His long, bony fingers lightly tapped the emerald armrest of his golden chair as he pondered deeply. He was certain that this girl, whose strength was unknown, was far beyond orichalcum-level in combat capability.
This was the first time Ainz had encountered such a situation in the world. Until now, the Great Tomb of Nazarick had progressed smoothly. Even when dealing with native powerhouses like the "Eight Fingers" or the "Frost Dragon," after a tense and vigorous effort, he would find that it was just a matter of outwitting thin air. The subsequent logical deductions confirmed that while the process was relatively smooth, everything made sense.
But now, things were different. Despite being just an ordinary human, this girl could see through Ainz's 8th Tier invisibility magic with the naked eye, indicating her extraordinary strength. Even Ainz himself would need anti-invisibility magic and corresponding magical items to break through High-tier concealment spells.
For humans, mastering 5th Tier magic is the gateway to the legendary realm of "heroes." If there were a Magic Caster among humans who could directly see through 8th Tier magic, she would be world-renowned, revered and worshiped like the chief court magician of the Baharuth Empire, and certainly not just an ordinary adventurer, let alone merely orichalcum-level.
When Ainz first arrived in this world, he also started off disguised as an adventurer, and after some hasty maneuvering, he became a top-tier "adamantite-level" adventurer.
Of course, it's also possible that this girl possesses an innate talent that allows her to ignore concealment magic. After finishing his tasks in the Great Tomb of Nazarick, Ainz teleported to the capital palace of the Baharuth Empire, but he couldn't find her.
He didn't know whether she was friend or foe. Reflecting back, it was strange that she had the audacity to snatch the notebook from his hands. To be honest, it had been a long time since anyone dared to treat him with such an attitude of equals, or even of subordinates.
Most of those who had the nerve to show off in front of Ainz were now dead, while a few others had become sycophants, bowing and worshiping him. It would be interesting to see how this girl would treat him once she learned of his true strength.
Ainz thought to himself and sternly instructed the guardians bowing at his sides, "I want all the information on this girl within five days! Test her strength first, and if she's not powerful, bring her back to the Great Tomb of Nazarick. If it's an innate talent to see through disguise magic, that could be very interesting."
"Yes, Lord Ainz!" Sebas Tian, leading his subordinate combat maid squad, departed.
"Albedo, you're frequently dealing with the royal nobles of the Re-Estize Kingdom and are more familiar with human affairs, so keep an eye out for any information in this area," Ainz said, turning his head toward Albedo who was standing by to serve. He noticed that Albedo's expression was unusually stiff.
"Yes, Lord Ainz," Albedo nodded in agreement, then quickly walked outside. What Ainz didn't see was the jealous fire blazing in Albedo's eyes as she turned away from him.
"The nerve of that third party to capture Lord Ainz's attention like this! If you dare come between our relationship, I'll obliterate you!" Clenching her dainty hands sheathed in white silk gloves, Albedo's black wings trembled slightly as she walked deeper into the Great Tomb of Nazarick.
...
Unaware that someone was plotting against her, EeDeChi was in good spirits after giving the emperor of the empire a lesson. She moved lightly across the rooftops of the Baharuth Empire's capital, searching for her fellow members of "The Last Defender of the Way" adventurer squad. They had agreed to meet on the outskirts after passing through the city's west exit.
After leaving the palace, she headed straight to the agreed-upon location, but found no one there. So she turned back into the city and began searching.
She had been searching for almost the entire morning, and the girl was a bit frustrated. She realized she should have bought some short-range communication magic tools and distributed them to her team members, which would have ensured better coordination.
EeDeChi climbed to the top of a high spire of a temple and looked around. Her eyesight was excellent, and from afar she saw a group of guards in well-equipped plate armor and helmets surrounding a burly man at the southern city exit.
The burly man was Barrett.
"Lady, the arrest warrant has been canceled," Barrett said, licking his lips while holding a longsword. At his feet lay five guards moaning and clutching their arms. Opposite him stood a noblewoman surrounded by several guards, her expression somewhat hysterical.
This noblewoman, dressed in a lacy corset, was none other than the wife of Marquis Felix Luffman.
Marquis Felix had indulged his dark desires in Forbidden Paradise and, unfortunately, encountered EeDeChi. As a result, the once prestigious lady became a widow, and Barrett and his group became wanted criminals.
"Damn it! It's EeDeChi's fault, so why am I stuck with this?" Barrett held his longsword tightly, the fire of gripe burning in his heart.
After parting ways with EeDeChi, he had escaped the city alone, while Sean and Stella had taken the twin girls out of the capital from another direction.
Barrett had done a quick disguise and managed to evade several checkpoints. To his surprise, he saw that the sheriff's deputies were tearing down the wanted posters from the walls! Their crimes had been revoked!
Although he didn't know why, Barrett was still very pleased that his arrest warrant had been removed. He kept walking outward until he encountered a noblewoman using her family's guard to search for him.
This wealthy family had called upon mages to use area-wide magic that could see through low-level disguise spells, and they quickly spotted the relaxed Barrett.
When enemies meet, there's no time for pleasantries—swords are drawn and the fight begins. Barrett, now alone, was soon surrounded. But using his skilled martial arts, he took down five guards in quick succession. The remaining guards were too intimidated to attack and could only temporarily contain Barrett.
In truth, even this group of well-equipped guards might struggle to defeat Barrett if they all charged at once. As a seasoned mithril-level adventurer, Barrett's combat prowess was not to be underestimated. Any monster he had hunted over nearly twenty years of adventuring would likely scare these guards out of their wits.
He didn't want to cause a death in the capital, otherwise, he would have already fought his way out of the encirclement.
"Lady," Barrett spoke earnestly, "I deeply sympathize with your husband's plight. Unfortunately, he met someone he shouldn't have while doing something he shouldn't have.
"But I have no connection to this matter. I'm not even a witness. And look, the arrest warrant has been canceled! This proves our innocence!"
"Stop pretending!" the marquis's wife screamed, her once orderly curled hair now disheveled and her carefully applied makeup distorted.
"Don't think I don't know. You're an accomplice! You lowly adventurers! Whatever dirty dealings you've been involved in must have been so severe that the legal department had to drop the charges. But my family and I won't let you go! Guards! Get him! Capture him and interrogate him for that female thief's whereabouts!"
The guards with swords stepped forward, tightening the encirclement, but no one dared to be the first to engage Barrett. As Barrett took a step in one direction, the guards in that direction retreated.
Suddenly, a guard in heavy armor was thrown backward out of the circle, followed by another guard. It was as if an elephant with its trunk was tossing the guards one by one. The encirclement now had a gap.
But there was no elephant, only a stern-looking girl with black hair stepping through the gap in the encirclement.
EeDeChi glanced at the marquis's wife and said, "I'm right here. No need to interrogate him."
Barrett sighed at the words. With the arrival of this hot-headed team leader, things were about to get even more troublesome.